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.

Many people hire a professional organizer to declutter, create order, or make their spaces more functional. The good news is that professional organizers can help achieve those goals. However, the benefits of working with a professional organizer can go much deeper than the visible changes in a space.

The right support can help you build confidence, make decisions more easily, develop sustainable habits, and create a home that reflects who you are now. These are just a few of the benefits beyond simply “more organized.”

For over 30 years, I’ve had the joy of helping people navigate organizing challenges. I’ve seen clients transform, becoming more confident, capable, and self-trusting. Beyond becoming more organized, they’ve made profound changes in their mindset, habits, and self-efficacy.

12 Benefits of Hiring a Professional Organizer That Go Way Beyond Organizing

While some clients have seen results in as few as three virtual organizing sessions, most continue working with me longer to create more positive changes. These are the top 12 benefits, beyond getting more organized, that my clients consistently experience during our work together.

1. Make steady progress.

“I am making significant progress. I couldn’t do that a while ago.”

• Get past feeling stuck and take consistent action.

• Complete projects that have been on hold for months or years.

• Build momentum that carries over between virtual organizing sessions.

2. Reduce overwhelm.

“I am way less overwhelmed.”

• Break large, overwhelming projects into small, manageable steps.

• Replace confusion with a clear, personalized plan.

• Feel less anxious about organizing tasks.

3. Create lasting organizing habits.

“This is so empowering.”

• Develop realistic, sustainable routines.

• Practice maintaining spaces rather than starting over repeatedly.

• Learn systems that fit individual lifestyles and preferences.

4. Strengthen decision-making skills.

“I do not need those.”

• Become more confident about what to keep, donate, recycle, sell, or discard.

• Spend less time second-guessing decisions.

• Learn practical decision-making strategies that work in all areas.

5. Develop accountability and consistency.

“I’m building on my wins.”

• Stay focused on goals through regular check-ins.

• Follow through on action steps between sessions.

• Celebrate progress while maintaining motivation.

“This is so empowering.”

— Oh, So Organized! Client

6. Improve daily functioning.

“It feels great in here. I have hope and am not as overwhelmed.”

• Create spaces that are easier to use and maintain.

• Reduce time spent searching for items.

• Increase efficiency in everyday routines.

7. Receive personalized guidance.

“I just want to be my true me.”

• Benefit from solutions tailored to individual challenges, goals, and strengths.

• Learn organizing strategies that work with, not against, personal thinking styles.

• Adjust strategies as life circumstances change.

8. Experience compassionate, nonjudgmental support.

“Not impossible or unconquerable anymore.”

• Feel understood, not criticized.

• Work at a comfortable pace, without pressure.

• Build trust within a supportive, collaborative partnership.

9. Improve emotional well-being.

“Things feel mentally more manageable.”

• Feel calmer, less distracted, and more in control.

• Reduce guilt and frustration associated with clutter.

• Strengthen self-awareness and emotional resilience by addressing personal patterns such as perfectionism, burnout, decision fatigue, negative self-talk, and unrealistic expectations.

10. Create more functional spaces.

“I now have a blueprint for how to declutter.”

• Reclaim rooms for their intended use.

• Improve access to frequently used items.

• Make spaces safer and easier to navigate.

11. Build long-term independence.

“I feel very motivated.”

• Learn skills rather than relying on someone else to organize.

• Apply organizing principles to new areas.

• Continue making progress after formal organizing sessions end.

12. Increase confidence and self-trust.

“I can do this!”

• Experience success through small, achievable wins.

• Trust your ability to stay flexible and determine your best next action.

• Feel more capable of managing your time, energy, space, and things independently.

How Can Hiring a Professional Organizer Help?

The reality is that we all need help at times. There is no shame in reaching out for the support you need. I’ve experienced this many times, hiring someone to help with something I was stuck on, to manage a large project, or to fill a skills gap when I couldn’t accomplish what I needed on my own.

Have you worked with a professional organizer? What benefits did you experience? If you are an organizer, what benefits have your clients experienced working 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 stuck? You don’t have to do this alone. 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

Getting organized, building confidence, and reaching your goals are possible, especially with support.

Do you hold too much in your time or space containers? It’s interesting how often you keep things that are annoying, unsatisfying, or in your way. These could be things that take up physical space, creating cluttered rooms and areas. The volume of stuff has become a tripping hazard. Or, having so many things makes it difficult to know what you own or to find what you’re looking for. Your space containers are beyond full, and it may be time to let go of some things.

There are also time containers that can overflow. Instead of physical items, a time challenge can look like-

• Crammed schedules

• Saying “yes” to too many requests

• Underestimating how long a task will take

• Always running late because you have just one more thing to do

• Having unhealthy boundaries

• Spending more time than needed to get something “just right”

• Being constantly interrupted or distracted

• Multitasking and trying to do too many things at once

Letting go creates space for what’s most important and valued. That might mean more time to enjoy doing what you truly love, like kayaking, spending time with family and friends, or learning something new.

Asking One Simple Question

A while ago, I read something in James Clear’s 3-2-1 newsletter that resonated with me. He asked a direct question that gets to the heart of what I just shared with you – how to manage your space or time containers when they’re overflowing.

Clear’s question is,

“What can you eliminate this week?”

— James Clear

Setting a deadline (this week) creates urgency and encourages you to act sooner rather than later. Pick an area of focus, such as your full calendar or the distractions you're facing.

Then ask, “What can you eliminate this week?” This might include-

• Removing or rescheduling an appointment to make your day flow better

• Pausing to evaluate before saying “yes” to anything else

• Delegating some tasks or errands

• Setting a time limit on social media scrolling

Is there anything specific that came up when you thought about removing something this week?

Decide to Let Go

Your space and time can quickly overflow. The good news is that you can change the dynamic through the process of elimination. One question, one focus area, one decision, and one action at a time.

What is making your space or time feel too full? What would it be like to practice letting go? Which area would you like to focus on first? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed and disorganized? Are your space and time containers overflowing? I’m here to help! You don’t have to do this alone. 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

Managing your time, getting organized, and living with more ease are possible, especially with support.

When you think about managing your time, how often is it about being more productive, reaching those big goals, or getting more items crossed off your to-do list today? You wonder how other people get so much done. You’re frustrated that you’re constantly working, yet your lists and goals feel hard to finish or even to start.

After all, there are only 24 hours in a day. For most of us, at least six to eight of those hours are devoted to sleep. Subtract time for eating, transitions, bio breaks, managing distractions, and handling the unexpected, and your available time to get things done is significantly reduced.

I remember my mom used to get annoyed about having to sleep. She would say, “We sleep a third of our lives away. Sleeping is a waste of time.” I never bought into the idea that sleep was a waste. Instead, I saw her words as reflecting her intense need to make the most of every moment.

I’m all for making the most of the time I have. Time is finite and a precious resource. However, one of the best ways to manage your time better is to take intentional breaks. Sleep is one aspect, but taking breaks while awake is just as essential.

What Types of Breaks Will Help You Be a Better Time Manager?

I know I’m stating the obvious, but you need energy and focus to get things done. Working longer or beyond capacity doesn’t help. You’ve probably reached the point of diminishing returns. You know those nights. You’re exhausted, pushing to finish that spreadsheet, dealing with a sink full of dishes, packing for a trip, or writing one more email response.

However, understanding the benefits of taking breaks and integrating them into your life will help.

It’s more than ‘will help.’ Taking breaks is essential not only for energy, focus, and getting things done but also for your overall well-being. Life isn’t only about doing more. It’s about stepping away for short, medium, or longer breaks.

What can these mid-size breaks look like? Let’s review some options to help you better manage your time. These pauses are about giving you time to recover so you can return to ‘the work’ refreshed, recharged, and energized.

1. Short Breaks

You might be thinking, “I’m so busy that I barely have time for a bio break, let alone any other break.” Believe me, I get it. You are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the pace of life.

However, it is possible to integrate several short breaks into your day. If “short” feels too long, reframe it as a micro-break.

These tiny resets can be taken a few times a day and may include:

• Close your eyes and take several slow breaths in and out.

• Stand up and shake out your body.

• Send a quick email or text to someone you love.

• Enjoy a few leisurely sips of coffee or iced tea.

• Eat a snack.

• Doodle on a sheet of paper.

• Go outside for fresh air.

• Take a walk around the office or the block.

• Roll your shoulders forward and backward.

• Dance or sing loudly to a favorite song.

• Take a few deep, loud sighs.

• Splash cold water on your face.

• Sit and do nothing for a few minutes.

• Meditate for 1 to 5 minutes. Insight Timer offers many excellent options.

What else could work well for your micro-break?

“Life isn’t only about doing more.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

2. Medium Breaks

Those mini breaks are wonderful, but at times you will benefit from something longer. If you can carve out more than 5 minutes, a medium break is beneficial. While micro-breaks can be impromptu, a medium break might require some advance planning.

Here are some recharge ideas for breaks ranging from 20 minutes to several hours:

• Take a 20-minute nap.

• Go to the movies.

• Take a walk in nature.

• Meet a friend for lunch.

• Explore a museum, garden, or town.

• Get a massage.

• Meditate for 30 minutes.

• Write in your journal.

• Call a loved one.

• Go to the pool or the beach.

• Read a book (or a portion of one).

• Spend time in a hammock.

• Go for a bike ride.

• Make something with your hands.

• Daydream.

• Take a yoga class.

What other types of medium breaks could benefit you?

3. Long Breaks

Full disclosure here. Today I took a micro break (meditated) and a medium break (walked by the river). I also just returned from a long break, a family vacation in the Finger Lakes. I have to say, as much as I need my shorter breaks regularly, the extended ones are just as vital. They can be more challenging to take because of the expense or limited time.

Yet, going somewhere for several days (if possible) and stepping away from your regular routines and responsibilities is one of the best ways to recharge. You will return refreshed, more focused, and ready to re-engage with your projects and lists.

It also gives you time to float, think, catch up on sleep, connect with family and friends, or simply do nothing. But a long break doesn’t have to mean only getting away.

Here are some long-break ideas when you have more than 24 hours:

• Take a staycation and stick to fun or relaxing activities.

• Take a personal retreat focused on rest and reflection.

• Unplug for several days.

• Learn a new skill just for fun.

• Create a home retreat with no obligations, errands, or projects.

• Go away for the weekend, or extend it to a long weekend.

• Vacation somewhere you have to fly to.

• Travel to somewhere on your bucket list.

• Check into a spa or wellness retreat.

• Go camping or glamping.

• Vacation somewhere reachable by car.

• Take a biking, kayaking, or boating trip.

• Spend an extended visit with loved ones.

What have you enjoyed most during your long breaks?

Are You Ready to Give Yourself the Breaks You Deserve?

Busy is how many of you describe your lives. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a full life. But make sure you also take a variety of intentional breaks. Breaks are the yin to your ‘busy’ yang.

Do you take regular breaks? What types do you take? Would you benefit from adding more pauses to your life? How would taking more breaks help you manage your time better? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, disorganized, and have difficulty managing your time? I’m here to help! You don’t have to do this alone. 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

Managing your time, getting organized, and living with more ease are possible, especially with support.