Insanity is repeating the same experiment and being surprised at the result.
There are times, certainly, when we must plod on. However, there exists a delicate balance- sometimes we must recognize that what we are doing is simply not right/working/efficient. It takes an extra boost (my mother recommends B-12), but let's take a breath and, if not switch course entirely, at least take a break and do something else for awhile.
Which is why I managed to write this entry...
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Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Money Reorganizing
One of my clients is in large debt. Her small salary just covers her monthly expenses, but she has been adding to her debts with late fees and interest, due to her inability to save money. She came to me when she just couldn't stand it anymore. "I'm totally out of control with this. If I don't do something right now...I...I don't know what will happen."
We started by making a spreadsheet of all of her known expenses, income, debt, online accounts + passwords. This spreadsheet was revised four times over a week as she thought of things that needed adding. In the final version, the subject was "Cigarettes added" and the body of the email read only, "Another reason to quit." Completing the spreadsheet was a step in Phase 1, Gather everything together.* (Next comes Separate and Investigate).
When we were ready to move to Phase 2, Action, today, we accounted for all items to be paid, and planned the spending of the upcoming paycheck. As we allotted more and more of the paycheck, she interjected and asked me, "Why would I put aside the food money for four weeks when I'm going to be paid in two weeks?"
In one organizing workshop I took, we learned the "3 P's:" Preparation Prevents Panicking.
By planning ahead, if something happens to her or her job, G-d forbid, she will at least have money to eat this month, and won't have late fees accruing on her credit cards, insurance, etc. At the end of the phone consultation, she had very little money to go out for drinks and dinner, but her bills were paid (online), the checks for rent and utilities were prepared for tomorrow, and she knew she wouldn't go hungry this month.
The more we think, plan ahead, and prepare the resources for what we do know, the more we can handle life, which is composed of so much we don't know. Sometimes it takes a spreadsheet to make cigarettes part of your past, but in the meantime, let's save the $39 fees for debt paying and, eventually, fabulous celebratory dinners that we are cigarette and debt-free.
Reorganizing. It's more than stuff.
*Please note: Phase 1 is always Gather and then Separate and Investigate, but the phases which follow depend on the project at hand.
We started by making a spreadsheet of all of her known expenses, income, debt, online accounts + passwords. This spreadsheet was revised four times over a week as she thought of things that needed adding. In the final version, the subject was "Cigarettes added" and the body of the email read only, "Another reason to quit." Completing the spreadsheet was a step in Phase 1, Gather everything together.* (Next comes Separate and Investigate).
When we were ready to move to Phase 2, Action, today, we accounted for all items to be paid, and planned the spending of the upcoming paycheck. As we allotted more and more of the paycheck, she interjected and asked me, "Why would I put aside the food money for four weeks when I'm going to be paid in two weeks?"
In one organizing workshop I took, we learned the "3 P's:" Preparation Prevents Panicking.
By planning ahead, if something happens to her or her job, G-d forbid, she will at least have money to eat this month, and won't have late fees accruing on her credit cards, insurance, etc. At the end of the phone consultation, she had very little money to go out for drinks and dinner, but her bills were paid (online), the checks for rent and utilities were prepared for tomorrow, and she knew she wouldn't go hungry this month.
The more we think, plan ahead, and prepare the resources for what we do know, the more we can handle life, which is composed of so much we don't know. Sometimes it takes a spreadsheet to make cigarettes part of your past, but in the meantime, let's save the $39 fees for debt paying and, eventually, fabulous celebratory dinners that we are cigarette and debt-free.
Reorganizing. It's more than stuff.
*Please note: Phase 1 is always Gather and then Separate and Investigate, but the phases which follow depend on the project at hand.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The 3 Steps to getting there
1. Separate
Remove everything that does not pertain to the goal at hand from the immediate area.
2. Delegate
Have other people take care of as much as possible-errands, research, call-backs, etc.
If your goal is fundraising or using your medical degree, you need someone to answer the phone besides you.
If you hate cleaning the house, but it's driving you crazy how messy it is, hire someone to clean it. Laundry services will pick up and drop off laundry.
3. Dedicate
Focus on your goal.
Note what and when the distractions arise. Return to steps 1 and 2 until you can follow through with 3 sans interruption.
--
It is not always easy to find the right person/people to help you. In fact, it's usually quite difficult. Start by separating things away that do not pertain to your goal. You may find more things that others (even if they're not the perfect assistants) can help you with than you realised. See how it goes.
Please feel free to email me: leah.fisch@gmail.com if you'd like to discuss your situation in particular, or add a comment to this page.
Good luck!
Remove everything that does not pertain to the goal at hand from the immediate area.
2. Delegate
Have other people take care of as much as possible-errands, research, call-backs, etc.
If your goal is fundraising or using your medical degree, you need someone to answer the phone besides you.
If you hate cleaning the house, but it's driving you crazy how messy it is, hire someone to clean it. Laundry services will pick up and drop off laundry.
3. Dedicate
Focus on your goal.
Note what and when the distractions arise. Return to steps 1 and 2 until you can follow through with 3 sans interruption.
--
It is not always easy to find the right person/people to help you. In fact, it's usually quite difficult. Start by separating things away that do not pertain to your goal. You may find more things that others (even if they're not the perfect assistants) can help you with than you realised. See how it goes.
Please feel free to email me: leah.fisch@gmail.com if you'd like to discuss your situation in particular, or add a comment to this page.
Good luck!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Birthdays
What do birthdays have to do with reorganizing?
We are born not only without possessions, but also naked, an existence so fragile which is lucky to persevere. We continue through life accumulating not only cover, but also possessions, possessions, possessions. Although they may be pleasant and often "necessary," they are not us.
On our birthdays this year, let's try to aim toward our essences, as Victor Frankl called it, our "naked existence," and try to pare down our things.
To our existences sans possessions!
We are born not only without possessions, but also naked, an existence so fragile which is lucky to persevere. We continue through life accumulating not only cover, but also possessions, possessions, possessions. Although they may be pleasant and often "necessary," they are not us.
On our birthdays this year, let's try to aim toward our essences, as Victor Frankl called it, our "naked existence," and try to pare down our things.
To our existences sans possessions!
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