Expert: Jamie Novak - 1/20/2010

Question
Hello,
My name is Shelly and I am a disorganizaholic!

My mother is a hoarder.  I believe that makes me somewhat predisposed to keeping useless things.  I have kept my stuff down to a minimum and at times get rid of useful items to be extremely sure I never become one who keeps too much.  
However my main problem is this.  I keep lists.  I make lists, I don't do what is on them and then I make another.  I have ideas about a topic such as how to learn french or how to have motivation to work out or how to manage my anger.  All good and useful information except I just don't look at them, I keep them and don't look at them.  I get into a cycle of keeping articles with good ideas or writing notes to myself or writing suggestions that I get from others for things and then ...it comes around again and I don't get things done or use the ideas and then I just always have a sea of papers or papers filed that I never find the time to look at.  I have a few goals that I never really get around to.  I want to learn french...well that goal is more for my husband because he is french but I see the use of learning it.  I want to be more knowledgeable about the world news and I never watch the news.  I want to be more active but I never get committed to a workout schedule.  
I don't work because I have had many problems with depression.  I need more structure but I don't know what to do ...when I make a schedule for the week I never fulfill it.  I am not happy....I don't feel fulfilled.  And well those are all the things that are going on with me.  I think it starts with my mess of papers.  And ends with me not having a good healthy life.  

Any thoughts would be appreciated.  And surely I will print out your advice and keep it in my papers.   :) See my problem.....

Thanks for your time,
Shelly
ps.  I guess my worst fear when keeping all these papers is that I won't remember what I need to do when a problem arises.  ...I guess I don't trust my decision making skills very much.  

Answer
Hi Shelly,

Thank you for your question and thank you for your honesty in telling your story.

I think you hit the nail on the head with your last comment "I guess I don't trust my decision making skills very much."

I'd like to invite you to join me on http://bitesizeliving.ning.com/ this is an online community that I run and you might find it helpful to get and stay on track. It can be helpful to be surrounded by others who are in the same boat as we share ideas and support one another.

Now about those lists...AND making you happier:

Can we focus one one goal. I know you have a lot, but let's pick one. The one you have the most passion for at this moment.

Then let's find the time to start working on it.

And those lists, here's what I do, because I too have lots of ideas, so this might be helpful:

I have a master list. It is a single sheet of printer paper, turned to be long side to side. I then write in smaller print to fit everything on the page.

I write a topic like LEARN FRENCH and underline it.

Under that I write all my "notes." List rosetta stone because I heard that might be a good program. And I might write community school to check it they offer an adult class.

Then another topic might be TO READ and I list book titles I might want to read.

And another topic might be CLEANING TIPS now there will be too many tips or clipped articles on the topic to list under the heading. But I write "see file xyz AND I write where I put the file."

I hope this is making sense. At a glance you can see all your topics and related information or at least where to find all the related info.

Does this idea sound like something you'd like to try?

I sure hope to see you on the community! Oh and I host a monthly call where you can get even more ideas and stay motivated. I'd love for you to join us.

Have a clutter-free evening, Jamie