The Best Organizing Concept of All Time

Here's what Byron Katie says in her little book, Byron Katie on Work and Money, about organizing your house:

"The whole world will tell you that you shouldn't be messy. This is our religion. But all the punishment in that concept, "I shouldn't be messy," hasn't worked yet. A messy mind is a messy life. It's hopelsss to try to clean up your house, your office, your desk. But if you clean up your thinking, then it's effortless for your office and your house to be clean. You work with the mind, and your life gets transformed. The mess in your office is not the problem. Your boss can say, "I'll give you a million dollars if you clean up your mess for one year," and that still won't work, because you don't know how. "I need to clean up my mess"? I need to clean up my thinking. There isn't anything else to clean up, and the rest will follow."

Isn't that cool? So, for me and all of you out there who feel like your house or your workspace or your garage are totally, hopelessly full of un-sortable crap, this is some seriously good news! You see, all we have to do is self-therapy.

Of course reading this blog is also totally essential - don't get me wrong!!

Now, an example of how I've already found what Byron Katie says to be true:

It just so happens that since I realized what I want to do with my life, I have hardly noticed messes and piles that used to BE my life. Now they are just things that do or do not have to do with what I am trying to accomplish. And also, things are shifting around and leaving the apartment and everything just seems so much easier since I started thinking of my "mind clutter" being the only real problem.

And the best part is, that to clean up your "mind clutter," you are probably better off just leaving your house or office anyway! Like by going with your pen and notebook to a coffee shop instead, or going for a meditative walk along the river. So now you can grab your coat and say, 'Bye, honey, I'm going out to get the house clean now! Every day this week!"

Organizing is so easy.

A Storage Unit!!!

I am so against having a storage unit, which is why I feel so giddy with joy after finally getting one. It's like amor prohibido.

Have I mentioned that I've moved 23 times since I was 18 years old? And there are four of us in the house (apartment) now, not including the cat. Every time we move, we ditch some stuff, have to get a bunch of new stuff to work in the new space, and then we have all these things that we don't know what to do with, because they are beloved or have meaning, but we can't use them in the existing space.

Like right now, I have three big boxes of decorations. Things I got in India, things I or a friend made, and lots of framed photographs that I just don't have the energy to hang this time around. But I will next time!

So, we got a storage unit. Can I tell you of the joy I felt the day I knew this was to be? We've moved out two carloads already, and more to go. Finally, I feel like I can *breathe*.

Now, a storage unit is not for everyone. Only *you* can know if it's right for you. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for about a minute. Then ask yourself, is a storage unit going to make my life easier, or harder in the long run? Then just sit and wait for the answer to surface.

I think I'm probably one of the few kinds of people that a storage unit will work for. We know we are moving again within a year, so we will be emptying it out then. So I am not afraid we'll just leave everything in there forever, like my dad does. I have also heard of really anal, responsible people using storage units to put their seasonal clothing in and stuff like that. I think that's another great reason to get one. Another great reason might be that you don't want to go and move into a McMansion just because you have too much stuff. With a storage unit you can stay in a small house. Or if you need to *think* clearly for a while, a storage unit might be a great way to go.

In any case, I am really looking forward to living in a space where I am not tripping all over boxes.

And soon enough I will have my very own studio, so I can stop trying to run a business from a 2-bedroom apartment. That will make for some great blogging, too.

A Fascinating Read

Alright, this book might seem generic because it IS a national bestseller AND it's used by corporate America. However, it's based on the zen idea that you need to have a "mind like water" that can operate smoothly and undisturbed by panic and worry.

Sooo. . . I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with heavy right-brain tendencies. I will admit to you right now that I do not have his system "down" and I'm not sure I ever will. However, I do have the basic structure in place and it truly is liberating. If nothing else, you could read it to see what's possible, but I think you'll end up wanting to overhaul your entire house or office!

Even though we have moved three times since I read this book, and even though I have two little kids I'm with all day long (one of whom climbs my shelves up to the ceiling, and empties out my files and throws them all over the floor), I am still using pieces of this book every day. My "boquet" inbox, which I posted about recently, would probably even be approved by David Allen.

Here are the things, off the top of my head, that I got out of the book and am still using:

1. I gave myself permission to add two more file cabinets to my collection.
2. I now only use file cabinets which automatically click shut, which roll smoothly open and closed.
3. I now make files for every single piece of paper in my inbox, if there isn't one already made.
4. I now have a desktop hanging file system (though I had to put mine way up high, rendering it much less useful, sadly) which has files for every month, plus my most important other files, such as: Projects, At Computer, Errands, Someday/Maybe.
5. I make heavy use of my Someday/Maybe file!
6. I now have my own labelmaker handy at all times, and a big stack of unused file folders, too.

Now, since moving the last time I will admit I haven't even gone through my inbox even once! And that's since last June, when we left for a summer-long camping trip, actually. BUT. . . I do not feel oppressed by my inbox in the slightest, because I know all my stuff is in my "trusted system." One of these days I'm going to do the "Wine and Taxes" thing and get a bottle of wine (or maybe several, and lots of popcorn, too, and some pizza and some good CDs) and spend a weekend going through my inbox until it's empty and then I will feel invincible!

I'm sure this book will come up a lot in the future. I just wanted to put a plug in for it now because since it is the basic structure for my "home office" if you can call what I have a "home office" and it's also a basic structure I use in order to organize my thoughts and my life.

Wine & Taxes

I just had a consultation with the local arts organization. One thing the guy was talking to me about was taxes. He said I "should" get a coupon filer-thing for my business expenses, and then label each tab "transportation," "office expenses," "repairs and maintenance," etc.. But then he said, "Or, what *I* do is just shove all my receipts in a manila envelope and then once a year I get a bottle of wine and spend the evening going through all my receipts."

This is the kind of thing I love. This guy is a composer. He is working *with* his lifestyle instead of against it!

I keep thinking of other things I could do with a bottle of wine. Spend the evening going through the giant 80-gallon Rubbermaid tub I have which is full of "miscellany" a.k.a. thousands of things, most of which are less than 3" square???

Suddenly it seems so luxurious. Wine, dim lighting, and just the right music. . . I think it could be a really good time.

The Greatest Inbox Ever!

Great news! I have finally discovered the inbox for me! It's a metal mesh box I used to use for office supplies. It's 8x17 and has no lid. What I do is I stick all my stuff in it sideways! This is one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me as an organized person. Now I don't have to worry about my overflowing pile sliding all over the floor, resulting in feelings of disillusionment.

If you are like me and don't go through your inbox too often, then this is the box for you. I got it at OfficeMax, I think. You can keep adding more stuff and it just looks more **abundant**. Sort of like a growing boquet of flowers.

Pic to follow!