Early on in my work as an organizer I noticed that traditional organizing strategies didn't always work for everyone. There were some people that just seemed to struggle with disorganization more than others. I eventually discovered that many of these clients had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or were Chronically Disorganized (CD). In order to learn how to help these clients I joined the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD). Through my study with the NSGCD and through my work with numerous CD clients, I have learned valuable organizing techniques that allow me to better serve the needs of my CD clients.
According to NSGCD, "Chronic disorganization is having a past history of disorganization in which self-help efforts to change have failed, an undermining of current quality of life due to disorganization, and the expectation of future disorganization."
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Have you always struggled with disorganization?
- Have you repeatedly tried and failed to get organized?
- Is disorganization having a negative effect on some area of your life?
- Have you given up hope of ever getting organized?
If you answered yes to these questions, then you may be Chronically Disorganized and it is likely that conventional organizing methods simply won't work for you. Why? According to Judith Kolberg author of Conquering Chronic Disorganization it is because "chronically disorganized people are not conventional. They think, learn and organize in ways that are unconventional".
I work with my chronically disorganized clients to develop creative organizing solutions that fit their individual organizing style, whatever that may be. Once we have things organized, we will develop maintenance and support systems that will help to keep you organized going forward.
For more information on Chronic Disorganization visit the website for the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization at www.nsgcd.org.