Do you have a pile of stuff you keep adding to–because you can’t get things handled right away? If you’re ready to change that, this episode is for you!
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I grew up with “Flat Surface Disease,” where every flat surface was completely covered, but now that I’ve learned a new way to handle the things that come into my life, there are no piles anywhere. It’s amazing, and I want you to experience that, too!
Here’s the 5-step process that typically happens when people use “piles” as the solution to the overwhelm:
(1) You have an item that requires action.
(2) You can’t do it right then because there are multiple facets–maybe you need to make a decision, maybe there are multiple tasks, maybe it’s not the right time, or maybe other people need to be involved.
(3) You put the item in “the pile” in hopes it will either go away or you will feel like doing it later.
(4) The pile grows and grows and becomes overwhelming.
(5) You either suffer the consequences of forgetting what you put in the pile or you end up digging through it frantically when you realize you need something by a certain deadline.
But what if we changed what happens between steps 2 and 3? What if items were seamlessly integrated into the STEP Command Central so they would come back to you at the appropriate time?
I’ll walk through three examples that will show you how this works. (You will want to build your own STEP Command Central, so links are below to help you learn more, but this is going to change your life!)
Example #1: Our son asked me to print a shipping label so he could return a hard drive. He emailed the label and brought the box to our house. Our printer was broken, but a new one was coming the next day.
- I created a calendar reminder to print the label the day the new printer would be set up.
- I put the “support materials” (the email and the box) where I keep those things. Cubbies are where I keep papers/booklets, but I keep emails in a folder and things like boxes/big physical items on a shelf in my closet.
- Then once it was printed and we put it on the box, it was on our son’s “Errands List” (part of his Next Actions List) to drop it off.
Example #2: Eric and I needed to review some tax documents. We needed to log in and download the document and then sit down to review them.
- We have a routine for a weekly meeting where we review our calendar and important decisions, so I added that to our weekly agenda. (If you don’t have a weekly meeting, you could add this to your “To Discuss List” on your Next Actions List.
- I printed the document and added it to my finance folder in my support cubbies, where I keep support materials.
- Then we could easily decide when we wanted to work on them and the documents would be ready to go!
Example #3: A friend offered me a free week’s trial of her yoga classes, and so I wanted to do the classes she sent to me and get back to her at the end of the week.
- I scheduled a couple of yoga sessions onto my calendar that week.
- I put the support items–the yoga mat, computer, monitor, and cord to connect them–in the spot where I do yoga so they would be ready.
- I created a calendar reminder to get back with her at the end of the week.
Our brains simply need to know that they will see the item and do the associated task(s) at the right time. That’s what stops the piles!
I know that Flat Surface Disease is frustrating, but it can 100% go away. We’d love to help you build your system and stop the piles for good. 🙂 Lots of free resources are here on the website, and there are some links below to get you started. So glad you are here with us!
If you have some additional words of encouragement or perspective to offer, please leave a comment!
Related Links!
15 Parts of the STEP Command Central – Questions/Informal Quiz
LearnDoBecome YouTube Channel!
Our ARISE membership – an amazing gathering place for community members that are using their Command Centrals to refine relationships, health, finances, individual purpose, and more. We focus on a new topic each month, and this is an amazing opportunity to receive coaching and support from Team LearnDoBecome. You can sign up for a free, 7-day trial here.
Loved the “Flat Surface” piece. When I was growing up, we were constantly fighting “piles.” My mother was always embarrassed when someone would visit, and so were we. But….she had 4 kids 2 years apart each, and worked full time on her feet all day! I forgave her many years ago and am a better housekeeper… I only had 1 child, period (though I was a single mother). But I dubbed my living style as being a “horizontal filer….), a term that is still unfortunately true. Currently being mitigated by inching into LDB!! I will prevail, and Mom in heaven will be proud of me!
So glad you are here with us! I have come to learn that the piles are typically just a symbol of overwhelm or simply not knowing an easy alternative. It just eases the stress so much when we can manage our spaces without using so much energy. Excited to see how your LearnDoBecome journey continues to progress!!
April says we put things in piles because we don’t have time to deal with them. That’s not what it is for me. I put things in piles because I don’t know what to do with them. I have decision paralysis and I know I keep things I should probably throw away, but I can’t, and I can’t make the decision on what to do with it, then I feel guilt for not being able to throw it away, and I feel stuck and the thing just stays there. Particularly papers. I can’t discern what might be important to keep because my executive functioning is almost non-existent some days.
Adrienne, you’re definitely not alone on this! Inside our Steps To Everyday Productivity (STEP) program, we have a chart that walks you through the decision-making process. This helps you to know what to do with each item in the pile and where to put it in your Command Central so you can find it again when you need it. It’s kind of like magic! 😊 We’d love to have you join us in the program if it feels like a good fit for you!
In the meantime, we have some free resources to help.
1- This podcast episode https://learndobecome.com/episode197/ “To-the-Point Questions to Assess Your Level of Organization”, walks you through each part of the Command Central to help you recognize pain points and discover solutions.
2- We’ve compiled some of our favorite resources that will help you get your own STEP Command Central up and running. Follow this link to have them sent directly to your inbox! Learndobecome.com/steppingforfree
Feel free to reach out to our team with any additional questions. We’re happy to help!