Any life coaches on the board??? I need help!

[dizzyde]

So, I need help. I am at a crossroads in my life; I am turning the big 40 this year, my daughter is pretty much grown (unless she needs money), and I am needing some help in getting my life organized.

The last few years, since my daughter started college, have been weird for me. I think I had a little bit of a personal crisis (perhaps the anxiety attacks should have been my first clue) when she started college, call it denial or whatever, but I kind of stopped taking care of the details. I am happy and healthy, but my house is a mess and the clutter is driving me insane. I really have clutter in a lot of areas in my life.

I am looking toward making some significant life changes in the next few years, but I really need to get my life in order before I start making big decisions.

Does anyone know of any really good books (they have to be really good or I will lose interest quick, I am not a self-help book kind of girl) or have any pointers on organization/de-cluttering/whatever that you think would be helpful??

[revrandy]

Forget the Books....Clean the House and start from there....

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by revrandy

Forget the Books....Clean the House and start from there....

This is really true. You can make out a list of things that need taking care of. The important items first. Check them off as you go and there you are.

I've never actually practiced this, but it seems like it could work.

[revrandy]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

This is really true. You can make out a list of things that need taking care of. The important items first. Check them off as you go and there you are.

I've never actually practiced this, but it seems like it could work.

I heard theMRS could be a laundry coach??? Any truth here????

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by revrandy

I heard theMRS could be a laundry coach??? Any truth here????

I have no idea.

Good to see you posting, BTW!!!!!!

[revrandy]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I have no idea.

Good to see you posting, BTW!!!!!!

Good to see you too...and everybody else.....

[chosenbyone]

D

This thread was so depressing! No, really! I have sat here for the last hour and a half researching articles on-line on "pack rats" and "hoarders". The more sites I visited the more I realized that I had a huge problem. I literally have a mini department store in my spare bedroom with boxes of items still in department bags and boxes. My closets....forget about it....stuff to the ceiling with "stuff".

Perhaps, we should start an Apostolic Pack Rat Support Group! Oh, btw, I saw forty come and go and lived through it...be encouraged!

I copied a couple of articles that I found to be very enlightening.



A 1998 article in the Journal of Psychiatric Medicine called "Hoarding is a symptom, not a syndrome" that hoarding or the pack rat problem is due to the following things:

Items are viewed and perceived as valuable

Items provide a sense and feel of security

Fear of forgetting or misplaced items

Constant need to collect and keep things

Obtaining love not found in personal relationships

Fear others will take and obtain their personal information

Physical limitations, abilities, and frailty

Inability to organize and dealing with change

Self-neglect

Stressful life events

Background was poor or grew up with very little


...I believe that we are a product of our environment. The physical environment in which we spend most of our time affects how we think and feel.

...I’ve also found that the clutter in my environment negatively affect my performance. When I am surrounded by mess and disorganization, I feel more mentally cluttered, less decisive, slightly anxious and more easily annoyed.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by chosenbyone

D

This thread was so depressing! No, really! I have sat here for the last hour and a half researching articles on-line on "pack rats" and "hoarders". The more sites I visited the more I realized that I had a huge problem. I literally have a mini department store in my spare bedroom with boxes of items still in department bags and boxes. My closets....forget about it....stuff to the ceiling with "stuff".

Perhaps, we should start an Apostolic Pack Rat Support Group! Oh, btw, I saw forty come and go and lived through it...be encouraged!

I copied a couple of articles that I found to be very enlightening.



A 1998 article in the Journal of Psychiatric Medicine called "Hoarding is a symptom, not a syndrome" that hoarding or the pack rat problem is due to the following things:

Items are viewed and perceived as valuable

Items provide a sense and feel of security

Fear of forgetting or misplaced items

Constant need to collect and keep things

Obtaining love not found in personal relationships

Fear others will take and obtain their personal information

Physical limitations, abilities, and frailty

Inability to organize and dealing with change

Self-neglect

Stressful life events

Background was poor or grew up with very little


...I believe that we are a product of our environment. The physical environment in which we spend most of our time affects how we think and feel.

...I’ve also found that the clutter in my environment negatively affect my performance. When I am surrounded by mess and disorganization, I feel more mentally cluttered, less decisive, slightly anxious and more easily annoyed.

Well, now I feel bad for depressing YOU!! LOL!!

Thanks for sharing that info though, I am going to be printing all of this out so I have all the helpful hints with me as I try to start muddling through.

Several of the symptoms that you listed hit home for me. That is what I don't think some people realize, if it was as simple as just getting up and doing it, we wouldn't be having this conversation!

Thanks friend!

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

So, I need help. I am at a crossroads in my life; I am turning the big 40 this year, my daughter is pretty much grown (unless she needs money), and I am needing some help in getting my life organized.

The last few years, since my daughter started college, have been weird for me. I think I had a little bit of a personal crisis (perhaps the anxiety attacks should have been my first clue) when she started college, call it denial or whatever, but I kind of stopped taking care of the details. I am happy and healthy, but my house is a mess and the clutter is driving me insane. I really have clutter in a lot of areas in my life.

I am looking toward making some significant life changes in the next few years, but I really need to get my life in order before I start making big decisions.

Does anyone know of any really good books (they have to be really good or I will lose interest quick, I am not a self-help book kind of girl) or have any pointers on organization/de-cluttering/whatever that you think would be helpful??

Flylady. It's a web-based annoyance that works pretty well. lol

www.flylady.net

Most of the flylady's stuff is based off of Side Tracked Home Executives, which is an amazing book. And, if I haven't already given it away you're welcome to my copy.

As for the decluttering, can we just trade houses? lol I'll do yours, you do mine? Actually, I'm really, really good at organizing and decluttering, but I've let things get way out of control lately. I enjoy doing it and have considered starting a business organizing other people's kitchens and closets.

Flylady is really the easiest, most painless way to start. She starts you out with shining your sink. That's it. Once that's a habit (ok, the assumption is if your sink is shined, the dishes are done...but..um..there are other places for dirty dishes to live...lol) then you move onto something else.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

Flylady. It's a web-based annoyance that works pretty well. lol

www.flylady.net

Most of the flylady's stuff is based off of Side Tracked Home Executives, which is an amazing book. And, if I haven't already given it away you're welcome to my copy.

As for the decluttering, can we just trade houses? lol I'll do yours, you do mine? Actually, I'm really, really good at organizing and decluttering, but I've let things get way out of control lately. I enjoy doing it and have considered starting a business organizing other people's kitchens and closets.

Flylady is really the easiest, most painless way to start. She starts you out with shining your sink. That's it. Once that's a habit (ok, the assumption is if your sink is shined, the dishes are done...but..um..there are other places for dirty dishes to live...lol) then you move onto something else.

Thanks! I'll check that out, and if you have the book I would love to have it, I would send you money for postage.