Get It Together, Weirdo

How Personalized Organization Systems Build Confidence

• Sarah Bowser, That Weird Nerdy Mom • Episode 13

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Do you feel guilty when you realize you've spent money on a one-size-fits-all organization system that just doesn’t work for you?  And when it doesn’t work, do you feel like the problem is you? 

Spoiler alert, it’s not you. 

In this episode of Get It Together, Weirdo, host and coach Sarah Bowser lets you know that you're allowed to ditch those systems that don’t fit your needs and start over, and she guides you through creating systems that actually work for you. How? You recognize your own thoughts, your own quirks, your own values. You experiment, focusing on small wins. And you continually adjust things as your values and needs shift. 

Even if you're staring at a mountain of planners and templates and apps you've spent way too much money on, this episode will give you permission to start over without feeling guilty. 

If you want to stay in the loop on new episodes, posts, and other tidbits that Sarah shares, go to thatweirdnerdymom.com to hop on her email list, or join her for weekly coworking on Mondays. 

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

  • How using cookie-cutter organization systems that don't cater to individual needs can leave you feeling guilty, frustrated, and inadequate 
  • The importance of acknowledging your personal quirks and values to create customized systems that work for your unique brain 
  • That experimenting with different methods and focusing on small wins  — checking off a to do, staying on top of a project  — builds your confidence and motivation
  • The need to continually reassess and adapt your personalized systems to align with your evolving values and needs

Links and resources mentioned in this episode: 

Noteworthy quotes from this episode: 

“You're allowed to ditch  those [cookie-cutter organization] systems. You're allowed to create something that actually works for you.  Even if you're staring at the mountain of planners and templates and apps you've spent way too much money on already, you can still start over.” 

 ”Let's start by talking about the downside of cookie-cutter systems. The problem isn't that they're inherently bad. It's just that they're designed for an imaginary “every person” who doesn't actually exist. These systems don't take into account your unique needs, your quirks, or the way that your brain works.” 

 ”So, how do you start creating a system that actually works for you? You start with identifying your core values. Your values are like a road map to understanding how your brain functions and what's truly important to you. Ask yourself, what matters most in your life right now? What lights you up? What keeps you grounded? The values that you identify will guide you in building the foundation of your system.”

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Get It Together, Weirdo

Ep. 13. How Personalized Organization Systems Build Confidence


Hey there, my wonderfully weird friend. Welcome back to another episode of Get it Together, Weirdo, the show where we embrace our quirks, lean into what makes us different, and figure out how to, you know, get our together in ways that actually work for us.

So today, I want to dive into something that I know a lot of us struggle with: the guilt we feel when we realize we've spent money on a cookie cutter organization system that just doesn't work for our brain. Spoiler alert: you're allowed to ditch those systems. You're allowed to create something that actually works for you. And yes, that means even if you're staring at the mountain of planners and templates and apps you spent way too much money on already, you can still start over.

So how do we ditch the guilt and start building our own system? A system that fits our brain, our life, and our unique way of thinking? Well, let's get into it. You know your brain's different, right? You're not a one size fits all kind of person. You have your own thoughts, your own quirks, your own values. So why are you trying to shove your unique self into a tiny little suitcase and into an organization system that doesn't fit your needs and take you where you want to go?

I get it. I've been there. We've all seen the ads and the influencers touting their magical solution. The one planner, the one app, the one setup that's going to organize your life, skyrocket your productivity, and make you feel like you've got it all together. The one solution to rule us all. And then when it doesn't work, you're left feeling like the problem is you. It's not.

Back when I was just starting to build my business, all I heard about was how Trello was the thing everyone was raving about. How it was the best way to get organized, stay on top of all the things, keep your life together. So, of course, I went all in. I bought courses. I downloaded templates. I bought templates. I tried to set everything up exactly the way I was told to in these courses. Even though, let's be real, the advice from one course often contradicted what another course was telling me.

One setup would make sense for one area of my life, so I'd try to use it for everything. And then my brain would short circuit and the system just wouldn't work for how my mind operated. Meanwhile, other setups didn't even remotely make sense to me, and there wasn't a template at all for what I actually needed. And the more I tried to force Trello to work, the more frustrated I got. My brain rebelled, my boards got messier, and my anxiety went through the roof.

It wasn't until I took a step back and really allowed myself to say, Okay, Trello isn't bad or evil. It's just not right for me, that I started to figure out what I actually needed. I had to let go of the guilt I felt for spending so much time and money on something that didn't work. I had to give myself permission to experiment and start building a system that worked for my brain's operating system. And that's what I want to help you do.

So let's start by talking about the downside of cookie cutter systems. The problem isn't that they're inherently bad. It's just that they're designed for an imaginary every person who doesn't actually exist. These systems don't take into account your unique needs, your quirks, or the way that your brain works. And because of that, they often end up making you feel overwhelmed and anxious.

You know the drill by now. You hear about a new system, you buy into it, actually spending money on it. You try to make it work, and when it doesn't, you feel like you failed. You tell yourself, If everyone else can make this work, why can't I? I'm obviously a failing failure, but please hear me when I tell you the system is what's failing you. You are not failing. Your brain just needs something different, something customized.

So how do you start creating a system that actually works for you? You start with identifying your core values. Your values are like a roadmap to understanding how your brain functions and what's truly important to you. Ask yourself, what matters most in your life right now? What lights you up? What keeps you grounded? The values that you identify will guide you in building the foundation of your system.

And here's the cool part. As your values shift and change over time, you can tweak your system to match. Your system is not set in stone. Neither are your values. Your values are a living, breathing thing. So you also need to embrace personalization. It's not about creating the perfect system. It's about creating your system. Take the bits and pieces from other systems that worked for you. Take. Toss the parts that didn't and start stitching them together like Frankenstein into something that feels right. And don't be afraid to experiment. Maybe you try out a new app or a new way of organizing your tasks. If it works, great. If it doesn't, meh. No big deal. Chuck it out. Try something else. The key is to keep experimenting until you find what clicks.

And as you start to build your system, focus on achieving small wins. When you hit those little milestones, checking off a to-do, staying on top of a project, you'll feel the boost of confidence. And as your confidence grows, so will your motivation. You'll start to notice a positive feedback loop. The more you refine your system, the better it works. And the better it works, the more motivated you'll be to keep refining it. It's the opposite of a vicious circle.

And the best part is that as you grow your confidence, you'll get even better at reassessing and adjusting your system as needed. It's a process, not a destination. So let's bring it all together. Take a moment to reflect on the systems you're using right now. What's working? What's not working? How do those systems align with your values? And once you've done that, pick one small thing to experiment with this week. Maybe it's trying out a new way of tracking your tasks. Maybe it's ditching something that's not working at all. Whatever it is, give yourself permission to try, to fail, and to try again.

Remember, personalization is the key to building confidence and finding peace amidst the chaos. 

If you need a little extra support, you know where to find me. If you enjoyed this episode and want to stay in the loop on new episodes, posts, and other tidbits I share, hop on my email list or join me for weekly co-working on Mondays. Love to have you in the community. Until next time, keep experimenting, keep growing, and keep embracing your wonderfully weird self.