What Happens When You are Blinded by Shiny Object Syndrome? Disorganization!
Help to handle S.O.S. (Shiny Object Syndrome),
FREEBIE Download – Focus Workbook!!! Keep reading…
Wondering, “What’s Shiny Object Syndrome?” And “Do I suffer from it?”
S.O.S. or Shiny Object Syndrome and disorganization go hand in hand and may be creating chaos in your life.
Usually, S.O.S. is associated with entrepreneurs and business. It’s the incessant distraction and lure of the myriad new marketing techniques or new strategies promising a six figure business.
It’s being busy and starting new ventures then losing interest as a new idea or venture comes along.
Often these shiny ideas contradict and confuse, creating feelings of overwhelm and busy work but not much actual productive action is taken or completed.
I’ve noticed Shiny Object Syndrome often keeps people stuck in disorganization.
Keep reading to download your Focus Workbook.
We can all fall prey to these S.O.S. and disorganization behaviors:
- Buying and spending all our energy in too many directions in an attempt to fix our problem.
- Running to stores such as Bed, Bath and Beyond and The Container Store and coming home with bags brimming with new storage containers and the latest organizing gadgetry
- Blocking out a disorganized shelf of partly read books on organizing
- Creating color coded files and filing every piece of paper rather than actually deciding if the paper needs to be kept
- Starting an organizing project (sort of) and not following through
Why get organized?
The real goal to getting organized is to simplify and improve our lives creating serene spaces mentally and physically, making more room for what we really want.
I love to help people get what they really desire…calm, confidence to take action, a feeling of more time and ultimately more happiness with more connection to their family, friends and themselves.
Beware the shiny allure of the next fix in pretty packaging.
When we run out and buy the next fix, or even collect freebies to satisfy our desire to find happiness, we can be going down a slippery slope.
Suddenly we find ourselves chasing the latest new trend, new idea, new organizing gadget or going in circles as we flit from one thing to the next.
We may become stuck in behaviors and habits that keep us in our head and creating chaos.
“Shift your mindset to take consistent, clear action to start getting and staying more organized.”
~ Jul’s Arthur {You may share my quote.}
The SOS for S.O.S. (Shiny Object Syndrome):
- Stop
- Stop spinning, multi-tasking and falling for marketing of the latest trend or fad to handle the disorder. Instead Focus on the the outcome you desire to guide the action you take.
- Stop and think twice about buying and ordering pre-made systems that may seem great but are too stressful to learn or you lose interest in maintaining
- Open
- Open up your space and mind by decluttering first, rather than buying storage containers that may become clutter holders and clutter themselves.
- Open space by getting rid of as much as you can, the less you have the easier it is to manage and store
- Seek support
- Seek and hire a professional organizer to create a foundation and new organizing habit
- Seeking a professional is an investment in yourself to let go of the struggle and make real and lasting change with trained support
Let go of all the shiny attention stealing offers, advertisements and STUFF.
Download your Focus Workbook to avoid Shiny Object Syndrome.
If you or someone you know is suffering from Shiny Object Syndrome, I can help. Leave a comment and let me know how Shiny Object Syndrome keeps you from being organized! Take the Quiz and discover your organizing style, so you can get organized easier your way.
Hiya, I’m Jul’s Arthur, author of the book 25 Days of Holiday Organizing! I help women professionals & entrepreneurs STOP endlessly spinning their wheels stuck in anxiety and overwhelm with the chaos and clutter in their home, instead START simplifying, so everything has a place, they gain FREEDOM, CLARITY and easily step into their DREAM LIFE. Let me help you go from chaos to FREEDOM.
Jul’s I soo needed to hear this right now. I’ve bought a few ecourses lately which is crazy given how busy my business is right now! It’s a great reminder to STOP!! Thank you 🙂
So glad the reminder worked for you. Although I am all for continuing education and learning lifelong…sometimes it seems we feel as if we dip into lack of confidence and sign up for the net course, and the next course, when really our business is doing so well. Refocusing inward helps for me.
I see what you did here, Jul’s! You wrote a blog post for me personally, and pretended you wrote it for the masses. GUILTY! I have S.O.S, but thanks to your SOS, I’m going to beat it! You are right on point and right on time! Thank you SO MUCH for this post! You always know just what to say and which suggestions will make the most impact.
Hey April, love your humor, and so glad my post resonated with you. I tell you it is as much a reminder to myself as everyone else! Thank you so much for your support and compliments, it really means a lot. I am grateful my post has had impact and not just been another shiny object!
Yeah, BBB and Container Store are addictive. You can get out of those with hundreds of dollars in stuff that you truly don’t need, adding to the clutter and overwhelm. Great article!
Thanks so much Jovanka! I love those stores and sometimes get great ideas for clients, and it is good to be selective and thoughtful before purchasing.
I just moved and it took a lot of strength if just let go of so much stuff that I don’t need. Moving into my new place, I’m seeing that organization just isn’t something that comes naturally to me… Happy to have found your blog! Learning A LOT!
I’m thrilled I can help Emily! Moving is eye opening…so easy for all of us to collect and keep so much stuff. Check out some of my other posts for organizing tips and suggestions. Happy to have you as part of my clan.
Shiny objects, huh? Fun way to put it 🙂
I always come back to you to get a good reminder to de-clutter.
It’s the most important thing to do and – it’s Saturday today – I’ll do some de-cluttering in my house pronto!
Merci !
Thanks Llyane….glad I can serve as a friendly inspiration to de-clutter! Thanks so much for following my blog.
Hi Jul, I love how you tackle such a relevant issue on this blog. As a peak performance coach for women entrepreneurs, S.O.S. is one of the main problems I see businesswomen struggle with! I love the idea of Opening up space first. And a great place to start is typically our email inbox. Personally, I’ve been pruning down the newsletters I’m subscribed to, and it gives such a renewed sense of freedom. Thank you for sharing your tips on this topic!
Hi Elsa,
I am so happy you find my topic of S.O.S.relevant and I am not surprised it is one of the main problems for the businesswomen you work with. I tackled the dreaded email inbox overload in a previous post. Your clan may find it of help, and can read tips for decluttering their email inbox or inboxes here.
Hi Jul’s – It’s incredibly amazing how open and clear I feel after recycling/throwing out/giving away a section of clutter from my home recently! I love how you classify that in ‘OPEN’ because that is exactly how I feel…and lighter :). I didn’t realize how much having an organized space can impact my general creativity, sense of calm and control. I have more work to do, but it’s inspiring me to do more. I am far more conscious when I’m out shopping of what I buy – opting to NOT buy far more often than I ever did. Really like the concept of SOS.
I so agree Ariana…for me, when I organize or even re-organize when I figure out an improvement to my system, I feel lighter, open and ready for tow welcome new ideas, new perceptions and more joy into my work and life. I think conscious buying is helpful, and sometimes buying some container will actually not fix the problem. I am a big fan of the organizing stores, and I can be like a kid in a candy store with all the really cool and pretty organizing products….I just want those I work with to get to the heart of the matter…organize to get back to living your life, organize to have more happiness, organize to make room for your dreams and freedom. Glad the SOS was helpful…I like to offer easy to remember triggers to keep focused. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments!
I have a few extra Shiny Objects–but most of my challenge is too much stuff. And it could definitely be better organized.
Really enjoyed your post! Going to sign up for your tips. 🙂
Hey Marie,
Today, so many of us have too much stuff! As an entrepreneur there is the allure of Shiny Objects with the newest app, the newest software, the newest social media trend. Many are great and useful….if one’s business can and does use them. So too much stuff can be virtual as well as physical or even mental. Organizing is an ongoing process, not a once and done. The key is to incorporate a little often and be open to tweaking a system as your needs change. So happy you enjoyed my post and let me know how the tips work for you!
Great list Jul’s–
My favorite tip you offer is to clear out and REALLY know what you have before you buy new things for organizing. I’m instating that as a hard and fast rule from here on out!
I think the first step for me is….is admitting I have an organization problem! I go through phases where I am uber organized, and then I slip back into my haphazard ways. Little by little I guess.
So glad you found my tip about facing Shiny Object Syndrome with really deciding what you have and want to keep before buying those shiny organizing containers. I am all for those pretty containers if they inspire you to put things away, but only if they house what you really want and use.
Tiffiney, most of us have an organization problem in some area or some point of our lives as life is not static, circumstances change our focus…and that’s when it is helpful to get some organizing help from a pro…so you and yours can spend time on what brings you joy. Thanks so much for your comment and feedback.