organize for a fresh start
TRANSCRIPT
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OrganizeOrganizeFOR A
resh StartFresh Start
new career new arrival suddenly single
Embrace
Your NextChapterin Life
Susan Fay West
new home
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c o n t e n
t s Introduction 10
PART 1 GETTING STARTED
1 Live Your Life in Chapters 14
Your life is full of different chapters As you move through these
chapters priorities change as does your mind-set about your
belongings and your schedule and activities When this shift hap-
pens itrsquos time to reorganize
2 Set Organizing Goals 32
Before you begin a journey you need to know your destination
This chapter helps you create a vision of your newly reorganized
life so you know what you are working toward
3 Establish and Evaluate Organizing Systemsmdash
The Three Ps 46
Whether yoursquore new to organizing or have organized in the past
the Three Ps help you create and maintain systems that meet your
speci1047297c needs
4 Finding Time and Staying Motivated 58
Whatrsquos holding you back from reaching your organizing goals This
chapter is full of encouragement and ideas to help you get started
and stick with your reorganizing efforts
PART 2 REORGANIZE YOUR SURROUNDINGS
5 Evaluate Your Home and Establish Your Objectives 72
Yoursquore ready to begin but where This chapter takes you through
each room of your home and helps you create a plan
6 Deciding What to Keep and What to Remove 94
Organizing is all about making decisionsmdashwhat to let go of and
what to keep This chapter helps you make no-regrets decisions so
everything in your home enhances your new chapter in life
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7 Reorganizing Whatrsquos Left 116
What do you do with the items you decided to keep This chapter
offers room-by-room ideas for how to reorganize whatrsquos left including
ideas for changing the function of a room
PART 3 MANAGE YOUR TIME
8 Organize Your Time During Your Transition 146
Organization in times of crisis can be a lifesaver Evaluate your time to
determine whatrsquos important before and during major life changes
9 After the Event What Does Your New ScheduleLook Like 162
This chapter shows you how to adapt your schedule to the new
responsibilities and freedoms in your life
PART 4 STAYING ORGANIZED
10 Create Systems That Support You 178
This chapter empowers you to maintain the new organizing systems
you worked so hard to create
APPENDIX
My Goal De1047297nition Worksheet 202
Clearing the Clouds of Confusion Exercise 204
Suggested Reading List 205
Room Tour Questions 206
Keep Less Questions 207
Home is Not Home Without Chart 208
Decluttering Your Calendar 210
Identify How you Would Like to Spend Your Time 211
How Long to Keep Records 216
Resources 218
Index 220
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YOUR LIFE IS IN TRANSITION NOW While change is diffi cult that place in
between the old chapter and the new chaptermdashthe beore and the afermdash
is even more diffi cult Itrsquos a place o limbo where yoursquore not through the
changes and yoursquore not quite into your new chapter
Organizing is so helpul in dealing with liersquos big events Itrsquos not sim-
ply a ldquonice to haverdquomdashitrsquos an essential practice Te bene1047297ts o staying or-ganized during and afer major lie changes are numerous
bull Organizing is cathartic and can help you process your emotions As
you go through your things yoursquore not only thinking about wheth-
er to keep or let go o items yoursquore thinking about the transition
itsel the emotions what yoursquoll do next how yoursquore managing
bull Organizing gives you a sense o control which in the context o
a lie transition is at a shortage or may not even exist at some
points At midcrisis we ofen have no control
bull Organizing allows you to use your energy on the transition and the
emotions o it It gets you moving and makes you an agent o posi-
tive change in your home You are no longer a passive bystander
bull Organizing ocuses you on whatrsquos really important as you move
into the transition while yoursquore in it and as you move out o it and
into your next chapter o lie
ntrodu tionIntroduction
10
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LIFE IS FULL OF CHANGESmdashboth expected and unexpected sel-imposed
and imposed by others I never expected to own my own business I never
expected to get separated and end up in a divorce I didnrsquot know Irsquod be
living back at home or a while in my early orties (but thank goodness
or Mom and Dad) Changing religions Nope also unexpected I alsomoved to a different state became a motor-home owner and experi-
enced a signi1047297cant change in my work lie rom working with clients to
working on products In about eighteen months a total o nine major
changes took place in my lie
Changes no matter what their nature interrupt our lives and ofen
require a response because these changes and transitions leave us with
homes belongings and schedules that no longer work or us Something
is out o alignment and wersquore not sure whatmdashofen it turns out to be
our surroundings our organizing systems (how we do what we do) or
our schedules Suddenly these systems seem to work against us instead
o with us even i they once 1047297t beautiully into our lives What worked
beore will not work now Responsibilities that didnrsquot exist or once be-
longed to someone else now belong only to you and you need to 1047297nd
ways to handle them
Live Your Life inChapters1
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oday lie is more complex than it was orty or 1047297fy years ago when
I was growing up Te pace o change is aster We raise a amily send
our kids to college and then welcome visits rom grandchildren We
switch jobs change careers go back to school and retire rom one careerto pursue a second career We enjoy years with a spouse or committed
partner and then 1047297nd ourselves singlemdashwhether by choice or by other
circumstances We reach an age where our parents begin to depend on us
more than we depend on them and roles reverse Some people call these
seasons o lie or phases o lie I call them chapters in lie
Just as a book has chapters our lives do too We go through different
lie stages and circumstances each o which is a chapter We donrsquot all have
the same set o chapters but odds are good
your lie is ull o several different chapters
At the very least you transitioned rom child-
hood to teenage years to adulthood and rom
school to the working world Other chapters
may include marriage or a lie partnershipparenthood corporate career sel-employ-
ment empty nesting singleness grandchil-
dren retirement continuing education as an
adult a second career and caregiving
Each chapter brings new responsibilities
and priorities and you may 1047297nd your values
shif as well Tese new circumstances ofen
will give you a different mind-set about your
ldquostuffrdquomdashyour belongings and your schedule and activities and thatrsquos the
key connection to organizing Your lie has changed and your attitude has
changed Now you need to reorganize your belongings and schedule to
re1047298ect those changes and ully embrace your new chapter
As I moved through my set o lie changes it didnrsquot occur to me to
check in with my values but a riend introduced me to her concept o
Changes no
matter what their
nature inter-
rupt our lives and
often require a
response because
these changes and
transitions leave
us with homes
belongings and
schedules that no
longer work for us
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ldquoWhatrsquos at your corerdquo About ten years later as I was receiving training as
an Organizing Coach I realized this concept was similar to some of the
coaching activities I was learning about values and needs Itrsquos important
to re1047298ect on what you value and to identify what enables you to live asatisfying ful1047297lling life with integrity Identifying your values and needs
will be a useful exercise for you as well Needs are the principles you live
bymdashyour personal priorities Examples of needs are equality health self-
worth spirituality and peace You may have some basic needs that were
not getting met in your last chapter so yoursquoll
want to start by covering the basics
Once your needs are met you can move
on to working on your values to ensure the
life you are creating is in alignment with your
principles and beliefs We are happiest when
we have a purpose in life and know our values
so take some time with this Knowing your val-
ues will be useful as you begin to change yourhome to re1047298ect you and your new chapter as
well as change how you use your time Values help you 1047297gure out the types
of belongings you want in your life as well as which activities you should
devote your time to and this can inspire you as you reorganize
For example if you want to declutter and reorganize your home it
may be that you want to free up time and space to pursue a dream yoursquove
always had such as writing a book starting a new business or creating an
art studio Tink of how motivated yoursquoll be if you have a speci1047297c reason
to start and complete this reorganizing project
Reorganizing isnrsquot only about moving on and leaving your past be-
hind Most important itrsquos about creating a new chapter You may know
just what your new chapter will be like or you may prefer to let it grow
organically a piece at a time So do a check on your values as you begin
this reorganization process
Values help you
1047297gure out the
types of belong-
ings you want in
your life as well
as which activities
you should devote
your time to
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Your organizing systems will work best or you and yoursquoll be most
motivated to change when you tie organizing to your values And the sys-
tems will persist and support you most effectively i yoursquore clear on whatrsquos
important to you and design organizing systems that work or youmdash1047297t-ting your style how yoursquore mentally and emotionally wired and what
yoursquore willing to do to maintain them
Chapters in books have clear beginnings and endings and some-
times chapters in lie do too More ofen we gradually phase out o one
chapter and into another chapter You may be well into your next chapter
beore you ully realize it or beore you have time to ully adjust to the
change Approaching lie in chapters allows you to close the door on the
past (while still honoring it) and ully embrace your present When you
live this way you give yoursel permission to let go o things and you can
be more comortable with choices you make When you give up some-
thing rom the past yoursquoll realize you are not giving up dreams yoursquore
simply making room or them to happen in uture chapters You are not
dishonoring memories o those yoursquove lovedbut incorporating into your lie the most spe-
cial memories that are the essence o your
loved ones
Liersquos transitions ofen require us to re-
organize or adapt our current surroundings
and schedules Reorganizing can realign and
get us back into balance Te process o reor-
ganizing can point us toward our next new
chapter assisting us beore during and afer
these major lie events We regroup remember
and reorganizemdashthe new Tree Rs
Te goal o this book is to help you 1047297nd
ways to hold on to whatrsquos best rom your previous chapters including
your belongings your systems and routines and how you use your time
Reorganizing can
realign and get us
back into balance
The process of
reorganizing can
point us toward
our next new
chapter assisting
us before during
and after these
major life events
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while deciding what you need around you right now and also what yoursquoll
need as you move through this transition into your next chapter o lie
Te mental and physical space we create by letting go o things that
belong in our past gives us new energy or our next chapter Te spacegives us serenity calm control or the option to fill the space with some-
thing new Our ocus is orward with respect or whatrsquos behind usmdash
because whatrsquos behind us is a large part o who we have become
ransitions add the twists and turns in this journey o lie Tey are
tough to go through certainly But once on the other side o the transi-
tion given time most o us will eel like wersquove conquered something truly
significant in our lives And i we can do that what else can we do Afer I
experienced all those significant changes in those brie eighteen months
I took a little time to re1047298ect and decided I was
ready to listen to my riend Robertarsquos idea
about becoming a proessional organizer and
starting my own business Why not I I had
made it through the other changes hellip thenwhat else could I do
My goal with this book is to empower
you to embrace your changes and not just to
weather them but sail through them so you
can find all o the wonderul opportunities on
the other side which is the resh start you are looking or Irsquoll share what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my own changes as well as what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my clients my class attendees and
my colleagues When yoursquore a Certified Organizer Coachreg and Certified
Proessional Organizerreg people like to share with you how they organize
their space stuff and lie Clients discuss memories values and obstacles
as their trust in the proessional organizer grows
I am honored and privileged by what people have shared with me
over the years and I would certainly not ever compromise these conver-
ldquoThough no one
can go back and
make a brand-new
start anyone can
start from now
and make a brand-
new endingrdquo
991252AUTHOR UNKNOWN
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sations Te examples I share in this book are composites o my clients
and students and they are not based on any one speci1047297c person I have
purposeully mixed up and changed details so no one is recognizable Tat
said Irsquom sure clients and colleagues will think they recognize themselvesI one clientrsquos experience is recognizable thatrsquos because there are enough
similarities with the next personrsquos experience to make the experiences
seem the same Organizer coaches call this normalizing Te changes you
experience arenrsquot all that different rom those
experienced by someone else in a similar situ-
ation Doesnrsquot it eel so much better when we
know wersquore not alone in this
DEFINITIONS TRANSITION VERSUS CHANGE
I want to take a ew minutes to compare and
contrast transition and change to help you
understand why this time in your lie can be
mentally or emotionally diffi cult and then relate this diffi culty to your or-ganizing dilemmas Expectations are everything Tey make a situation
either harder or easier depending on what we expected going into it
Change is a Difference
A change is one single difference that happens during one speci1047297c event
or at one point in time Itrsquos over airly quickly and when you compare the
beore and afer itrsquos black-and-white In other words changes are sudden
but they arenrsquot always unexpected Examples o a change are losing a job
giving birth to a baby or welcoming a puppy into your home
Dictionarycom de1047297nes change this way ldquohellip to make the orm na-
ture content uture course etc o (something) different rom what it is
or rom what it would be i lef alone to change onersquos name to change
onersquos opinion to change the course o historyrdquo1 And the verb is de1047297ned as
ldquoto become differentrdquo
Expectations are
everything They
make a situationeither harder or
easier depend-
ing on what we
expected going
into it
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With a change you know how things are going to be and you can
begin to adjust to it and reorganize your surroundings as soon as yoursquove
mentally and emotionally processed the change (which may take some
signi1047297cant time depending on the change) Afer you adjust to thechange your organizing systems should require little to no adjustment
i you maintain them
Transition is a Process
A transition is not so black-and-white A transition is not a single point
in time itrsquos a shif like on a spectrum Transition occurs over a longer
period o time than change does When I think o transitions itrsquos more
about a state o mind or your mind-set Tran-
sition is a gradual series o changes that lead
you to a new point in lie Gray instead o
black-and-white
Dictionarycom de1047297nes transition as
ldquopassage hellip rom one hellip state stage subjectto anotherrdquo983090 Passage is the key word Itrsquos not
a door which is quickly opened and shut but
a passage that you must journey through You
may experience many transitions beore a
change occurs For example i you are prepar-
ing to retire you may transition rom working
ull time to working part time to not working
at all Caregiving ofen is transition as you gradually take on more and
more responsibility or the person you are caring or You may start by
caregiving in your parentrsquos home once or twice a week Over time that
may increase to visiting every day and eventually you may have your
parent move in with you or you may help them move to an assisted living
acility You may transition as you change careers by 1047297rst going back to
school or more education
A transition is
not so black-and-
white A transition
is not a single
point in timeitrsquos a shift like
on a spectrum
Transition occurs
over a longer
period of time
than change does
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With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
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I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
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As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
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new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
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was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
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maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
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Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
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Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
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organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
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empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
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c o n t e n
t s Introduction 10
PART 1 GETTING STARTED
1 Live Your Life in Chapters 14
Your life is full of different chapters As you move through these
chapters priorities change as does your mind-set about your
belongings and your schedule and activities When this shift hap-
pens itrsquos time to reorganize
2 Set Organizing Goals 32
Before you begin a journey you need to know your destination
This chapter helps you create a vision of your newly reorganized
life so you know what you are working toward
3 Establish and Evaluate Organizing Systemsmdash
The Three Ps 46
Whether yoursquore new to organizing or have organized in the past
the Three Ps help you create and maintain systems that meet your
speci1047297c needs
4 Finding Time and Staying Motivated 58
Whatrsquos holding you back from reaching your organizing goals This
chapter is full of encouragement and ideas to help you get started
and stick with your reorganizing efforts
PART 2 REORGANIZE YOUR SURROUNDINGS
5 Evaluate Your Home and Establish Your Objectives 72
Yoursquore ready to begin but where This chapter takes you through
each room of your home and helps you create a plan
6 Deciding What to Keep and What to Remove 94
Organizing is all about making decisionsmdashwhat to let go of and
what to keep This chapter helps you make no-regrets decisions so
everything in your home enhances your new chapter in life
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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7 Reorganizing Whatrsquos Left 116
What do you do with the items you decided to keep This chapter
offers room-by-room ideas for how to reorganize whatrsquos left including
ideas for changing the function of a room
PART 3 MANAGE YOUR TIME
8 Organize Your Time During Your Transition 146
Organization in times of crisis can be a lifesaver Evaluate your time to
determine whatrsquos important before and during major life changes
9 After the Event What Does Your New ScheduleLook Like 162
This chapter shows you how to adapt your schedule to the new
responsibilities and freedoms in your life
PART 4 STAYING ORGANIZED
10 Create Systems That Support You 178
This chapter empowers you to maintain the new organizing systems
you worked so hard to create
APPENDIX
My Goal De1047297nition Worksheet 202
Clearing the Clouds of Confusion Exercise 204
Suggested Reading List 205
Room Tour Questions 206
Keep Less Questions 207
Home is Not Home Without Chart 208
Decluttering Your Calendar 210
Identify How you Would Like to Spend Your Time 211
How Long to Keep Records 216
Resources 218
Index 220
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YOUR LIFE IS IN TRANSITION NOW While change is diffi cult that place in
between the old chapter and the new chaptermdashthe beore and the afermdash
is even more diffi cult Itrsquos a place o limbo where yoursquore not through the
changes and yoursquore not quite into your new chapter
Organizing is so helpul in dealing with liersquos big events Itrsquos not sim-
ply a ldquonice to haverdquomdashitrsquos an essential practice Te bene1047297ts o staying or-ganized during and afer major lie changes are numerous
bull Organizing is cathartic and can help you process your emotions As
you go through your things yoursquore not only thinking about wheth-
er to keep or let go o items yoursquore thinking about the transition
itsel the emotions what yoursquoll do next how yoursquore managing
bull Organizing gives you a sense o control which in the context o
a lie transition is at a shortage or may not even exist at some
points At midcrisis we ofen have no control
bull Organizing allows you to use your energy on the transition and the
emotions o it It gets you moving and makes you an agent o posi-
tive change in your home You are no longer a passive bystander
bull Organizing ocuses you on whatrsquos really important as you move
into the transition while yoursquore in it and as you move out o it and
into your next chapter o lie
ntrodu tionIntroduction
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LIFE IS FULL OF CHANGESmdashboth expected and unexpected sel-imposed
and imposed by others I never expected to own my own business I never
expected to get separated and end up in a divorce I didnrsquot know Irsquod be
living back at home or a while in my early orties (but thank goodness
or Mom and Dad) Changing religions Nope also unexpected I alsomoved to a different state became a motor-home owner and experi-
enced a signi1047297cant change in my work lie rom working with clients to
working on products In about eighteen months a total o nine major
changes took place in my lie
Changes no matter what their nature interrupt our lives and ofen
require a response because these changes and transitions leave us with
homes belongings and schedules that no longer work or us Something
is out o alignment and wersquore not sure whatmdashofen it turns out to be
our surroundings our organizing systems (how we do what we do) or
our schedules Suddenly these systems seem to work against us instead
o with us even i they once 1047297t beautiully into our lives What worked
beore will not work now Responsibilities that didnrsquot exist or once be-
longed to someone else now belong only to you and you need to 1047297nd
ways to handle them
Live Your Life inChapters1
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oday lie is more complex than it was orty or 1047297fy years ago when
I was growing up Te pace o change is aster We raise a amily send
our kids to college and then welcome visits rom grandchildren We
switch jobs change careers go back to school and retire rom one careerto pursue a second career We enjoy years with a spouse or committed
partner and then 1047297nd ourselves singlemdashwhether by choice or by other
circumstances We reach an age where our parents begin to depend on us
more than we depend on them and roles reverse Some people call these
seasons o lie or phases o lie I call them chapters in lie
Just as a book has chapters our lives do too We go through different
lie stages and circumstances each o which is a chapter We donrsquot all have
the same set o chapters but odds are good
your lie is ull o several different chapters
At the very least you transitioned rom child-
hood to teenage years to adulthood and rom
school to the working world Other chapters
may include marriage or a lie partnershipparenthood corporate career sel-employ-
ment empty nesting singleness grandchil-
dren retirement continuing education as an
adult a second career and caregiving
Each chapter brings new responsibilities
and priorities and you may 1047297nd your values
shif as well Tese new circumstances ofen
will give you a different mind-set about your
ldquostuffrdquomdashyour belongings and your schedule and activities and thatrsquos the
key connection to organizing Your lie has changed and your attitude has
changed Now you need to reorganize your belongings and schedule to
re1047298ect those changes and ully embrace your new chapter
As I moved through my set o lie changes it didnrsquot occur to me to
check in with my values but a riend introduced me to her concept o
Changes no
matter what their
nature inter-
rupt our lives and
often require a
response because
these changes and
transitions leave
us with homes
belongings and
schedules that no
longer work for us
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ldquoWhatrsquos at your corerdquo About ten years later as I was receiving training as
an Organizing Coach I realized this concept was similar to some of the
coaching activities I was learning about values and needs Itrsquos important
to re1047298ect on what you value and to identify what enables you to live asatisfying ful1047297lling life with integrity Identifying your values and needs
will be a useful exercise for you as well Needs are the principles you live
bymdashyour personal priorities Examples of needs are equality health self-
worth spirituality and peace You may have some basic needs that were
not getting met in your last chapter so yoursquoll
want to start by covering the basics
Once your needs are met you can move
on to working on your values to ensure the
life you are creating is in alignment with your
principles and beliefs We are happiest when
we have a purpose in life and know our values
so take some time with this Knowing your val-
ues will be useful as you begin to change yourhome to re1047298ect you and your new chapter as
well as change how you use your time Values help you 1047297gure out the types
of belongings you want in your life as well as which activities you should
devote your time to and this can inspire you as you reorganize
For example if you want to declutter and reorganize your home it
may be that you want to free up time and space to pursue a dream yoursquove
always had such as writing a book starting a new business or creating an
art studio Tink of how motivated yoursquoll be if you have a speci1047297c reason
to start and complete this reorganizing project
Reorganizing isnrsquot only about moving on and leaving your past be-
hind Most important itrsquos about creating a new chapter You may know
just what your new chapter will be like or you may prefer to let it grow
organically a piece at a time So do a check on your values as you begin
this reorganization process
Values help you
1047297gure out the
types of belong-
ings you want in
your life as well
as which activities
you should devote
your time to
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Your organizing systems will work best or you and yoursquoll be most
motivated to change when you tie organizing to your values And the sys-
tems will persist and support you most effectively i yoursquore clear on whatrsquos
important to you and design organizing systems that work or youmdash1047297t-ting your style how yoursquore mentally and emotionally wired and what
yoursquore willing to do to maintain them
Chapters in books have clear beginnings and endings and some-
times chapters in lie do too More ofen we gradually phase out o one
chapter and into another chapter You may be well into your next chapter
beore you ully realize it or beore you have time to ully adjust to the
change Approaching lie in chapters allows you to close the door on the
past (while still honoring it) and ully embrace your present When you
live this way you give yoursel permission to let go o things and you can
be more comortable with choices you make When you give up some-
thing rom the past yoursquoll realize you are not giving up dreams yoursquore
simply making room or them to happen in uture chapters You are not
dishonoring memories o those yoursquove lovedbut incorporating into your lie the most spe-
cial memories that are the essence o your
loved ones
Liersquos transitions ofen require us to re-
organize or adapt our current surroundings
and schedules Reorganizing can realign and
get us back into balance Te process o reor-
ganizing can point us toward our next new
chapter assisting us beore during and afer
these major lie events We regroup remember
and reorganizemdashthe new Tree Rs
Te goal o this book is to help you 1047297nd
ways to hold on to whatrsquos best rom your previous chapters including
your belongings your systems and routines and how you use your time
Reorganizing can
realign and get us
back into balance
The process of
reorganizing can
point us toward
our next new
chapter assisting
us before during
and after these
major life events
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842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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while deciding what you need around you right now and also what yoursquoll
need as you move through this transition into your next chapter o lie
Te mental and physical space we create by letting go o things that
belong in our past gives us new energy or our next chapter Te spacegives us serenity calm control or the option to fill the space with some-
thing new Our ocus is orward with respect or whatrsquos behind usmdash
because whatrsquos behind us is a large part o who we have become
ransitions add the twists and turns in this journey o lie Tey are
tough to go through certainly But once on the other side o the transi-
tion given time most o us will eel like wersquove conquered something truly
significant in our lives And i we can do that what else can we do Afer I
experienced all those significant changes in those brie eighteen months
I took a little time to re1047298ect and decided I was
ready to listen to my riend Robertarsquos idea
about becoming a proessional organizer and
starting my own business Why not I I had
made it through the other changes hellip thenwhat else could I do
My goal with this book is to empower
you to embrace your changes and not just to
weather them but sail through them so you
can find all o the wonderul opportunities on
the other side which is the resh start you are looking or Irsquoll share what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my own changes as well as what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my clients my class attendees and
my colleagues When yoursquore a Certified Organizer Coachreg and Certified
Proessional Organizerreg people like to share with you how they organize
their space stuff and lie Clients discuss memories values and obstacles
as their trust in the proessional organizer grows
I am honored and privileged by what people have shared with me
over the years and I would certainly not ever compromise these conver-
ldquoThough no one
can go back and
make a brand-new
start anyone can
start from now
and make a brand-
new endingrdquo
991252AUTHOR UNKNOWN
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sations Te examples I share in this book are composites o my clients
and students and they are not based on any one speci1047297c person I have
purposeully mixed up and changed details so no one is recognizable Tat
said Irsquom sure clients and colleagues will think they recognize themselvesI one clientrsquos experience is recognizable thatrsquos because there are enough
similarities with the next personrsquos experience to make the experiences
seem the same Organizer coaches call this normalizing Te changes you
experience arenrsquot all that different rom those
experienced by someone else in a similar situ-
ation Doesnrsquot it eel so much better when we
know wersquore not alone in this
DEFINITIONS TRANSITION VERSUS CHANGE
I want to take a ew minutes to compare and
contrast transition and change to help you
understand why this time in your lie can be
mentally or emotionally diffi cult and then relate this diffi culty to your or-ganizing dilemmas Expectations are everything Tey make a situation
either harder or easier depending on what we expected going into it
Change is a Difference
A change is one single difference that happens during one speci1047297c event
or at one point in time Itrsquos over airly quickly and when you compare the
beore and afer itrsquos black-and-white In other words changes are sudden
but they arenrsquot always unexpected Examples o a change are losing a job
giving birth to a baby or welcoming a puppy into your home
Dictionarycom de1047297nes change this way ldquohellip to make the orm na-
ture content uture course etc o (something) different rom what it is
or rom what it would be i lef alone to change onersquos name to change
onersquos opinion to change the course o historyrdquo1 And the verb is de1047297ned as
ldquoto become differentrdquo
Expectations are
everything They
make a situationeither harder or
easier depend-
ing on what we
expected going
into it
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With a change you know how things are going to be and you can
begin to adjust to it and reorganize your surroundings as soon as yoursquove
mentally and emotionally processed the change (which may take some
signi1047297cant time depending on the change) Afer you adjust to thechange your organizing systems should require little to no adjustment
i you maintain them
Transition is a Process
A transition is not so black-and-white A transition is not a single point
in time itrsquos a shif like on a spectrum Transition occurs over a longer
period o time than change does When I think o transitions itrsquos more
about a state o mind or your mind-set Tran-
sition is a gradual series o changes that lead
you to a new point in lie Gray instead o
black-and-white
Dictionarycom de1047297nes transition as
ldquopassage hellip rom one hellip state stage subjectto anotherrdquo983090 Passage is the key word Itrsquos not
a door which is quickly opened and shut but
a passage that you must journey through You
may experience many transitions beore a
change occurs For example i you are prepar-
ing to retire you may transition rom working
ull time to working part time to not working
at all Caregiving ofen is transition as you gradually take on more and
more responsibility or the person you are caring or You may start by
caregiving in your parentrsquos home once or twice a week Over time that
may increase to visiting every day and eventually you may have your
parent move in with you or you may help them move to an assisted living
acility You may transition as you change careers by 1047297rst going back to
school or more education
A transition is
not so black-and-
white A transition
is not a single
point in timeitrsquos a shift like
on a spectrum
Transition occurs
over a longer
period of time
than change does
20
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With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
21
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I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
22
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As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
23
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new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
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was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
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maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
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Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
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Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
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bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
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organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
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empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
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7 Reorganizing Whatrsquos Left 116
What do you do with the items you decided to keep This chapter
offers room-by-room ideas for how to reorganize whatrsquos left including
ideas for changing the function of a room
PART 3 MANAGE YOUR TIME
8 Organize Your Time During Your Transition 146
Organization in times of crisis can be a lifesaver Evaluate your time to
determine whatrsquos important before and during major life changes
9 After the Event What Does Your New ScheduleLook Like 162
This chapter shows you how to adapt your schedule to the new
responsibilities and freedoms in your life
PART 4 STAYING ORGANIZED
10 Create Systems That Support You 178
This chapter empowers you to maintain the new organizing systems
you worked so hard to create
APPENDIX
My Goal De1047297nition Worksheet 202
Clearing the Clouds of Confusion Exercise 204
Suggested Reading List 205
Room Tour Questions 206
Keep Less Questions 207
Home is Not Home Without Chart 208
Decluttering Your Calendar 210
Identify How you Would Like to Spend Your Time 211
How Long to Keep Records 216
Resources 218
Index 220
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YOUR LIFE IS IN TRANSITION NOW While change is diffi cult that place in
between the old chapter and the new chaptermdashthe beore and the afermdash
is even more diffi cult Itrsquos a place o limbo where yoursquore not through the
changes and yoursquore not quite into your new chapter
Organizing is so helpul in dealing with liersquos big events Itrsquos not sim-
ply a ldquonice to haverdquomdashitrsquos an essential practice Te bene1047297ts o staying or-ganized during and afer major lie changes are numerous
bull Organizing is cathartic and can help you process your emotions As
you go through your things yoursquore not only thinking about wheth-
er to keep or let go o items yoursquore thinking about the transition
itsel the emotions what yoursquoll do next how yoursquore managing
bull Organizing gives you a sense o control which in the context o
a lie transition is at a shortage or may not even exist at some
points At midcrisis we ofen have no control
bull Organizing allows you to use your energy on the transition and the
emotions o it It gets you moving and makes you an agent o posi-
tive change in your home You are no longer a passive bystander
bull Organizing ocuses you on whatrsquos really important as you move
into the transition while yoursquore in it and as you move out o it and
into your next chapter o lie
ntrodu tionIntroduction
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LIFE IS FULL OF CHANGESmdashboth expected and unexpected sel-imposed
and imposed by others I never expected to own my own business I never
expected to get separated and end up in a divorce I didnrsquot know Irsquod be
living back at home or a while in my early orties (but thank goodness
or Mom and Dad) Changing religions Nope also unexpected I alsomoved to a different state became a motor-home owner and experi-
enced a signi1047297cant change in my work lie rom working with clients to
working on products In about eighteen months a total o nine major
changes took place in my lie
Changes no matter what their nature interrupt our lives and ofen
require a response because these changes and transitions leave us with
homes belongings and schedules that no longer work or us Something
is out o alignment and wersquore not sure whatmdashofen it turns out to be
our surroundings our organizing systems (how we do what we do) or
our schedules Suddenly these systems seem to work against us instead
o with us even i they once 1047297t beautiully into our lives What worked
beore will not work now Responsibilities that didnrsquot exist or once be-
longed to someone else now belong only to you and you need to 1047297nd
ways to handle them
Live Your Life inChapters1
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oday lie is more complex than it was orty or 1047297fy years ago when
I was growing up Te pace o change is aster We raise a amily send
our kids to college and then welcome visits rom grandchildren We
switch jobs change careers go back to school and retire rom one careerto pursue a second career We enjoy years with a spouse or committed
partner and then 1047297nd ourselves singlemdashwhether by choice or by other
circumstances We reach an age where our parents begin to depend on us
more than we depend on them and roles reverse Some people call these
seasons o lie or phases o lie I call them chapters in lie
Just as a book has chapters our lives do too We go through different
lie stages and circumstances each o which is a chapter We donrsquot all have
the same set o chapters but odds are good
your lie is ull o several different chapters
At the very least you transitioned rom child-
hood to teenage years to adulthood and rom
school to the working world Other chapters
may include marriage or a lie partnershipparenthood corporate career sel-employ-
ment empty nesting singleness grandchil-
dren retirement continuing education as an
adult a second career and caregiving
Each chapter brings new responsibilities
and priorities and you may 1047297nd your values
shif as well Tese new circumstances ofen
will give you a different mind-set about your
ldquostuffrdquomdashyour belongings and your schedule and activities and thatrsquos the
key connection to organizing Your lie has changed and your attitude has
changed Now you need to reorganize your belongings and schedule to
re1047298ect those changes and ully embrace your new chapter
As I moved through my set o lie changes it didnrsquot occur to me to
check in with my values but a riend introduced me to her concept o
Changes no
matter what their
nature inter-
rupt our lives and
often require a
response because
these changes and
transitions leave
us with homes
belongings and
schedules that no
longer work for us
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ldquoWhatrsquos at your corerdquo About ten years later as I was receiving training as
an Organizing Coach I realized this concept was similar to some of the
coaching activities I was learning about values and needs Itrsquos important
to re1047298ect on what you value and to identify what enables you to live asatisfying ful1047297lling life with integrity Identifying your values and needs
will be a useful exercise for you as well Needs are the principles you live
bymdashyour personal priorities Examples of needs are equality health self-
worth spirituality and peace You may have some basic needs that were
not getting met in your last chapter so yoursquoll
want to start by covering the basics
Once your needs are met you can move
on to working on your values to ensure the
life you are creating is in alignment with your
principles and beliefs We are happiest when
we have a purpose in life and know our values
so take some time with this Knowing your val-
ues will be useful as you begin to change yourhome to re1047298ect you and your new chapter as
well as change how you use your time Values help you 1047297gure out the types
of belongings you want in your life as well as which activities you should
devote your time to and this can inspire you as you reorganize
For example if you want to declutter and reorganize your home it
may be that you want to free up time and space to pursue a dream yoursquove
always had such as writing a book starting a new business or creating an
art studio Tink of how motivated yoursquoll be if you have a speci1047297c reason
to start and complete this reorganizing project
Reorganizing isnrsquot only about moving on and leaving your past be-
hind Most important itrsquos about creating a new chapter You may know
just what your new chapter will be like or you may prefer to let it grow
organically a piece at a time So do a check on your values as you begin
this reorganization process
Values help you
1047297gure out the
types of belong-
ings you want in
your life as well
as which activities
you should devote
your time to
16
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Your organizing systems will work best or you and yoursquoll be most
motivated to change when you tie organizing to your values And the sys-
tems will persist and support you most effectively i yoursquore clear on whatrsquos
important to you and design organizing systems that work or youmdash1047297t-ting your style how yoursquore mentally and emotionally wired and what
yoursquore willing to do to maintain them
Chapters in books have clear beginnings and endings and some-
times chapters in lie do too More ofen we gradually phase out o one
chapter and into another chapter You may be well into your next chapter
beore you ully realize it or beore you have time to ully adjust to the
change Approaching lie in chapters allows you to close the door on the
past (while still honoring it) and ully embrace your present When you
live this way you give yoursel permission to let go o things and you can
be more comortable with choices you make When you give up some-
thing rom the past yoursquoll realize you are not giving up dreams yoursquore
simply making room or them to happen in uture chapters You are not
dishonoring memories o those yoursquove lovedbut incorporating into your lie the most spe-
cial memories that are the essence o your
loved ones
Liersquos transitions ofen require us to re-
organize or adapt our current surroundings
and schedules Reorganizing can realign and
get us back into balance Te process o reor-
ganizing can point us toward our next new
chapter assisting us beore during and afer
these major lie events We regroup remember
and reorganizemdashthe new Tree Rs
Te goal o this book is to help you 1047297nd
ways to hold on to whatrsquos best rom your previous chapters including
your belongings your systems and routines and how you use your time
Reorganizing can
realign and get us
back into balance
The process of
reorganizing can
point us toward
our next new
chapter assisting
us before during
and after these
major life events
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842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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while deciding what you need around you right now and also what yoursquoll
need as you move through this transition into your next chapter o lie
Te mental and physical space we create by letting go o things that
belong in our past gives us new energy or our next chapter Te spacegives us serenity calm control or the option to fill the space with some-
thing new Our ocus is orward with respect or whatrsquos behind usmdash
because whatrsquos behind us is a large part o who we have become
ransitions add the twists and turns in this journey o lie Tey are
tough to go through certainly But once on the other side o the transi-
tion given time most o us will eel like wersquove conquered something truly
significant in our lives And i we can do that what else can we do Afer I
experienced all those significant changes in those brie eighteen months
I took a little time to re1047298ect and decided I was
ready to listen to my riend Robertarsquos idea
about becoming a proessional organizer and
starting my own business Why not I I had
made it through the other changes hellip thenwhat else could I do
My goal with this book is to empower
you to embrace your changes and not just to
weather them but sail through them so you
can find all o the wonderul opportunities on
the other side which is the resh start you are looking or Irsquoll share what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my own changes as well as what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my clients my class attendees and
my colleagues When yoursquore a Certified Organizer Coachreg and Certified
Proessional Organizerreg people like to share with you how they organize
their space stuff and lie Clients discuss memories values and obstacles
as their trust in the proessional organizer grows
I am honored and privileged by what people have shared with me
over the years and I would certainly not ever compromise these conver-
ldquoThough no one
can go back and
make a brand-new
start anyone can
start from now
and make a brand-
new endingrdquo
991252AUTHOR UNKNOWN
18
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sations Te examples I share in this book are composites o my clients
and students and they are not based on any one speci1047297c person I have
purposeully mixed up and changed details so no one is recognizable Tat
said Irsquom sure clients and colleagues will think they recognize themselvesI one clientrsquos experience is recognizable thatrsquos because there are enough
similarities with the next personrsquos experience to make the experiences
seem the same Organizer coaches call this normalizing Te changes you
experience arenrsquot all that different rom those
experienced by someone else in a similar situ-
ation Doesnrsquot it eel so much better when we
know wersquore not alone in this
DEFINITIONS TRANSITION VERSUS CHANGE
I want to take a ew minutes to compare and
contrast transition and change to help you
understand why this time in your lie can be
mentally or emotionally diffi cult and then relate this diffi culty to your or-ganizing dilemmas Expectations are everything Tey make a situation
either harder or easier depending on what we expected going into it
Change is a Difference
A change is one single difference that happens during one speci1047297c event
or at one point in time Itrsquos over airly quickly and when you compare the
beore and afer itrsquos black-and-white In other words changes are sudden
but they arenrsquot always unexpected Examples o a change are losing a job
giving birth to a baby or welcoming a puppy into your home
Dictionarycom de1047297nes change this way ldquohellip to make the orm na-
ture content uture course etc o (something) different rom what it is
or rom what it would be i lef alone to change onersquos name to change
onersquos opinion to change the course o historyrdquo1 And the verb is de1047297ned as
ldquoto become differentrdquo
Expectations are
everything They
make a situationeither harder or
easier depend-
ing on what we
expected going
into it
19
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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With a change you know how things are going to be and you can
begin to adjust to it and reorganize your surroundings as soon as yoursquove
mentally and emotionally processed the change (which may take some
signi1047297cant time depending on the change) Afer you adjust to thechange your organizing systems should require little to no adjustment
i you maintain them
Transition is a Process
A transition is not so black-and-white A transition is not a single point
in time itrsquos a shif like on a spectrum Transition occurs over a longer
period o time than change does When I think o transitions itrsquos more
about a state o mind or your mind-set Tran-
sition is a gradual series o changes that lead
you to a new point in lie Gray instead o
black-and-white
Dictionarycom de1047297nes transition as
ldquopassage hellip rom one hellip state stage subjectto anotherrdquo983090 Passage is the key word Itrsquos not
a door which is quickly opened and shut but
a passage that you must journey through You
may experience many transitions beore a
change occurs For example i you are prepar-
ing to retire you may transition rom working
ull time to working part time to not working
at all Caregiving ofen is transition as you gradually take on more and
more responsibility or the person you are caring or You may start by
caregiving in your parentrsquos home once or twice a week Over time that
may increase to visiting every day and eventually you may have your
parent move in with you or you may help them move to an assisted living
acility You may transition as you change careers by 1047297rst going back to
school or more education
A transition is
not so black-and-
white A transition
is not a single
point in timeitrsquos a shift like
on a spectrum
Transition occurs
over a longer
period of time
than change does
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With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
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I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
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As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
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new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
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was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
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maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
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Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
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Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
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bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
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organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
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empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
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YOUR LIFE IS IN TRANSITION NOW While change is diffi cult that place in
between the old chapter and the new chaptermdashthe beore and the afermdash
is even more diffi cult Itrsquos a place o limbo where yoursquore not through the
changes and yoursquore not quite into your new chapter
Organizing is so helpul in dealing with liersquos big events Itrsquos not sim-
ply a ldquonice to haverdquomdashitrsquos an essential practice Te bene1047297ts o staying or-ganized during and afer major lie changes are numerous
bull Organizing is cathartic and can help you process your emotions As
you go through your things yoursquore not only thinking about wheth-
er to keep or let go o items yoursquore thinking about the transition
itsel the emotions what yoursquoll do next how yoursquore managing
bull Organizing gives you a sense o control which in the context o
a lie transition is at a shortage or may not even exist at some
points At midcrisis we ofen have no control
bull Organizing allows you to use your energy on the transition and the
emotions o it It gets you moving and makes you an agent o posi-
tive change in your home You are no longer a passive bystander
bull Organizing ocuses you on whatrsquos really important as you move
into the transition while yoursquore in it and as you move out o it and
into your next chapter o lie
ntrodu tionIntroduction
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LIFE IS FULL OF CHANGESmdashboth expected and unexpected sel-imposed
and imposed by others I never expected to own my own business I never
expected to get separated and end up in a divorce I didnrsquot know Irsquod be
living back at home or a while in my early orties (but thank goodness
or Mom and Dad) Changing religions Nope also unexpected I alsomoved to a different state became a motor-home owner and experi-
enced a signi1047297cant change in my work lie rom working with clients to
working on products In about eighteen months a total o nine major
changes took place in my lie
Changes no matter what their nature interrupt our lives and ofen
require a response because these changes and transitions leave us with
homes belongings and schedules that no longer work or us Something
is out o alignment and wersquore not sure whatmdashofen it turns out to be
our surroundings our organizing systems (how we do what we do) or
our schedules Suddenly these systems seem to work against us instead
o with us even i they once 1047297t beautiully into our lives What worked
beore will not work now Responsibilities that didnrsquot exist or once be-
longed to someone else now belong only to you and you need to 1047297nd
ways to handle them
Live Your Life inChapters1
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oday lie is more complex than it was orty or 1047297fy years ago when
I was growing up Te pace o change is aster We raise a amily send
our kids to college and then welcome visits rom grandchildren We
switch jobs change careers go back to school and retire rom one careerto pursue a second career We enjoy years with a spouse or committed
partner and then 1047297nd ourselves singlemdashwhether by choice or by other
circumstances We reach an age where our parents begin to depend on us
more than we depend on them and roles reverse Some people call these
seasons o lie or phases o lie I call them chapters in lie
Just as a book has chapters our lives do too We go through different
lie stages and circumstances each o which is a chapter We donrsquot all have
the same set o chapters but odds are good
your lie is ull o several different chapters
At the very least you transitioned rom child-
hood to teenage years to adulthood and rom
school to the working world Other chapters
may include marriage or a lie partnershipparenthood corporate career sel-employ-
ment empty nesting singleness grandchil-
dren retirement continuing education as an
adult a second career and caregiving
Each chapter brings new responsibilities
and priorities and you may 1047297nd your values
shif as well Tese new circumstances ofen
will give you a different mind-set about your
ldquostuffrdquomdashyour belongings and your schedule and activities and thatrsquos the
key connection to organizing Your lie has changed and your attitude has
changed Now you need to reorganize your belongings and schedule to
re1047298ect those changes and ully embrace your new chapter
As I moved through my set o lie changes it didnrsquot occur to me to
check in with my values but a riend introduced me to her concept o
Changes no
matter what their
nature inter-
rupt our lives and
often require a
response because
these changes and
transitions leave
us with homes
belongings and
schedules that no
longer work for us
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ldquoWhatrsquos at your corerdquo About ten years later as I was receiving training as
an Organizing Coach I realized this concept was similar to some of the
coaching activities I was learning about values and needs Itrsquos important
to re1047298ect on what you value and to identify what enables you to live asatisfying ful1047297lling life with integrity Identifying your values and needs
will be a useful exercise for you as well Needs are the principles you live
bymdashyour personal priorities Examples of needs are equality health self-
worth spirituality and peace You may have some basic needs that were
not getting met in your last chapter so yoursquoll
want to start by covering the basics
Once your needs are met you can move
on to working on your values to ensure the
life you are creating is in alignment with your
principles and beliefs We are happiest when
we have a purpose in life and know our values
so take some time with this Knowing your val-
ues will be useful as you begin to change yourhome to re1047298ect you and your new chapter as
well as change how you use your time Values help you 1047297gure out the types
of belongings you want in your life as well as which activities you should
devote your time to and this can inspire you as you reorganize
For example if you want to declutter and reorganize your home it
may be that you want to free up time and space to pursue a dream yoursquove
always had such as writing a book starting a new business or creating an
art studio Tink of how motivated yoursquoll be if you have a speci1047297c reason
to start and complete this reorganizing project
Reorganizing isnrsquot only about moving on and leaving your past be-
hind Most important itrsquos about creating a new chapter You may know
just what your new chapter will be like or you may prefer to let it grow
organically a piece at a time So do a check on your values as you begin
this reorganization process
Values help you
1047297gure out the
types of belong-
ings you want in
your life as well
as which activities
you should devote
your time to
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Your organizing systems will work best or you and yoursquoll be most
motivated to change when you tie organizing to your values And the sys-
tems will persist and support you most effectively i yoursquore clear on whatrsquos
important to you and design organizing systems that work or youmdash1047297t-ting your style how yoursquore mentally and emotionally wired and what
yoursquore willing to do to maintain them
Chapters in books have clear beginnings and endings and some-
times chapters in lie do too More ofen we gradually phase out o one
chapter and into another chapter You may be well into your next chapter
beore you ully realize it or beore you have time to ully adjust to the
change Approaching lie in chapters allows you to close the door on the
past (while still honoring it) and ully embrace your present When you
live this way you give yoursel permission to let go o things and you can
be more comortable with choices you make When you give up some-
thing rom the past yoursquoll realize you are not giving up dreams yoursquore
simply making room or them to happen in uture chapters You are not
dishonoring memories o those yoursquove lovedbut incorporating into your lie the most spe-
cial memories that are the essence o your
loved ones
Liersquos transitions ofen require us to re-
organize or adapt our current surroundings
and schedules Reorganizing can realign and
get us back into balance Te process o reor-
ganizing can point us toward our next new
chapter assisting us beore during and afer
these major lie events We regroup remember
and reorganizemdashthe new Tree Rs
Te goal o this book is to help you 1047297nd
ways to hold on to whatrsquos best rom your previous chapters including
your belongings your systems and routines and how you use your time
Reorganizing can
realign and get us
back into balance
The process of
reorganizing can
point us toward
our next new
chapter assisting
us before during
and after these
major life events
17
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while deciding what you need around you right now and also what yoursquoll
need as you move through this transition into your next chapter o lie
Te mental and physical space we create by letting go o things that
belong in our past gives us new energy or our next chapter Te spacegives us serenity calm control or the option to fill the space with some-
thing new Our ocus is orward with respect or whatrsquos behind usmdash
because whatrsquos behind us is a large part o who we have become
ransitions add the twists and turns in this journey o lie Tey are
tough to go through certainly But once on the other side o the transi-
tion given time most o us will eel like wersquove conquered something truly
significant in our lives And i we can do that what else can we do Afer I
experienced all those significant changes in those brie eighteen months
I took a little time to re1047298ect and decided I was
ready to listen to my riend Robertarsquos idea
about becoming a proessional organizer and
starting my own business Why not I I had
made it through the other changes hellip thenwhat else could I do
My goal with this book is to empower
you to embrace your changes and not just to
weather them but sail through them so you
can find all o the wonderul opportunities on
the other side which is the resh start you are looking or Irsquoll share what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my own changes as well as what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my clients my class attendees and
my colleagues When yoursquore a Certified Organizer Coachreg and Certified
Proessional Organizerreg people like to share with you how they organize
their space stuff and lie Clients discuss memories values and obstacles
as their trust in the proessional organizer grows
I am honored and privileged by what people have shared with me
over the years and I would certainly not ever compromise these conver-
ldquoThough no one
can go back and
make a brand-new
start anyone can
start from now
and make a brand-
new endingrdquo
991252AUTHOR UNKNOWN
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sations Te examples I share in this book are composites o my clients
and students and they are not based on any one speci1047297c person I have
purposeully mixed up and changed details so no one is recognizable Tat
said Irsquom sure clients and colleagues will think they recognize themselvesI one clientrsquos experience is recognizable thatrsquos because there are enough
similarities with the next personrsquos experience to make the experiences
seem the same Organizer coaches call this normalizing Te changes you
experience arenrsquot all that different rom those
experienced by someone else in a similar situ-
ation Doesnrsquot it eel so much better when we
know wersquore not alone in this
DEFINITIONS TRANSITION VERSUS CHANGE
I want to take a ew minutes to compare and
contrast transition and change to help you
understand why this time in your lie can be
mentally or emotionally diffi cult and then relate this diffi culty to your or-ganizing dilemmas Expectations are everything Tey make a situation
either harder or easier depending on what we expected going into it
Change is a Difference
A change is one single difference that happens during one speci1047297c event
or at one point in time Itrsquos over airly quickly and when you compare the
beore and afer itrsquos black-and-white In other words changes are sudden
but they arenrsquot always unexpected Examples o a change are losing a job
giving birth to a baby or welcoming a puppy into your home
Dictionarycom de1047297nes change this way ldquohellip to make the orm na-
ture content uture course etc o (something) different rom what it is
or rom what it would be i lef alone to change onersquos name to change
onersquos opinion to change the course o historyrdquo1 And the verb is de1047297ned as
ldquoto become differentrdquo
Expectations are
everything They
make a situationeither harder or
easier depend-
ing on what we
expected going
into it
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With a change you know how things are going to be and you can
begin to adjust to it and reorganize your surroundings as soon as yoursquove
mentally and emotionally processed the change (which may take some
signi1047297cant time depending on the change) Afer you adjust to thechange your organizing systems should require little to no adjustment
i you maintain them
Transition is a Process
A transition is not so black-and-white A transition is not a single point
in time itrsquos a shif like on a spectrum Transition occurs over a longer
period o time than change does When I think o transitions itrsquos more
about a state o mind or your mind-set Tran-
sition is a gradual series o changes that lead
you to a new point in lie Gray instead o
black-and-white
Dictionarycom de1047297nes transition as
ldquopassage hellip rom one hellip state stage subjectto anotherrdquo983090 Passage is the key word Itrsquos not
a door which is quickly opened and shut but
a passage that you must journey through You
may experience many transitions beore a
change occurs For example i you are prepar-
ing to retire you may transition rom working
ull time to working part time to not working
at all Caregiving ofen is transition as you gradually take on more and
more responsibility or the person you are caring or You may start by
caregiving in your parentrsquos home once or twice a week Over time that
may increase to visiting every day and eventually you may have your
parent move in with you or you may help them move to an assisted living
acility You may transition as you change careers by 1047297rst going back to
school or more education
A transition is
not so black-and-
white A transition
is not a single
point in timeitrsquos a shift like
on a spectrum
Transition occurs
over a longer
period of time
than change does
20
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With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
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I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
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As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
23
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new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
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Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
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Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
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organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
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empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
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LIFE IS FULL OF CHANGESmdashboth expected and unexpected sel-imposed
and imposed by others I never expected to own my own business I never
expected to get separated and end up in a divorce I didnrsquot know Irsquod be
living back at home or a while in my early orties (but thank goodness
or Mom and Dad) Changing religions Nope also unexpected I alsomoved to a different state became a motor-home owner and experi-
enced a signi1047297cant change in my work lie rom working with clients to
working on products In about eighteen months a total o nine major
changes took place in my lie
Changes no matter what their nature interrupt our lives and ofen
require a response because these changes and transitions leave us with
homes belongings and schedules that no longer work or us Something
is out o alignment and wersquore not sure whatmdashofen it turns out to be
our surroundings our organizing systems (how we do what we do) or
our schedules Suddenly these systems seem to work against us instead
o with us even i they once 1047297t beautiully into our lives What worked
beore will not work now Responsibilities that didnrsquot exist or once be-
longed to someone else now belong only to you and you need to 1047297nd
ways to handle them
Live Your Life inChapters1
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oday lie is more complex than it was orty or 1047297fy years ago when
I was growing up Te pace o change is aster We raise a amily send
our kids to college and then welcome visits rom grandchildren We
switch jobs change careers go back to school and retire rom one careerto pursue a second career We enjoy years with a spouse or committed
partner and then 1047297nd ourselves singlemdashwhether by choice or by other
circumstances We reach an age where our parents begin to depend on us
more than we depend on them and roles reverse Some people call these
seasons o lie or phases o lie I call them chapters in lie
Just as a book has chapters our lives do too We go through different
lie stages and circumstances each o which is a chapter We donrsquot all have
the same set o chapters but odds are good
your lie is ull o several different chapters
At the very least you transitioned rom child-
hood to teenage years to adulthood and rom
school to the working world Other chapters
may include marriage or a lie partnershipparenthood corporate career sel-employ-
ment empty nesting singleness grandchil-
dren retirement continuing education as an
adult a second career and caregiving
Each chapter brings new responsibilities
and priorities and you may 1047297nd your values
shif as well Tese new circumstances ofen
will give you a different mind-set about your
ldquostuffrdquomdashyour belongings and your schedule and activities and thatrsquos the
key connection to organizing Your lie has changed and your attitude has
changed Now you need to reorganize your belongings and schedule to
re1047298ect those changes and ully embrace your new chapter
As I moved through my set o lie changes it didnrsquot occur to me to
check in with my values but a riend introduced me to her concept o
Changes no
matter what their
nature inter-
rupt our lives and
often require a
response because
these changes and
transitions leave
us with homes
belongings and
schedules that no
longer work for us
15
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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ldquoWhatrsquos at your corerdquo About ten years later as I was receiving training as
an Organizing Coach I realized this concept was similar to some of the
coaching activities I was learning about values and needs Itrsquos important
to re1047298ect on what you value and to identify what enables you to live asatisfying ful1047297lling life with integrity Identifying your values and needs
will be a useful exercise for you as well Needs are the principles you live
bymdashyour personal priorities Examples of needs are equality health self-
worth spirituality and peace You may have some basic needs that were
not getting met in your last chapter so yoursquoll
want to start by covering the basics
Once your needs are met you can move
on to working on your values to ensure the
life you are creating is in alignment with your
principles and beliefs We are happiest when
we have a purpose in life and know our values
so take some time with this Knowing your val-
ues will be useful as you begin to change yourhome to re1047298ect you and your new chapter as
well as change how you use your time Values help you 1047297gure out the types
of belongings you want in your life as well as which activities you should
devote your time to and this can inspire you as you reorganize
For example if you want to declutter and reorganize your home it
may be that you want to free up time and space to pursue a dream yoursquove
always had such as writing a book starting a new business or creating an
art studio Tink of how motivated yoursquoll be if you have a speci1047297c reason
to start and complete this reorganizing project
Reorganizing isnrsquot only about moving on and leaving your past be-
hind Most important itrsquos about creating a new chapter You may know
just what your new chapter will be like or you may prefer to let it grow
organically a piece at a time So do a check on your values as you begin
this reorganization process
Values help you
1047297gure out the
types of belong-
ings you want in
your life as well
as which activities
you should devote
your time to
16
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Your organizing systems will work best or you and yoursquoll be most
motivated to change when you tie organizing to your values And the sys-
tems will persist and support you most effectively i yoursquore clear on whatrsquos
important to you and design organizing systems that work or youmdash1047297t-ting your style how yoursquore mentally and emotionally wired and what
yoursquore willing to do to maintain them
Chapters in books have clear beginnings and endings and some-
times chapters in lie do too More ofen we gradually phase out o one
chapter and into another chapter You may be well into your next chapter
beore you ully realize it or beore you have time to ully adjust to the
change Approaching lie in chapters allows you to close the door on the
past (while still honoring it) and ully embrace your present When you
live this way you give yoursel permission to let go o things and you can
be more comortable with choices you make When you give up some-
thing rom the past yoursquoll realize you are not giving up dreams yoursquore
simply making room or them to happen in uture chapters You are not
dishonoring memories o those yoursquove lovedbut incorporating into your lie the most spe-
cial memories that are the essence o your
loved ones
Liersquos transitions ofen require us to re-
organize or adapt our current surroundings
and schedules Reorganizing can realign and
get us back into balance Te process o reor-
ganizing can point us toward our next new
chapter assisting us beore during and afer
these major lie events We regroup remember
and reorganizemdashthe new Tree Rs
Te goal o this book is to help you 1047297nd
ways to hold on to whatrsquos best rom your previous chapters including
your belongings your systems and routines and how you use your time
Reorganizing can
realign and get us
back into balance
The process of
reorganizing can
point us toward
our next new
chapter assisting
us before during
and after these
major life events
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while deciding what you need around you right now and also what yoursquoll
need as you move through this transition into your next chapter o lie
Te mental and physical space we create by letting go o things that
belong in our past gives us new energy or our next chapter Te spacegives us serenity calm control or the option to fill the space with some-
thing new Our ocus is orward with respect or whatrsquos behind usmdash
because whatrsquos behind us is a large part o who we have become
ransitions add the twists and turns in this journey o lie Tey are
tough to go through certainly But once on the other side o the transi-
tion given time most o us will eel like wersquove conquered something truly
significant in our lives And i we can do that what else can we do Afer I
experienced all those significant changes in those brie eighteen months
I took a little time to re1047298ect and decided I was
ready to listen to my riend Robertarsquos idea
about becoming a proessional organizer and
starting my own business Why not I I had
made it through the other changes hellip thenwhat else could I do
My goal with this book is to empower
you to embrace your changes and not just to
weather them but sail through them so you
can find all o the wonderul opportunities on
the other side which is the resh start you are looking or Irsquoll share what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my own changes as well as what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my clients my class attendees and
my colleagues When yoursquore a Certified Organizer Coachreg and Certified
Proessional Organizerreg people like to share with you how they organize
their space stuff and lie Clients discuss memories values and obstacles
as their trust in the proessional organizer grows
I am honored and privileged by what people have shared with me
over the years and I would certainly not ever compromise these conver-
ldquoThough no one
can go back and
make a brand-new
start anyone can
start from now
and make a brand-
new endingrdquo
991252AUTHOR UNKNOWN
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sations Te examples I share in this book are composites o my clients
and students and they are not based on any one speci1047297c person I have
purposeully mixed up and changed details so no one is recognizable Tat
said Irsquom sure clients and colleagues will think they recognize themselvesI one clientrsquos experience is recognizable thatrsquos because there are enough
similarities with the next personrsquos experience to make the experiences
seem the same Organizer coaches call this normalizing Te changes you
experience arenrsquot all that different rom those
experienced by someone else in a similar situ-
ation Doesnrsquot it eel so much better when we
know wersquore not alone in this
DEFINITIONS TRANSITION VERSUS CHANGE
I want to take a ew minutes to compare and
contrast transition and change to help you
understand why this time in your lie can be
mentally or emotionally diffi cult and then relate this diffi culty to your or-ganizing dilemmas Expectations are everything Tey make a situation
either harder or easier depending on what we expected going into it
Change is a Difference
A change is one single difference that happens during one speci1047297c event
or at one point in time Itrsquos over airly quickly and when you compare the
beore and afer itrsquos black-and-white In other words changes are sudden
but they arenrsquot always unexpected Examples o a change are losing a job
giving birth to a baby or welcoming a puppy into your home
Dictionarycom de1047297nes change this way ldquohellip to make the orm na-
ture content uture course etc o (something) different rom what it is
or rom what it would be i lef alone to change onersquos name to change
onersquos opinion to change the course o historyrdquo1 And the verb is de1047297ned as
ldquoto become differentrdquo
Expectations are
everything They
make a situationeither harder or
easier depend-
ing on what we
expected going
into it
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With a change you know how things are going to be and you can
begin to adjust to it and reorganize your surroundings as soon as yoursquove
mentally and emotionally processed the change (which may take some
signi1047297cant time depending on the change) Afer you adjust to thechange your organizing systems should require little to no adjustment
i you maintain them
Transition is a Process
A transition is not so black-and-white A transition is not a single point
in time itrsquos a shif like on a spectrum Transition occurs over a longer
period o time than change does When I think o transitions itrsquos more
about a state o mind or your mind-set Tran-
sition is a gradual series o changes that lead
you to a new point in lie Gray instead o
black-and-white
Dictionarycom de1047297nes transition as
ldquopassage hellip rom one hellip state stage subjectto anotherrdquo983090 Passage is the key word Itrsquos not
a door which is quickly opened and shut but
a passage that you must journey through You
may experience many transitions beore a
change occurs For example i you are prepar-
ing to retire you may transition rom working
ull time to working part time to not working
at all Caregiving ofen is transition as you gradually take on more and
more responsibility or the person you are caring or You may start by
caregiving in your parentrsquos home once or twice a week Over time that
may increase to visiting every day and eventually you may have your
parent move in with you or you may help them move to an assisted living
acility You may transition as you change careers by 1047297rst going back to
school or more education
A transition is
not so black-and-
white A transition
is not a single
point in timeitrsquos a shift like
on a spectrum
Transition occurs
over a longer
period of time
than change does
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With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
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I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
22
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As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
23
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new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
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Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
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842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
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organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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oday lie is more complex than it was orty or 1047297fy years ago when
I was growing up Te pace o change is aster We raise a amily send
our kids to college and then welcome visits rom grandchildren We
switch jobs change careers go back to school and retire rom one careerto pursue a second career We enjoy years with a spouse or committed
partner and then 1047297nd ourselves singlemdashwhether by choice or by other
circumstances We reach an age where our parents begin to depend on us
more than we depend on them and roles reverse Some people call these
seasons o lie or phases o lie I call them chapters in lie
Just as a book has chapters our lives do too We go through different
lie stages and circumstances each o which is a chapter We donrsquot all have
the same set o chapters but odds are good
your lie is ull o several different chapters
At the very least you transitioned rom child-
hood to teenage years to adulthood and rom
school to the working world Other chapters
may include marriage or a lie partnershipparenthood corporate career sel-employ-
ment empty nesting singleness grandchil-
dren retirement continuing education as an
adult a second career and caregiving
Each chapter brings new responsibilities
and priorities and you may 1047297nd your values
shif as well Tese new circumstances ofen
will give you a different mind-set about your
ldquostuffrdquomdashyour belongings and your schedule and activities and thatrsquos the
key connection to organizing Your lie has changed and your attitude has
changed Now you need to reorganize your belongings and schedule to
re1047298ect those changes and ully embrace your new chapter
As I moved through my set o lie changes it didnrsquot occur to me to
check in with my values but a riend introduced me to her concept o
Changes no
matter what their
nature inter-
rupt our lives and
often require a
response because
these changes and
transitions leave
us with homes
belongings and
schedules that no
longer work for us
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ldquoWhatrsquos at your corerdquo About ten years later as I was receiving training as
an Organizing Coach I realized this concept was similar to some of the
coaching activities I was learning about values and needs Itrsquos important
to re1047298ect on what you value and to identify what enables you to live asatisfying ful1047297lling life with integrity Identifying your values and needs
will be a useful exercise for you as well Needs are the principles you live
bymdashyour personal priorities Examples of needs are equality health self-
worth spirituality and peace You may have some basic needs that were
not getting met in your last chapter so yoursquoll
want to start by covering the basics
Once your needs are met you can move
on to working on your values to ensure the
life you are creating is in alignment with your
principles and beliefs We are happiest when
we have a purpose in life and know our values
so take some time with this Knowing your val-
ues will be useful as you begin to change yourhome to re1047298ect you and your new chapter as
well as change how you use your time Values help you 1047297gure out the types
of belongings you want in your life as well as which activities you should
devote your time to and this can inspire you as you reorganize
For example if you want to declutter and reorganize your home it
may be that you want to free up time and space to pursue a dream yoursquove
always had such as writing a book starting a new business or creating an
art studio Tink of how motivated yoursquoll be if you have a speci1047297c reason
to start and complete this reorganizing project
Reorganizing isnrsquot only about moving on and leaving your past be-
hind Most important itrsquos about creating a new chapter You may know
just what your new chapter will be like or you may prefer to let it grow
organically a piece at a time So do a check on your values as you begin
this reorganization process
Values help you
1047297gure out the
types of belong-
ings you want in
your life as well
as which activities
you should devote
your time to
16
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Your organizing systems will work best or you and yoursquoll be most
motivated to change when you tie organizing to your values And the sys-
tems will persist and support you most effectively i yoursquore clear on whatrsquos
important to you and design organizing systems that work or youmdash1047297t-ting your style how yoursquore mentally and emotionally wired and what
yoursquore willing to do to maintain them
Chapters in books have clear beginnings and endings and some-
times chapters in lie do too More ofen we gradually phase out o one
chapter and into another chapter You may be well into your next chapter
beore you ully realize it or beore you have time to ully adjust to the
change Approaching lie in chapters allows you to close the door on the
past (while still honoring it) and ully embrace your present When you
live this way you give yoursel permission to let go o things and you can
be more comortable with choices you make When you give up some-
thing rom the past yoursquoll realize you are not giving up dreams yoursquore
simply making room or them to happen in uture chapters You are not
dishonoring memories o those yoursquove lovedbut incorporating into your lie the most spe-
cial memories that are the essence o your
loved ones
Liersquos transitions ofen require us to re-
organize or adapt our current surroundings
and schedules Reorganizing can realign and
get us back into balance Te process o reor-
ganizing can point us toward our next new
chapter assisting us beore during and afer
these major lie events We regroup remember
and reorganizemdashthe new Tree Rs
Te goal o this book is to help you 1047297nd
ways to hold on to whatrsquos best rom your previous chapters including
your belongings your systems and routines and how you use your time
Reorganizing can
realign and get us
back into balance
The process of
reorganizing can
point us toward
our next new
chapter assisting
us before during
and after these
major life events
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while deciding what you need around you right now and also what yoursquoll
need as you move through this transition into your next chapter o lie
Te mental and physical space we create by letting go o things that
belong in our past gives us new energy or our next chapter Te spacegives us serenity calm control or the option to fill the space with some-
thing new Our ocus is orward with respect or whatrsquos behind usmdash
because whatrsquos behind us is a large part o who we have become
ransitions add the twists and turns in this journey o lie Tey are
tough to go through certainly But once on the other side o the transi-
tion given time most o us will eel like wersquove conquered something truly
significant in our lives And i we can do that what else can we do Afer I
experienced all those significant changes in those brie eighteen months
I took a little time to re1047298ect and decided I was
ready to listen to my riend Robertarsquos idea
about becoming a proessional organizer and
starting my own business Why not I I had
made it through the other changes hellip thenwhat else could I do
My goal with this book is to empower
you to embrace your changes and not just to
weather them but sail through them so you
can find all o the wonderul opportunities on
the other side which is the resh start you are looking or Irsquoll share what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my own changes as well as what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my clients my class attendees and
my colleagues When yoursquore a Certified Organizer Coachreg and Certified
Proessional Organizerreg people like to share with you how they organize
their space stuff and lie Clients discuss memories values and obstacles
as their trust in the proessional organizer grows
I am honored and privileged by what people have shared with me
over the years and I would certainly not ever compromise these conver-
ldquoThough no one
can go back and
make a brand-new
start anyone can
start from now
and make a brand-
new endingrdquo
991252AUTHOR UNKNOWN
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sations Te examples I share in this book are composites o my clients
and students and they are not based on any one speci1047297c person I have
purposeully mixed up and changed details so no one is recognizable Tat
said Irsquom sure clients and colleagues will think they recognize themselvesI one clientrsquos experience is recognizable thatrsquos because there are enough
similarities with the next personrsquos experience to make the experiences
seem the same Organizer coaches call this normalizing Te changes you
experience arenrsquot all that different rom those
experienced by someone else in a similar situ-
ation Doesnrsquot it eel so much better when we
know wersquore not alone in this
DEFINITIONS TRANSITION VERSUS CHANGE
I want to take a ew minutes to compare and
contrast transition and change to help you
understand why this time in your lie can be
mentally or emotionally diffi cult and then relate this diffi culty to your or-ganizing dilemmas Expectations are everything Tey make a situation
either harder or easier depending on what we expected going into it
Change is a Difference
A change is one single difference that happens during one speci1047297c event
or at one point in time Itrsquos over airly quickly and when you compare the
beore and afer itrsquos black-and-white In other words changes are sudden
but they arenrsquot always unexpected Examples o a change are losing a job
giving birth to a baby or welcoming a puppy into your home
Dictionarycom de1047297nes change this way ldquohellip to make the orm na-
ture content uture course etc o (something) different rom what it is
or rom what it would be i lef alone to change onersquos name to change
onersquos opinion to change the course o historyrdquo1 And the verb is de1047297ned as
ldquoto become differentrdquo
Expectations are
everything They
make a situationeither harder or
easier depend-
ing on what we
expected going
into it
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With a change you know how things are going to be and you can
begin to adjust to it and reorganize your surroundings as soon as yoursquove
mentally and emotionally processed the change (which may take some
signi1047297cant time depending on the change) Afer you adjust to thechange your organizing systems should require little to no adjustment
i you maintain them
Transition is a Process
A transition is not so black-and-white A transition is not a single point
in time itrsquos a shif like on a spectrum Transition occurs over a longer
period o time than change does When I think o transitions itrsquos more
about a state o mind or your mind-set Tran-
sition is a gradual series o changes that lead
you to a new point in lie Gray instead o
black-and-white
Dictionarycom de1047297nes transition as
ldquopassage hellip rom one hellip state stage subjectto anotherrdquo983090 Passage is the key word Itrsquos not
a door which is quickly opened and shut but
a passage that you must journey through You
may experience many transitions beore a
change occurs For example i you are prepar-
ing to retire you may transition rom working
ull time to working part time to not working
at all Caregiving ofen is transition as you gradually take on more and
more responsibility or the person you are caring or You may start by
caregiving in your parentrsquos home once or twice a week Over time that
may increase to visiting every day and eventually you may have your
parent move in with you or you may help them move to an assisted living
acility You may transition as you change careers by 1047297rst going back to
school or more education
A transition is
not so black-and-
white A transition
is not a single
point in timeitrsquos a shift like
on a spectrum
Transition occurs
over a longer
period of time
than change does
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With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
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I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
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As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
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new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
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was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
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maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
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Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
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Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
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bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
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organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
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empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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ldquoWhatrsquos at your corerdquo About ten years later as I was receiving training as
an Organizing Coach I realized this concept was similar to some of the
coaching activities I was learning about values and needs Itrsquos important
to re1047298ect on what you value and to identify what enables you to live asatisfying ful1047297lling life with integrity Identifying your values and needs
will be a useful exercise for you as well Needs are the principles you live
bymdashyour personal priorities Examples of needs are equality health self-
worth spirituality and peace You may have some basic needs that were
not getting met in your last chapter so yoursquoll
want to start by covering the basics
Once your needs are met you can move
on to working on your values to ensure the
life you are creating is in alignment with your
principles and beliefs We are happiest when
we have a purpose in life and know our values
so take some time with this Knowing your val-
ues will be useful as you begin to change yourhome to re1047298ect you and your new chapter as
well as change how you use your time Values help you 1047297gure out the types
of belongings you want in your life as well as which activities you should
devote your time to and this can inspire you as you reorganize
For example if you want to declutter and reorganize your home it
may be that you want to free up time and space to pursue a dream yoursquove
always had such as writing a book starting a new business or creating an
art studio Tink of how motivated yoursquoll be if you have a speci1047297c reason
to start and complete this reorganizing project
Reorganizing isnrsquot only about moving on and leaving your past be-
hind Most important itrsquos about creating a new chapter You may know
just what your new chapter will be like or you may prefer to let it grow
organically a piece at a time So do a check on your values as you begin
this reorganization process
Values help you
1047297gure out the
types of belong-
ings you want in
your life as well
as which activities
you should devote
your time to
16
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Your organizing systems will work best or you and yoursquoll be most
motivated to change when you tie organizing to your values And the sys-
tems will persist and support you most effectively i yoursquore clear on whatrsquos
important to you and design organizing systems that work or youmdash1047297t-ting your style how yoursquore mentally and emotionally wired and what
yoursquore willing to do to maintain them
Chapters in books have clear beginnings and endings and some-
times chapters in lie do too More ofen we gradually phase out o one
chapter and into another chapter You may be well into your next chapter
beore you ully realize it or beore you have time to ully adjust to the
change Approaching lie in chapters allows you to close the door on the
past (while still honoring it) and ully embrace your present When you
live this way you give yoursel permission to let go o things and you can
be more comortable with choices you make When you give up some-
thing rom the past yoursquoll realize you are not giving up dreams yoursquore
simply making room or them to happen in uture chapters You are not
dishonoring memories o those yoursquove lovedbut incorporating into your lie the most spe-
cial memories that are the essence o your
loved ones
Liersquos transitions ofen require us to re-
organize or adapt our current surroundings
and schedules Reorganizing can realign and
get us back into balance Te process o reor-
ganizing can point us toward our next new
chapter assisting us beore during and afer
these major lie events We regroup remember
and reorganizemdashthe new Tree Rs
Te goal o this book is to help you 1047297nd
ways to hold on to whatrsquos best rom your previous chapters including
your belongings your systems and routines and how you use your time
Reorganizing can
realign and get us
back into balance
The process of
reorganizing can
point us toward
our next new
chapter assisting
us before during
and after these
major life events
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while deciding what you need around you right now and also what yoursquoll
need as you move through this transition into your next chapter o lie
Te mental and physical space we create by letting go o things that
belong in our past gives us new energy or our next chapter Te spacegives us serenity calm control or the option to fill the space with some-
thing new Our ocus is orward with respect or whatrsquos behind usmdash
because whatrsquos behind us is a large part o who we have become
ransitions add the twists and turns in this journey o lie Tey are
tough to go through certainly But once on the other side o the transi-
tion given time most o us will eel like wersquove conquered something truly
significant in our lives And i we can do that what else can we do Afer I
experienced all those significant changes in those brie eighteen months
I took a little time to re1047298ect and decided I was
ready to listen to my riend Robertarsquos idea
about becoming a proessional organizer and
starting my own business Why not I I had
made it through the other changes hellip thenwhat else could I do
My goal with this book is to empower
you to embrace your changes and not just to
weather them but sail through them so you
can find all o the wonderul opportunities on
the other side which is the resh start you are looking or Irsquoll share what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my own changes as well as what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my clients my class attendees and
my colleagues When yoursquore a Certified Organizer Coachreg and Certified
Proessional Organizerreg people like to share with you how they organize
their space stuff and lie Clients discuss memories values and obstacles
as their trust in the proessional organizer grows
I am honored and privileged by what people have shared with me
over the years and I would certainly not ever compromise these conver-
ldquoThough no one
can go back and
make a brand-new
start anyone can
start from now
and make a brand-
new endingrdquo
991252AUTHOR UNKNOWN
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sations Te examples I share in this book are composites o my clients
and students and they are not based on any one speci1047297c person I have
purposeully mixed up and changed details so no one is recognizable Tat
said Irsquom sure clients and colleagues will think they recognize themselvesI one clientrsquos experience is recognizable thatrsquos because there are enough
similarities with the next personrsquos experience to make the experiences
seem the same Organizer coaches call this normalizing Te changes you
experience arenrsquot all that different rom those
experienced by someone else in a similar situ-
ation Doesnrsquot it eel so much better when we
know wersquore not alone in this
DEFINITIONS TRANSITION VERSUS CHANGE
I want to take a ew minutes to compare and
contrast transition and change to help you
understand why this time in your lie can be
mentally or emotionally diffi cult and then relate this diffi culty to your or-ganizing dilemmas Expectations are everything Tey make a situation
either harder or easier depending on what we expected going into it
Change is a Difference
A change is one single difference that happens during one speci1047297c event
or at one point in time Itrsquos over airly quickly and when you compare the
beore and afer itrsquos black-and-white In other words changes are sudden
but they arenrsquot always unexpected Examples o a change are losing a job
giving birth to a baby or welcoming a puppy into your home
Dictionarycom de1047297nes change this way ldquohellip to make the orm na-
ture content uture course etc o (something) different rom what it is
or rom what it would be i lef alone to change onersquos name to change
onersquos opinion to change the course o historyrdquo1 And the verb is de1047297ned as
ldquoto become differentrdquo
Expectations are
everything They
make a situationeither harder or
easier depend-
ing on what we
expected going
into it
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With a change you know how things are going to be and you can
begin to adjust to it and reorganize your surroundings as soon as yoursquove
mentally and emotionally processed the change (which may take some
signi1047297cant time depending on the change) Afer you adjust to thechange your organizing systems should require little to no adjustment
i you maintain them
Transition is a Process
A transition is not so black-and-white A transition is not a single point
in time itrsquos a shif like on a spectrum Transition occurs over a longer
period o time than change does When I think o transitions itrsquos more
about a state o mind or your mind-set Tran-
sition is a gradual series o changes that lead
you to a new point in lie Gray instead o
black-and-white
Dictionarycom de1047297nes transition as
ldquopassage hellip rom one hellip state stage subjectto anotherrdquo983090 Passage is the key word Itrsquos not
a door which is quickly opened and shut but
a passage that you must journey through You
may experience many transitions beore a
change occurs For example i you are prepar-
ing to retire you may transition rom working
ull time to working part time to not working
at all Caregiving ofen is transition as you gradually take on more and
more responsibility or the person you are caring or You may start by
caregiving in your parentrsquos home once or twice a week Over time that
may increase to visiting every day and eventually you may have your
parent move in with you or you may help them move to an assisted living
acility You may transition as you change careers by 1047297rst going back to
school or more education
A transition is
not so black-and-
white A transition
is not a single
point in timeitrsquos a shift like
on a spectrum
Transition occurs
over a longer
period of time
than change does
20
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With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
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I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
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As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
23
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new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
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842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
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Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
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Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
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842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
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organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
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empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 822
Your organizing systems will work best or you and yoursquoll be most
motivated to change when you tie organizing to your values And the sys-
tems will persist and support you most effectively i yoursquore clear on whatrsquos
important to you and design organizing systems that work or youmdash1047297t-ting your style how yoursquore mentally and emotionally wired and what
yoursquore willing to do to maintain them
Chapters in books have clear beginnings and endings and some-
times chapters in lie do too More ofen we gradually phase out o one
chapter and into another chapter You may be well into your next chapter
beore you ully realize it or beore you have time to ully adjust to the
change Approaching lie in chapters allows you to close the door on the
past (while still honoring it) and ully embrace your present When you
live this way you give yoursel permission to let go o things and you can
be more comortable with choices you make When you give up some-
thing rom the past yoursquoll realize you are not giving up dreams yoursquore
simply making room or them to happen in uture chapters You are not
dishonoring memories o those yoursquove lovedbut incorporating into your lie the most spe-
cial memories that are the essence o your
loved ones
Liersquos transitions ofen require us to re-
organize or adapt our current surroundings
and schedules Reorganizing can realign and
get us back into balance Te process o reor-
ganizing can point us toward our next new
chapter assisting us beore during and afer
these major lie events We regroup remember
and reorganizemdashthe new Tree Rs
Te goal o this book is to help you 1047297nd
ways to hold on to whatrsquos best rom your previous chapters including
your belongings your systems and routines and how you use your time
Reorganizing can
realign and get us
back into balance
The process of
reorganizing can
point us toward
our next new
chapter assisting
us before during
and after these
major life events
17
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while deciding what you need around you right now and also what yoursquoll
need as you move through this transition into your next chapter o lie
Te mental and physical space we create by letting go o things that
belong in our past gives us new energy or our next chapter Te spacegives us serenity calm control or the option to fill the space with some-
thing new Our ocus is orward with respect or whatrsquos behind usmdash
because whatrsquos behind us is a large part o who we have become
ransitions add the twists and turns in this journey o lie Tey are
tough to go through certainly But once on the other side o the transi-
tion given time most o us will eel like wersquove conquered something truly
significant in our lives And i we can do that what else can we do Afer I
experienced all those significant changes in those brie eighteen months
I took a little time to re1047298ect and decided I was
ready to listen to my riend Robertarsquos idea
about becoming a proessional organizer and
starting my own business Why not I I had
made it through the other changes hellip thenwhat else could I do
My goal with this book is to empower
you to embrace your changes and not just to
weather them but sail through them so you
can find all o the wonderul opportunities on
the other side which is the resh start you are looking or Irsquoll share what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my own changes as well as what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my clients my class attendees and
my colleagues When yoursquore a Certified Organizer Coachreg and Certified
Proessional Organizerreg people like to share with you how they organize
their space stuff and lie Clients discuss memories values and obstacles
as their trust in the proessional organizer grows
I am honored and privileged by what people have shared with me
over the years and I would certainly not ever compromise these conver-
ldquoThough no one
can go back and
make a brand-new
start anyone can
start from now
and make a brand-
new endingrdquo
991252AUTHOR UNKNOWN
18
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sations Te examples I share in this book are composites o my clients
and students and they are not based on any one speci1047297c person I have
purposeully mixed up and changed details so no one is recognizable Tat
said Irsquom sure clients and colleagues will think they recognize themselvesI one clientrsquos experience is recognizable thatrsquos because there are enough
similarities with the next personrsquos experience to make the experiences
seem the same Organizer coaches call this normalizing Te changes you
experience arenrsquot all that different rom those
experienced by someone else in a similar situ-
ation Doesnrsquot it eel so much better when we
know wersquore not alone in this
DEFINITIONS TRANSITION VERSUS CHANGE
I want to take a ew minutes to compare and
contrast transition and change to help you
understand why this time in your lie can be
mentally or emotionally diffi cult and then relate this diffi culty to your or-ganizing dilemmas Expectations are everything Tey make a situation
either harder or easier depending on what we expected going into it
Change is a Difference
A change is one single difference that happens during one speci1047297c event
or at one point in time Itrsquos over airly quickly and when you compare the
beore and afer itrsquos black-and-white In other words changes are sudden
but they arenrsquot always unexpected Examples o a change are losing a job
giving birth to a baby or welcoming a puppy into your home
Dictionarycom de1047297nes change this way ldquohellip to make the orm na-
ture content uture course etc o (something) different rom what it is
or rom what it would be i lef alone to change onersquos name to change
onersquos opinion to change the course o historyrdquo1 And the verb is de1047297ned as
ldquoto become differentrdquo
Expectations are
everything They
make a situationeither harder or
easier depend-
ing on what we
expected going
into it
19
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With a change you know how things are going to be and you can
begin to adjust to it and reorganize your surroundings as soon as yoursquove
mentally and emotionally processed the change (which may take some
signi1047297cant time depending on the change) Afer you adjust to thechange your organizing systems should require little to no adjustment
i you maintain them
Transition is a Process
A transition is not so black-and-white A transition is not a single point
in time itrsquos a shif like on a spectrum Transition occurs over a longer
period o time than change does When I think o transitions itrsquos more
about a state o mind or your mind-set Tran-
sition is a gradual series o changes that lead
you to a new point in lie Gray instead o
black-and-white
Dictionarycom de1047297nes transition as
ldquopassage hellip rom one hellip state stage subjectto anotherrdquo983090 Passage is the key word Itrsquos not
a door which is quickly opened and shut but
a passage that you must journey through You
may experience many transitions beore a
change occurs For example i you are prepar-
ing to retire you may transition rom working
ull time to working part time to not working
at all Caregiving ofen is transition as you gradually take on more and
more responsibility or the person you are caring or You may start by
caregiving in your parentrsquos home once or twice a week Over time that
may increase to visiting every day and eventually you may have your
parent move in with you or you may help them move to an assisted living
acility You may transition as you change careers by 1047297rst going back to
school or more education
A transition is
not so black-and-
white A transition
is not a single
point in timeitrsquos a shift like
on a spectrum
Transition occurs
over a longer
period of time
than change does
20
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With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
21
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I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
22
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
23
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 922
while deciding what you need around you right now and also what yoursquoll
need as you move through this transition into your next chapter o lie
Te mental and physical space we create by letting go o things that
belong in our past gives us new energy or our next chapter Te spacegives us serenity calm control or the option to fill the space with some-
thing new Our ocus is orward with respect or whatrsquos behind usmdash
because whatrsquos behind us is a large part o who we have become
ransitions add the twists and turns in this journey o lie Tey are
tough to go through certainly But once on the other side o the transi-
tion given time most o us will eel like wersquove conquered something truly
significant in our lives And i we can do that what else can we do Afer I
experienced all those significant changes in those brie eighteen months
I took a little time to re1047298ect and decided I was
ready to listen to my riend Robertarsquos idea
about becoming a proessional organizer and
starting my own business Why not I I had
made it through the other changes hellip thenwhat else could I do
My goal with this book is to empower
you to embrace your changes and not just to
weather them but sail through them so you
can find all o the wonderul opportunities on
the other side which is the resh start you are looking or Irsquoll share what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my own changes as well as what
Irsquove learned and experienced through my clients my class attendees and
my colleagues When yoursquore a Certified Organizer Coachreg and Certified
Proessional Organizerreg people like to share with you how they organize
their space stuff and lie Clients discuss memories values and obstacles
as their trust in the proessional organizer grows
I am honored and privileged by what people have shared with me
over the years and I would certainly not ever compromise these conver-
ldquoThough no one
can go back and
make a brand-new
start anyone can
start from now
and make a brand-
new endingrdquo
991252AUTHOR UNKNOWN
18
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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sations Te examples I share in this book are composites o my clients
and students and they are not based on any one speci1047297c person I have
purposeully mixed up and changed details so no one is recognizable Tat
said Irsquom sure clients and colleagues will think they recognize themselvesI one clientrsquos experience is recognizable thatrsquos because there are enough
similarities with the next personrsquos experience to make the experiences
seem the same Organizer coaches call this normalizing Te changes you
experience arenrsquot all that different rom those
experienced by someone else in a similar situ-
ation Doesnrsquot it eel so much better when we
know wersquore not alone in this
DEFINITIONS TRANSITION VERSUS CHANGE
I want to take a ew minutes to compare and
contrast transition and change to help you
understand why this time in your lie can be
mentally or emotionally diffi cult and then relate this diffi culty to your or-ganizing dilemmas Expectations are everything Tey make a situation
either harder or easier depending on what we expected going into it
Change is a Difference
A change is one single difference that happens during one speci1047297c event
or at one point in time Itrsquos over airly quickly and when you compare the
beore and afer itrsquos black-and-white In other words changes are sudden
but they arenrsquot always unexpected Examples o a change are losing a job
giving birth to a baby or welcoming a puppy into your home
Dictionarycom de1047297nes change this way ldquohellip to make the orm na-
ture content uture course etc o (something) different rom what it is
or rom what it would be i lef alone to change onersquos name to change
onersquos opinion to change the course o historyrdquo1 And the verb is de1047297ned as
ldquoto become differentrdquo
Expectations are
everything They
make a situationeither harder or
easier depend-
ing on what we
expected going
into it
19
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1122
With a change you know how things are going to be and you can
begin to adjust to it and reorganize your surroundings as soon as yoursquove
mentally and emotionally processed the change (which may take some
signi1047297cant time depending on the change) Afer you adjust to thechange your organizing systems should require little to no adjustment
i you maintain them
Transition is a Process
A transition is not so black-and-white A transition is not a single point
in time itrsquos a shif like on a spectrum Transition occurs over a longer
period o time than change does When I think o transitions itrsquos more
about a state o mind or your mind-set Tran-
sition is a gradual series o changes that lead
you to a new point in lie Gray instead o
black-and-white
Dictionarycom de1047297nes transition as
ldquopassage hellip rom one hellip state stage subjectto anotherrdquo983090 Passage is the key word Itrsquos not
a door which is quickly opened and shut but
a passage that you must journey through You
may experience many transitions beore a
change occurs For example i you are prepar-
ing to retire you may transition rom working
ull time to working part time to not working
at all Caregiving ofen is transition as you gradually take on more and
more responsibility or the person you are caring or You may start by
caregiving in your parentrsquos home once or twice a week Over time that
may increase to visiting every day and eventually you may have your
parent move in with you or you may help them move to an assisted living
acility You may transition as you change careers by 1047297rst going back to
school or more education
A transition is
not so black-and-
white A transition
is not a single
point in timeitrsquos a shift like
on a spectrum
Transition occurs
over a longer
period of time
than change does
20
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1222
With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
21
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
22
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
23
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1522
new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1622
was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1722
maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1822
Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
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Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1022
sations Te examples I share in this book are composites o my clients
and students and they are not based on any one speci1047297c person I have
purposeully mixed up and changed details so no one is recognizable Tat
said Irsquom sure clients and colleagues will think they recognize themselvesI one clientrsquos experience is recognizable thatrsquos because there are enough
similarities with the next personrsquos experience to make the experiences
seem the same Organizer coaches call this normalizing Te changes you
experience arenrsquot all that different rom those
experienced by someone else in a similar situ-
ation Doesnrsquot it eel so much better when we
know wersquore not alone in this
DEFINITIONS TRANSITION VERSUS CHANGE
I want to take a ew minutes to compare and
contrast transition and change to help you
understand why this time in your lie can be
mentally or emotionally diffi cult and then relate this diffi culty to your or-ganizing dilemmas Expectations are everything Tey make a situation
either harder or easier depending on what we expected going into it
Change is a Difference
A change is one single difference that happens during one speci1047297c event
or at one point in time Itrsquos over airly quickly and when you compare the
beore and afer itrsquos black-and-white In other words changes are sudden
but they arenrsquot always unexpected Examples o a change are losing a job
giving birth to a baby or welcoming a puppy into your home
Dictionarycom de1047297nes change this way ldquohellip to make the orm na-
ture content uture course etc o (something) different rom what it is
or rom what it would be i lef alone to change onersquos name to change
onersquos opinion to change the course o historyrdquo1 And the verb is de1047297ned as
ldquoto become differentrdquo
Expectations are
everything They
make a situationeither harder or
easier depend-
ing on what we
expected going
into it
19
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1122
With a change you know how things are going to be and you can
begin to adjust to it and reorganize your surroundings as soon as yoursquove
mentally and emotionally processed the change (which may take some
signi1047297cant time depending on the change) Afer you adjust to thechange your organizing systems should require little to no adjustment
i you maintain them
Transition is a Process
A transition is not so black-and-white A transition is not a single point
in time itrsquos a shif like on a spectrum Transition occurs over a longer
period o time than change does When I think o transitions itrsquos more
about a state o mind or your mind-set Tran-
sition is a gradual series o changes that lead
you to a new point in lie Gray instead o
black-and-white
Dictionarycom de1047297nes transition as
ldquopassage hellip rom one hellip state stage subjectto anotherrdquo983090 Passage is the key word Itrsquos not
a door which is quickly opened and shut but
a passage that you must journey through You
may experience many transitions beore a
change occurs For example i you are prepar-
ing to retire you may transition rom working
ull time to working part time to not working
at all Caregiving ofen is transition as you gradually take on more and
more responsibility or the person you are caring or You may start by
caregiving in your parentrsquos home once or twice a week Over time that
may increase to visiting every day and eventually you may have your
parent move in with you or you may help them move to an assisted living
acility You may transition as you change careers by 1047297rst going back to
school or more education
A transition is
not so black-and-
white A transition
is not a single
point in timeitrsquos a shift like
on a spectrum
Transition occurs
over a longer
period of time
than change does
20
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1222
With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
21
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1322
I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
22
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1422
As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
23
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1522
new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1622
was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1722
maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1822
Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1922
Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1122
With a change you know how things are going to be and you can
begin to adjust to it and reorganize your surroundings as soon as yoursquove
mentally and emotionally processed the change (which may take some
signi1047297cant time depending on the change) Afer you adjust to thechange your organizing systems should require little to no adjustment
i you maintain them
Transition is a Process
A transition is not so black-and-white A transition is not a single point
in time itrsquos a shif like on a spectrum Transition occurs over a longer
period o time than change does When I think o transitions itrsquos more
about a state o mind or your mind-set Tran-
sition is a gradual series o changes that lead
you to a new point in lie Gray instead o
black-and-white
Dictionarycom de1047297nes transition as
ldquopassage hellip rom one hellip state stage subjectto anotherrdquo983090 Passage is the key word Itrsquos not
a door which is quickly opened and shut but
a passage that you must journey through You
may experience many transitions beore a
change occurs For example i you are prepar-
ing to retire you may transition rom working
ull time to working part time to not working
at all Caregiving ofen is transition as you gradually take on more and
more responsibility or the person you are caring or You may start by
caregiving in your parentrsquos home once or twice a week Over time that
may increase to visiting every day and eventually you may have your
parent move in with you or you may help them move to an assisted living
acility You may transition as you change careers by 1047297rst going back to
school or more education
A transition is
not so black-and-
white A transition
is not a single
point in timeitrsquos a shift like
on a spectrum
Transition occurs
over a longer
period of time
than change does
20
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1222
With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
21
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1322
I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
22
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1422
As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
23
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1522
new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1622
was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1722
maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1822
Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1922
Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1222
With transitions you arenrsquot sure o the 1047297nal outcome Everything
is temporary so you may eel like you are in limbo You can and should
create organizing systems to help you through
the transition but these systems wonrsquot bepermanent You will need to adjust them
requently as you continue to transition and
afer your transition culminates in a change
you will need to reset your organizing systems
to support the change So donrsquot be discour-
aged i you eel like you just canrsquot get or stay
organized during a transition Do the best you
can and be aware o all the subtle changes that are taking place during
the transition I you identiy the change you can work to accommodate
it in your organizing system
Tis book is written to assist you in organizing your lie your stuff
and your home through transitions Herersquos just one example o a transi-
tion and how organizing can support you
Identifying Changes and Transitions
Letrsquos look at an example to help you identiy transitions and changes in
your own situation Mary is in her sixties and her mother is in her eight-
ies Maryrsquos been divorced or a while and living on her own Shersquos ac-
customed to having a space o her own and coming and going when she
likes Her mother suddenly alls ill and like with many amilies they
decide that Mom will move in with Mary instead o putting Mom in a
nursing home Is this a change or transition
Itrsquos both but here thinking o the situation as a transition is key to
both Maryrsquos and her motherrsquos mental health I you thought o this as just
a change with Mom changing homes then yoursquod likely think that once
shersquos moved in the change is over Lie will go back to normal or to what
it was like beore Mom moved in but thatrsquos not the case at all
Donrsquot be discour-aged if you feel
like you just canrsquot
get or stay orga-
nized during a
transition Do the
best you can
21
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1322
I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
22
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1422
As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
23
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1522
new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1622
was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1722
maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1822
Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1922
Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1322
I Mary realizes that this is a major difference or both her and her
mother she will know that things will change to a new normal a state
which both o them need to create together Mary will need to adjust
to having her mother in her home She will need to create space or hermother in a home that previously only needed
to meet Maryrsquos needs She will need to include
her mother in her schedule by making time or
her appointments and caring or her needs She
needs to understand that her mother will want
to know where shersquos going and how long shersquoll
be gone when Mary leaves the house Mary will
need to create a bedroom and personal space in
her home or her mother and organize the ur-
niture and items her mother is bringing with
her Shersquoll also need to work with her mother
and other amily members to properly take care o items that wonrsquot or
canrsquot be moved into Maryrsquos house Terersquos so much to be done I Maryapproaches it as a transition she can take things one step at a time Tat
will help keep her rom becoming overwhelmed and rustrated
William Bridges author o Transitions identi1047297es the three parts o
a major lie transition an ending a neutral zone (I call that one ldquolimbo
landrdquo) and the new beginning983091 Te length o each phase is different and
they 1047298ow into each other In Maryrsquos example both Mary and her mother
experience the same ending Both women are losing their independence
Mary is no longer ree to come and go as she pleases and she must make
room in her house or her mother Maryrsquos mother must accept that she
can no longer live alone and must rely on her daughter or daily assis-
tance Te neutral zone is the time it takes each woman to adjust to the
new living situation Tey will start their new beginning together afer
theyrsquove created a schedule that works or each o them and ound the
right arrangement and balance or their belongings in Maryrsquos home
ldquoMuch as we may
wish to make a
new beginning
some part of us
resists doing so
as though wewere making the
1047297rst step toward
disasterrdquo
991251 WILLIAM BRIDGES
22
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1422
As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
23
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1522
new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1622
was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1722
maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1822
Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1922
Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1422
As you approach and go through the transition process you will eel
challenged and stressed internally and perhaps externally to relinquish
what is comortable and amiliar Te amiliar is slowly becoming your
ldquooldrdquo lie or your previous chapter o lie Tis is a push to let go o yourphysical stuff how your schedule was organized and how you organized
your thoughts your emotions and your lie Embrace this eeling Give
yoursel permission to let go Use the advice in this book to make what I
call ldquono regretrdquo decisions about letting go o belongings and old routines
Te longer you hold on to your old ways the more resistance builds and
the more stuck you begin to eel You will eel ldquounstuckrdquo and less stressed
when you let go Letting go helps you move on and move orward Irsquove ound
that it ofen is highly organized and structured
people who have the hardest time with transi-
tions In an attempt to maintain control they
hold on to their old organizational systems too
long Organizing systems are good things but
they are only effective when they serve you Iyou serve your organizing system it will stress
you out and keep you rom moving orward
Allow your routines to be 1047298exible and adapt
them to meet your needs ry different ap-
proaches to 1047297nd what works best
TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS
Tere are many types o transitions Understanding what type o transi-
tion you are going through will help you know what to expect rom the
transitionmdashboth emotionally and physically
Self-Imposed or Non-Self-Imposed
Examples o sel-imposed transitions are a new career a separation or
divorce you wanted or needed babysitting grandchildren or starting a
It often is highly
organized and
structured people
who have the
hardest time with
transitions In an
attempt to main-
tain control they
hold on to their
old organizational
systems too long
23
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1522
new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1622
was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1722
maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1822
Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1922
Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1522
new business All situations you wanted Examples o non-sel-imposed
transitions are a divorce you didnrsquot want the death o a amily member
or spouse a job layoff or termination a medical diagnosis and so orth
Tey are changes and situations that happened to youA sel-imposed change and transition process can be just as diffi -
cult to navigate as a change imposed by other people even if itrsquos one you
sought out You may be saying ldquoI should be happy about this I caused
it I wanted itrdquo rue but that doesnrsquot mean you donrsquot eel strongly about
whatrsquos happening It doesnrsquot mean things arenrsquot changing Change and the
transition process are going to happen regardless o whether the situa-
tion is one you wanted or one that happened to you
Maryrsquos example could have been a sel-imposed situationmdashshe may
have wanted her mother to move in with her But it also could have been
something she elt pressured to do by other amily members
One-at-a-Time or Many
Sometimes transitions happen one at a time and you have time to thor-oughly process the event beore the next change happens But ofen one
transition will cause another transition and then another and then an-
other like a ripple effect Say or example you lost your job and the
loss o income required you to move to a smaller home or apartment
and perhaps go back to school or more training One event can trigger
several changes or several unrelated changes can happen within a short
time rame When you donrsquot have time to process the 1047297rst transition the
second transition can be very diffi cult to deal with
One client experienced the sudden death o her ather whom she
was very close to She kept as much o his stuff as possible but simply
placed it on top her own stuff in her house She didnrsquot 1047297nd homes or the
items because she was still ocused on the grieving process Beore she
had a chance to properly deal with her atherrsquos belongings she was laid
off rom her corporate career which had been key to her identity She
24
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1622
was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1722
maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1822
Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1922
Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1622
was already not in the strongest emotional place and now she was hit
hard by losing her job her career and part of her identity What would
she do with herself What would she do when she woke up each day
She started back to school but couldnrsquot wrap her mind around a new1047297eld Meanwhile she ignored her home Shersquod look around and see her
fatherrsquos things and memories everywhere even though by this point it
had been several years since he died His belongings were starting to have
too strong a hold on her emotions particularly with the loss of her job
She called me to help her organize her home and make it a calm more
emotionally inviting place
When you donrsquot deal with the organizing effects of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second one creates a new layer of stuff (emotional and physical)
and as days go by it becomes harder and harder to believe you can dig out
from all of your clutter and identify what you want and need from what
you donrsquot Itrsquos harder to envision your space and how it can be beautiful
and homey again Itrsquos harder to see ahead in your life and reorganize your
time and activities to move on to your new chapter You get used to livingthe old way and not moving on But eventually something happens and
an alarm in your head goes off Yoursquove had enough of the ldquoclutterrdquo You
feel suffocated by memories instead of enjoying them Yoursquove reached a
point when you can reorganize Because you are reading this book you
probably have already reached this point or
you are about to reach it very soon Te fol-
lowing chapters will show you how to identify
the things you need and love from the clutter
so you can move forward
STAGES OF CHANGE
According to the Prochaska Change Model
there are 1047297ve stages of change precontempla-
tion contemplation preparation action and
When you donrsquot
deal with the
organizing effects
of the 1047297rst transi-
tion the second
one creates a
new layer of stuff
(emotional and
physical)
25
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1722
maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1822
Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1922
Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1722
maintenance983092 I mention this because i you sense where you are on this
spectrum yoursquoll know more about what to expect rom yoursel
Precontemplation You are not yet considering a change
Contemplation Yoursquore considering a change such as working on re-organizing your home but yoursquore not quite ready to dive in Yoursquore still
weighing your options
Preparation Yoursquore thinking about making the change in the next
month or so and considering what could be a small 1047297rst step
Action You are making the change In our case yoursquore doing the
physical work o organizing
Maintenance Maintenance is the efforts you make afer the change to
maintain the results brought about by the change In our case afer yoursquove
reorganized you maintain by continuing to put things in their established
homes and you work on instilling new organizing habits or skills
Letrsquos apply these stages to the example o Mary and her mother Te
precontemplation stage probably occurred beore a decline in the moth-
errsquos health Maryrsquos mother was still okay living on her ownAs it became apparent that Maryrsquos mother would not be able to care
or hersel in her own home or much longer Mary and her siblings be-
gan the contemplation stage Something needed to change to keep their
mother sae healthy and well cared or Tey considered all o their op-
tions which included a nursing home an assisted living acility and
living with a amily member and they eventually decided their mother
would live with Mary Tey also needed to seek input rom their mother
during this stage
During the preparation stage the amily decides what urniture
and belongings should move to Maryrsquos house decides what should be
done with the rest o their motherrsquos belongings identi1047297es which room in
Maryrsquos house could be used by her mother as a bedroom and personal
space and determines i Maryrsquos home will need any special equipment
ramps and handrails to make it easier or their mother
26
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1822
Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1922
Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1822
Te action phase involves actually implementing all of the decisions
Mary and her siblings made in the preparation stage In this stage Mary
rearranges her home to include a bedroom and personal space for her
mother has necessary equipment added to her home moves her moth-errsquos belongings to Maryrsquos house and distributes the rest of her motherrsquos
things according to the decisions made during the preparation stage
Te maintenance stage is the time Mary and her mother spend ad-
justing their schedules and their surroundings to better accommodate
their individual needs and responsibilities
HOW THIS BOOK CAN ASSIST YOU
As you move from one life chapter to another your organizational sys-
tems can support you through the transitions if you let them Yoursquoll have
an easier time when you recognize that your life is changing and 1047297gure
out how your systems need to change Yoursquoll feel more in control
We all deal with change at different rates and in different ways Some
of us love the variety that change brings intoour lives Others want stabilitymdashthe least
amount of change possible In my experience
the more structured you are the harder it is to
deal with these transitions Tese life events
are not single-point-in-time changes Tey
are part of a transition process a chapter of
your life that is ongoing even if it is brief
Te event has changed you in some sig-
ni1047297cant way and you may not know how un-
til yoursquore far on the other side of the change But at some point those
changes become overwhelming and you feel like you are in limbo You
canrsquot mentally process the changes any faster Or you are in a whole new
set of circumstances that require you to change how you organize your
activities and your home
As you move from
one life chapter
to another your
organizational
systems can sup-
port you through
the transitions if
you let them
27
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1922
Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 1922
Tis book can help you i you are going through some lie transitions
right now It will help you identiy which changes even small but impor-
tant ones can help you eel like some part o your lie is under control
Yoursquoll update and reorganize parts o your lie and parts o your home asyou process the changes bit by bit I yoursquove experienced or are experienc-
ing any o the ollowing transitions this book will help you set up organiz-
ing systems to handle the change and welcome your next chapter in lie
bull New energy in your home Tis includes the birth o a child baby-
sitting grandchildren or taking in a new pet With this transition
you will reorganize to incorporate the new energy and get your lie
back under control by building a new schedule and surroundings
that accommodate the change
bull Postdivorce Your reorganizing efforts will ocus on supporting
the new and single you
bull Empty nesting Now that your home and your time are your own
you can reinvent the unctions o your rooms and explore un and
exciting ways to use your timebull Your partner or spouse died Reorganizing will honor your past
while allowing you to move orward at your own pace
bull Major career change Perhaps yoursquore changing 1047297elds switching
shifs or moving rom a corporate setting to sel-employment
Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time and your schedule and set up
an offi ce i you work rom home
bull Assisting aging parents Yoursquoll need to reorganize your time to
incorporate caregiving deal with their home (whether they are
moving out or need a better setup or continued independence)
and possibly reorganize your home to accommodate them i they
are moving in with you
bull Downsizing You can reduce the amount o stuff in your home and
schedule whether you are moving or staying in place Owning less
can be quite reeing
28
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2022
bull Health diagnosis Physical issues such as arthritis 1047297bromyalgia
and other diagnoses may require you to reorganize your home so
it is easy or you to maneuver Your schedule may need to change
as well simply because it takes you longer to move or accomplisha task Brain-based challenges such as an adult ADHD diagnosis
necessitate new ways o organizing so
lie becomes easier again
Tis book can also help you i you are
overwhelmed by more than one o these lie
changes Yoursquore coming to the last page o
your previous chapter and are getting ready to
move on to your next chapter in lie Clients
seek me out afer they have processed and ac-
cepted much o the change in their lives Tey
are ready to reorganize and start their next lie
chapter Ofen it takes all the energy you have
to manage your mental and emotional healthduring the changes Your home and organiza-
tional systems all by the wayside When your emotions are under control
and yoursquove mentally processed the change you realize you need to make
up or the neglect your home has suffered and you need to reorganize
your home to better 1047297t your new chapter in lie You need to get back on
track and thatrsquos exactly what this book will assist you with
The Functions of This Book
Everyone will have different needs as they begin this journey Te book
can serve several roles depending on what you need Here are just a ew
ways this book can help
Educator and coach Irsquoll provide you with education suggestions ex-
ercises and checklists to help you organize in new effective ways and Irsquoll
also help you realize just how much you do know about your personal
When your
emotions are
under control and
yoursquove mentally
processed the
change you
realize you need
to make up for
the neglect your
home has
suffered
29
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2122
organizing methods and styles When it comes to organizing what mat-
ters most is that the system works or youmdashtherersquos no right or wrong
way to do it Ofen yoursquoll 1047297nd the answers
are inside you not so ar away at all you justdonrsquot realize it
A quiet but inspirational companion In
reading this book yoursquoll realize that what
yoursquore going through is similar to what
many others have gone through beore you
Tis eeling o not being alone is inspiring to
many people Te practical suggestions in this book will motivate you to
get started which sometimes is the hardest part o all Tink o this book
as a partner to accompany you on your reorganizing journey
Your personal champion Tis book is here to cheer you on and keep
you going
Lifelong friend My hope is that anytime you realize yoursquore about to go
through some signi1047297cant change yoursquoll turn to this book and allow it toassist you again
What does your next chapter hold or you and what does that mean
about your home your offi ce your schedule What does ldquoorganized
enoughrdquo mean to you now What does the phrase ldquokeeping my schedule
under controlrdquo mean to you now What do you want out o your home
your time and your lie How do you want your house to ldquotalk to yourdquo
as one woman explained to me when we started working together What
tone o voice what words Or what do you say to yoursel Tis book will
help you 1047297nd answers to all o these questions
Letrsquos begin the journey Irsquoll be alongside you on your journey You
might be ready to make lots o changes or you might be ready to start
small and return to the journey at a later time Irsquoll be here
ldquoChaos is the primalstate of pure energy
for every true new
beginningrdquo
991251WILLIAM BRIDGES amp
ASSOCIATES
WWWWMBRIDGESCOM
30
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION
842019 Organize for a Fresh Start
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullorganize-for-a-fresh-start 2222
empty nest downsizing
caregiver
P C
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND SCHEDULE so they per-
fectly meet your current needs and re1047298ect who you
are and what you value now Changes and life transi-
tions often leave people with unbalanced schedules
and homes full of obsolete items Certified Profes-
sional Organizerreg Susan Fay West shows you how to
make room for your new interests and responsibili-
ties while honoring your past
Inside yoursquoll 1047297nd
bull Step-by-step advice for decluttering and reor-
ganizing every room in the homebull Specific tips for where to start and how to stay
motivated
bull Re1047298ective questions and exercises to help you
make ldquono-regretsrdquo decisions
bull Time-management strategies to create and
maintain a regular schedule
ldquoWest has written on a topic dear to my heart getting
organized to cope with and embrace change and
transition Organize for a Fresh Start is a great
roadmaprdquo
991251 JUDITH KOLBERG AUTHOR
CONQUERING CHRONIC DISORG ANIZATION
E A N
Z9188
51499
ISBN-10 1-4403-0852-7
ISBN-13 978-1-4403-0852-9
US $1499(CAN $1599)
HOME ORGANIZATION