When I was in college in the early 1980s I couldn’t afford to buy a Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) so I would rent one of the bulky things and a few movies once in a while. Each video had a “Be Kind, Rewind,” sticker on it: a request to return the tape in ready position for the next viewer. Technology has evolved since then, and now “reboot” is something I’m tasked to do often with my sluggish internet receiver and my aging computer in order to make them function properly. With the planet Mercury once again in retrograde, lots of “re-“ words come in to play. Let’s consider how a few, like “rewind” and “reboot,” could help us function more smoothly and be more organized.
Release: Let’s start with the big one. It is near impossible to be organized when “it’s all too much.” Every time I work with an extremely cluttered client I come home and release at least three things, usually books and sweaters. There is so much freedom in letting go and it can be really painless. The other day I got rid of three items in my spice cupboard—expired oregano, an extra jar of cumin and Za’atar, a spice that, like the aspirational Giorgio Armani dress I foolishly bought in the 1990s, I will never use.
I have also found that releasing at least three “to do” items from a daily list helps me do everything else on the list in a less rushed, more effective manner.
Releasing resentments (two re-words!) can make the work and home environment infinitely more pleasant. Take a deep breath, count to ten, and let it go. It might be a few minutes, it might be a few months, but you’ll probably realize that the issue was not so important that you raise your blood pressure and cortisol levels.
Restore/Repurpose/Relax: I love restoring or repurposing old clothing and furniture. Preventing waste is just part of it. For me, something used and “pre-loved” is often so much more interesting and attractive than something new.
We also need to take plenty of time to restore ourselves—take time to rest, do some self-care, empty the car and have it washed, have a salon treatment or plan a week of lean, healthy meals to do a pre- or post-holiday detox. Work naps into your schedule. Delegate chores that exhaust you, either mentally or physically, whenever possible, or at least ask for help! We are less effective, and sometimes completely ineffective, when exhausted.
Reflect and Refine: What areas in your life need fine tuning? I like to do a “Wheel of Life” a few times a year to check in on how I’m feeling about eight major categories: home, significant other, friends and family, finances, career, health, fun/recreation and personal growth. Rate each category on a scale of one to ten (ten being fantastic) and list a few items in the categories with lower scores that you could do to bring up the score and balance your “wheel.” If you have released some “to do” items on your schedule, you might have a nice chunk of time to reflect and refine.
Review: The end of the year is fast approaching also, and every January I love doing a “Year in Review” list with my friends. I also do one with my significant other. I keep these annual reviews digitally in my phone and any hand-written ones in a file. It is so satisfying to look back on the year while it is still fresh in my mind and realize that, yes, I did accomplish some worthy tasks, meet some incredible people, visit some amazing places and experience significant growth. I also note disappointments and areas I’d like to improve in the coming year. Clear goals are a crucial part of being organized. If we don’t know where we’ve been, it’s much harder to determine where we are going.