Possibilities aren’t only about imagining what could be. They’re also about choosing what deserves your energy and recognizing when it’s time to act.

You can feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disorganized and still have options. This is good news, especially if you’re struggling. Things don’t have to stay the same. You don’t have to change everything at once or set a specific timeline.

I chose three ideas to help you:

• Harness the power of the present

• Embrace your season of change

• Remain open to what’s possible

If you feel stuck, struggle to imagine what’s possible, or aren't sure where to begin, try one of these ideas. It might help you see a way forward.

3 Helpful Ideas to Inspire More Action and Explore Possibilities

1. Notice Energy

Recently, I read Michelle Gielan’s new book, Resilient Optimism, which is filled with strategies for embracing what’s possible. I love reading physical books and using my yellow highlighter to capture ideas I want to revisit.

One was a question Michelle posed:

“What is actually worth my energy today?”

This question gets to the heart of things, especially when you have lots of options and are trying to figure out what is possible. After all, on any given day, you have many choices about what you:

• Want to do

• Must do

• ‘Should’ do

• Intend to do

• Love to do

• Hope to do

Some of those tasks and pursuits originate with you, while others come from people in your life, such as family, friends, bosses, or colleagues.

Michelle’s question offers a useful way to evaluate these choices. Like time, your energy isn’t limitless. You have only so many hours and so much energy to pursue what you want, need, and hope to do in this precious life.

Your energy is valuable. It has worth, as the question suggests. When considering what is possible today, factor in the energy you have right now. Which tasks align with your current capacity? Which ones deserve your attention and effort today?

2. Recognize Timing

An inciting incident, season, or time of year can inspire action. Perhaps you’ve wondered how different life would feel if you sorted through the piles of paper, organized your closets, decluttered your schedule, changed careers, or moved somewhere else. As you’ve considered various changes, have you delayed taking action, waiting for the ‘right’ time? I see this frequently.

You might be waiting for a particular season, ideal circumstances, or a sense of readiness that may never arrive. Sometimes the reasons for delaying action sound like this:

• “I’ll wait until winter to start.”

• “I just need to finish the school year.”

• “I have to get through this busy period before doing anything else.”

• “I’ll start when things settle down.”

• “I need a full day to get started.”

• “I’m waiting until I feel ready.”

• “After the holidays, things will be less hectic.”

• “I’ll start when I can give it my full attention.”

• “I don’t know what to do next.”

• “I want things to be different, but I don’t know if I have the energy to do the work.”

• “I don’t have the time. I never do.”

In a recent conversation with my virtual organizing colleagues, we explored when people are most likely to get organized and how marketing messages tie that process to the seasons. As someone who lives in the Northeast, I am deeply influenced by the changing seasons. I often use nature’s seasonal cadence to review and reset each quarter.

You’ve heard phrases like:

• “Fresh Start for the New Year” (winter)

• “Spring Cleaning” (spring)

• “Summer Refresh” (summer)

• “Get Organized Before the Holidays” (fall)

But changing seasons and their accompanying marketing messages aren’t the only cues. Instead of waiting for a particular season to pursue possibilities, what if you considered the Now Season? Thinking of this as your Now Season shifts the focus from waiting for the right time to considering what you can do now. You don’t need to wait one more day, focus on one more obstacle, or delay any more.

Make this your season of change as you journey toward what’s possible. Obstacles will come, but don’t let them stop you. Face them head-on. Reach out for help if needed. Take the next tiny step.

This is the Now Season. Make this your season.

3. Imagine Possibilities

This idea comes from a quote shared with me by my good friend, Yota Schneider, a life coach, women’s circle facilitator, and meditation guide. The quote captures the natural push-and-pull between life as we know it and what might be possible.

Robin Wall Kimmerer said,

“We live in the tension between what is and what is possible.”

What a beautiful truth to recognize. Perhaps more than anything, this idea acknowledges that you live as you do now. It’s what you know and what you’re used to. It’s a safe place to be.

At the same time, whether you are happy with life as you know it or not, you can imagine other possibilities. Those could be major changes or tiny tweaks. Perhaps that tension between “what is and what is possible” creates the opening for change.

What else might be possible? What would you like to pursue?

What Can Exploring Possibilities Look Like?

Be mindful of your present capacity, consider the “Now Season” your time for change, and stay open to what’s possible. These ideas can help you get unstuck and move forward in a compassionate, inspired way.

Which ideas resonate with you? What feels more possible now? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disorganized? You don't have to face this alone. I’m here to help! Get unstuck and make progress. Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward—with a local feel and a global reach.

Getting organized, making progress, and pursuing what’s possible are all doable, especially with support.

Let’s talk! I’m easy to reach.

• Schedule a discovery call

• Fill out the contact form

• Email me at linda@ohsoorganized.com or

• Call 914-271-5673

Is it just me, or are you also wondering, “How is it mid-year already?" As each day and week pass, the feeling that time is flying by only grows stronger. It’s no surprise. Time keeps moving on. However, the continual ticking of the clock makes me consider how intentionally I’m using my time. I like to think I’m being purposeful and conscious with my time, yet there’s always room for improvement.

Recently, I discovered some powerful questions in Jenny Blake’s book, Free Time – Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business. Jenny’s book was recommended to me by my friend, the fabulous author, podcast host, lyricist, and project coach, Kara Cutruzulla. Thank you, Kara.

The questions that Jenny poses are excellent clarifiers. I found them helpful, and I thought you would, too. While her book focuses on business, her questions can easily be applied to your personal life. I adapted several of them to make them more relevant for you.

To determine whether Jenny’s questions will be helpful for you, consider these first:

• Are you struggling to focus your time?

• Are you trying to be more intentional about how you spend your time?

• Are you sensing that time is passing quickly and you’re not focused on what matters?

• Are you feeling frustrated and stuck?

• Are you hoping to achieve something soon or within a year?

If you resonated with any of the questions above, the following four questions from Jenny could offer you clarity, direction, and hope.

Four Effective Questions to Help You Better Focus Your Time

1. “What would give you the biggest boost and sense of accomplishment this week?”

The secret sauce of this question is how it helps you focus on the immediate time frame—this week. This approach can be especially beneficial when your mind is so preoccupied with future thinking that it distracts you from the here and now.

Take a moment in a quiet space. Close your eyes if it helps. Ask Jenny’s question, “What would give you the biggest boost and sense of accomplishment this week?”

Break it down further if that’s useful:

• What will provide you with the most significant lift in mood this week?

• What can help create a sense of accomplishment this week?

• What is the best place to focus your time, effort, and energy to achieve those results?

2. “What are your three biggest [time-related] frustrations at the moment?”

You might consistently be late, have trouble meeting deadlines, struggle with your work-life balance, or face other time-related challenges. Maybe you’re experiencing low energy or a lack of motivation. All of these experiences are normal. However, without clarity about what is frustrating you, it’s easy to remain in a static and irritated position.

Identifying your frustrations and what’s keeping you stuck is essential. From that proactive perspective, you can develop a plan of action.

What are your three biggest frustrations related to time right now?

“Time is a valuable resource, and it’s not unlimited. ”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

3. “What would you be thrilled to achieve in [your life] in the year ahead?”

Living in the present is important. Equally essential is thinking about the future. This forward perspective will help you be more mindful of your time and the small steps you’re taking now toward a future goal.

To put yourself in a positive mindset, ask the question, “What would you be thrilled to achieve in [your life] in the year ahead?”

To increase excitement and minimize overwhelm, identify just one goal. You might have many ideas, but focus on one pursuit instead.

Tick tock. Time keeps moving forward. What is the most thrilling thing you’d like to achieve in a year?

4. “If I could solve your biggest challenge around [organization or time management], what would it be?”

Setting goals and being intentional with your time is rewarding. Seeking help with your goals and challenges can be beneficial. I have found it helpful many times to receive support for the goals I am working on. Although it may seem easier in some ways to go it alone, finding the right kind of support can make a tremendous difference.

What are your biggest challenges with organization or time management? How can I best support you on your journey?

The Value of Focusing Your Time with Intention

Time is a valuable resource, and it’s not unlimited. Just as spring flowers have their blooming season, you also have a limited number of days remaining. How do you want to shape your days and spend your time? What does living more intentionally mean for you? What will help you focus on what’s most important? 

I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you need support with organizing, editing, or managing your time? I’d love to help! Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s talk. You can:

• Schedule a Discovery Call

• Email me at linda@ohsoorganized.com or

• Call directly 914-271-5673

Using your time intentionally is possible, especially with support.

It’s fascinating how big changes are made. They start with small, almost unnoticeable habit shifts. On your journey to be free of clutter, you donate a bag of rarely worn clothes or edit and clear the pile of unsorted mail from your kitchen counter. These tiny, single actions can bring about significant changes when consistency and support are added to your effort. 

The other aspect of making meaningful changes is the need for time and mental energy to make them happen. When you’re preoccupied, running as fast as you can to keep up, or emotionally exhausted, change is the last thing on your mind. You can’t stop your life to make a change. Instead, to integrate new habits, it’s essential to create space in your life for prioritizing the change you desire. 

In the last several years, I’ve experienced many emotional energy pulls. These included taking care of my mom with dementia, saying my final good-byes to her last March, grieving, navigating the pandemic’s effects on my organizing business, and preparing for and having our youngest daughter’s wedding at our home during the pandemic. Despite these emotional highs and lows, I’ve found focused intervals to bring about changes in my life. Admittedly, many of these changes came into being when I had more mental energy to give them.

Coincidentally, the three anchors/words, which rhyme, kept me motivated and focused on my desired changes. They are Zoom, Noom, and Room.

While these specific ideas might not be on your change radar, I encourage you to consider which words are. Which anchors will help you pursue the changes you seek? How will you make the space and time for change to flourish?

3 Hopeful Ideas Motivated Big Changes in My Life Which Can Help You Too

1. Zoom

Communication, relationships, and community are some of my treasured values. When the pandemic arrived, many communication networks halted. Most in-person contact was suspended. I couldn’t visit with family, friends, colleagues, or clients. Sure I still had the phone, text, and email, but physical contact was limited and non-existent for extended periods.

Using Zoom became an incredible go-to tool that helped me slowly change and think about how I interacted, did business, and stayed socially active. I’m guessing that many of you are Zoomed-out, but for me, Zoom continues to be a viable way for navigating life and keeping connected with people. 

I embraced communication changes and used Zoom to-

• Have bimonthly family meetings aka ‘SamFam Zoom’

• Host parties and gatherings for cocktails, New Year’s Eve, and Thanksgiving

• Attend comedy events, yoga class, Shivas, Seders, religious services, retreats, cook-offs, bonfires, and breakfasts

• Enjoy virtual ‘coffee dates’ with family and friends

• Continue my professional development

• Add to my certifications becoming a Certified Virtual Professional Organizer (CVPO™)

• Engage in organizing conferences, business meetings, and networking

• Present organizing workshops

• Pivot my business and help clients through virtual organizing

Zoom provided a channel to nurture and develop relationships, shift my organizing business, learn, and teach. While most in-person activities are now possible as many pandemic restrictions lift, Zoom still remains a viable way for me to stay connected. The platform allowed me to be flexible during these last few years, quickly embrace change, and support what I value most.

2.  Noom

Being healthy is a top priority for me. While I had some healthy practices like meditating daily and eating lots of fruits and vegetables, I wanted to change other habits. For what seems like a bazillion years, one of my goals has been to ‘lose 10 pounds.’ I’ve never been a dieter and didn’t like the idea of going on a diet. Instead, about five years ago, I saw a tremendously helpful nutritionist. She gave me a better understanding of what foods and portions were best for me. Over eight months, I lost 15 pounds. But then, in time, I gained it back and more.  The ongoing support was vital, and the difference was noticeable when I stopped seeing her.

Do you remember how I spoke about having the time and mental energy to bring about change? It takes focused effort to make eating and other lifestyle changes. When my mom died, I was emotionally exhausted. It took me months to get my energy back. When it returned, I felt ready to refocus on my health and make some changes.

In September, I signed up for Noom. It’s a weight loss app with a psychology-based approach to “help you change not just how you eat, but how you think.” It’s well-designed and simple to use. The app with built-in accountability helps me keep daily food logs, understand my calorie budget, track water intake, daily exercise, and weight. You are assigned a personal Coach and receive short articles every day, which encourage, motivate, and explain the psychology of habits.

While I’m still working towards my target goal, in five months, I have lost 18.5 pounds, I’m drinking 9 glasses of water a day, and walking an average of 10,000 steps a day. There have been other changes such as losing many inches around my body, clothing fitting better, feeling more energetic, learning new skills, and knowing I have a doable life-changing plan that’s working.

A bonus surprise was my husband signed up for Noom with me. He’s made incredible changes, and I’m so proud of him. We support one another, which is invaluable.

With any significant life change, it’s essential to have ongoing support, whether an app, person, Coach or all of those. If you’re curious about Noom, click here to learn more.

What do you need to bring about the habit changes you desire?

“Big changes start with small actions.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

3. Room

This last idea is about creating both physical and mental space in your life to feel calm, have room to think, and live with less stress. These changes were worth pursuing, and I have worked years to get there. For me, there is the physical manifestation, which comes in the form of an uncluttered home filled with colors, textures, and scents that soothe and delight. 

One of the goals I worked on last summer into fall, inspired by our vacation staying in a tiny house, was my ‘live with less’ project. While I had lots of stuff, I recognized I didn’t need or want it all. I started randomly going through drawers, closets, and files to let go of unnecessary things. It was cathartic and surprising how much stuff exited. I don’t miss anything.

The other part of ‘room’ is making space for your mental well-being. For me, that’s having quiet time, finding cozy spots to write, journal, or read, spending time in nature, exploring and photographing, meditating, or doing yoga. It’s making room for self-care and carving out time to feed my soul.

Especially with all that has happened in the world and the ongoing challenges, making time to replenish yourself is critical. It’s all too easy to get derailed by a crisis near or far. Our bodies are not designed to sustain continual stress.

What would it take to make room for you? What changes will help make room and space for your physical and emotional well-being?

Big changes start with small actions. What will be your anchors for change? What will provide motivation and support for the changes you desire? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

There’s hope in numbers. There are possibilities in numbers. There’s opportunity in numbers for a fresh start.

Pick a number. Make a plan. What one thing will you focus on to bring a positive change to your year?

2015 year

1 month

6  day

359 days remaining for 2015

5 years I’ve been blogging

248 number of blog posts I’ve written

When I began blogging in 2010, the thought of writing 100 or even 200 posts didn’t seem possible. 248 posts later, I discovered that a consistent effort over an extended period of time yielded positive outcomes.

These past five years I’ve had the honor and pleasure of sharing incredibly rich conversations with all of you. It’s been an honest exchange of ideas and perspectives. The numbers have spawned wonderful friendships, connections, insights, growth and change.

It’s fresh start time. What will the next 359 days of this year be about for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join our conversation!