We like to think we can do it all ourselves. Is that just me? Seriously though, we’re human. No one can do it all themselves. Enlisting help is part of our experience whether we embrace it or not. If you’re overwhelmed, stressed or just plain tired of going it alone, this list of potential help outlets could be just the thing you need make a change. Which one sounds good to you?

10 Valuable Kinds of Help . . .

Organizing Help – If organizing skills are challenging for you, reaching out to a professional organizer for help can be one of the best investments you’ll make. Why not hire an organizer that you can learn from, work with, and get the support you need to reach your goals? I’d love to help you. If I'm not the right fit, please contact one of my ICD or NAPO colleagues. For organizers based outside the United States find additional referrals through POC, JALO, NBPO, AAPO, or APDO-UK.

Accountability Help – Maybe you know what you want to accomplish, but are struggling by going solo. Enlisting help from an accountability partner such as a coach, friend or colleague to check-in with can be the magic solution for getting there.

Mental Health Help – Many of us live with or live with those that struggle with mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, hoarding disorder, or OCD. Having a trained professional on your help team is essential. The right type of support can make all the difference for you and your loved ones. NAMI and ICD are two great resources for mental health information and education.

Maintenance Help – If you don’t have the know-how or time to make repairs, maintain your home, or renovate, hire someone to help. If you’re handy, go to it, but for many of us, finding that trusted repairperson makes life less stressful so that we can get that leak fixed fast and focus on what we do best.

Momentary Help – Remember the last time your arms were full of groceries, pocketbook and keys while exiting a store? Then a stranger offered to hold the door for you. You accepted that fleeting moment of help, felt grateful, and expressed your thanks. There are small opportunities each day to graciously accept and appreciate small gestures of help. It gives you the chance to pay it forward.

Health Help – Whether it’s a chronic medical condition, temporary illness, nutrition issue, or exercise challenge, finding a professional that can guide and support you can greatly improve the quality of your life. We tend to take better care of our cars than we do our bodies. What type of health help do you need?

Transportation Help – I’m grateful for being self-sufficient and able to drive myself where I need to go, but recently I’ve encountered some situations when I needed help. The list included help from tow trucks, car rental companies, auto repair shops, car services, car dealers, taxis, and my husband to get me from place to place. Case in point- we all need help sometimes.

Financial Help – As savvy as you are, maybe you need help in the form of a bookkeeper, accountant or financial planner. We’re not all numbers people. And even if we are, we might not have the time to handle everything ourselves. This is a great opportunity for enlisting help and delegating.

Compassion Help – Emily Kimbrough said, “Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in hand.” There’s nothing quite like receiving a hug or being with a friend who has a non-judgmental listening ear when we’re struggling. Your friends will be there to help when you need them and you can reciprocate the gift when they need you.

Laughter Help– Studies show that laughter is good for your health. It can lower your stress level, improve your memory, and burn calories. Do you need help adding more laughter into your day? How about getting together with friends that make you laugh, watching a funny video on YouTube, or taking a Comedy Improv class?

Help comes in many forms and from many sources. Which of these resonate with you? What are some of your favorite sources for help that I haven’t listed? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.

I just returned from the NAPO conference in Los Angeles. Almost 700 professional organizers convened from around the world to attend sessions about building organizing businesses, discovering relevant products and services, and learning new skills or concepts to help our clients. We took copious notes, conversed, laughed, saw old friends, and made new ones.

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, better known as The Minimalists gave the opening keynote session, “The Art of Letting Go.” Their following is far from minimal with over four million readers. Their story is inspiring.

Without going into great detail, because you can read all about them and their journey on their website, I will share my big takeaway. Their story reinforced what I’ve observed for 20+ years working with my organizing clients. While we might want to let go, reduce clutter, and change our lives, until we’re ready to do that, letting go is challenging. The desire to let go might exist, but the motivation to do so doesn’t.

Sometimes it takes conditioning, slowly exercising those letting go muscles to move forward. Sometimes it takes a major life change like divorce, death of a loved one, new job or a move to shift into re-evaluating life and energize the letting go process.

When we’re able to let go and keep only what’s meaningful, beautiful and useful, we create physical and emotional space for what’s truly important. Defining “important” is unique to each of us. As Josh was evaluating and letting go, he’d ask, “Does this thing add value to my life?”  Particularly with his sentimental objects, he was able to let go of the majority of them when he realized . . .

“Our memories are not in our things. Our memories are inside us.”

Linda Samuels at NAPO 2015 with Josh Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus

Josh and Ryan’s stories are inspiring because they shared how they shifted from overwhelmed and dissatisfied by their “stuff” to calm, happy, and more fulfilled through the letting go process. They shifted their focus to experiences and relationships instead of things. It was also inspiring how the change in Josh’s attitude and minimalist living style inspired Ryan, his childhood friend, to pursue a similar way of being.

This brings up another interesting point. You never know how many people you’ll inspire in the process of changing and growing.

What have you noticed when someone lets go? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation.

There’s a restlessness and impatience I’ve been noticing. People (at least on the east coast) are ready for winter to morph into spring. We’ve had record snowfall and temperatures. We’re poised and ready for change. This month our conversations have focused around change. We’ve looked at how we view change and the value of making small changes. As we continue the topic, let’s think about resources we can access to help us facilitate change.

What are resources for change?

Professional Organizers

Is simplifying life and getting organized one of your goals? Have you tried making changes on your own, but felt frustrated and unsuccessful in your self-help attempts? This is a good opportunity to reach out to a professional organizer. They can be an invaluable resource for lasting change. To learn more about my professional organizing services visit ohsoorganized.com. To find an organizer near you, use the search features from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) or the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO).

Other Professionals

Often when we desire change, we get stuck because we get confused or lack information. Enlisting support from other professionals can make all the difference in moving forward. Other than professional organizers, which professionals could help? Professionals include accountants, lawyers, social workers, therapists, geriatric social workers, insurance brokers, coaches, doctors, nutritionists, personal trainers, clergy, architects, interior designers, contractors, and educators. Who will be on your team? Which resources do you already have to help make the changes you seek? Which resources will you add to your team?

Family, Friends and Colleagues

Never underestimate the value of your circle when it comes to navigating change. Where would we be without our close friends, family and colleagues? Everyone needs their people to bounce ideas on, complain to, and celebrate with. Who are the people in your close circle? Who are the ones that support you emotionally as you struggle with the changes you seek? Keep them close. Nurture those relationships. Be available to reciprocate.

There are other resources for change. What have you found useful? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!