Have you ever noticed that a stack of papers feels heavier than it should?
It's not just papers.
It's all the stories we carry with them.
- Why didn't I take care of that already?
- What will it mean for my family/business/life if I don't get this stuff organized?
- What if I need this later?
- What if I can't find it when I need it?
- What would happen if something happened to me?
It's never "just papers".
My client, Molly, had a trunk.
Inside was every story about having a child born with special needs: past medical bills, how to guides, surgical reports, MRIs and other scans, growth charts. All of it felt scary. As if Molly opened that trunk every memory was going to jump out and drown her.
It took time (coaching takes time - true story) for Molly to open that trunk and begin the sorting process. Push came to shove and another important surgery was looming. The trunk had to be dealt with. And then, let's face it, the actual sorting took time.
I give Molly so much credit for tackling that trunk and allthethings that information meant for her and her family. It was never just about a trunk.
Paperwork isn't stressful because it's difficult.
It's stressful because every piece of it represents a decision.
And if you're already juggling work, family, caregiving (sandwich generation anyone?) and the fifty open tabs in our brains, one more decision can feel like the breaking point.
So we put it off.
When we moved just over a year ago, I put off a bunch of paperwork decisions. Some absolutely had to be done right away: address changes, new power of attorney, and advance healthcare directive.
Others could wait.
But I turned 60 in December and I'm realizing that my parents are on borrowed time. If you're new here you may not know that my hubby, Bob, lost both of his parents and his aunt in the past year and a half. It has been grieving with a side of harsh reality check.
A few of my clients mentioned needing to put some of those crucial papers in order, so I'm bringing you along for the ride.
That's right - in a small way you get to test run what it's like to be my client this summer for free.
Each week, I'll send you the "to do" that my clients are accomplishing in our brand new Personal Productivity Hour (PPH). I added one on Fridays just for the summer. I NEVER run PPH on Fridays.
But this work is far too important. I don't want you to be facing down a crisis with a heavy paper laden trunk.
So this week's to do is simply this:
Gather all of those important papers into one safe location.
Extra credit: Get a safe. Judy Guertin of "Beyond the Estate Plan Guide" recommends a 2 hour fire rated portable safe box. Portable so you can take it with you in an emergency.
This all sounds easy but I promise you're going to need at least an hour.
And if you have an ADHD you may not even think it sounds easy. If that's you, set a timer for 15 minutes and find one thing.
If you want support, I strongly recommend you join our Get More Done accountability group.
It's only $67 a month and you get not only the Friday co-working sessions, but co-working Monday-Thursday.
Get More Done Accountability Group
Hope to see you there!
