As Summer starts to fade and we forge straight ahead into Fall, the coming change of seasons proves a prime time to pack away unused clothes, de-clutter the home office and clean out the house in anticipation of the holidays -- which let's face it are closer than we think.
Getting organized can be an overwhelming task, but with the right approach, you can be ready for the season ahead in no time. With the scores of books, television shows and articles (like the one's I write) proliferating our lives -- cleaning and organizing can seem like a full time job. But (and Oprah, please cover your ears here), it can even become a type of obsession - and not the fun kind.
I recently went thought a phase of compulsive cleaning that prompted a friend to pronounce "you're cleaning out your closets again?" In my deep desire to simplify, I may have occasionally gone overboard on the organizing thing. So my declaration for what little time is left of summer is to spend less time sorting and more time being with family and friends, reading and lying out in sun. Don't laugh you may be a member of this club and not even know it. Here are ten signs you have gone overboard being organized.
1. You wake up at 4:00 am stressing over the state of your sock drawer
2. You sneak off to the Container Store but tell your family your going to the market
3. You think spring-cleaning deserves to be declared a bank holiday
4. Cleaning up after a dinner party includes re-organizing your Tupperware
5. Helping clean up after a dinner party where you are a guest includes re-organizing the host's Tupperware
6. Friends laugh out loud when you declare, "my house is such a mess!"
7. Your husband suggests that you start a local chapter of PCA (Plastic Containers Anonymous)
8. You seriously ponder the merits of acrylic drawer holders over plastic white ones
9. Although you try not to judge, you think a messy pencil cup is a sign of a life in trouble
10. You can actually find your car keys when you go to look for them
Please note that this article is copyrighted by Karen Leland. If you would like to reprint any or all of it on your blog or website for non-commercial purposes, you are welcome to do so, provided you give credit and a live link back to this post.
Karen Leland is author of the recently released book Time Management In An Instant:60 Ways to Make the Most of Your Day. You can read more at her blog site at www.karenleland.com or contact her at kleland@scgtraining.com