What stops us from Sorting Sadmin… and how to get round it!
Are you the kind of person who is surrounded by clutter but feels that all you are doing is paper shuffling?
If so then you might have what decluttering experts call a DOOM habit… “Didn’t Organise, Only Moved”!
Although this sounds lighthearted, these DOOM piles, or DOOM bags tend to accumulate because you have either run out of energy or fallen into decision paralysis. Regardless of how they have come to exist, those DOOM bags and piles of paper in the kitchen, the non-existent or disorganising filing, the inability to find vital documents when you need them… they can all too easily build up and feel overwhelming and stressful… which can lead to feeling as though a dark shadow of anxiety is following you around.
But, this is not how it needs to be going forwards…
You can be the change!
It is possible to go from chaos and overwhelm to calm and sorted, but first we need awareness of what is stopping us from Sorting the Sadmin?
Why does the paperwork get messy?
As you’ll know if you’re here on my website… I call the “Sadmin” all the admin which is emotional and sad… it is either information that relates to you, or tragically it can be the papers that need sorting which relate to someone who has died.
But, if we know that sorting it can bring huge peace of mind and clear up space for chasing rainbows…
What stops us from sorting the Sadmin?
Here are a few thing that I have noticed often gets in the way for my clients:
Mental illness - if you have experienced a trauma, and it is important to note that the death of a loved one is one of the most traumatic experiences that us humans endure, then it can mean that letting go of things is difficult… which can lead to hoarding… and in turn the hoarding and clutter can spiral us further down into procrastination and overwhelm… if you feel that this is you, please reach for help because there is an answer to getting the Sadmin sorted in a way that is right for you, but sometimes you need a fresh perspective and compassion for the trauma to find that answer inside of yourself.
Physical illness - whether we have an illness that depletes our energy or a terminal illness which means time is short, the most important thing to understand is how to go at a pace that is right for you and to get some help from others, either a friend, family member or professional coach who understands your struggles and can break things down into small achievable steps.
Neurodiversity - some brains thrive on order and others struggle to get “dull jobs” done. As a late-diagnosed ADHD woman I know how difficult a neurodiverse brain can make things, but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible… if you have the kind of brain which struggles with organising, time keeping and structure then you need to learn how to do the decluttering and sorting of the Sadmin in a way that best suits your brain. Having support from someone who has been there and knows the ND “hacks” that will help is invaluable.
Relationships - whether we are lacking in cheerleaders from those around us or we are stuck on who to leave what to when we die, who should act in the key roles of executor, guardian and trustee and who will look after the pets… the human relationships in our worlds can be the best and the worst things when it comes to sorting out the Sadmin. I often say to clients that the legal papers are rarely tricky… its our thoughts and emotions which get in the way, which means that the work that needs to be done is about identifying the blocks and finding the best way around them.
Limited time - it’s a common excuse to say that there is no time, but the reality is more likely that we are simply not making the Sadmin a priority… at the end of the day we all have the same amount of time in each 24 hour period but what makes our lives different is what we decide to do in that time. More often than not, a small amount of time each morning spent planning our day means that the day runs smoother and the jobs that need to get prioritised are done first.
No idea where to start - if we haven’t been born into a family that naturally sorts the paperwork, then perhaps no one has ever taught us how to sort the home paperwork… so perhaps now is the time to learn! Finding a mentor who can help you through it and teach you how to sort the Sadmin and keep you accountable could be the secret to your success!
How to sort the Sadmin?
Once you’ve worked out what is stopping you from sorting out the Sadmin… what will make it easier for you to do?
My creative brain loves an acronym…
Whilst listening to a podcast the other day I decided that the answer to how to sort the Sadmin is that we all need MARS… and I don’t mean the chocolate bar!
Instead of comfort eating, what we need to focus on in order to sort the Sadmin is:
Motivation - there is a reason why you want to get this sorted, but sometimes it is hidden in your subconscious. Finding the motivation to get organised is so much easier once you have consciously tapped into the feeling you want to achieve and the Why behind wanting to get this done… are you wanting to generally be more organised day-to-day, do you want to leave a specific legacy, or are you hoping that you can give loved ones an emotional handrail to grab onto when you are no longer here? Whatever it is… find your why and keep reminding yourself of it to keep you motivated!
Action - it can be tempted to spend hours trying to perfect a plan… spending ages creating a spreadsheet (without populating it!), buying new stuff for storage and filing or shuffling papers around to deal with later… but in order to get the Sadmin sorted it is vital to acquire a mindset of “Just Do It”. If the job takes less than 5 minutes, then do it now! If it’s going to take longer, be purposeful and block out time into your diary for when you are going to do it… and remember… the key is progress not perfection… so take the action, rather than getting lost in the planning!
Routine - big things are easier done when they are broken down into simple and smaller steps… and it is easier to get the Sadmin sorted if you set aside 15 minutes to brainstorm what needs to be done and then break that list down into smaller steps… then ring-fence just 15 minutes each day for Sadmin and/or tidying. It is amazing what you can get done in a week if you spend a quarter of an hour each day taking action (that’s seven and half hours of tidying a month!).
Self Care - Sadmin is labelled as such for a reason… because it can be emotional and sad to sort! As a consequence, I always remind my clients of the importance of going easy on yourself. The feelings that can bubble up can be unexpected and the kindest thing you can do is to make sure that you look after yourself. Plus, as tricky things are easier done with support, I recommend that you tell people what you are planning on doing, so that they can take care of you if you hit a block. In addition, it is important to build in lots of breaks and self care treats for yourself along the way.
As a busy solo parent who only recently got diagnosed with ADHD, I have learnt various hacks and tips on how to work with the energy that you have, so that you can get the Sadmin sorted without burning out or giving up. My 12 week online group coaching course is available all year round and the details can be found here. If you’d like my help with sorting your own Sadmin or that of a loved one who has died, please drop me an email or book a free 20 minute Discovery Call to see if I’m the right person to coach you to find the best way for you to sort out your Sadmin!