“It’s like my feet are in concrete blocks, holding me down. I am sinking and can’t do anything about it.”

“It’s like a monkey on my back. I can’t imagine spending time on my hobbies until that monkey’s off my back. I’d feel guilty otherwise.”

How do you know if your organizing systems are working? How do you know if the work you’re doing with a professional organizer is having results?

There are many ways to measure whether and how your systems are working – or your work with a professional organizer is working. This is one way, a creative way, to figure it out.

I explain it in article I was asked to write for the San Diego chapter newsletter of the National Association of Professional Organizers.

You’ll read about how this technique can work for you, why it works, along with a variety of examples to inspire and motivate you to create your own.

Think you’re not very good at coming up with metaphors? No worries. I always thought that, too, however I’ve learned this is like a muscle you exercise. Once you start thinking this way, you’ll find  metaphors very useful.  Try out some of these examples first, and see which might resonate for you.

Here’s the link to the newsletter.  See page 8 for my article on metaphors and how they can measure progress.

Organizing that Works    *This file will take a minute to load but it well worth the wait – the full newsletter’s here.*

What metaphors have supported your organizing work, as a client or a professional organizer?