EPISODE 103 | Ditching Conventional Methods of Organizing for Neurodiversity
Watch Sara Skillen's interview on Human Amplified with Brandi Fleck.
Listen to Sara Skillen on Human Amplified
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About Sara Skillen’s Episode
Today we’re talking to Sara Skillen. She’s a Certified Organizer Coach®, Certified Professional Organizer®, and is the founder of SkillSet Coaching & Organizing based in Nashville, TN.
You might remember Sara from her Human Amplified blog post that came out right before season 4 started. It’s called Embracing Life Order: Past, Present, and Future. Definitely check that out as she takes you through a fun little exercise for cleaning out your junk drawer.
In today’s episode, we dive deep into how setting up your space to work for you ripples out into how your time flows. We learn a bit about how Sara found her calling in organizing in the first place, which is an interesting winding journey through music, the legal field, and then into coaching, where the need to create safe spaces for those diagnosed with ADHD became clear.
That’s where ditching conventional methods of organizing came in for Sara and she leaves us with some tangible tips for how to take the first steps in organizing your space without becoming overwhelmed.
We discuss how to facilitate action, even when it’s tricky and dealing with clearing clutter in families or groups where individuals each have their own needs.
Spirituality and intuition is a big part of who Sara is, so we end by exploring how that ties in to the structure of life order.
Side Note: Guys — this is the second to last episode of season 4. Be sure to tune in next week for the season 4 finale of the Human Amplified podcast.
Highlights from Sara Skillen’s Interview
Welcoming Sara
The ripple is real
Getting to know who Sara is and what she does
Why Sara loves life order and the benefits in our lives
What relief feels like
How Sara came into organizing - she credits her parents because she wasn’t your typical organizer in childhood
How being a musician contributed
Using organization for classroom management as a band director
The desire to perform still called
Becoming a paralegal
Recognizing organization as the through line in life
Transitioning into coaching
ADHD emerging
Ditching conventional methods of organization and time management to account for neurodiversity
The role of acceptance, patience, and safety - it’s okay to ditch the shame
Important questions to ask yourself:
How does this space work for me?
How do I want to live?
What is it about my humanity that I will support through the structures I will create?
Advice to get started
How to facilitate action
Organizing a space for a family or group
How spirituality ties into organization
Being able to sit in ambiguity
Creating safer spaces
Life order and the universe
About Sara Skillen
Sara S. Skillen, a Certified Organizer Coach® and Certified Professional Organizer®, is the founder of SkillSet Coaching & Organizing based in Nashville, TN. With a varied background in music, education, and the legal world, Sara has always been intrigued by how environments (both exterior and interior) affect work, productivity, and life. As a result, she was inspired to start her company in 2012, helping overwhelmed people from all walks of life manage their stuff, time, and tasks.
Sara’s writing has appeared in numerous publications including Unconditionally Her Magazine, "Music City Moms” blog, and her own blog “The Stuff Behind the Stuff.” She is the author of Organizing and Big Scary Goals: Working With Discomfort and Doubt to Create Real Life Order.
Sara is also a co-facilitator of the long running ADDNashville support group.
In addition to her work, she is currently pursuing a certificate in interfaith Spiritual Direction from the Haden Institute. Sara lives in Franklin, TN with her family and two extraordinarily productive and focused Labrador retrievers.
Sara’s Links
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Pin Sara’s Organization Quotes for Inspiration
CREDITS: INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC AND EPISODE EDITING BY RYAN SAULS. EPISODE PRODUCTION AND GRAPHICS BY BRANDI FLECK. SOUND EFFECTS FROM ZAPSPLAT.COM. MID-EPISODE MUSIC IS “Savour the moment” BY SHANE IVERS AT SILVERMAN SOUND STUDIOS. BIO AND PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SARA SKILLEN.
About the Host
Brandi Fleck is a storyteller. She’s a writer, artist, and a recognized communications and interviewing expert. She is also an avid student of human nature who’s overcome past trauma and is founder of Human Amplified where she helps you embrace being your true self so you can expand more fully into your own humanity without the fear of being seen and heard. Brandi hosts the top-rated Human Amplified podcast (formerly the On Being Human podcast.) READ MORE
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