Quick Reset Process for When Life’s Out of Control – TPW387

Even those who generally are organized and productive, who have systems and routines in place that help us get things done that we care about, sometimes experience seasons of disorder and disarray. It’s not that systems and routines fail us, necessarily, but that something happens that gets in the way of us following our routines or using our systems. And if it goes on for long, things just get out of control.  It's possible to get things back on track after an extra busy or stressful season of life It happens to most--if not all--of us occasionally. But especially for those of us who care about being organized and productive, it can leave us feeling anxious and stressed--or add to the anxiety and stress of whatever situation got us to this place in ​the first place. And that’s no way to live.  What can help reduce the anxiety and stress is to do a reset. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or energy, but it can have a big impact. Why a reset might be needed and why things might have gotten out of hand Perhaps there has been an illness (yours or someone else’s) or some depression or stress. Both of these situations can undermine our motivation and energy to get things done. Maybe you have been traveling lately or moving. And whether it's across the country or down the street, the process still disrupts routines and causes some level of chaos. Maybe you've had an extremely busy work session or a difficult life event, such as a divorce or death in the family.  Or maybe even a positive life event like a new baby, graduation (yours or your child’s), holidays, or even out-of-town guests. What "out-of-hand" might look like The house is a mess--whether dirty (dusty surfaces, sticky floors, scummy bathrooms), piles on counters, laundry piled up, the fridge needs cleaning and restocking.  The house looks good at visible level but behind closed doors, some or all cupboards, closets, drawers, etc., are cluttered and disorganized because you’ve stuck things out of sight in an attempt to keep the rest of the house livable.  Usual routines are disrupted--tasks left undone are weighing on your mind (personally, I’m way behind on email).  Maybe things look fine but you’re feeling off-balance, stressed, like you’ve lost control and aren’t sure what you’re missing. Steps to resetting First, give yourself some grace. The fact that things have gotten out of control, for whatever reason, is not a reflection on your character or value as a person.  Take a breath--literally. Just for a minute, stop, breathe deeply in and out, relax your tense muscles. Consider taking a walk (or a nap!), do some yoga or some meditation--whatever helps you relax & find your center.  Then grab a pen and paper, maybe a cup of tea, and do a thought download of everything that’s on your mind--every task undone, any decision unmade. Walk around the house and make note of any areas that need attention.  So much of our stress comes from this nebulous cloud of worry from the “stuff” hanging out there, the “open loops” that David Allen talks about in Getting Things Done -- unidentified but feeling huge and overwhelming. Putting it down on paper turns it into something more concrete, that you can look at, evaluate, and make a decision about. Keep the list or notebook handy, add things to it as you notice or remember them, and enjoy the satisfaction of crossing things off as they get done. I do this process for work as well. If I’m finishing up, or in the midst of, a crazy full work week and feeling stressed by the sense that things are slipping through the cracks, I’ll sit with a pad and pen and list everything that need...