Mastering Research Organization for Doctoral Studies

Happy Monday! Anna had this great idea for this summer on the podcast; the idea was to address questions from the Organize 365® community. I asked Anna if she thought we’d get any responses? We did. We got 70 questions in the first 24 hours. So, today we’re getting personal answering questions about my family and how I navigate incorporating my business.  

Family Involvment

The question was asked about what I do when my family members don’t want to participate in organization. I reiterated many times in this episode that I think my view point now is because of my lived experience up to age 53, that I am now. As women, our roles change a lot depending on the phase of life our family is at. I am out of active parenting years, made it through menopause, and just feel less emotional more matter of fact. 

In the brain, schemas are organized patterns of knowledge, or mental frameworks, used to interpret and understand the world. It’s like a repeated skill that you have mastered. So if you always make the kids lunches, organize the schedule for the family, and get the groceries, you likely have schemas for those tasks. But then you ask your husband (or kids) to step in and he doesn’t do it as well as you. He doesn’t have the years of schemas built up that you do. You’re asking the rookie to do, without training, what the World Series player normally does.

What you focus on is what grows. Focus on what your family does right. I mentioned on a side note that being an entrepreneur has afforded me luxuries that Greg doesn’t have and that makes him a little jealous. You never know the root of the negativity you get from your family. But I know my boundaries and goals and what it will take to accomplish them. And stop doing so much. Allow your family to assume some tasks like those teenage kids. Let them form schemas. OR I just focus on my areas and what I can do. I have accepted that I am only in control of myself. 

What I contribute to my organizational success 

There are 4 things that I can see I incorporated into my systems. Mind you first they were just systems for myself and my clients. From the Franklin Covey Planners I gained the idea of beginning with the end in mind. I liked how the Slob Sisters, who wrote Side Tracked Home Executive, had you write everything down on note cards and then there was a rotation system to keep you on track. Fly Lady had the control journal that I loved. But at the end of the day it was too many tasks eating up my day. I then decided what was the minimum I could get away with doing each day based on what could wait. And lastly, Getting Things Done by David Allen. It was good for executives but I needed something for parenting and a household manager. 

And for my PhDers out there, I explained all about my organization of papers for my school work and now the dissertation.

With all of the things I do, naturally someone asked about me taking down time and getting sick. I have always been a naturally energetic person. I love to be busy with my hands. Down time for me is doing a puzzle while watching tv with Greg. I can’t even relax at the beach! And as far as getting sick. Most times, you won’t know I‘m sick till I’m back in the saddle. I deny the possibility as long as I can. But I always have peace of mind if I do get sick because I try to be a week or two ahead, in work, to prevent the cascade of everyone else completing their work. Like I’ve said before “I’m where work comes from.” Always in that ready state of preparedness. And you get to choose how you respond to situations. Your attitude is a choice.

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