Anyone who lives in the Northeast can attest to the snowstorm we just endured. It's March and almost spring. This is not supposed to happen. While we enjoyed a relatively mild winter, it's now in our rear view and it's time to move on. We braced for snow predicted in feet vs. inches and together with high winds, we found ourselves with a classic Nor'easter. Mother Nature came knocking on my door.
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    Weathering the Storm

I don't mind the snow as its falling. Safe and warm at home, snow days can be the most productive days or lazy and relaxing. It's good either way. This one happed to be a productive day for me sitting at my computer happily working on a project. I even made chocolate chip cookies.

Then the first tree fell.
Then the second and third trees fell.

The largest pine trees in my yard once standing as sentinels, lay across my driveway. No one was coming in and no one was going out. One got caught in the overhead wires warning of potential danger. Uh oh. 
Goals and Plans
This Nor'easter now became my problem to solve. Once the trees were cut down and safely off the wires, thanks to the quick work of the utility company, the clean up began. The snow was still piled high and packed in tight thanks to the subsequent rain. Twigs and branches and other tree parts covered the snow like a blanket. This was not a job for the snowblower. It looked overwhelming. Where would I begin?  I've heard these similiar refrains from clients facing years worth of stuff, or an out-of-control room. I had just become my own client. I put my organizer hat on and got to work setting a goal and creating a plan to accomplish it.

Day one goal: Clear away enough snow and tree debris to drive our cars in and out of the driveway. Check.
Day two goal: Clear snow and tree debris away from the mailbox to allow the mail truck to reach the mailbox. Check.

Clearing a path on one side of the driveway just large enough for cars to drive through provided satisfying progress and yielded the desired result. Clearing the mailbox area was a bigger challenge with tightly packed snow banks deposited by plows, and required some creativity. I dug out the softer, fluffier snow underneath the ice-capped banks thinking that if the foundation of the snowbank crumbled, the whole thing would topple over making it easier to shovel away. Mission accomplished. Rather than lifting and hoisting blocks of ice with the shovel, I picked them up and tossed them into the yard softball style. I scattered some snow across the driveway and let the sun do its thing. Mother Nature got me into this mess, and she was going to help me get out of it. Whew, mission accomplished.
What ORGANiZiNG storm are you facing? What is your goal and do you have a plan in place to accomplish it? If it feels overwhelming and you're not sure how to go about it, call me. I'll help you shovel it out.

Happy ORGANiZiNG,

Nancy Patsios
everyday  ORGANiZiNG