After hearing my fair share of excuses as to why many people decide to live with disorganized digital messes, I’m writing this post to get you thinking. If I asked you why your photos are still disorganized, what would your response be? Are you actually taking action, or are you just making excuses? Let’s get real.
Ok, Let’s Get Serious for a Minute. What’s the REAL Reason Your Photos are Disorganized?
As you can imagine, I hear all kinds of excuses in my line of work (I’m a Pro Organizer, if ya didn’t know!) as to why people haven’t gotten organized yet, and it’s always fascinating to dig deep and really try to understand what prompts people to hide behind words. Some reasons are valid, but some are just myths that people believe for various reasons, so I’m here to dispel all the rumors once and for all. Let’s break though all the “I can’t”s and get to work!
The most common excuses I hear are:
- “It’ll take forever…I’m not sure I have the time.”
- “I’m just not very tech-savvy…”
- “It’s going to cost me too much money.”
- “There’s just too much else going on right now.”
- “I don’t know where to start.”
What if I told you I have a solution to all of the above? Hold that thought.
Before I let you in on it, let’s examine these common phrases a little closer, so we really can get to the truth of the matter:
Problem #1: “Organizing will take too much time”
Translation: “I don’t know if I can / want to make room for it in my schedule.”
This is probably the most common excuse I hear, and it’s a classic survival technique. The “I don’t have time for that” excuses are valid in many areas of our lives. After all, there’s only 24 hours in a day, and we have to cut out what’s not important to be able to focus. However, organizing isn’t the part to cut out.
If time is the reason you’re not getting organized, you’re not doing yourself any favors. In the long run, being organized will actually save you time. A lot of time. Not to mention frustration. If you’re organized, you won’t spend any time searching for your photos. You won’t have to worry that they might be lost one day. You won’t feel guilty about not finishing that photo book. If you feel like there’s not enough hours in the day, or that Father Time has some sort of personal vendetta against you, it’s even more imperative that you get organized. Really. It doesn’t have to take a long time. All it takes is a few minutes a day.
Problem #2: “I’m just not very tech-savvy”
If you say “I’m just not very tech-savvy,” what you’re really saying is: “I’m scared to learn something new.”
For some people, the fear of technology is real. I get it. Many of my clients didn’t grow up around technology, and so there’s a barrier that has to be overcome. But the mountain may not be as tall as you think. Recently, I had a client who was once scared of turning on her computer (for the fear of breaking it) tell me that she just started paying her bills online. Breakthrough! Turns out, it wasn’t so difficult after all. If the little voices in your head are telling you that you won’t understand, stop listening! This is an imaginary problem! Give yourself some credit, will ya! You can do it. And what’s more, you don’t need to know everything. You just need to know enough.
Here’s a reality check! You don’t need a fancy software to stay organized. You can organize directly in your operating system with the tools you already have available. If you’re reading this, you’re already as tech-savvy as you need to be to get yourself organized. Sure, there’s always more to learn, but there are simple ways to organize your photos that don’t involve the latest software or a subscription to Lightroom. If you know the basic functions of your computer, you can organize your photos. Period.
Problem #3: “It’s going to cost me too much money”
Translation: “I don’t want to start a snowball of expenses.”
This is a completely understandable fear because we all have limits in out budgets that we need to acknowledge. “Will there be hidden costs? Can I afford it? I hope I won’t dig myself into a hole!” are all fears I’ve heard from prospective clients. Starting an organizing project can seem scary if you’re not familiar with the process because you don’t know what to expect, both in terms of cost and effort. It’s also tricky because every single person in the world has a different perception of money. Some people think $1 is a lot; some people think it’s a little.
Here’s how I see it:
Organizing your photos is an investment, not an expense. It’s an investment in your own life, in your parents’ lives, in your ancestors’ lives, in your children’s lives, and in your future descendants’ lives.
You can tweet that.
Hypothetically, if your house burnt down and you lost all your photos, what would you pay to get them back? Put a dollar amount on it. Only then can you decide if it’s a lot or a little. Remember this though: Organization is not about what you buy, it’s about what you do. Being organized is a habit, and so is being disorganized. You don’t need to spend a lot of money. Sure, you can, but it’s not a requirement.
I’m a Perfect Pinnable!
Problem #4: “There’s Just Too Much Else Going On Right Now”
Translation: “This isn’t a priority.”
Prioritizing correctly isn’t easy, and it doesn’t come naturally to everyone, which is why the field of professional organizing really exists today. Getting organized is really about prioritizing what’s most important to you. Have I always prioritized well? Absolutely not. It’s something you have to learn. But here’s the thing: You can’t afford to stay disorganized when it comes to your memories because you can’t afford to lose them, and that’s what will eventually happen if you don’t get on this asap.
No one ever thinks anything bad will happen to them. Right? Yet, everyday, bad things happen to good people. That’s why we have a gazillion-dollar insurance industry. But what insurance covers your memories? None, as you’ll find out. There’s no one out there who can insure your memories, so you have to do it yourself. Caring for your photo collection is the simplest, easiest, and best way to do that. I know you know this, so what’s stopping you from organizing your photos? What will it take for them to become a priority for you? Don’t make the mistake of waiting. Get them organized while you have the chance.
Problem #5: “I don’t know where to start”
Translation: “I probably should know, and I’m embarrassed to admit that I don’t”
Good news. Organizing is a skill, not a born-with-it talent. I learnt and so can you! This is an excuse I’m all too familiar with myself because I have an obsessive need to be great at everything I do. I hate feeling stupid. I hate not knowing what to do. In the past, I ignored what I wasn’t good at, hoping that it would go away, but I’ve since learned to catch that behavior and stop myself from doing that. If you are wiling to admit to yourself that you’re not sure what to do next, you’ll find that there is a whole new world of opportunities that open up. There’s no shame in starting from scratch. We’ve all been there at some point.
A good way to fix this problem is to get a coach. Ever see a pro tennis player who didn’t have a coach? What about a pro fotballer? Nope, most pros have coaches because that’s how they become pros in the first place. I’ve had plenty of coaches in my life, and if you’ll let me, I’d love to be yours. I didn’t always know exactly what to do, but I learnt, and so can you. You just need a strategy.
Ready for the Solution?
If you have any of these fears, and feel like you can’t do it, keep reading… because your solution has arrived. This month I’m introducing DPO PRO: The Ultimate Digital Photo Organizing Masterclass!
If you’re guilty of making any of the above excuses, this course is perfect for you! It’s a step-by-step program designed to get your digital photo mess untangled in 30 days or less. I have spent the past year developing this course, so that you don’t have to experiment with your memories. I’ve decided to offer it on demand, so you can work at your own pace, but you have access to a community so that you’re not alone. It’s a complete system that’s easy on your wallet, but holds you hand throughout the entire process, and shows you exactly what to do next. It will save you your time, and sanity.
What’s Included?
- Video lesson taking your through the entire photo organizing process
- Bonus tech training, just in case you’re not sure about the basics
- A full workbook to help you stay organized during the process
- A Private community where you can get your questions answered
As technology changes, I will keep updating this course, so that you’ll always have access to the latest information. All future updates are included at no additional cost.
How’s that for a deal?
No More Excuses
I challenge you to stop making excuses right now, and start taking action!
- Think getting your photos organized will take too much time? Most of the videos in this course are less than 5 minutes long, mobile-friendly, and designed to help you take control of your digital chaos fast. Check.
- Think you’re not tech-savvy enough? The whole course is based on the concept of native organizing, meaning no software skills are necessary. Video tutorials included. Check.
- Think it’s going to cost you too much? Nope, just one payment for full access, including all future updates. There’s even a payment plan to make it even more affordable. Check.
- Really have too much going on right now? Lifetime access is yours, and you work at your own pace. It doesn’t expire, so if you can’t start right away, no problem. Check.
- Don’t know where to start? You don’t have to know. I’ll be your personal coach, and all you have to do is follow directions. Whenever you need help, I got you. Check.
No more excuses. Click the graphic below, or visit DPOPRO.co to get started!
