Half Way to a Goal

By Heidi M. Gaumet, President of HMG Organizing

Whenever we are trying to achieve any change in life, pacing ourselves is important. If you have read my previous postings or are familiar with my work, then you will know how I like to compare getting organized to losing weight. And I am going to use that analogy again to explain what I mean.

Last September I started Weight Watchers. I had finally reached the point where I was tired of my weight (as you may be tired of your disorganization) and decided to do something about it. I did very well on the program for three months and lost 15 pounds. At the time this was my goal (as in reaching your goal of getting organized). Then it was time to maintain (as you will need to maintain any areas you have organized).

Well, I basically fell off the program (backsliding, as you may experience while trying to reach your organizing goals) but I was fortunate that I continued my intense exercise program. Therefore, I have only gained back 3 lbs. since December and have been maintaining my weight loss.

Because of the fact that I eat too much, I know that this is an issue in life that needs constant monitoring. I compare it to chronic disorganization. There may be a cure but I don’t know if I will ever be “cured”. So, I am learning ways to manage it. And sometimes that means being easy on myself and just accepting things as they are.

This morning as I was thinking about the situation (and comparing it to organizing, as I usually do), I came up with an important realization. Even though I have not completely reached my goal (I now realize I want to lose another 10 pounds), getting half way there is a great accomplishment. Look at it as the glass being half full, not half empty. I am going into this summer 13 pounds lighter than I was last summer. Clothes are fitting me better, some even too loose, and that is something to be happy about.

Just think about it. If you were halfway more organized than you were last year at this time, how would that make you feel? I’ll bet you would feel great, even if you were not completely at your goal. Think about that for a moment. Think about where you could be in just a few months from now if you got started on your organizing project today. And organizing should be like weight loss. To be successful, losing no more than 2 lbs. per week is recommended. So when you organize, don’t feel you need to do it all at once. Just a little bit each day and you will achieve your goal quicker than you realize.