What happens when we let ourselves make excuses? We all do it at some point, don’t we? Whether we can’t move ahead because we’re stuck, tired, sad, time poor, or unenthusiastic, we can be really good at coming up with those “can’t dos.” I will admit that, while I’m typically excellent at activating and taking action, there have been darker periods when it’s just harder to think of possibilities and move forward.

One way to stop the negative cycle is to pay attention to the excuses. Be an investigator and use the excuses as clues to figure out how to move past them. In the spirit of this fall season, with colors and temperatures changing, why not use this time as an opportunity to open up possibilities and get over the excuses? Here is the short list.

5 Tips to Eliminate Your Excuses

1. I’m stuck.

Tip: What is making you feel stuck? Is there too much information to choose from? Are you unsure about what to do next? Consider narrowing the choices or setting parameters for the amount of research required before proceeding. Make the next step very small. If that's a challenge, ask a trusted friend or confidant to help figure out the one small action to take that will move you beyond stuck.

2. I’m tired.

Tip: Being exhausted makes it more challenging to focus, plan, and take action. It’s important to take care of basic needs. If you’re tired, pay attention to your sleep habits. Is it time to revisit the amount of sleep you’re getting? How about the quality of your sleep? For example, I need between 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night to feel rested and ready for the next day. If I get less than that, it takes me days to get back my energy.

3. I’m sad.

Tip: Life is filled with high and low points. It’s normal to experience periods of sadness. Sadness can occur for many reasons, including grief, divorce, seasonal affective disorder, emotional contagion, or hormonal shifts. If, however, your sadness is prolonged and unrelenting, consider reaching out for professional help from a therapist or other mental health professional. You can feel better, but you may need outside help to get there.

4. I’m time poor.

Tip: As far as I know, time is a level playing field. We all have 24 hours each day. It’s true that some of us pack more into those 24 hours than others, but it still comes down to choice and self-management. For every “yes,” you make, “no” gets said to something else. This isn’t a quick or easy process, but it begins with examining your values and needs. Once you’re clearer on those, build your choices and schedule from there. What is most meaningful and important will become an integral part of your daily experience. You will be more purposeful in your choices of how your time is being managed.

5. I’m unenthusiastic.

Tip: This is a huge indicator. When you’re resistant to doing something or moving forward, it’s often because a “should” is involved. This negatively affects our motivation. When I notice this happening, I stop to do some soul-searching to make sure that the activity in question deserves my time and energy. Very often, I realize that letting go or making a different choice is the better option. Follow your passions, and the enthusiasm and energy will be there to sustain you.

Do any of these seem familiar to you? What other excuses have you heard? What tip can you share to help? Join the conversation.

There are an assortment of toys and objects that dot my workspace. I suppose some might see this as clutter, but not me. They bring humor and fun into my space. Some objects are sparkly like the glitter-covered Eifel Tower or bottle of green fairy dust. There are small word signs with messages like “relax” or “Things to Do." Then some pieces are just visually fun to look at such as my miniature slice of watermelon or snowman Pez dispenser. Also sprinkled around are motivational messages from fortune cookies, tea bag tags, pins and buttons. Today, one in particular caught my attention. It’s a clear, smooth glass stone, which is painted on the back with an Emily Dickinson quote that says, “Dwell in possibility.”

What would happen if we allowed ourselves to do just that- dwell in possibility? What if we let go of our fear? What if we didn’t permit our internal critic to speak?  What if we embraced change and let the possibilities bloom? What if we allowed ourselves to linger just a little longer imagining what’s possible?

Sometimes we’re able to think large and project months or years ahead. Other times we’re more now focused on the coming hours or days. Take some time to suspend fear, silence the critic and let yourself dream. What do you want more of in your life? What do you want less of?

Pick a question. Share your thoughts. Come join the conversation.

The possibilities are tremendous when we help each other. Great accomplishments and changes can occur. Who knew that one pair of shoes could make such a difference? I am so excited to share an eco-friendly opportunity, which helps people in need and saves the environment by collecting, distributing, and recycling new or gently worn shoes. You can declutter and do some good at the same time.

Oh, So Organized! is participating in the NAPO Challenge, which is the result of a partnering effort with Soles4Souls (“S4S”), a Nashville-based charity that provides shoes to adults and children in need. Since 2005, S4S has given away over 14 million pairs of shoes to people in over 127 countries, including the United States. “With tragedies such as the earthquakes in countries like Haiti and Japan, on top of the enormous need elsewhere, we can use the estimated 1.5 billion shoes taking up space in closets of ordinary people to change the world one pair at a time,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls.

Oh, So Organized! is sponsoring a shoe drive to benefit Soles4Souls through November 11, 2011. We are collecting gently worn shoes. So far, several Oh, So Organized! clients have edited their shoe collections, increased their closet space, and felt good that they donated to this worthy cause. Tax-deductible receipts are available. Would you like to participate? There are several options below:

Shoe Donation Opportunities

• Oh, So Organized! Clients: Linda Samuels will pick-up shoes you want to donate during all organizing appointments and supply you with a tax-deductible receipt

• Westchester Residents: On Sunday, November 6, 2011 from 10am-2pm, you can drop off your shoes at 202 Cleveland Drive in Croton on Hudson, NY

• Special Arrangements: To make alternate arrangements, contact Linda Samuels at linda@ohsoorganized.com

Shoe Donation Update

• Oh, So Organized! has collected 537 pairs of shoes as of 11/11/11

Organizing Tip 101: Shoes

• Follow the link for helpful shoe organizing & decluttering tips from professional organizer, Linda Samuels

My deepest gratitude to all those that already have donated or will donate. Please join our conversation and leave a comment about shoes, donating or decluttering. What is your favorite organizing or donating story? 

Linda Samuels at shoe drive - November 6, 2011

Organizing isn’t just about sorting papers, editing closets, and decluttering junk drawers. It’s also about having the level of order that’s comfortable for you. Getting organized will reduce the stress of life’s details, enable you to accomplish larger goals, and give you more time to embrace your passions.

Dreaming is an essential part of the organizing process. There are several ways to encourage the dream juices to flow.

Dream small. How would you use that time if you had an extra 30 minutes free each day? Would you read a book, walk, or have coffee with a friend? If 30 additional minutes a day seems like a tremendous gift, begin here.

Once you’ve secured those minutes, think about moving on to bigger goals. Life can be overwhelming. Sometimes, we need time to re-energize so that we can be present throughout the rest of our days. I regularly have to remind myself to stop and take that needed break.

Dream moderately. If there are 52 weekends per year and you reserved just four of them to complete a short-term project, what would it be? Sometimes we think about “projects” we’d like to do, but never schedule the time to complete them. With some planning and commitment, it is possible to accomplish some of these dreams.

I don’t know how it happened again, but our garage needs to be organized. Since I’m not excited to get in there and do it, I know it won’t get done unless my husband and I block out the time to do so. Guess what I’ll be doing one of these fall or spring weekends?

Dream big. What would you want to accomplish if time, money, or circumstance weren’t challenges? Let your mind dream without criticism or judgment. Often, we tend to discourage ourselves before even taking our first steps forward. Try to suspend all negativity; there is no harm in dreaming and wishing. Identifying what you’d like comes before any action can occur.

Each New Year’s Eve, our family reflects on the past year and future thinks about goals and wishes for the coming year. We know that not all of our dreams will be accomplished, but we also realize how important it is to record them. The act of taking that one step puts these ideas into motion. When we return the following year to review, we are amazed by how many of our hopes have been realized.

The possibilities are there for you. Whether you need time to rejuvenate, accomplish projects, or push the boundaries of your comfort zone, setting aside time to bring some of these dreams into reality through thought and action can make all the difference in the life balance and satisfaction you seek.

Join in the conversation. What dream phase are you in? What are you thinking about? If you join the conversation and leave a comment on this post, you will be automatically entered to win a very cool "To-Do Tattoo" by Fred and Friends. One lucky winner will be chosen on Sunday, October 16, 2011.