“Why can’t I …” “Why do I always …” “How come I don’t …” How many times have you berated yourself with one of these questions? The questions are good, but the berating, not so much. Let’s try a new perspective: compassionate curiosity. It may help if you add a thoughtful, “Hmmm,” before you ask … Read more
I’ve developed the good habit of drinking 72 ounces of water a day. During a recent appointment with a client, I realized that I felt awful. I was fatigued and eager for the appointment to be over. It was hard to sustain my focus. Luckily, I was able to function well-enough, but I was conscious of having to exert … Read more
I just can’t find a system that works. I try something and it works for a few weeks, and then I just stop using it. People tell me this all the time. Often, it’s the reason they call me. So what I’m about to say might just put me out of a job, but I’ll take … Read more
Clients often tell me, “I feel like I’m just running in circles.” They get very discouraged to encounter the same problems again and again. But circles are also part of life. We repeat many aspects of our lives. Eating, bathing, working, etc. Some circles happen within a few hours, and some span a longer time, … Read more
Decluttering, organizing and attempting new habits can stir up that inner critic. We are reminded of missed opportunities and mistakes; of things we wish we had done better, or differently, or not at all. Our imperfections and flaws take center-stage. If you’re thinking that you need to be self-critical, then I ask you to assess … Read more
Caught an interview with vaccum innovator James Dyson on NPR’s Science Friday. I loved his discussion of failure, stating how it’s necessary for learning to occur. We often don’t make decisions because we’re afraid of making the wrong choice. We don’t try new systems because we’re not sure they’ll work. Imagine how much we could … Read more
Setbacks are normal and common when taking on a project such as decluttering or learning better organizational habits. They happen in all areas of life, and they don’t mean we are incapable of reaching our goals. Researchers found that helping college students to see setbacks as temporary may help them academically and in overall well-being. … Read more