Category Archives: Organization

Are you ready to “Fall Back?”

The leaves are falling. The days are getting shorter. The nights are getting colder. Those are all sure signs that winter is approaching. And with that, comes the “fall back” change of time. I don’t know about you, but I appreciate “falling back” much more than “springing forward.” That extra hour of sleep is magical!

The Fall time change happens on Sunday, November 5th, at 2:00 AM. Although “falling back” isn’t as hard on our bodies (since we don’t “lose” an hour of sleep), it still takes some adjusting.

Maintain your regular sleep pattern. Don’t use the promise of an extra hour of sleep to binge-watch your favorite series and stay up until 2:00 AM so you can set the clocks at the exact time. Go to bed at your regular time, reset the clocks right before you go to bed and maybe, just maybe, get an extra hour of blissful sleep! If you’re interested, the National Sleep Foundation has some guidelines on how much sleep we all need.
Maintain your regular eating schedule. Eating earlier or later than your body is accustomed to will cause additional confusion. Maintain healthy nutrition (like we shouldn’t do that every day!) so your body isn’t trying to combat a sleep change and nutrition change at the same time.
Get additional exercise a few days leading up to Saturday. Several studies site the benefits of exercise (but not right before bed) in helping our bodies and brains wind down faster, resulting in better sleep.
Go outside. Sunlight on your SPF-protected skin will help your body’s circadian rhythm get back in sync. Try for an hour outside on Sunday
Resist taking a long nap on Sunday. If you do stay up too late on Saturday night/Sunday morning binge-watching TV, you may be tempted to take a nice, long nap on Sunday afternoon. Resist the urge. If you do feel like a nap is in order, keep it to around 30 minutes or less. Anything longer will also mess with your circadian rhythm.

Other tips from Dr. Yoseph Krespi, Director of the Center for Sleep Disorders at New York Head and Neck Institute:

Drink plenty of liquids, yet avoid caffeine and alcohol later in the day.
Make your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary: dark, quiet, and cool (somewhere in the mid to upper 60’s is perfect).
Don’t tackle any complex tasks right before bed. Your brain will find it more difficult to shut down.
Start unwinding an hour before bed. Have a cup of chamomile tea, take a bath, relax. If you are relaxed vs. stressed when you actually make it to bed, your body will have less to do before going to sleep.

Although I do love the Fall season, it will be nice to have it light past 6:00 PM, don’t you think? I’m ready for this time change. How about you?

Cindy Jobs

www.organizetosimplify.com

National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals, Seattle Chapter

National Association of Professional Organizers, Seattle Chapter Vice President

Institute for Challenging Disorganization

Level I Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization; ADD; Client Administration; Time Management; Mental Health; and Hoarding.

Level II Specialist Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization and ADHD.

Coach Approach for Organizers

Graduate of the Comprehensive Training Program: Coaching Essentials; Strengths-Based Coaching; Brain-Based Coaching; Life and ADHD Coaching; and Organizer Coach Integration

Graduate-level training: Body-Based Coaching; ADHD Coaching Competencies

Maintaining medical records

I just spent a week with my 88-year old mother who lives 500 miles away. My siblings and I are very fortunate that Mom is in good health, mentally sharp, exercises regularly, and is able to do just about anything she wants.

Over the course of the visit, my sister and I took Mom to eight appointments varying from annual checkups to dental appointments, including a tooth extraction. My very, very organized sister manages all the documentation involved in my mother’s health and keeps everything in a 2”, well-tabbed binder. The answer to any question asked by any provider (“When was your last flu shot?” “What are your cholesterol levels?” “What medications do you take?”) could be found in that binder.

That got me to thinking:

How does everyone else keep track of their medical information? I know I don’t have the equivalent of that binder. Should I?
How detailed does the binder need to be?
What other options are there?

Here’s how my sister’s binder is laid out:

Outside Front: Complete list of providers (by specialty), addresses, and phone numbers
Inside, First Page:
- Detail of schedule and last appointments (by specialty). For example, “Dental check-up: twice annually, last check-up 10/20/2017.”
- Surgery and incident report. For example, “Age 12: a broken left forearm;” “Age 22: natural childbirth.”
Inside, Second Page: Authorization to release information.
Tabs:
- Vaccinations
- Brain: Any neurology-related information including appointments, MRIs, CTs, care plan, etc.
- Heart: Any heart-related information including appointments, EKGs, ultrasounds, stress tests, care plan, etc.
- Bones: bone density scan, DEXA scan, etc.
- Lab tests: If possible, create a multi-year spreadsheet to track the change in important categories such as cholesterol, D3, B12, etc.
- Dental: Any dental-related information including appointments, dental surgeries, care plan, etc.
- Vision: Any vision-related information including appointments, refractions, current prescription, care plan, etc.
- Miscellaneous: General practitioner appointments, care plan, any incidents that need to be documented like falls or other incidents, comments made in passing that may be relevant (for example “I’ve not had much appetite lately,” or “I feel a little weak.” Note date and time of comment).

This system has worked well for our family. It may work well for you also.

However, if you wanted to purchase a pre-packaged version, there are several options available. Pre-packaged systems may be as simple as a journal, or a bit more detailed, varying from journals to binder tabs to full systems including business card holders, CD holders, etc.

http://www.mydoctorbook.com/index.php

My Body Passport

My Personal Health Record Keeper

Ahh Hah Medical Records Organizer

Note: The information provided does not imply endorsement of these products.

No matter what system you choose to use for your personal medical record-keeping or the record-keeping of someone you love, the key is to create an easy-to-use, accessible method to capture critical information about our health and well-being.

Cindy Jobs

www.organizetosimplify.com

National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, Seattle Chapter Vice President

Institute for Challenging Disorganization:

Level I Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization; ADD; Client Administration; Time Management; Mental Health; and Hoarding.

Level II Specialist Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization and ADHD.

Coach Approach for Organizers

Graduate of the Comprehensive Training Program: Coaching Essentials; Strengths-Based Coaching; Brain-Based Coaching; Life and ADHD Coaching; and Organizer Coach Integration

Graduate-level training: Body-Based Coaching; ADHD Coaching Competencies

What do you know about ADHD?

“It’s so much easier to suggest solutions when you don’t know too much about the problem.” — Malcolm Forbes

October is National ADHD Awareness month. Over the next month, I will share some of my experience and understanding of the challenges of living with ADHD.

The first being that ADHD is one of the most highly understood brain-based conditions. As an organizer and coach who primarily works with people struggling with ADHD, I can tell you the struggle is real.

It is estimated that 4% – 8% of the population has ADHD the traits may cause frustration for not only people diagnosed with ADHD but their family, friends, co-workers, etc.

Comments I frequently hear from my clients:

“People think I just don’t care.”

“I’ve been shamed my whole life.”

“People think I’m ignoring them.”

“They tell me to just try harder. I’m really trying.”

“I don’t want to be late, I just can’t seem to get out of the house on time.”

“I have horrible credit because I forget to pay my bills.”

What is ADHD?

“A complex syndrome of developmental impairments of executive functions, the self-management system of the brain, a system of mostly unconscious operations. These impairments are situationally-specific, chronic, and significantly interfere with functioning in many aspects of the person’s daily life.” (Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D.)

The “big 3” ADHD Traits.

Inattention
Hyperactivity
Impulsivity

ADHD is highly genetic.

Only height has a stronger genetic predictability (Source: University of Maryland psychologist Andrea Chronis). Think about that. If your child is struggling with what appears to be ADHD, could that explain some of your frustrations as a child or adult? I frequently work with women who were diagnosed with ADHD after their children were diagnosed.

Why is ADHD a problem?

ADHD affects the executive function area of the brain (prefrontal cortex) that controls working memory, sequencing, flexibility, information processing, time management, and emotional regulation. Most of our world is designed to work in concert with people that have an ability to think in a linear, process-oriented way.

How is it different? Here’s an example.

Most people can visit a Staples and pick out the perfect pen because they can process the pros/cons of each type, color, thickness, etc. Someone with ADHD may get completely stuck by the sheer number of options. They literally may not be able to mentally process all the options and make a decision, so they leave the store empty-handed, frustrated and feeling like a failure.

What can someone with ADHD do to make life easier?

-Clocks, clocks, and more clocks. Put them everywhere and make them analog. 10:10 looks very similar to 10:40 on a digital clock, but very different on an analog clock.
-Thought management. Write things down wherever you would look to (multiple places if that makes sense)
-Time management: Routinely use a planner and a timing device (phone alerts work wonders as does a Time Timer).
-Get organized enough (less stuff, less to think about)
-Embrace a “to do” list (keep it simple and current)
-Voice/text messages (if something is important to remember and you can’t write it down, leave yourself and/or others messages)

There will be more information to come throughout the month about how ADHD affects our lives. If you have questions, feel free to contact me at 206-707-3458.

Cindy Jobs

www.organizetosimplify.com

National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, Seattle Chapter Vice President

Institute for Challenging Disorganization:

Level I Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization; ADD; Client Administration; Time Management; Mental Health; and Hoarding.

Level II Specialist Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization and ADHD.

Coach Approach for Organizers

Graduate of the Comprehensive Training Program: Coaching Essentials; Strengths-Based Coaching; Brain-Based Coaching; Life and ADHD Coaching; and Organizer Coach Integration

Graduate-level training: Body-Based Coaching; ADHD Coaching Competencies

Pause. Patience. Perspective.

Parts of the yesterday really tried my patience.

I had a wonderful opportunity to visit a friend in her new home and play a round of golf in beautiful 84-degree weather. The day was magical . . . until I started what should have been a 2-1/2 hour trek home.

Then I encountered . . . .

Accidents: Four of them to be exact. It was during commute time. There were no “alternate routes” available. These four accidents would ultimately result in an additional 2 hours of travel time. I was frustrated. Then I was thankful. I was in a comfortable, safe car. I had no critical timeline in which I needed to be somewhere. I was not involved in any of the accidents. Pause. Patience. Perspective.

A slow driver: Honestly! They were driving 10 MPH under the speed limit. What’s up with that? I was tempted to do the ol’ flash the lights routine because I assumed it was some young whipper-snapper texting and not paying attention. Nope, it was an elderly couple looking at a map and trying to find their way. I would have felt horrible had I made their trek even more stressful by my impatience. Pause. Patience. Perspective.

A broken Frappuccino machine: I jumped off the freeway long enough to complete a coaching call with a very motivated client that I‘ve been working with for some time. After the call, I decided to treat myself to a frappuccino for the next 90-minute drive home. The sign said the frappuccino was 490 calories. That’s a lot of calories for a drink in my mind, but I decided to treat myself. Five minutes later the manager told me the machine was broken and he needed to refund my $5.62. I could have been upset, but honestly, I was relieved. I really didn’t feel good about it anyway. Pause. Patience. Perspective.

So, what did all of this teach me? The power of pausing, taking a second to engage with some patience, and thinking about a possible different perspective.

How would you benefit from practicing pause, patience, and perspective?

Cindy Jobs

www.organizetosimplify.com

National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, Seattle Chapter Vice President

Institute for Challenging Disorganization:

Level I Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization; ADD; Client Administration; Time Management; Mental Health; and Hoarding.

Level II Specialist Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization and ADHD.

Coach Approach for Organizers

Graduate of the Comprehensive Training Program: Coaching Essentials; Strengths-Based Coaching; Brain-Based Coaching; Life and ADHD Coaching; and Organizer Coach Integration

Graduate-level training: Body-Based Coaching; ADHD Coaching Competencies

Bounce Back!

I recently had a major disappointment. I’d been working on a project for nearly three years. Having spent lots of time, energy, and money on this endeavor, I was ready to reap the fruits of my labors. The final assignment was to pass a very rigorous test. I did not pass.

I was devastated. I’m used to succeeding. I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

I was mad.

I cried.

I swore (sorry Mom).

I screamed about my perceived injustice.

I crumbled.

Then I sat back and asked myself “what’s next?” How was I going to bounce back?

As a coach, I encounter this type of situation with my clients on a frequent basis. I worked with my personal coach (yes, even coaches use coaches) to help process the situation and determine my next steps.

Embrace the emotion: I’m a very emotional person. I feel deeply. This rocked me to the core and I knew I needed to acknowledge the disappointment. So, I let myself have 24 hours to process all the negative emotions, then I stopped feeling sorry for myself and started figuring out what my next step was. Years ago I remember my coaching mentor saying “there is motivation in emotion.” Yes, yes, there is!

Own it: I had a very clarifying conversation with my mentor. She gave me some incredible insight into where I’d gone wrong; how I could learn from this disappointment; and what I could do differently to prepare for my next opportunity. How often do we look at our ownership in things that don’t go the way we want them to?

Put it in perspective: At first, I wanted to completely throw in the towel, but deep-down I knew that would only be a further disappointment. I literally said to myself “why even try again?” Honestly! Even though I’d spent nearly three years working on this project, it is not a one-and-done opportunity. It’s a process. It’s a learning and character-building opportunity. In the scheme of things, this is a little bump in the road.

Learn from others and work harder: When I really thought about it, I realized I’d not put the effort into the test that I should have. I’m generally pretty successful at things and hadn’t really acknowledged the effort being successful in this endeavor was going to take. Fortunately, I have several colleagues that have been through this process. I asked each and every one of them what they did to be successful and have incorporated their processes into my new learnings. In a nutshell, I’ve learned both from my mistakes and the successes of others. And, frankly, I’m just plain working harder this time around.

The silver lining in this process is that I’ve become a stronger, smarter, and more resilient person than I was before this experience.

What can you learn from the disappointments, large or small, that you encounter? How do you bounce back?

Cindy Jobs

www.organizetosimplify.com

National Association of Professional Organizers, Seattle Chapter Vice President

Institute for Challenging Disorganization:

Level I Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization; ADD; Client Administration; Time Management; Mental Health; and Hoarding.

Level II Specialist Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization and ADHD.

Coach Approach for Organizers

Graduate of the Comprehensive Training Program: Coaching Essentials; Strengths-Based Coaching; Brain-Based Coaching; Life and ADHD Coaching; and Organizer Coach Integration

Graduate-level training: Body-Based Coaching; ADHD Coaching Competencies

The Power of Predictability

Seasons change.

Winter turns to Spring.

Spring turns to Summer.

Summer turns to Fall.

Fall turns to Winter.

We know it’s happening. We have a pretty good idea what to expect. We can prepare for it.

It’s predictable.

For you Myers Briggs types, I’m an ESTJ — Extrovert, Sensing, Thinking, Judging (but not in a bad way). I’m practical, hardworking, structured, organized, dependable, and predictable.

Ask anyone that knows me.

If I say I’ll do it. I do it.
If I say I’ll be there at 5:00, I’ll be there at 5:00. Not 4:45 or 5:15. 5:00.
I pretty much wear the same style of clothes every day . . . . practical and not too flamboyant.
Give the opportunity, red wine vs a mojito. 🙂

I’m predictable and most of the people that I surround myself with appreciate it. They know what to expect from me. They know they can depend on me. They know what I value. I don’t live on the edge. A relationship with me is pretty safe (possibly a little less exciting, but safe).

What happens when we are unpredictable in our personal or professional lives?

People stop trusting our word.
Our team members spend an inordinate amount of time processing “what if” scenarios in their heads.
Opportunities may pass us by because people aren’t comfortable that we will hold up our end of the bargain.
We stop getting invited to things because we may show up late (or not at all), say insensitive things or dress in appropriately.

How predictable are you?

How is your level of predictability helping or hurting your relationships?

Cindy Jobs

www.organizetosimplify.com

National Association of Professional Organizers, Seattle Chapter Vice President

Institute for Challenging Disorganization:

Level I Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization; ADD; Client Administration; Time Management; Mental Health; and Hoarding.

Level II Specialist Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization and ADHD.

Coach Approach for Organizers

Graduate of the Comprehensive Training Program: Coaching Essentials; Strengths-Based Coaching; Brain-Based Coaching; Life and ADHD Coaching; and Organizer Coach Integration

Graduate-level training: Body-Based Coaching; ADHD Coaching Competencies

“I really thought you’d be more upset.”

A week or so ago my husband and I went to a BBQ/pool party. I really didn’t have any intention to swim, so I didn’t wear a swimming suit, just normal backyard BBQ attire. As it turned out, having a suit on would have been handy when I dropped my iPhone in the pool!

As you might imagine, it took me a minute to figure out what my next step was. Long story short, it took about five minutes for someone to fish my phone out of the pool. I was super-excited when the phone appeared to still be working . . . . and super-disappointed two minutes later when it stopped working. Immediately the phone went into a bag of rice and fingers were crossed that it would all be fine the next day. Well, the phone wasn’t fine, but surprisingly, I wasn’t very upset.

As we were driving home, my husband looked at me quizzically and said “I really thought you’d be more upset.” Then I got to thinking . . . . I’m surprised I’m not more upset too. Then it hit me.

Remember my last post when I talked a little bit about meditation and how it changes the brain? Below is a quick synopsis of a 2016 study on mindfulness and emotional regulation:

Simply put, the authors argued that individuals who are naturally mindful can effectively regulate their emotions even without meditation, but for those who are not naturally mindful, simply forcing oneself to be mindful “in the moment” is not enough — it is necessary to engage in mindfulness meditation in order to effectively regulate your emotions.

I’m generally a pretty emotional person. A couple of years ago I would have been so upset about the phone issue, I would have started berating myself with negative self-talk about my irresponsibility . . . right after I stopped crying about it. But my regular practice of mindful meditation kept those emotions in check.

Here’s how I see meditation making a positive impact on my life:

In the moment: I have a quick meditation if I need to destress in the moment. Closing my eyes and taking a few deep breaths I repeat “Stillness of mind, awareness of body.” This will reduce my heart rate and give me a moment of pause.

Daily: I meditate about 10 minutes almost every day. It sets my intention and starts my day in a calm place.

Cumulative: My blood pressure is low and my emotions are much more regulated. This serves me well in almost every situation.

So what did I learn?

Mindful meditation works.
Be more careful with my phone.
If the phone goes swimming again, put it in a small plastic bag BEFORE you put it in rice. (The nice folks at the Apple store had to dig three pieces of rice out of the power port.) 🙂

What positive impact could mindfulness have on your life?

Cindy Jobs

www.organizetosimplify.com

National Association of Professional Organizers, Seattle Chapter Vice President

Institute for Challenging Disorganization:

Level I Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization; ADD; Client Administration; Time Management; Mental Health; and Hoarding.

Level II Specialist Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization and ADHD.

Coach Approach for Organizers

Graduate of the Comprehensive Training Program: Coaching Essentials; Strengths-Based Coaching; Brain-Based Coaching; Life and ADHD Coaching; and Organizer Coach Integration

Graduate-level training: Body-Based Coaching; ADHD Coaching Competencies

Start your day right!

This video resurfaced on my Facebook feed this week. The topic of the video is 10 life lessons from basic SEAL training, delivered by Admiral William H. McRaven. What I loved about this video is life lesson #1 . . . . start your day off by making your bed.

Will making your bed really set your entire day off on the right foot? Why will making your bed set your day off on the right foot? It’s a success. It’s a completion. It’s motivating. It feels good to start the day with things in order.

When I’m working with my organizing and coaching clients, I encourage them to start the day with something that will make them feel good, accomplished, and motivated to take on the world . . . or possibly just cleaning the house.

What else do I encourage to help my clients start their day off with energy?

Start the night before. Planning the next day the night before can be very helpful in getting the morning started right. Look at your calendar and see what’s ahead of you. Put out the clothes you plan to wear. Make a list of the three most important items on your “to do” list. If possible, pack lunches. Whatever you can do the night before will help keep your busy morning on track.
Take some time to meditate. Before I started meditating, I had this vision of sitting on the floor, cross-legged, in total silence, with incense burning in the background. Well, that just sounded like too much work for me. So I started small, and have stayed there. I meditate four to five times a week for 10 minutes. I’m not a neuroscientist so I can’t explain how it works, but meditating physically changes the brain.
Get dressed and put on your shoes. Yup, just the simple act of getting dressed and putting on your shoes tells your brain it’s ready to take on the day. Personally, there’s a big difference in my ability to motivate myself if I’m in “go out in public” clothes vs “hangin’ out and having another cup of coffee” clothes. How about you?
Get a little exercise. I know we all don’t have time to hit the gym for an hour first thing in the morning, but most of us have time for a brisk 15-20 minute walk. (Well, those of you that have little ones at home probably don’t, but you get lots of exercise chasing after them, right?) If you can’t fit in 15-20 minutes, take 30 seconds to do some stretching. Even that small amount of time is enough to wake your body up.
Eat something. Again, most of us choose not to get up early enough to have a sit-down breakfast. But that doesn’t mean we can’t eat something healthy, even if we are on-the-go. My morning staple is oatmeal cupcakes. The recipe I use makes 24 cupcakes and only takes about 40 minutes (the recipe says 25, but I’m clearly not that fast). I freeze them and 1:00 in the microwave later, I’m out the door!

What do you do to ensure your mornings start off on the right foot?

Cindy Jobs

www.organizetosimplify.com

National Association of Professional Organizers, Seattle Chapter Vice President

Institute for Challenging Disorganization:

Level I Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization; ADD; Client Administration; Time Management; Mental Health; and Hoarding.

Level II Specialist Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization and ADHD.

Coach Approach for Organizers

Graduate of the Comprehensive Training Program: Coaching Essentials; Strengths-Based Coaching; Brain-Based Coaching; Life and ADHD Coaching; and Organizer Coach Integration

Graduate-level training: Body-Based Coaching; ADHD Coaching Competencies

Back To School Prep

We’ve had quite the beautiful summer here in the Puget Sound area, but the recent addition of back-to-school commercials reminds me that summer is coming to an end.

Side note: I do not have any preferences about where to shop, but I have to say the Walmart Super Hero commercial makes me smile every time I see it.

Although I don’t have any children in the back-to-school range, some of my clients do. I’ve experienced, through them, how getting everyone ready to head back into the classroom adds an extra layer of anxiety and stress to the last few lazy days of summer. Here are some tips to get you started and make the transition a little smoother.

School Supplies:

1. Get a copy of the school’s supply list. I was able to find the school supply list for my local middle school on-line within just 30 seconds. Doing a web search should result in a list similar to this (I searched “Lake Stevens School supply list”). I also found a well-organized file of school supply lists at my local Staples, so check with your local retailers.
2. Once you have the list, shop at home. Chances are, you will have a good number of the supplies already on hand. There’s no need to purchase a full set of supplies every year.
3. If you have supplies you aren’t using (or don’t foresee using in the near future), donate them to a school or to a local Boys and Girls Club. I’m certain they will be put to better use than taking up space in your home.
Clothes:
1. Check with your school to see if there are dress codes that need to be followed. If so, ensure that you and your student reads and understands them prior to embarking on the clothes shopping adventure. I can’t imagine much more frustrating than finding out your son/daughter have clothes they love, but can’t wear to school.
2. Depending on the age of your student, you will more than likely need to go shopping with them. Note I said “with them.” Although it may be simpler to just do the shopping on your own, having your child with you may be more efficient. If you shop with your child, you will ensure the clothes fit properly, they feel good in them, and are something they like and will wear. So many of my clients spend inordinate amounts of time shopping/returning/shopping/returning. The added stress and time generally isn’t worth it.
Classes: Hopefully at this point, classes have been signed up for. If not, get in touch with the school to set an appointment to register as soon as possible.
Extra-curricular activities: Have all extra-curricular activities been signed up for? Has the appropriate equipment been arranged for? If not, now’s the time to start working through that process.
Transportation: Most of my clients work at least part-time out of the home, so arranging transportation for any after-school activities is critical.
Health requirements: Does the school require specific health tests or immunizations? Again, a quick on-line search led to this information for our local school district.
Daily schedules: Because our student’s days are generally less structured during the summer, some habits may have developed that need to be changed in order to be successful when school starts. Now’s the time to start adjusting to getting up earlier, scheduling study time, and creating a new routine for getting to bed on time.

Changes in schedules tend to add a little stress to our lives, but some excellent pre-planning goes a long way to making the transition just a little easier!

Are you ready for a trip to the hospital?

Unfortunately, my husband and I had to make an unexpected trip to the hospital recently. As to be expected when leaving the house under those circumstances, we were not thinking clearly. Because we assumed we were coming back home within a few hours, we were woefully unprepared for an overnight stay. Fortunately for us, we have an amazing support structure that stepped in to help, which further clarified how important home organization is, especially when we were not at home.

The launching pad: Fortunately, my husband and I always put our wallet/handbag and keys in the same place every day. I refer to this as our daily launching pad area. Everything you need to take with you when you leave the house should be in this area. Knowing where his launching pad was kept me from having to run around the house trying to find his wallet to ensure I had his driver’s license and insurance information.

Clothing: Once it became apparent we were staying for a while, our friends offered to grab some clothes and bring them to the hospital. Although we didn’t need to have them bring any clothing, having an organized wardrobe system would have allowed me to tell them exactly where everything was that we needed . . . socks in the upper right drawer, t-shirts in the middle right drawer, jeans hanging on the left side of the closet third hanger in, etc.

Personal items: Again, because we have a system, I would have been able to let our friends know exactly where to find the travel toothbrush/toothpaste kit; my contact care kit; makeup remover pads; etc. All things we would have needed if our stay had been extended past 24 hours.

Accessories: One of the most important things we can do in these situations is to stay in contact with our loved ones. I didn’t have the foresight to bring a phone/iPad charger with me when I left the house, so having them bring chargers was a necessary. It was nice to be able to say “The chargers are in the kitchen, center plug. Please bring the 4-plug charger, two small Apple chargers, and the one large Apple charger.” Because things were actually where they were supposed to be, it was much easier for our friends to help us out.

I hope to not have to do this again, but I feel better knowing the effort we put into organizing our home made it much easier for people to help us.

How would your current state of home organization work in a crisis?

Cindy Jobs

www.organizetosimplify.com

National Association of Professional Organizers, Seattle Chapter Vice President

Institute for Challenging Disorganization:

Level I Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization; ADD; Client Administration; Time Management; Mental Health; and Hoarding.

Level II Specialist Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization and ADHD.

Coach Approach for Organizers

Graduate of the Comprehensive Training Program: Coaching Essentials; Strengths-Based Coaching; Brain-Based Coaching; Life and ADHD Coaching; and Organizer Coach Integration