chronic disorganization

ADHD Support

The SHiFT® Solution For Chronic Disorganization: A New Year’s Call to Action for Families and Loved Ones

January 25, 2025

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Hello, I'm Jen
As a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization® (CPO-CD®), I am uniquely qualified with the knowledge and experience to help you with ADHD issues, hoarding, chronic disorganization, and aging. 


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With the New Year come plans – plans for change, for setting goals, for starting anew – and getting organized remains a top contender when it comes to setting resolutions. For some, the process of organization feels natural and straightforward. But for others, particularly those dealing with chronic disorganization, making steps toward change can feel like an uphill battle. 

And watching a loved one go through this? Well, that can leave you feeling helpless and frustrated. 

chronic disorganization

Chronic Disorganization: The Struggles Loved Ones Face 

If you’re close with someone who is faced with chronic disorganization, watching them struggle to maintain order in their life can be incredibly difficult. 

After all, you care about them so much. You just want to see them thrive. 

You may even find yourself reciting a new year mantra – something along the lines of “now is the perfect time for change, you got this!”. 

And trust us, we get it – it’s only natural to want to encourage people on their journey…to give them a pep-talk filled with your best “how-to” advice.

But when it comes to chronic disorganization, it’s simply not that easy, and taking this approach can often backfire.  

When someone is in the throes of chronic disorganization, they often harbor feelings of: 

-overwhelm

-shame

-guilt

-anxiety

-low self-worth

-fear of judgment 

-procrastination

-inadequacy

And the list goes on. 

Can you imagine? Feeling that way certainly wouldn’t motivate you to take any sort of action toward change. In fact, it would only create resistance. 

But then there’s another side to all of this – your emotional experience. 

Watching a loved one struggle with chronic disorganization can be incredibly frustrating and heartbreaking. As someone who cares, you want to help, but it can be hard to know how to support them effectively. It can leave you feeling helpless, disconnected, or even resentful, and this can raise the question of how to balance compassion with the need for boundaries.  

You may feel compelled to step in and try to “fix” things, but the more you push for change, the more resistant they may become, especially if they feel ashamed or overwhelmed. On the other hand, if they don’t recognize the impact of their disorganization or don’t have the tools to change, they might push back or even get defensive, creating a constant back-and-forth struggle. 

This can erode trust, create tension, and leave both parties feeling misunderstood. Over time, the imbalance of effort can foster resentment and further complicate the relationship, turning what could be a helpful conversation into an emotional tug-of-war.

So where do you turn? What can you do to effectively support someone with chronic disorganization? 

That’s where The SHiFT Method comes in – a human-centered framework designed to help individuals with chronic disorganization (and really anyone, for that matter) move from a life of fragmentation to wholeness, and in turn, help families move from frustration to collaboration.

chronic disorganization

Introducing the SHiFT® Method – A Compassionate Framework for Change

If you haven’t heard of The SHiFT Method, you’re in for a treat. 

It’s a little slice of what brings people to alignment in their lives – a method based on understanding, empathy, and practical steps. A method that gets to the root of systems that encourage and support lasting change.  A method that actually works. 

Why does it work?  

While other methods for change are focused around hard and fast rules or an all-or-nothing mindset, The SHiFTMethod promotes actual solutions by creating a judgement-free environment for transformation. 

SHiFT explores 4 key areas of life that support self-worth; a key component of what enables someone to kickstart change. These areas are Social, Health, Financial, and Time. Just as the acronym is spelled out, these aspects support the “i” in SHiFT – “i am deserving”. 

Addressing all of these areas of life and getting to the root of where a person may be falling short supports the emotional and relational dynamics in a way that builds up that individual’s sense of belonging and importance. 

It fosters true encouragement, and leads to sustainable change.

But even with tools and methods in your back pocket, there often remains a gap in communication and understanding between those who want to help and the person struggling. 

This is where the advocacy and support of a consultant comes into play. 

chronic disorganization consultant

What A Consultant For Chronic Disorganization Can Do For You 

We get it – there comes a time when you’ve reached the end of your rope – you feel you’ve done all you can do when it comes to helping your loved ones with their chronic disorganization. 

Whether you’ve tried to help them implement change first hand or done your best to provide emotional support, it gets to a point where you feel like nothing makes a difference, no matter what you say or do.  

That’s where I come in. 

As a consultant, I work to advocate for you and your loved ones in a way that: 

  • Creates a safe, judgment-free space: a professional consultant can serve as a neutral party, helping family members feel safe expressing their concerns. 
  • Provides emotional and practical support: there is a lot of emotional healing that accompanies this level of transformation, and as a consultant, I help you and your loved ones navigate that in a compassionate way that leaves space for optimal growth. 
  • Builds trust and collaboration:  As a consultant, I utilize The SHiFT Method and emphasize a collaborative approach, where family members feel heard and supported, fostering stronger, healthier relationships. 
  • Mediates difficult conversations: The conversations here are of very sensitive nature, and as a consultant, I take to heart the means of addressing each matter in a way that alleviates tension and fosters a sense of acceptance and belonging in those who are struggling.  

So what do you think? Does all of this sound like something that would greatly benefit and improve the life of someone you know and love? 

If so, you may be wondering “how do I even go about discussing this with them in the first place?” 

We understand that this can be a tough bridge to gap, but it all begins with knowing how to approach the conversation.  

consultant for chronic disorganization

How To Get Started: Beginning a Judgment-Free Conversation

Someone who is struggling with disorganization already knows that they have a problem keeping up, and there is often a lot of shame rooted in that. If you were struggling through this, would hearing something like “just do it”, or *insert other motivational quote here* make you feel supported and encouraged? Of course not. This only adds to the pressure dynamic. 

Now what if you heard someone say…

“I know this is so difficult, there are many overwhelming aspects to this right now, and it makes so much sense why it would be so hard. But I’ll be by your side the entire time.” 

You would likely feel much more nurtured and uplifted. 

Here are some tips to ensure you’re leading the conversation with compassion: 

1. Approach with empathy

    Encourage starting the conversation with care. Example: “How are you feeling about your space? rather than “Why is this such a mess?”

    2. Ask for permission to help

     Suggest asking if they’re open to support, ensuring the person feels in control.

    3. Use “we” language

    Frame the conversation as a team effort, emphasizing collaboration: “What can we do together?”

    4. Listen actively

    Acknowledge their feelings and challenges without rushing to fix the situation. This builds trust and understanding.

    5. Focus on benefits, not criticism

    Talk about the freedom and peace that comes with decluttering, rather than focusing on the mess.

    So now that you’re equipped with the tools to help support the conversation around transformation, where can you go from here? 

    Schedule Your Free Consultation Today 

    We know that this journey can be overwhelming for all involved, and naturally, there are going to be a lot of questions. But that’s exactly what I’m here for.

    Let’s get started today. 
    Schedule your free consultation here.

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