Enjoy the latest edition (v57) of the “What’s Interesting?” series, featuring my recent finds that inspire, spark curiosity, and connect to organizing and life balance. These unique possibility discoveries reflect this month’s blog theme.

You are an engaged, vibrant, and generous group. I’m deeply grateful for your ongoing presence, positive energy, and contributions to this community. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and seeing what else you can add to this curated collection.

What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? – 5 Best Possibility Discoveries

1. Interesting Read – Possibility Mindset

Do you struggle to stay positive and imagine what’s possible, especially during dark times? If so, I highly recommend Resilient Optimism – The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times by positive psychology researcher and bestselling author Michelle Gielan.

Drawing on neuroscience research and her work with thousands of leaders, Gielan says, “Resilient optimism is not a one-time mindset. It’s a practice. A daily redirection. A moment-by-moment invitation to pivot toward what’s constructive, energizing, and meaningful.”

When your brain focuses on what’s broken, it limits the brain’s potential. Gielan explains, “The brain runs best when fueled by optimism. The brain is naturally good at detecting threats – we call it negativity bias. When we solely focus on what’s broken, the brain’s threat center (the amygdala) lights up, pulling resources away from the problem-solving prefrontal cortex. But when we also engage with what’s working, the brain responds with creativity, energy, and greater resilience.”

The good news is that resilient optimism is a behavioral shift you can learn. Whether you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist, Gielan shares doable ways to build your reserves through “deliberate, repeatable actions.”      

Her strategies include ways to:

• Recalibrate your mindset

• Change your stress response

• Triage your commitments

• Recharge smarter

• Take small actions

• Be a “positive deviant”

What will become possible as your mindset shifts?

2. Interesting Product – Possibility Openers

What happens when you feel stuck and are in a mental rut? Do you shut down, feel low on energy, get anxious, or find it difficult to imagine a way forward? If so, you’re not alone. There are many ways to get unstuck.

Decades ago, creatives Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt created Oblique Strategies, a deck of cards designed to help artists, musicians, writers, and other creatives “break through mental roadblocks” and “approach their work from fresh, unexpected angles.” The prompts can help anyone.

Each card offers a single, direct suggestion, such as “Use an old idea” or “Listen to the quiet voice.” Not every prompt will resonate with you, but some might offer the fresh perspective you need. “The goal is to challenge habitual thinking patterns and invite new possibilities into the creative process.”

Are you ready to explore new possibilities? If so, this deck could help.

“Resilient optimism is not a one-time mindset. It’s a practice.”

— Michelle Gielan

3. Interesting Article – Possibility Walk  

In the Time article “Why You Should Take a 10-Minute ‘Thinking-Walk,’” writer Angela Haupt highlights the many benefits of walking, including:

• Processing thoughts

• Sparking creativity

• Solving problems

• Taking an intentional break from technology

• Resetting after intense focus

• Improving mood

• Reducing stress

• Protecting long-term mobility

• Easing anxiety and depression

Imagine what a “thinking walk” could do for you. When your mind is full, you’re stuck on a problem, or you’re struggling to imagine what’s possible, take a walk. Research highlights the value of walking without your electronic devices. Disconnect and let your mind wander. You can do this. It’s only ten minutes.

Although you can walk indoors, walking outdoors can further boost your well-being.

4. Interesting Resource – Possibility Shifts

Are you or someone you know overwhelmed by shopping too much? During a presentation on overshopping, I learned that 33.5 million people are addicted shoppers. We live in a society that constantly bombards us with marketing messages to buy more, newer, and better things. Sales entice us to buy things we don’t really need. Messages like “shop till you drop” make light of a serious addiction: overshopping.

Does breaking the shopping cycle feel impossible? If so, help is available. Carrie Rattle is a financial therapist, shopping-addiction expert, and founder of Behavioral Cents. Dr. April Lane Benson, Carrie’s colleague, friend, and a pioneer in the field of overshopping, mentored Carrie. In 2020, April sold her business to Carrie.

Carrie offers a variety of services, including individual coaching, group coaching, an online community, workshops, and her book, To Buy or Not To Buy – Tools to break the cycle and take control of your life.

What would be possible if you could, as Carrie says, shift from “compulsion to control”?

5. Interesting Thought – Possibility Scenario

“You are allowed to imagine the best case scenario.” Mindset matters. Instead of dwelling on “I can’t,” “It will never happen,” or “It’s going to be awful,” consider what might be possible. Focus on learning, growing, and exploring new possibilities.

Shifting your thoughts can help you change your path. Think about a project or situation you’re finding challenging right now. What does the best-case scenario look like? What’s one small action you can take now to move in that direction?

What Is Possible Now?

When it’s hard to imagine what’s possible, what helps? As I’ve shared, there are many ways to shift your thoughts and actions and move forward with a more possibility-focused perspective.

Which of these discoveries resonates most with you? Do you have resources or ideas about possibility thinking to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts and invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disorganized? Are your thoughts keeping you from living the life you want? I’m here to help. Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward—Local feel with a global reach.

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

Decluttering, getting organized, and seeing what’s possible can happen, especially with support.

Recently, I returned from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization’s (ICD) conference, held in Canada this year. Colleagues from around the globe gathered to learn, connect, and explore the latest ideas and research related to neurodivergence and people affected by chronic disorganization.

The conference covered a fascinating range of topics, including ADHD, decision-making, navigating life transitions, clutter, emotional labor, hoarding disorder, motivational interviewing, and communication.

I was thrilled to be part of the panel, “Cultivating Connection: Best Practices for Communication with Neurodivergent Clients,” alongside my wonderful colleagues. Sara Skillen moderated, and Leslie Josel and Elizabeth Brink were the other panelists.

Whenever I’m learning, I have one goal: to learn at least one new thing, discover one new resource, or deepen my connection with something I already know. Honestly, with that simple goal, I consistently come away with far more than one thing.

The ICD conference was no exception.

I’m excited to share some of my takeaways and how they expanded my thinking, reinforced what I already know, and will influence the virtual organizing work I do with clients.

What Expanded My Thinking About Virtual Organizing

Emotional Labor

In “The Art of the Invisible: Helping Neurodiverse Families Navigate the Emotional Labor Lifecycle,” presenters Regina Lark, PhD, CPO®, CPO-CD® and Leslie Josel, PCC, discussed how emotional labor, which is mostly invisible and disproportionately handled by moms, is “the exhausting work” and the “cognitive management of household systems.”

Navigating emotional labor, work that never ends, requires executive function (EF) skills that rely heavily on the prefrontal cortex. These include:

• Planning

• Focusing

• Remembering instructions

• Juggling multiple tasks

• Managing emotions

• Working memory

• Organizing

However, as many of my clients have experienced, EF skills can be especially challenging if you are highly stressed, have prefrontal cortex damage, or have conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or Tourette’s syndrome.

One of the biggest takeaways was distributing the emotional load through “radical delegation. Take perfection off the table. Delegate to someone else, even if they aren’t good at it.  Go for “good enough.”

This made me think differently about virtual organizing. When we work together, we’re not only organizing possessions or creating systems. We’re also considering the mental load behind those systems. What decisions are constantly being made? What is someone trying to remember? What are they managing for themselves or others? And what might be possible to let go of, share, or accept as “good enough”?

Life Transitions

We experience many life transitions. Professor and researcher Dr. Michelle Pannor Silver focused on four in her presentation, “Unpacking Identity: Navigating Later Life Transitions for Those with Organizational Challenges.” She discussed retirement, menopause, clutter, and prioritizing physical resilience.

Much of my work involves helping clients navigate transitions such as moving, starting a new job, divorce, birth, losing a loved one, and other life changes like those Dr. Silver discussed.

One takeaway came from the retirement section. Since our identities are often tied to our work, figuring out what comes next takes thought. Silver stressed the importance of creating “time and mental space to imagine retirement.” It’s not just about getting your finances in order. Take time to envision how you want your post-work life to feel and what you want it to be like. Include “sparking joy” activities.

Another idea that resonated was “recalibrating after loss.” In later years, loss can arrive in many forms, including changes in work status, moving from a familiar environment, changes in physical or cognitive abilities, and the loss of loved ones.

I am thinking differently about virtual organizing in the context of reimagining and recalibrating life. We go through periods when the organizational systems or patterns that used to work suddenly become ineffective. They no longer support who we are now. Virtual organizing sessions can be a wonderful way to work through these shifts and create systems and schedules that support who you are now.

“Decision-making is at the center of everything. It is a core part of being human.”

— Elizabeth Brink, PCC, PCNC®, SEP®

What Reinforced What I Already Know About Virtual Organizing

ADHD

Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA, presented “ADHD Can Make Organizing Psychologically Messy.” He emphasized that the ADHD challenge is “not the knowing, but the doing.” Challenges with activation, attention regulation, perfectionism, and time management can make it harder to start. You might know what to do, but these obstacles can make it challenging to get things done.

One question Tuckman suggested was, “What’s a realistic, sustainable goal that you’ll allow yourself to feel good about?” Emphasizing “realistic” and “sustainable” is central to my work with clients.

Tuckman shared many strategies that reinforced the tools and concepts I use with clients. They included:

• Time – Use analog clocks, alarms, and schedules to build time awareness and make time more visible.

• Fun – Make tasks less boring and more enjoyable through gamification or a playful spin.

• Clarify – Ask, “How important is ‘this’ relative to everything else?”

• Momentum – Do a “bit of something,” and always “hope for momentum.”

• Experiment – “Be willing to flounder, and be confused.”

• Decision-Making– If you are having difficulty choosing, flip a coin. It can clarify what you really want.

• Perfectionism – Focus on “good enough.”

These strategies reflect what I see every day in virtual organizing: knowing what to do and being able to do it aren’t always the same. Virtual organizing sessions can help clients identify what gets in the way, experiment with different approaches, and find strategies that are realistic and sustainable for them.

Decision-Making

Elizabeth Brink, PCC, PCNC®, SEP®, a neurodivergent-centered coach, educator, and trainer, presented “Decision-Making: Neurodivergence, Trauma, and Chronic Disorganization.” Brink stated, “Decision-making is at the center of everything. It is a core part of being human.”

Brink went on to say that “Decision-making is a special kind of hard for neurodivergent humans.” She also said that for neurodivergent people, “Overwhelm is a reasonable response to decision-making.”

When Brink said, “It’s a big deal how to help people make decisions,” I recognized how central nurturing decision-making skills and building agency are to my virtual organizing work. People reach out to me when they feel overwhelmed, and much of that overwhelm comes from difficulty making decisions.

Decision-making skills can be learned. Brink featured several skill-building strategies that align with how I support my clients in making decisions. They include:

• Empathy – Understand and appreciate what they may be feeling or experiencing, without judgment.

• Demystify – Learn how they make decisions, what’s worked well for them in the past, the process they’ve used, and how we can tweak or apply that process to current choices.

• Capacity – Be mindful of their capacity at that moment, normalize pauses, take breaks to avoid decision fatigue, and encourage a slower pace when needed.

Always Be Learning

Every conference leaves me with something to think about, but this one reminded me why I value learning so much. Sometimes a new idea changes how I approach my work. Other times, it gives me language for what I already know and see in my work with clients. Both are valuable.

I’m excited to bring these insights into my virtual organizing sessions and stay curious, experiment, and learn alongside my clients.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disorganized? You don’t have to face it 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.

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

Getting organized, making progress, and reaching your goals are doable, especially with support.

There are two challenges related to change that many of my clients face. The most common reason is overwhelm, often because the changes they seek are significant. Overwhelm can happen when you:

• Have difficulty deciding where to start

• Want to make multiple changes

• Are unsure whether what you want to accomplish is possible

• Engage in negative self-talk or unhelpful loops and scripts

• Are uncertain how you’ll have time to make the changes you seek

The second most common challenge is task activation. My clients often know what to do, yet struggle to take action. They may experience low mood, boredom with the task, self-doubt, exhaustion, or difficulty managing their time.

The good news is that even when you’re feeling overwhelmed and having difficulty activating, things can shift quickly in a positive direction. I’ve seen this happen consistently with my clients, and it’s inspiring to be part of.

Are you curious about how to shift from overwhelm to hope and from stuckness to action? If so, keep reading to learn a few helpful strategies.

Change Strategies That Work When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed and Stuck

Strategy 1: Go Small

You know the phrase, “Think big?” For the first strategy, do the exact opposite. Instead of focusing on all the changes you want to make, go small, really small. This shift creates a boundary.

Let’s say you want to edit and organize all the rooms in your home. The goal is doable, but the enormity of those tasks feels overwhelming. For now, set aside thinking about the big picture and focus on a single, small piece.

For example, you want to edit and organize your clothes, which are stored in many rooms, dressers, and closets. Select one small area to begin, such as a drawer, a shelf, a closet rod, or a bag stuffed in the basement. Anywhere is OK as long as the area is small.

You’ll notice almost immediately that your mood begins to regulate because you’ve contained the organizing task to something more manageable. Overwhelm and anxiety subside when you set boundaries around your area of focus.

Strategy 2: Engage in What’s Doable

Combine the first strategy, going small, with this next one. As you can imagine, it’s not enough to create a tinier boundary and shift your mindset. It must be paired with an action or task. By reducing stress and cortisol surges, activation becomes possible. You can calmly face your task.

Here’s the magic. Making progress on that one small thing has a wonderfully positive effect. Your thoughts transform from “I can’t do this” to “I’m getting it done!” Your mood shifts from blocked and negative to lighter, more energetic, and more excited about taking on more.

“Overwhelm and anxiety subside when you set boundaries around your area of focus.”

— Linda Samuels. CPO-CD®, CVOP™

Strategy 3: Enlist Help

The first two strategies are effective. However, if you’re ready for change and still feel unable to move forward, it’s time for the third option: Ask for help. This can come from a nonjudgmental friend, family member, or professional organizer like me. You don’t have to do this alone.

My clients recognize that having a partner on their organizing journey is the secret sauce. They appreciate ongoing support, discussions of solutions and challenges, help with decision-making, a thought partner, and encouragement.

Some recent client organizing tasks included:

• Decluttering the dining room table

• Refining a project management system

• Editing several bags of shirts

• Sorting and releasing old business files from a shelf

• Editing and letting go of a box of electronic material

For all of these projects, my clients’ starting point was feeling overwhelmed and unable to act. However, by narrowing the scope, focusing on one small part at a time, and enlisting external support, they improved their mood, accomplished a specific task, boosted their confidence, and were motivated to do more.

Why Does a Tiny Change Matter?

Small shifts are doable and sustainable. When you think about change, it can feel overwhelming, especially when the changes are big. However, by adjusting your mindset, narrowing the scope, and enlisting help, you can make progress. What helps you when you feel overwhelmed? How do you work with task activation? What resonates with you?

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

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, disorganized, or paralyzed? Do you seek change, yet feel stuck? I’m here to help! Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s connect! 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

Embracing change and getting organized are possible, especially with support.

When you think of compassion and ease, what sensations do you feel in your body? What images come to mind? What stories or messages do your thoughts reveal?

Now, think about change. Are you experiencing sensations, images, and thoughts that feel quite different from those associated with compassion and ease?

No one has the same experience, and yours will likely differ from mine. For me, thoughts of compassion and ease bring calm, care, and gentleness. My breath feels steady and slow. My mind feels clear. I feel more grounded, present, and better able to navigate in the moment.

When I think about change, my initial reaction is to brace. I can feel my shoulders tense, my jaw clench, and a funny sensation in my stomach. Not all change feels that way. Sometimes, positive anticipation and excitement are present. But rarely with change is my first thought or feeling calm or ease-filled.

What becomes possible when you can meet change with compassion and ease?

Meet Change More Gently

Last week, I wrote about the Tiny Shifts Experience I’ve been participating in, led by Dr. Elisha Goldstein. In one of his prompts, he guided us to “Allow a little more ease” throughout the day.

Before starting the Tiny Shifts program, I had been considering “ease” as my guiding principle, my North Star for 2026. When Elisha encouraged us to “Allow a little more ease,” it confirmed what I was already thinking.

This week, I tweaked the message. My focus for 2026 will be “Allow ease.” I will meet each day, including the challenges, joys, tasks, commitments, and changes I seek, and those thrust upon me, with more compassion and ease.

Engage in Strategies That Encourage Ease

When I notice I’m getting stressed, I will lean on these two strategies.

Strategy 1: Embody Ease with the Breath

This one is so simple. I’ve already used it half a dozen times recently, and it’s incredibly effective. It takes less than a minute.

To Embody Ease:

• Pause what you’re doing.

• Gently close your eyes or shift your gaze downwards.

• Thinking silently, pair these two words while you breathe.

• Inhale > Allow.

• Exhale > Ease.

• Repeat the sequence one or more times until your nervous system calms.

Strategy 2: Ask One Simple Question

You can ask this question on its own, before, or after using the breathing strategy. Listen to what arises and then focus on making a small shift.

Ask this:

Where can I allow more ease right now?

The query will help you identify where your tension or stress lies. How can you change your experience in the moment and lean into more ease? Is there a physical place in your body you can soften? Is there an unhelpful thought loop that needs to be released or noticed? Where is ease possible for you right now?

“Where can I allow more ease right now?”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

Can You Shift How You Approach Change?

Change can be exciting or stressful. By integrating strategies that foster compassion and ease, you can move forward with greater grounding and calm. What is your relationship to change? How could creating more ease alter your relationship with change? Which ideas resonate with you?

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

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, disorganized, or stressed? Do you want to embrace change this year, yet feel stuck? I’m here to help! Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s connect! 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

Embracing change and getting organized are possible, especially with support.