Indecision Matters

Quote of the Month

“Don’t let the mixed signals fool you. Indecision is a decision.”

-Author Unknown

You’ve seen it here before but it’s worth repeating – one of the best definitions of clutter is ‘delayed decision making.’ Every time you choose indecision, you are giving permission for things to accumulate. And every time you are decisive, you are lightening your load, both mentally and in your physical space. Read ahead to learn some practical tips.

Fun with Jennifer Franciotti!

Last Sunday morning, I had the thrill of appearing live on WBAL-TV with Jennifer Franciotti. Jennifer is the kind of person you want to hug the minute you meet her – so kind and friendly and comfortable to be with. It felt like I was chatting with an old friend.

For those of you who missed it, click here to see my 3 minutes of fame (and hear some tips on downsizing your drawers).

Tips to Improve Decision Making

“Indecision is a major time waster; 80% of decisions should be made the first time they come up,” according to Brian Tracy. Many of the people we work with have difficulty making decisions. It is also common for our clients to ‘overthink’ which causes delays in progress. Being decisive is a skill that you can learn, but it takes practice. What better way to practice than to go into a stuffed drawer or a hidden section in your closet!?

Here are a few pointers to make decision-making easier for you:

Limit your choices when making a decision. If you aren’t sure which black pants to keep, look at 2-3 at a time and pick your favorite one(s).
Take 2-3 pieces of mail and decide what can be tossed. Don’t look at the whole table or the whole bag…just pick out 2-3 pieces of junk mail and start there.
Practice making decisions with everyday things, ie: decide what outfit you’ll wear ahead of time or plan tomorrow’s meals.
If you catch yourself being indecisive, defy your natural temptation to ‘forgettaboutit’ and force yourself to make a decision. If you get a bill in the mail and have a question, take action right away instead of tossing the reminder on the counter for ‘later.’
Consider the suggestion by David Allen – if something takes less than 2 minutes to do, do it right away. (And yes, I know this can be dangerous for some people who fear they’ll go off in a million tangents, but try it once and see how it feels).

One of the magical outcomes of working with a professional organizer is learning how to be more decisive with your stuff. The more decisive you are, the faster your progress can be. Practice makes permanent – so go practice!

Cameras!

Be on the lookout for old cameras and lenses. Leica and Hasselblad cameras always sell for good amounts and the Point & Shoot film cameras from the 80’s and 90’s are also popular. Some Nikon, Minolta and Canon cameras can do well.

Contact Howard for more information.

“Helping Baby Boomers and their Parents Lighten their Loads.”

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in your home, contact me. Together, we can transform your home into a happy, tidy place where you can feel at peace. We can also get you ready for your next move… more enjoyable, faster and easier!