Chronic Disorganization with Gayle M. Gruenberg Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization CPO-CD, CVPO

A live and interactive discussion that will explore a level of disorganization that persists, despite prior attempts to get organized and is often caused by one or more underlying brain-based conditions. Gayle M. Gruenberg Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization CPO-CD, CVPO Author of GET THE BIG O: ORGANIZED! 7 Steps to Achieving Calm, Clarity, and Control in your Space, Mind - and Life! 

Can you or your loved ones answer “Yes” to any of these questions? 

• Have you been disorganized most of your life? 
• Does being disorganized undermine the quality of your life? 
• Have you “tried everything” and nothing seems to work? 
• Do you expect to continue being disorganized without outside help? 
• Do you say, “I’m overwhelmed, my life is spinning out of control, and I can’t take it anymore!” on a regular basis?

Contact Gayle

• https://lgorganized.com/
• gayle@lgorganized.com
• Order the book: https://lgorganized.com/get-the-big-o-organized/

Chat Transcript

12:06:41     From Elizabeth Singleton : Elizabeth Singleton, SRES realtor with Samson Properties, happily joining.

12:06:50     From Jan Brito  to  Hosts and panelists : Jan Brito, Capital Senior Solutions, specializing in helping older adults through late in life move transitions. jan.brito@compass.com, 301-646-5774, capitalseniorsolutions.com

A Positive Aging Champion

12:07:31     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Jan Brito to All Panelists 12:06 PM

Jan Brito, Capital Senior Solutions, specializing in helping older adults through late in life move transitions. jan.brito@compass.com, 301-646-5774, capitalseniorsolutions.com

A Positive Aging Champion

12:09:09     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Institute for Challenging Disorganization® https://www.challengingdisorganization.org/

12:13:22     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : 7 Steps to Achieving Calm, Clarity, and Control in your Space, Mind - and Life! https://lgorganized.com/get-the-big-o-organized/

12:13:23     From Rose-Shoshana Mintz-Urquhart  to  Hosts and panelists : Hi, I’ve just joined.   My name is Rosa-Shoshana N. Mintz-Urquhart.  I live in Kensington.

12:14:49     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Rose-Shoshana Mintz-Urquhart to All Panelists 12:13 PM

Hi, I’ve just joined.   My name is Rosa-Shoshana N. Mintz-Urquhart.  I live in Kensington.

12:15:28     From Rose-Shoshana Mintz-Urquhart  to  Hosts and panelists : I’m all ears.

12:18:48     From Patti Ross : can you list the 7 steps here?

12:19:11     From Carol Ann Linder  to  Hosts and panelists : Steve, I understand you are “hosting”, but PLEASE let Gayle talk and finish her thoughts without interrupting her.

12:19:54     From Nikki Hauspurg : Hi Everyone - I am Nikki Hauspurg from Moyer Move Management. Greetings from the snowy DMV - grateful to be here!

12:21:01     From Rose-Shoshana Mintz-Urquhart  to  Hosts and panelists : Will there be any Audible group discussion or do we just text questions in order time permitting.

12:21:31     From Emmalyne Head : Love the information, thanks for sharing! Emmalyne Head, Southern Belle Cleaners (Decluttering Services)

12:24:33     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Consulted, considered, clear, catagorize, contain, control, coach

12:25:35     From Yvette Gluck : SPACE:   S= sort, P=purge A=assign a home C=Containterize, E=equalize (maintain)

12:25:54     From Gayle Gruenberg  to  Hosts and panelists : @Yvette - Julie Morgenstern!!!

12:26:08     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Gayle Gruenberg to All Panelists 12:25 PM

@Yvette - Julie Morgenstern!!!

12:26:41     From Margie McNally  to  Hosts and panelists : I have used the acronym SPACE from many years ago from another publication. Sort, Purge, Assign a Home, Containerize, Equalize.

12:26:53     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Margie McNally to All Panelists 12:26 PM

I have used the acronym SPACE from many years ago from another publication. Sort, Purge, Assign a Home, Containerize, Equalize.

12:28:08     From Alison Scott  to  Hosts and panelists : Love this, Must run: will review your recording later, Thanks!!!

12:29:08     From Linda Moore : Facilitators, please help panelists get to the point.

12:29:15     From sharon sirkis : Your name sounds like Rosh Hashanah!

12:29:42     From Rose-Shoshana Mintz-Urquhart  to  Hosts and panelists : It’s just Rose or Rose-Shoshana

12:29:44     From Allyson Stanton  to  Hosts and panelists : Like SPACE but have a question: how do you decide what to purge? Is there a quick easy way to decide, purge or keep? I need to purge more & move on. ;)

12:30:16     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : https://www.juliemorgenstern.com/organizing-from-the-inside-out

12:30:16     From irene Terdoslavich : I basically have downsized from a large apartment to just a bedroom. I have so many things in my one bedroom and have a hard time figuring out what to keep and what to donate. I am always afraid I will need something. I basically have a lot of books and papers and medical papers and cant figure out what to get rid of and so I stay frozen.

12:30:45     From Arlene Polangin : Gayle, I'm another parent of a Johnson & Wales graduate who has been a chef/consultant for more than 15 years....!!

12:31:51     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Here are more discussions related to what to do with our stuff https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos?q=stuff

12:32:15     From Amanda Rider : I enjoy scrapbooking things that I want to look at later, I like to have tangible items as well.

12:32:35     From sharon sirkis : Yes, thanks.. I like the physical paper.lol

12:33:26     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : https://lgorganized.com/

12:33:48     From judy tiger : please mention the MD photo organizer

12:34:04     From Gayle Gruenberg  to  Hosts and panelists : Hi Judy!

12:35:56     From Lisa Sordi : "The cobbler with no shoes... so true!"

12:36:26     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Allyson Stanton to All Panelists 12:29 PM

Like SPACE but have a question: how do you decide what to purge? Is there a quick easy way to decide, purge or keep? I need to purge more & move on. ;)

12:36:31     From Emily O'Halloran  to  Hosts and panelists : Can you share a couple of tips for letting go of un-needed objects that we’re holding onto for sentimental reasons?

12:37:15     From Hillery Tsumba  to  Hosts and panelists : I have a question about using the same principles for helping to organize thoughts and tasks vs organizing items/things.

12:38:00     From Hillery Tsumba  to  Hosts and panelists : I also have a follow up question about the body double. Does the body double have to be engaged in what you are doing or can they be doing something else (reading, listening to a podcast).

12:38:25     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : 7 Steps to Achieving Calm, Clarity, and Control in your Space, Mind - and Life! https://lgorganized.com/get-the-big-o-organized/

12:38:53     From Allyson Stanton  to  Hosts and panelists : Thank you!

12:39:17     From sharon sirkis : It's okay to plug your book!!!

12:41:15     From Rhetta Vinson : I have trouble deciding what belongings to keep for sentimental reasons of my kids art work or school records, SAT scores etc. My adult children do not lie to part with DVD's or books when they do not want to keep things

12:41:21     From Deborah Kovach  to  Hosts and panelists : Just threw out saved pandemic articles from 2020-22. Brings up memories! Purging/organizing can be emotional. Do you ever recommend therapists to help clients with hoarding? Have heard. It’s very tough to treat.

12:43:13     From irene Terdoslavich : thank you so much for asking and answering my question. It is so appreciated!

12:43:41     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : https://artifcts.com/

12:43:52     From Arlene Polangin : I tell myself if I haven't touched it in a year, it goes out! Donate, trash, recycle.

12:44:29     From Madeleine Pierucci : I have retired as a h.s. Counselor; there were ‘ wrap around services on IEP’s ( invidual Ed plans) to address/help a Special Ed client/kids your ‘body double’ may be that person…sort of life coach’..at 83 yers, I am very aware that my heirs may not have this problem since they will load all papers, etc onto a cart and dumping it down the incinerator; thus I am treating this time I have as precious to direct my heirs …the term “ in the future” has social meaning..my future is PRESENT, Thx, you both for this    Madeleine

12:46:28     From Christina Dixon : Ararity is a company in the DMV that accepts items and can auction them off

12:47:00     From Lisa Sordi : They are Awesome at Ararity!

12:47:24     From Iris Trieb : Quinn's auction house also does estate and home sales for those downsizing, as well as taking smaller numbers of items for weekly or specialty items.

12:47:24     From Christina Dixon : https://www.ararityservices.com/

12:47:59     From Elizabeth Singleton : China is a huge dilemma for me, too.  Several sets of "grandma's" china, not for the dishwasher and microwave,  I don't want to just drop this off at a donation center.  I also can't drive to Replacements, LTD.  Very sentimental value.

12:48:22     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Rachel Jenkins https://photoarchivers.com/about-us/

12:48:55     From Margie Lidoff  to  Hosts and panelists : locally in DMV is A Wider Circle. They will pick up some items and accept donations at their site

12:48:58     From Nancy Piness  to  Hosts and panelists : What is the question I can ask, please? Is it taking up space in my heart, head and ?

12:49:25     From Gayle Gruenberg  to  Hosts and panelists : Head, heart, and home

12:49:33     From Elizabeth Singleton : There are Buy Nothing groups in our communities who will take everything from leftovers to household items.

12:50:07     From Carolyn Cook  to  Hosts and panelists : @Elizabeth - is there a special friend who might be able to use your grandmother’s China?

12:50:30     From Yvette Gluck : buy nothing groups

12:50:37     From Christina Dixon : Ararity can auction off china but, to your point, it doesn't have the value it used to have.

12:50:46     From Sally Jones  to  Hosts and panelists : This sounds like a great topic for group discussion.. emotional support for one another.

12:50:48     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Margie Lidoff to All Panelists 12:48 PM

locally in DMV is A Wider Circle. They will pick up some items and accept donations at their site

12:50:56     From Patricia Jayne  to  Hosts and panelists : China, glassware - I have been donating to the Op Shop in Georgetown.

12:50:58     From paula david : Assisted livings often do tea parties and love china donations.

12:51:09     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Carolyn Cook to All Panelists 12:50 PM

@Elizabeth - is there a special friend who might be able to use your grandmother’s China?

12:51:33     From Dixcy Bosley  to  Hosts and panelists : I used my mothers China as a mosaic wall in my bathroom!

She is always with me

12:51:55     From Yvette Gluck : Hummels = low value

12:52:01     From chris connell  to  Hosts and panelists : arrived late. will recording be available?

12:52:09     From Cheryl Wheeler : You could try to display a place setting of each on the wall-Hang up

12:52:09     From Sally Jones  to  Hosts and panelists : Send things out into the world.. as if sending a blessing along with it!

12:52:30     From Arlene Polangin : My older son, not the Johnson & Wales son has no interest in my china.  I use it whever he's here, even if he's just brought some takeout food.  At least, I'm using and seeing the china which is pleasurable.

12:52:39     From Dinah Kudatsky : It's possible that a religious Jewish family might like an extra set of china for kosher eating - check with one's synagogue?

12:53:03     From Carolyn Cook  to  Hosts and panelists : Love Hummels - sad such pieces aren’t more treasured.

12:53:32     From Elizabeth Singleton : Great ideas for china!  Thank you!

12:53:49     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Dixcy Bosley to All Panelists 12:51 PM

I used my mothers China as a mosaic wall in my bathroom!

She is always with me

12:54:20     From Margie Lidoff  to  Hosts and panelists : A Wider Circle does take housewares, dishes as well as furniture. They furnish homes for people coming out of homelessness or domestic abuse

12:54:29     From Dinah Kudatsky : Dixcy -that's fabulous!!!

12:54:41     From Dixcy Bosley  to  Hosts and panelists : Happy to

12:54:44     From Lisa Sordi : What an incredible idea!

12:54:59     From Deborah Kovach  to  Hosts and panelists : Be creative…use teacups for jewelry!

12:55:00     From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Margie Lidoff to All Panelists 12:54 PM

A Wider Circle does take housewares, dishes as well as furniture. They furnish homes for people coming out of homelessness or domestic abuse

12:55:04     From Nancy Piness : How novel, Dixcy!

12:55:46     From Dinah Kudatsky : Giving to those who need or appreciate what you are sharing makes giving away "hurt" less.

12:55:50     From Marjorie Cotterman : Thank you so much for all of the donation resources.

12:56:19     From Richard Landfield : Dixcy, clever.  Rich L

12:56:44     From Sharon Parver  to  Hosts and panelists : Thanks Steve. Great topic!

12:57:28     From rh levin  to  Hosts and panelists : What a fascinating conversation-One of the best ones yet -Thank you ALL !

12:57:36     From Amanda Rider : yes! many thanks!!

12:57:39     From sharon sirkis : Thank you both!

12:57:40     From Nancy Piness : Thank you, Gail…This was an excellent session...

12:57:59     From irene Terdoslavich : Thank you so much Steve and Gayle

12:58:07     From sharon sirkis : Agree!!!

12:58:09     From Gayle Gruenberg  to  Hosts and panelists : Thank you for having me!

12:58:11     From Marybeth Forys : Thanks so much.  This was wonderful!

12:58:11     From Amanda Rider : These chats are fantastic!!

12:58:36     From Elizabeth Singleton : THANK YOU SO MUCH, Steve, Gayle, everyone!

12:58:41     From Susan Payne  to  Hosts and panelists : Thank you Steve and Gayle!

12:58:52     From Carolyn Cook  to  Hosts and panelists : Thank you, Gayle and Steve!

12:58:53     From Catherine Freedberg  to  Hosts and panelists : Excellent discussion. Gail is so open, welcoming!

12:59:07     From Dinah Kudatsky : Thank you, Steve and Gayle!!!

12:59:13     From Bren Lizzio  to  Hosts and panelists : Steve, great guest!  Thank you!

12:59:21     From Jan Brito : ?

12:59:22     From rh levin : STARTING NOW - MUCH APPRECIATED !

12:59:22     From Arlene Polangin : Thankk you so much.  It gets me moving and thinking!! ;)

12:59:26     From jenifer massie  to  Hosts and panelists : Thank you! Very informative!

12:59:31     From Sharon Parver  to  Hosts and panelists : Kind Works in Montgomery County often seeks furnishings for recent immigrants to the area.

12:59:42     From Mary Porter : Thank you so much!!!!

12:59:43     From Nancy Piness : A snowy day is a great impetus...

12:59:59     From Sharon Reichman : Thank you!  Very helpful