This week, I was a guest speaker at Bob Fioretti's coaching seminars in Napa. I spoke to some incredibly talented leaders in our community on the value of being organized and shared my experience, focusing on the different ways people get organized. One man asked me if organizing is a luxury. A very interesting question, which I answered by saying, "Actually, I think it is more of a necessity than a luxury." But his question got me thinking about my profession in a new light.

I believe that at some time in our past, organizing was a luxury for people who had money, time and help in assisting them in making their lives better. Now however, this just isn't the case. Today, organizing is an absolute necessity, an essential component to maintaining a certain quality of life. Some of my clients have incredible support staffs in their homes, but are just as disorganized as anyone else -- they have more stuff, more space and less time.

Compare organizing to working out. We all know that exercise is good for us and we feel better once we have done it, but it's so hard to get started and to do it consistently. It seems that life gets in the way and we have less time to schedule it. We all know that organizing is good for us, but so few of us live in an organized way. Why?

First, I think what we have misguided notions of what organizing is, stemming from the kitchens on TV to covers of magazines. They denote unattainable perfection. We mere mortals are overwhelmed, not inspired, by how the rest of the world perceives organizing. For many women this is like looking at fashion magazines. We feel "less than" as we reach for another cookie. So, don't look at others and wish you were more like them; look within yourself to find the answers because the answers are in you, not in a magazine.

Second, we need to get organized, but the real key is getting organized in a way that works for us, and is easy for us to maintain. Tell yourself, "Yes, organizing is important and would greatly enhance the quality of my life." Then you can figure out what resources you need to get it done, what issues really bother you and what strategies you need to take. We all need to be better organized -- me included. But if we strategize and set up systems to make life a little easier, we can triumph. We'll feel self-assured and relaxed at how organized we've become.

Last, organizing must be a priority. It must be on the same level as taking care of your body, mind and spirit. If we truly valued it, we would do it, but we don't. We know that once we organize our office we feel so much better, happier and more relaxed. Once you get into the practice of organizing, a rhythm that is set in place, it will be easier over time and have a sense of mastery over your surroundings.

I wish organizing was a luxury, as that would let most of us off the hook. However, that is not the case. Any organizing systems that you put into place could make a difference. You will no longer waste time looking for things or become frustrated at your lack of structure. Creating systems that support you will allow you to have the quality of life that you deserve.

Lanna Nakone has been teaching people how to gain mastery over their physical environment since 1998. She is the author of "Organizing for Your Brain Type" and the soon to be released book, "Every Child Has a Thinking Style." She can be reached at www.organizedworld.com or (707) 524-9896.