Declutter Action Group

I'm starting a new group program in August called the Declutter Action Group. I wanted to tell you a little about how it works, and why I'm doing it.

For years I've used a strategy for getting certain kinds of things done: I tell someone "hey, I'm going to deal with this annoying pile of papers right NOW!"
This has often worked best with one of my sisters. We are both business owners, and we both hate dealing with things like piles of paper on our desks that need to be sorted, filed, destroyed, answered, or otherwise processed- but we like working at relatively orderly desks where we can find things we need. So sometimes we'll call each other- or e-mail- or in the last couple of years, chat online, and one of us will say "hey I have this terrible pile of papers to deal with." The other will reply. "Ok great! Deal with some and call/email me back and tell me you did it!"
It works.It works for getting through laundry, cleaning up the kitchen, dealing with a backlog of phone calls. It works to have someone know what you're doing. It helps that you're committing to a short burst of work at one time. It helps to check in. It helps to vent frustration, and break down the steps (or step) you're taking next so you don't get overwhelmed.

 I've worked with enough ADHD (and non-ADHD) coaching clients to find out that this kind of approach is strangely, magically powerful for some people.  Most people do best when they commit to a certain time to do these annoying and ADHD-unfriendly tasks, but committing to it only works, or works best, if there is someone besides themselves involved.

This simple strategy is one that I've often wanted to be able to share with other people. A group can be encouraging, and most of us don't have people who "get it" at our disposal in our everyday lives. As a coach, I feel like this is a way I can offer support that doesn't have to cost a lot, and can help a lot. This isn't a group where I tell you how you should do something (though I can help you break down what you're going to do). There are groups and programs for that - but I really wanted to do something for people who have already figured certain strategies out, just need some support carrying out the tasks.

And so I came up with the Declutter Action Group. Here's how it works:
You commit to a series of three Thursday mornings (this time round. I will offer it at different times in the future.) from 9:30-noon. You bring the projects or piles you want to work on, at home or in your office. If you're a bit stuck, or over-ambitious, we have half an hour from 9:30-10 to chat (online) through it a bit and define the step you'll take next. From 10-11 the whole group gets to work! At 11:00 you get back on the web chat and me and the group what you got done, and what's next. From 11:05- 11:55, it's back to decluttering! And at 11:55 we get back online and close it up- what are the final steps, like clean-up, or driving to Goodwill? Are you going to buy some supplies for the next week?

That's it. I made it 3 weeks because that's enough time to really make an dent in something, and clear some clutter, but it is short enough to commit to. It's all online, so you can do this while your kid is yelling, or in the office without your coworkers hearing all about it. Here are some of the things I would work on in a time frame like this:

-receipts I haven't logged (and may have lying around in half a dozen bags) for my business

-the papers I really need to get rid of on my desk

-the addresses and contact info I need to move from the old computer to the new system

-the kitchen drawer that is causing me grief because it's full of crap

You get the idea. If it sounds like it will help you, please come join me. We have a super early-bird special for this first offering available for the next few days, so please check it out.

Comments

[Is it just me?]

Great website, Becca! I can relate to so much of what you have written, and I appreciate your optimism and tips. Thanks for doing this!

[tangela]

I have so much paper that i a cluttering up my entire house....my teenage sons are starting to scold me...my husband is beside himself but i can't stop...i feel that each piece i save is something i may need later..i know i can get most anything on the internet but if i throw away that paper that had that poem on it how would i ever remember the poet's name to call it up a year from now?