It didn't say, "Spam Risk." Caller ID said it was PG&E. When I answered, the gentleman greeted me and said that our power would be turned off in about 45 minutes. My first thought was that they were working in our area, then he added, “unless your balance is paid.”
It took longer than it should have for me to identify him as a liar and a thief. First, I was put at ease by the familiar. My phone told me it was PG&E. We’ve had notifications about shutdowns. When he added the part about the past due bill, I went into panic mode which removes the ability to think reasonably. Thirdly, I was ignorant about when it was last paid since my husband pays the bills.
Those three elements--familiarity, panic, and ignorance gave me cause for briefly succumbing to the liar and would-be thief on the other end of the line. If you’re struggling with organization and productivity, you may be listening to a liar and a thief.
The liar says:
“You never finish stuff, so why start?” Sound familiar?
“You’re overloaded with things to do. Your life will implode if you attempt one more.” In a panic?
“You can’t do it because you don’t know how.” Feel ignorant?
Believing these lies steals your peace of mind. When disorganization disrupts a relationship, the thief has won again. Time wasted looking for things steals time from higher priorities. Your wallet is a target too. Late fees due to mail clutter, payments for extra storage, and buying replacements for things you can’t find.
Lies about organization and productivity are often more subtle than my would-be thief who held my electricity hostage for a $900 payment. Don’t beat yourself up if you have succumbed. My remedy was to hang up on the liar and call the place I knew would give me straight truth—the real PG&E.
Here are three Timely Truths to combat the lies that threaten your organization and productivity.
Timely Truths to combat disorganization
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1. You have finished stuff. Maybe it was high school, or a Master’s degree, or a personal project or goal. Maybe you’ve been sober for two years or twenty. Each day is an accomplishment. List three things you’ve done in life that were challenging. Now record one organizing project you’d like to accomplish. Start small. A drawer, your purse, or maybe your pet supplies. Combat the lie with the truth that you can finish.
2. Adding is sometimes subtracting. Look for a way to be productive that will open up time and space in your life rather than put you over the edge. Do you look forward to the weekend until you notice the huge pile of clean laundry or dirty dishes that accumulated during the week? Adding a ten-minute task of putting away each clean load or filling the dishwasher nightly can subtract an overwhelming pile at week’s end.
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3. You know enough. Fortunately for all of us, getting organized isn’t rocket science. Four steps is all you need. For a free instruction sheet click here: FOUR SURE-FIRE WAYS TO GET & STAY ORGANIZED. If you get stuck on any of those, feel free to give me a call. I’ll answer as long as caller ID doesn’t say PG&E!
wise words
Organization isn't about perfection; it's about efficiency, reducing stress and clutter, saving time and money and improving your overall quality of life. --Christina Scalise