Chronic Disorganization: What is it?

Most people feel scatterbrained, disorganized, and like they need to have a better handle on their schedule at times. Often it takes a simple pause and reset to get things back in order and on track. Other times, it takes much more than that.

Chronic disorganization defined

Chronic disorganization (CD) is a term used to describe people who find themselves living in disorganization for a long duration. An expert in Attention Deficit Disorder, Judith Kolberg, started using the term chronic disorganization. In her book What Every Professional Organizer Needs To Know About Chronic Disorganization, Kolberg shares a more in-depth description of CD, strategies for working with people with CD, as well as real-life examples of clients living with chronic disorganization.?

The Institute for Challenging Disorganization states three PARTS that a person must have for their disorganization to be chronic.? Those are:

Persists for an extended period of time.
It undermines the person?s quality of life.
Despite a person?s efforts to get organized, it continues.

Characteristics of individuals with chronic disorganization

CD is behavioral. Individuals struggle with some of the following attributes:

Has difficulty letting go
Accumulates large quantities of possessions
Finds it difficult to manage time and is chronically late
Often loses or misplaces things
Has many interests and unfinished projects
Is easily distracted
Is talkative, intelligent, and emotional

There are other elements involved, however, these are the most prevalent. Keep in mind that chronic means it has persisted for extended durations of time, affecting their quality of life.

What causes it

People that struggle with CD often have comorbid issues and other factors associated with their chronic disorganization. Such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).? Those with ADHD have an impairment in focus and uninterrupted attention. This can make staying organized an extremely difficult task.

Taking action

All hope is not lost for individuals living with CD. In fact, there are numerous supports available including professional organizers who are trained in working with individuals with chronic disorganization. They receive a certification through the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization CPO-CD?.

Professional organizers provide helpful organizational systems and tips that restructure the layout of a space. They are also able to address topics of concern such as time management, procrastination, perfectionism, habits, and behaviors that lead to long-term organization over time.

Working together, healthcare professionals and professional organizers are able to address the emotional and behavioral aspects of CD to provide a comprehensive support system.

? Kolberg, Judith. What Every Professional Organizer Needs to Know About Chronic Disorganization. (Squall Press, 2008)

? https://www.challengingdisorganization.org/

? https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888 –017 –1463 –3

January 10, 2023September 5, 2023

The Institute for Challenging Disorganization

The Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD), is a nonprofit educational organization. It?s a community made up of medical, educational, and neuroscience professionals, Professional Organizers, and Productivity Specialists. This team of specialists educates subscribers to be better equipped to help clients affected by chronic disorganization.

Who is the ICD

The ICD’s ?mission is to provide education, research, and strategies to benefit people affected by chronic disorganization and the professionals who work with them.??

This community is comprised of medical, educational, and neuroscience professionals, Professional Organizers, and Productivity Specialists. This team of specialists helps subscribers to be better equipped to help clients affected by chronic disorganization (CD).

Certifications and Certificates offered by ICD

The Institute for Challenging Disorganization offers numerous educational certifications and certificates. They all are focused on taking a holistic approach to working with individuals with CD. Some courses are taught by mental health and wellness professionals such as social workers, licensed professional counsellors, psychologists, etc.?

Five levels of certification can be earned.

Level I Certificates of Study – includes
- ADHD – Certificate of Study in ADHD,
- AGE – Certificate of Study in Understanding the Needs of the Aging Client,
- HIC – Certificate of Study in Health Issues and Conditions and the Client Affected by CD,
- HRD – Certificate of Study in Understanding Hoarding Behavior,
- INT – Certificate of Study in Interpersonal Intelligence,
- LT – Certificate of Study in Life Transitions and the Client Affected by CD,
- MGMT – Certificate of Study in Client Management (formerly Client Administration),
- SLT – Certificate of Study in Student and Learning Theories, and
- TMP – Certificate of Study in Time Management and Productivity.
Level II Specialist Certificates – these are in-depth training offered in the areas of
- Chronic Disorganization Specialist
- ADHD Organizing Specialist
- Hoarding Specialist
- Aging Specialist
- Time Management & Productivity Specialist
Level III Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization? – this is recertified every three years.
Level IV Communication Mentor – certification in training, presenting, coaching, motivation, communication, and leadership.
Level V Master Trainer in CD and Organization Overview – this is the highest level of achievement in the program.

These specialist qualifications have research and hour requirements that need to be met to earn these specialist certifications.

These certifications and certificates let your potential clients know you are a qualified professional, giving them confidence in your abilities, services, and process.

Other offerings

The ICD has resources, links, scales, and fact sheets available to its members, some of which include:

The Clutter Hoarding Scale
The Clutter Quality of Life Scale

They offer free and paid classes as well as hosting an annual conference.

A database is available to search for and find other organizers to collaborate and connect with.

Additional support

There are many other benefits for individuals and professionals that work with people with CD. ICD is dedicated to supporting people as they become educated.

The Institute for Challenging Disorganization is also a resource for those living with chronic disorganization looking for help and support.

? https://icdorg.memberclicks.net/what-is-icd
? https://www.challengingdisorganization.org/certification

December 15, 2021April 4, 2022

Gift of a Professional Organizer

Why Is Gifting the Service of a Professional Organizer a Fabulous Idea?

I’ve explained before how gifting experiences can be far more rewarding than giving physical gifts. Giving the gift of a professional organizer could make their life much easier. Let?s explore why.

Why should you gift a service?

Many people think of the perfect gift for their loved ones and friends during the holiday season. They?ve either had the gift purchased and wrapped for months or they?ll just know it when they see it. On top of gifts, there are holiday treats, dishes, or entire meals to prepare. Let?s not forget the decorations, gatherings, and snowy-weather drives.

This is a time of year when quite a few people put their self-care on the back burner. Sometimes they don?t prioritize time for themselves. Sometimes financial concerns prevent it. Whatever the reason, what they need comes last.

When you gift a service, like professional organizing services, you’re giving someone a gift that positively impacts their life on a daily basis.

Benefits of Working With a Professional Organizer

Professional organizing services are a lot more than just moving things around to make a room look better.

Hiring a professional organizer helps make an exciting and sometimes overwhelming situation (like downsizing or merging households) easier to tackle through compromise, and realistically looking at the number of things in relation to the physical space.

Expert

When I decided to become an organizer to help others, I wasn?t going to go into it without giving it my all. I wanted to learn everything I could by being trained in the best strategies and under the most experienced mentors. Because there are always new things to learn, I?ve made a commitment to continue taking continuing education classes so I can show up for my clients in the best way possible.

I am backed by an entire community of professionals and experts. If there?s something I don?t know, I have people and places I can utilize to best meet the needs of my clients.

Experience

I?ve been helping people with their organizational needs for almost 20 years. I have served people by decluttering their homes, specific rooms, home offices, medical clinics, doctor offices.

I worked with Lisa to improve her home office. In part she shared:

?I am so thrilled with my new office in terms of Efficiency, Productivity, and Aesthetics. Dennise was a pleasure to work with always on time, super helpful, and resourceful… I highly recommend Dennise Conforti?s Services.?

After working with N.P. in her medical clinic, she said:

?I absolutely LOVE the way the exam rooms and utility room/lab have been stocked and organized. The last few shifts I?ve worked have been wonderful in terms of all equipment/testing media etc., available and easy to locate. The space is much cleaner with infection control related dirty/clean speculums etc managed beautifully.?

Cristina and Joe are homeowners in Toronto. They told me:

?Your assistance was much appreciated, especially in helping us to make difficult decisions. You went out of your way, and it was out of this world!?

I?ve helped my clients increase their productivity and time management. I?ve worked with families, married couples, single parents, office managers, clinic supervisors, and individuals with a range of unique needs.

All of these different situations have allowed me to grow a toolbox of skills, approaches, and methods to best serve my clients. You are getting the best of my toolbox.

Neutrality

Another professional organizing benefit is having an outsider?s viewpoint which is very helpful.

Why? It?s easy for me to approach things from a practical, unbiased standpoint. I don?t have an emotional attachment to late Aunt Hilda?s hot pads or your son?s first blanket that?s now in tatters. This is helpful because I can approach things more objectively. Another bonus, I have great ideas about how to be sentimentally attached without staying hopelessly cluttered.

I approach each project without judgment. We?ll objectively look at your needs, where you?d like to be, then create your plan accordingly. My job is to help construct an individualized plan that will work for you going forward. I?ll help you put systems in place to maintain your order.

Accountability

My job as a professional organizer is to help you get organized. It can be easy to stop to reminisce when decluttering instead of keeping focused on the task at hand. I will compassionately hold you accountable for the progress (or lack thereof) being made.

Maintenance Strategy

A professional organizer maintenance strategy is just as important as the act of decluttering and organizing. I will leave you with strategies to maintain the work we?ve done.

But what works for some doesn?t work for everyone. Because I get to know you through our work together, I can tailor a plan uniquely for you and your family to maintain the best results.

What situations do professional organizers help with?

There are a lot of ways a professional organizer can step in to help you and your loved one. Here?s a brief list of how I can help:

Declutter
Organize
Create Systems
Downsize
Estate clearing
Office systems
Office paper management
Time management (scheduling)
Productivity management
Pre-moving declutter
Divorce
Merging Households/Families

Throughout my years of serving my clients, I?ve encountered all of these situations.

Wondering how to give this gift of service?

It?s quite simple, really. Contact me to set up a call or send me an email!

We can discuss the situation (consultations are always free) and decide on the best course of action.