SHIFTING THE ORGANIZATIONAL PARDIGM

May 5, 2007

Posted on www.YourHub.com throughout Denver Metro

What is your reaction when someone says, "It is time to organize?" Or, "spring cleaning is here?" For thirteen years Bunky Lundberg and Chaos Cancelled have been overhauling misconceptions about "let's organize."

Organization often is connected to negatives such as feeling a loss of control, consistency, and creativity. However, in Bunky Lundberg's world being organized does not mean someone has to be perfect. And, tossing the rules living a free-flowing lifestyle isn't positive either.

Taking to task those emotional tyrants, she proclaims liberty in the face of chaos. Lundberg says, "I am a recovering perfectionist and I need a bill of rights." Her bill of rights has emancipated CEOs and small business owners. For the busy homemaker her organizational style is unshackling.

Think about the "special" things grandma or mom gave you. Your mother-in-law may have unloaded some of her gear on you as well. You would never give it away. Throwing it is unspeakable. What would they think? If they have passed on the emotional tie it gets thicker. Bunky asks people, "Is that thing serving you or the person who gave it to you?"

Prodding further she asks her clients to evaluate if the item is needed, wanted, or useful. And, the ultimate in guilt is an expensive item. How could one give or throw away something that costs so much?

Encouraging her clients to disengage from emotional ties to stuff allows them to honestly evaluate the importance of keeping the clutter. But, they also have the right to keep items if they choose to maintain them.

Memorabilia does not have to hide in closets when photographs and videos can record childhood treasures. Lundberg states, "Tell yourself you are not responsible to keep it all. Take a picture and throw away the project. When you are organized you have more room for creativity."

An added feature of organization is time to read. But, even the mountain of literature can be too much. She suggests throwing magazines and getting rid books that are non-essential. Keep only what is interesting. Allow that reading material to energize rather than overwhelm.

The old rule, handle a piece of paper once is both outdated and also overpowering. We are bombarded by information, most of which is still on paper. It is difficult to know what to do with all that information at first glance. Rather file in a pile is ok if that is what is needed. Only she suggests, "Go through the pile at least once a week. At that point decisions are easily made and about 90% is easily recycled or thrown away."

When organizing, learn to do it your way. For more information on how you can unfetter the clutter without being daunted by the task through classes and one-on-one consulting, call Bunky Lundberg with Chaos Cancelled at 303-331-0695. Her liberating approach gives a new lease on structure.