Organize + Energize: Stop Resisting Change & Get Organized At Work

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Kristin MacRae, GoLocalWorcester Organizing Expert

I work with many companies that bring me in to work with their disorganized employees. I can tell you that many run for the hills when they see me coming. It’s given me a little bit of a complex. I see the look of panic when I walk into their office. They are resistant, but once they start working with me one-on-one, they realize it’s not that bad and they actually have fun. It is my job to try to get these employees to see how being organized can improve their work flow, productivity, efficiency levels and above all, have a better quality of life at work.

It’s not that scary.

What is the worst thing that could happen to you if you got organized? Let’s see, you aren’t going to die and the process is quite painless. Do you panic when you get taken out of your comfort zone? Are you happy doing the same thing, the same way that you’ve been doing it for the past 20 years? If you are disorganized, are you happy and see no reason to change? It may be difficult for you to see the benefits until you actually make changes and live it.

What’s holding you back?

Jot down all of the reasons why you don’t want to change. What do they look like on paper? What is holding you back from getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new? What if I told you that you’d have more free time, less stress, and you’d be more efficient and productive and your co-workers and superiors would have more confidence in you? When you are organized, you will open up yourself to opportunities that you never imagined. Imagine having extra hours in your day. Executives waste six weeks per year searching for lost documents. What could you do with an extra six weeks?

The fear of the unknown.

Maybe you want to change but you just can’t wrap your head around the process of getting organized. You can’t imagine what it would be like to take everything out of your filing drawers and empty your entire desk and then change the way you function. The thought of it is so overwhelming and stressful that you’d just rather continue working the way you have because it’s just easier that way

What if your job could become easier once you got organized? Wouldn’t you say, sign me up, I’m in? Unless you like tackling a task in six steps versus two, then by all means continue with how you function.

Is your disorganization hindering you from moving forward onto greater opportunities in your office? You won’t believe how freeing it will be to get organized. The possibilities are endless once you clear the clutter, get organized and streamline processes and procedures.

There is a quote by David Tolin, PhD, “You are only as good as the system you are working with.” How are your systems working for you? Do you have efficient processes and systems in place? Maybe it’s time for a change. Get out of your comfort zone, be open to change and live on the organized side.

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert and owner of Organizing in RI. Kristin teaches her clients that living an organized lifestyle will save them time and money, decrease their stress levels and help them become more efficient and productive. Her articles have been published in local and national magazines. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to begin. She is also available for organizing workshops.

Related Slideshow: 5 Organizing Blunders

Avoid these mistakes and your project will take less time than you expected. You won’t be as stressed or as overwhelmed as you anticipated. You will be amazed at what you have accomplished. You will be motivated and energized to tackle another project.

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Not planning ahead

Getting organized is a process and you have to have a plan on how to conquer your project. You can’t tear apart an entire room all at once. You need to break the project down into small pieces. Plan to tackle your project in 3-hour increments. If you work longer than 3 hours at a time, you are setting yourself up for burnout. Plan ahead to try to avoid distractions and stay focused.

Click here for more tips on how to avoid distractions.

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Purchasing the incorrect supplies

I know you are excited to get organized, but don’t rush out to the store and purchase products just because you like the way they look. Get organized first. Figure out what you need to contain, and then purchase your container to match the items you need it to hold.

Click here for more on choosing the right container.

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Not letting others know about your system

Once you set up the organized system, you have to get everybody in your home on board. Show them the systems and how you are going to function with this system going forward. Label everything if you must, so everybody gets in the habit of putting items away. Remember, the simpler the system, the easier it’s going to be to maintain.

Need help creating those systems? Go here.

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Not maximizing your space

Use every inch of space and use it well. Take everything out of the area you are organizing. You can’t get a clear visual of the space if it is filled with clutter. Shifting items around is not going to work.

Here are more tips on maximizing your space.

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Repeatedly clearing spaces

You are creating more work for yourself if you continue to clear spaces once a month. Create a system and allow everything in your home to have its own place, and you will never have to clear a space again.

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Kristin Carcieri-MacRae

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30am on www.talkstreamradio.com.