Staying Organized: The Gap Between Chaos And Order

For me, being well organized is the recipe to function at a peak level, but I've often struggled with the reality that keeping a perfect and constant organized state of mind/affairs is an elusive and perhaps even unrealistic goal in the real world.

The truth is, at some point, in one way or the other, we will experience moments of disorganization, this seems quite inevitable. Going from having a meticulously structured workspace to simply feeling overwhelmed by the demands on our time and attention.

Failure As An Opportunity

I used to view these periods of disorganization as personal failures, a sign that I wasn't living up to my own high standards.

With time, this perception had evolved into a realization that the ebb and flow between being organized and disorganized may actually be a vital cycle that allows us to reassess, adapt, and strengthen our organizational systems.

For example, a few years ago, I had my email inbox under control, with everything well categorized and "filed away" neatly.

Fast forward to a few months ago, it has descended into chaos, with no clear structure. Instead of berating myself, I took a step back and examined what had changed.

How I went from the former to the latter is something that I still ponder about - my preferences change, I've outgrown my former self, experienced a few paradigm shifts.

Had new projects or responsibilities crept in, throwing off my carefully crafted system? Or had I simply fallen out of the habit of regularly clearing out my inbox?

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Once I had an inkling of the root cause(s), I then implemented a new system that was more flexible and reflected the present moment, rather than trying to force myself back into an approach that clearly wasn't working anymore.

Embrace The Messiness

This highlights the importance of embracing flexibility and adaptability when it comes to staying organized.

Naturally, the "perfect" organizational method doesn't exist - it's more so about finding what works best for you in the moment and being willing to evolve it over time.

Maybe that means experimenting with different productivity methods, rearranging your physical/digital workspace, or creating new structures that fit your changing needs.

At the same time, it's crucial to focus on the process, not just the outcome. This can never be emphasized enough.

Getting disorganized can be a blessing in disguise, an opportunity to refine our habits and systems. Over time, these incremental improvements will compound, helping one build a more resilient framework that will allow them to stay organized amidst the changes.

Because the reality is, no matter how organized we strive to be, there will always be moments where things get a bit messy.

That said, having the flexibility and resilience to bounce back in a relatively short amount of time and stronger than before can be a great way to maintain a healthy, sustainable level of organization in our lives.


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