Brenda Lyle – Florida Today
By Brenda Lyle
Q: How Can I Get Organized for the New Year?
A:People often begin the New Year with grand plans for sweeping changes in their lives. Most resolutions don’t last long, though — roughly 80% of people abandon them within just a few weeks. Why? Goals that are vague, unrealistic, or unsupported by a concrete plan tend to collapse before they ever take shape.
One of the most common resolutions is “getting organized,” a goal that is admirable but too broad! Organization is doable though, when broken into manageable tasks. Incremental wins will build your confidence –and keep you motivated for what lies ahead.
Start Gently
An easy first step is to go through clothing. Have you passed over it 365 times? Remove anything you don’t wear (or that doesn’t fit) –and keep only what you genuinely enjoy! The same goes for accessories. Wedding gowns, ancient fur coats or dated formal wear can find new life in a local theater company’s costume department. Donating your items gives others the chance to appreciate them.
Collections
People collect all sorts of things—stamps, figurines, dishes, silver, jewelry, and MORE. As a Care Manager, I’ve had to sort through a client’s belongings and decide what might hold meaning for distant family members. My advice is simple: offer/give cherished items and family heirlooms to the intended recipients now, while you can explain their stories and ensure they are appreciated.
Many local charities and churches will gladly pick up furniture and household items. Professional estate-sale companies can help with large quantities, or you can sell things online or host a virtual sale.
Piles of Paper
Paper can accumulate faster than almost anything else. And it’s a fire hazard! Sort your mail over the trash– don’t just set it on the counter. What about tax returns? The IRS says hold onto them for three years only. There’s also digital storage (cloud) options to free up your filing cabinets. For mountains of paper, keep an eye out for free community shredding events.
Two Strategies
To avoid getting overwhelmed, choose a task and set a timer for 30 minutes. At the end of a half hour, reassess. Keep going, or do another 30 minutes tomorrow? You choose! Here’s another strategy: Rather than, “I’m going to clean out this garage,” think, “I’m going to sort through that middle shelf of paint supplies.” Both of these techniques work to break the project into manageable, smaller pieces.
Whether you’re clearing a single closet or a jam-packed garage, you’ll feel lighter once it’s done. Oh – and be kind to yourself along the way. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time…
Brenda Lyle is a Certified Care Manager and Certified Dementia Practitioner with One Senior Place, Greater Orlando. One Senior Place is a marketplace for resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their families. Submit your questions to AskOSP@OneSeniorPlace.com. For immediate help, call 321-751-6771 or visit One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging.
