When I searched for the term “Backsliding: A slippery slope” a lot of websites about Christian faith came up and that surprised me a bit. I’m not here to preach anything to you but I do want to talk about this common pitfall. Whether you are Christian, Buddhist, Jewish or don’t affiliate with any faith, in particular, I think you will still be able to relate to this.
What does it mean to Backslide?
To relapse into bad habits, behavior, or undesirable activities. (via dictionary.com)
In terms of organizing, this can mean several things. Most commonly I see that people have reverted to not putting things into their place or not using new systems.
It takes practice and patience to create new habits.
We should not expect our behavior to change overnight.
It takes about 3 weeks or 20 days to begin to imprint new behavior patterns into our brains. Therefore we have to continue to practice our new organizing systems regularly.
For example, if a new system involves your mail, then you would be practicing this new habit daily. Process Mail—>recycle, shred, toss, file, and act.
Any kind of new organizing system is the same. Maybe you just overhauled your closet, tossed what was worn, consigned, recycled or donated things you no longer fit or loved. You made room in your closet but it will require a daily habit of returning things to new homes, folding, hanging etc. Other systems and processes may be less frequent and these might require more than the standard term for new habits. If you only do something weekly (like laundry) then it will take several weeks for this new system for feel like a new habit.
I often see people backsliding with new systems and feeling guilt and shame about it. We have to be patient with ourselves and also recognize that backsliding can happen between maintenance routines. There is no reason to feel bad about it, just get back on the saddle and keep going with your new system. When I work with clients, I schedule routine maintenance sessions and I look for signs of backsliding, it’s going to happen from time to time especially in the beginning. Just be aware of it and give yourself time to develop these new organizing muscles! Last week I wrote about The Three C’s of Organizing:Curiosity, Creativity, and Commitment.
Backsliding with your new organizing systems is not unusual. With a commitment to practicing your new system regularly you will find yourself back on track! If you’re still struggling, contact me for a little extra support.