When we're feeling stuck, it's especially challenging to get motivated. During several recent organizing visits with clients, I was reminded about one of the benefits of enlisting help as a way to boost motivation.

My clients were feeling overwhelmed and stuck. Those feelings resulted in procrastination and lack of motivation to tackle their organizational challenges. Yet in each of these cases, they recognized that no movement forward was going to happen unless they reached out for help. They had hit a wall of overwhelm. They called me for help.

It was fascinating to see the transformation. By talking about their goals, offering organizing support, and working by their sides, their feelings of overwhelm lifted and their motivation returned. In between organizing visits they were able to accomplish a lot on their own. They no longer felt stuck and had a renewed sense of purpose and energy around what they wanted to accomplish. They found the path forward.

So while enlisting the help of a professional organizer isn't the only way to jumpstart your waning motivation, it is definitely one of the effective strategies.

If you're struggling with moving forward and your lack of motivation and clarity is blocking you, reach out for help. You may be surprised at how valuable it is to hire a professional organizer or enlist the help from a trusted family member or friend.

Have you ever experienced positive change in motivation after enlisting help? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

Sometimes, we discover new things on our own. Other times, we learn through conversing, listening, or reading. In my case, what seemed like an innocent conversation with a friend has become a new way of being. As a result of that conversation and my willingness to try something new, I have gained time management, relationship, confidence, and health benefits. Are you curious? Continue reading, and I’ll share my discoveries with you.

Have you heard of subscription food or meal kit services like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh? These companies deliver fresh food, all the ingredients needed, and detailed, easy-to-cook recipes directly to your home. Several months ago, my husband and I signed up for Blue Apron.

11 benefits we’ve noticed so far:

• Save time by not having to shop for food.

• Save time and stress by knowing what to cook for dinner.

• Learn new cooking tips and techniques.

• Enjoy more time together by tag teaming it in the kitchen.

• Eat at a more leisurely pace.

• I am more confident in our cooking skills.

• I appreciate how well-organized the packaging and recipes are.

• I am more experimental and more willing to try new foods.

• We have reprioritized cooking together and sharing meals.

• We are eating more healthfully.

• We’re having even more fun with lots of high-fiving each time we make a new recipe.

“Save time and stress by knowing what to cook for dinner.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

I love the communal use of time, doing a fun activity that yields a delicious result. Plus, I get to hang out and cook with my husband. This is simple, basic stuff that I had been missing.

If you want to try Blue Apron, I’m happy to offer you a “free” one-week trial. I'll send an invite to the first three people who email me at linda@ohsoorganized.com. I don’t get anything by sharing the offer, only the satisfaction of knowing that you might enjoy the benefits I’ve been enjoying, too.

Have you tried a meal kit service? If so, what has your experience been? Is it a time-saver? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation!

Recently I was at the doctor’s office for an annual visit. On the wall was a sign with a series of suggested questions to ask the doctor during your appointment. Two in particular caught my attention since they related to this month’s theme, next step. While the questions were intended for a different purpose, I think you’ll find them useful for a variety of situations.

I’ve modified the language slightly to help focus your responses. When you’re stuck and feeling challenged with moving forward, ask yourself the following:

What is my next step?

Why is it important?

Pausing to question what will be next is useful in all situations. Adding the second question, that qualifying “why,” can add motivation and purpose to your action.

Some possible examples of what next and why important are-

• Look at my to do list so that I can stay focused for the day.

• Call doctor’s office to make an appointment because my health is a priority.

• Organize my desk to provide physical and mental clarity needed to begin my new project.

• Prepare meeting agenda so that I’ll be able to effectively run the meeting.

• Work on the next phase of my project so it I can complete it on schedule.

• Make a coffee date with my friend to nurture our relationship.

• Begin my bedtime routine so that I’ll be alert and more productive tomorrow.

• Write this blog post to stimulate an engaging, lively conversation.

I’m sure you can think of many more what and whys. I’d love to hear how these questions could work for you. Share your thoughts with us. What is your next step? Why is it important?

Let’s face it. Life gives us an abundance of wonderful, which gets served along with the not so wonderful. Intrinsically I understand that if things were only good, without any challenges, we wouldn’t fully grasp gratitude. It’s in the diversity of experiences and feelings that we appreciate what it means to be human.

Recognizing this doesn’t make it any easier to handle loss, sadness, grief, and struggle. Our challenges add necessary layers to life that provide possibilities for growth and perspective shifts.

Each autumn when the leaves whither and drop to the ground, I feel sad and a sense of loss. These feelings intensify as the trees become bare and the landscape colorless. The part of fall I love most is when the foliage is showered in vibrant reds, oranges and yellows.

Recently, I mentioned this feeling of “fall sadness” to one of my friends. Instead of her agreeing with me, figuring that we shared this sentiment, she expressed that fall was one of her favorite times. She loved seeing the empty trees. The simplicity let her distinguish the branch and tree trunk shapes, patterns, and negative spaces formed against the sky.

What a gift she offered me! Her observations made me consider fall differently. Maybe the emptiness will help me see past the colorful distractions so I can more easily examine structures and foundations that need to be repaired.

While I’ll always prefer bursts of color to neutral palettes, I’m curious to try this new perspective. The absence of color and adornment will be my cue for securing foundations. With an unobstructed view, I can adjust the basics and prepare for growth.

What's possible for you? What ways help you approach transitions? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.