Transitions for life, People in Motion


Pitch-a-Pile Pick-me-up!


Okay. Look around the room right now and find it. You know what I am talking about. That pile of "stuff" that you need to get around to one of these days. It seems to expand by itself, like some sort of asexual reproductive mechanism. Now close your eyes and listen to it. Yes, it has a voice that rarely shuts up, like a bad knock-knock joke that never goes away. Once in a while you think about going through it, just to have some peace for a change. You may even make a dent, but once ignored it regains its original proportions and then some. We get so used to the drain of these piles that we learn to live with the subconscious noise that they fill our days and nights with. If you've ever managed to eliminate a pile, even for a short period of time, you know the relief you feel and the positive energy that comes with it. Remember previous pile purges and think about how much of it you ended up throwing away. All that noise for nothing! So why do we create and hang on to these negative noisemakers? One part of the problem lies in not having a good system in place for managing income "stuff" at the time it enters our home our office. The larger problem is usually fear of the unknown consequence that may occur if the pile ceases to exist. Once we face the worst-case scenario of proliferate pile purging, we realize that the impact of the pile far outweighs the impact of its absence.

Tips for passionate pile purging:


You begin with a 3-step process. Monitor the incoming and observe your pile-abilities. Is there a recurring theme of pile additions that could be best handled another way? Sometimes this is as simple as a new file folder or an organization method. Note your thoughts as you add something to the pile: "I don't know what to do with this" "I may need this someday" "I don't have time; I'll deal with it later" Consider what is the worst thing that could happen if you just threw the entire pile away. Write it down! Is this possible scenario worth the high cost of pile-energy maintenance? Now test your pile attachment quotient by throwing the bottom half away. If you are resistant at this point, close your eyes and grab 10 things out of the pile. Would your worst-case scenario come true if you had thrown away any of these? If not, pitch-a-pile! How does that feel? For some, this is such a heady experience that they have their own purge party. If you are a die-hard pile protector, put all your piles in a sturdy box and get it out of sight. Piles need line-of-sight to speak out. Date the box and shut the door. You can always go back to it and resolve any life-or-death dilemmas that crop up. Once you have successfully de-piled your home and office, guard against the repopulating pile! Ask yourself these questions before allowing any noisy items to enter into your sanctuary: "Do I really need this information?" "Can I get this another way if and when I need it?" (Internet, contacts, original source) "What will it cost me to keep this?" "Can I just deal with it right now?" "If I have to hang on to it, where can I put it where it doesn't talk to me until I am ready for it?" "What will happen if I just pitch it now?" Whenever you feel life pressing in and stress pushing out, pitch-a-pile and let the positive energy propel you forward! Coaching Challenge Ask yourself what your piles really mean to you? Does the voice of your piles sound like someone you know? What inner thinking process can you change to release your pile dependency? Purge your noisiest pile today using the tips listed above. Tackle something really exciting with the resulting energy! Create a pile protection policy to guard against new pile proliferation.		"Imagination is more important than knowledge." ~ Albert Einstein

Resources


Get organized so your important pile contents have a permanent place to go. Hire a professional organizer for your home or office at the National Organization for Professional Organizers. Read these interesting articles: Clutter-Clearing and Your Authentic Self, Dr. DeClutter's 10 Office Re-organizing Tips, Psychology of Clutter . Experiencing pile purge resistance, get help from your coach!		Are you ready for more? Get a coach!