Get It Together, Weirdo

Customized Solutions: How to Tailor Your Approach to Getting Your Shit Together

• Sarah Bowser, That Weird Nerdy Mom • Episode 22

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Do you ever feel like you’re forcing yourself to follow a system that just doesn’t work for your brain? Have you ever blamed yourself for not being able to stick to some planner or productivity method that everyone else swore by? 

What if the problem isn’t you—but the system? 

On this episode of Get It Together, Weirdo, host and coach Sarah Bowser shares why it’s so important to find what works for your brain when the system doesn’t fit. She covers why cookie-cutter routines often fail us, how to experiment without judgment, and what to do when everything feels like it’s falling apart. If you’re ready to stop forcing yourself to “fit the mold” and start organizing your life in a way that actually feels good for your wonderfully weird self, this episode is for 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: 

  • Why some popular productivity systems just don’t work for certain brains 
  • How to spot your personal patterns and triggers in moments where it feels like everything is blowing up 
  • What it means to experiment with different techniques without pressure 
  • When to shift focus from “doing it perfectly” to “doing what works for me” 
  • How your physical environment influences your ability to get your shit together 
  • Why embracing your weird, nerdy strengths is the key to sustainable organization 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Pomodoro timer technique 

Noteworthy quotes from this episode:  

“Sometimes our brains just don’t work the way those systems are designed to, and that’s okay. It’s not about us failing. It’s about the system not fitting.” 

“What are the top three things that define your personality or strengths? Take those traits and think about how you can use them to help you get your shit together.” 

“We've all had those moments where it feels like everything is blowing up. Those don't come out of nowhere. Patterns, triggers or situations set them off.” 

“Stay curious and flexible. This isn't about finding a perfect forever solution. It's about gathering data to figure out what feels good and what doesn't.” 

“There's no one-size-fits-all solution, and that's a good thing. It means you get to create something uniquely yours.”

Join the Get It Together, Weirdo community

Welcome to Get It Together, Weirdo, the podcast where we dive into ways to help you figure out how you can tackle your to-dos, keep track of your side quests, and manage your time in a way that works for your brain so you can focus on nerding out on the things that make you do a happy dance. I'm Sarah Bowser, your get your shit together coach and resident weirdo here to guide you on your journey. So let's get it together, weirdo.

Hey there, my wonderfully weird friend. Welcome back to Get It Together, Weirdo, where we embrace our quirks, toss out the cookie-cutter nonsense, and figure out how to make life work on our terms. Today is all about trying to force a system to work for us when it just doesn't compute with our brains. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, our brains will just shut down. If we're pushing ourselves to make something work that simply doesn't make sense for us, we might as well be hitting a brick wall. And yeah, I've been there.

So today we're going to dive into embracing your individuality, understanding your unique quirks, and experimenting with techniques to find what actually works for you. I used to put myself down constantly when I couldn't get a system to work for me. I would tell myself that I was a failure, that I wasn't trying hard enough. And I'm sure you've been there too, beating yourself up because you couldn't make a planner work or follow a specific routine everyone else seemed to swear by.

I'd think, I'm not doing all of the steps or I'm not doing them perfectly. So of course, this isn't working. I assumed it was all my fault, but here's what I've learned, and it took me a while to get here. Sometimes our brains just don't work the way those systems are designed to. And that's okay. It's not about us failing, it's about the system not fitting. If something doesn't resonate with you, your brain isn't going to magically make it happen. And that's not a flaw, it's just who you are.

So let's start by embracing individuality. One size does not fit all when it comes to managing your day-to-day life. Think about it for just a minute here. What makes you, you? If I were to ask your closest friends or family what are the top three things they'd say define your personality or strengths. Maybe you're super creative or maybe you're the go-to person for solving problems. Perhaps you're empathetic or detail-oriented. Now take those traits and think about how you can use them to help you get your shit together.

For example, if you're creative, maybe you'd thrive with a visual system like mind mapping or color-coded lists. If you're empathetic, you might benefit from working alongside someone else for accountability or support. The key is to start with who you are, not who you think you're supposed to be, and build from there.

Next, let's talk about identifying what triggers things to go berserk for you. We've all had those moments where it feels like everything is blowing up at once. Work, home, relationships, you name it. Those moments don't just come out of nowhere. There are usually patterns, triggers, or situations that set them off. Think back to the last two or three times you felt like everything just went to shit. What happened? Try mapping each situation out like a timeline and work backward. What was the situation that kicked everything off the ledge? Maybe it was taking on too many commitments at once. Maybe it was trying to meet an impossible deadline. Once you start spotting patterns, you can figure out how to address those triggers before they spiral out of control.

It's not about blaming yourself. It's about understanding what's happening so you can take back some control. Now comes the fun part: experimenting with different techniques. When it comes to getting your shit together, there's no right or wrong strategy. It's all about finding what resonates with your brain. Maybe you've tried time-blocking, digital planners, or a fancy notebook that you never touched again after week one. That's okay. The goal here is to experiment without judgment.Here's how you want to get started. Develop a hypothesis. What do you want to test? Maybe you think a simple checklist might help you feel less overwhelmed. Or perhaps you're curious about trying a Pomodoro timer. Then implement the experiment. Test out your idea for a set amount of time, maybe a week or two. Then reflect. Take some time to note what worked and what didn't. Did it help you feel more organized? Less stressed? Or did it just add to the chaos? The key is to stay curious and flexible.

This isn't about finding a perfect forever solution. It's about gathering data to figure out what feels good and what doesn't. As you experiment, it's crucial to set realistic expectations. Don't go in expecting to overhaul your entire life in a week. That's just setting yourself up for overwhelm. Instead, focus on bite-sized chunks. Pick one thing to try with one clear goal. Maybe it's testing out a new way to organize your to-do list or trying a 10-minute mindfulness practice. Keep it simple. Don't pressure yourself to be perfect.

And while we're at it, let's talk about your environment. Because sometimes adjusting your surroundings can make a huge difference in how you feel and how well your experiments go. Maybe you need to clear some clutter. Set up a cozy corner for focus time, or even just step outside for a brain break. Let yourself feel your feelings about how things are going and don't be afraid to make changes as you go.

Remember, this process is about you. It's about finding what works for your brain, your life, and your goals. There's no one-size-fits-all solution. And that's a good thing. It means you get to create something uniquely yours. So take some time this week to reflect, experiment, and see what sticks. 

Thanks so much for listening today. You can find complete show notes, links to resources mentioned, as well as a link to our co-working community on our website at thatweirdnerdymom.com. Be sure to leave a rating or review and check me out on Instagram at that_weirdnerdymom. Feel free to shoot me a DM. I'd love to hear from you. Until next time, my wonderful weirdo, you've got this. Bring out your weird.