Personal Disorganization

Published: Apr 5, 2004

Application

This is another one of the internal "red threads" that influence many overt actions.

Corrective action involves major behavior modification which, in itself, is not an easy task.

The best way to start is to select one small portion of a larger task. Select something that can be corrected within a single block of time and with a high probability for a successful outcome.

Intend to only do the small portion. This could put you in the mood to continue with another portion.

For example, your house needs vacuuming because you have been procrastinating or trying to find the appropriate time. Promise yourself to do one room. This will get the blood flowing, before you know it you will have continued on to the next room and then the next...

Caution: avoid going too far. You could discourage yourself from using this technique in the future.

Stories

Just one peanut

I wanted to illustrate the 'chunking' idea during a workshop at a police college. I placed an unshelled peanut on each participant's desk and left a clear plastic bag filled with peanuts on a desk at the front of the room. Of course, I was trying to illustrate how difficult it is to eat only one peanut.

Great idea? Maybe, but not for that group. I got hammered in the evaluation for being too childish. I should have done this in the class for junior officers and not with the group being trained for senior positions in police forces around the world.

Submitted by: NephewGerry

Outcomes

Become a highly organized person.
Avoid procrastination.

Personal Disorganization

Application

Stories

Just one peanut

Outcomes

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