School of Hard Knocks

Graduating from the SOHK, by Mary'n Hallock, facilitator

"If you can learn from hard knocks, you can also learn from soft touches."
-- Carolyn Kenmore

Does this sound like you?

Do you believe getting organized requires massive, uninterrupted periods of time to perform "marathons" of cleaning up and clearing out?
Do you wait until your spaces make you cringe (and you are truly embarrassed by them) before you choose to do something about them?
Do you have crises in your life as a result of disorganization (lost money, unpaid bills, frantic hunts for things you need now?

If you answered "yes" to any of these, you are probably an industrious student of the School of Hard Knocks (SOHK).

For whatever the reasons, those of us who are part of the SOHK often believe that the hard way is the only way. Some SOHK students were raised with that old work ethic that holds that we must work both hard and long or the end product will be valueless. (Sweat equity is all.) Others live for the dubious (but real) adrenalin rush that inevitably comes with crises. Some have simply sopped up SOHK values from a role model and have never stopped to question them.

So, what does it take to become a graduate of the old SOHK?

First, own it. Knowing that being a bit rough on yourself is a tendency will free you to make other choices; probably not every time, but at least once in awhile. Awareness gives you the freedom to "down-size" your harshness quotient.

Ask a great question. Replace an assertion (such as, "I'm just so disorganized and I can't help it") with an inquiry that will get you somewhere (such as, "What is the simplest, easiest thing I can do about this today?")

Get help. Go on. Bite the bullet and get the best help you can find. A coach, teacher (or even a professional organizer) can not only assist in handling some of the life situations you face, but can even aid you in overcoming the need to make things hard!

Alumni of the School of Hard Knocks keep on learning and growing -- they just have more fun doing it. Determine to become a graduate today!

Do some easy homework with the Mini-Reflection Exercise below and graduate from the SOHK.

Mini-Reflection Exercise

Contemplate the following to become a graduate of the SOHK (School Of Hard Knocks).

Own it. Note a way that you tend to be rough on yourself (e.g. "I'm so disorganized"):

Ask a great question. Take the above assertion and turn it into an inquiry that will move you forward (e.g. "What is the simplest, easiest thing I can do about this today?"):

Get help. Brainstorm ways to get the help you need. Then choose the one that feels most doable and make it happen!