The 5 Stages of Change: Your Key to Unlocking Success In Organizing & Beyond

The Story

Have you every wondered why you are not making progress with your organizing goals or other goals in your life? I used to think about this all the time as it related to my clients.

Working with a client, sometimes we make great progress, other times...not so much. During times of stagnancy, I found myself confused and discouraged because I couldn't pinpoint what was standing in my client's way. After all, this person had reached out to me for help and I had the tools to get them there. So what was the problem?

Then one day, I was introduced to the 5 stages of change and I knew this was the answer. Understanding these stages is the key to understanding our process toward changing our behavior so we can reach our goals.

The 5 Stages of Change

The 5 Stages of Change Model was developed by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente  in 1983 and has been used as a framework to act in order to change a behavior. The 5 stages are:

Precontemplation: Not yet acknowledging that there is a problem behavior that needs to be changed

Precontemplation is the "pre work" happening in our brain before we even understand what we want. If you try to convince someone to change at this stage, they will most likely defend their current behavior. Sometimes, I will receive a call from a concerned family member asking me to help their loved one with clutter. I respond that I am happy to reach out but, ultimately, the person needs to want that help in order to make progress. We all have thoughts that need to marinate until we are ready to make sense of them. We can't take action on ideas that we are not yet ready to acknowledge.

Contemplation: Acknowledging that there is a problem but not yet ready, wavering

Contemplation is the stage when I first hear directly from a client. In a previous post, I mentioned that sometimes I speak with people who reach out to me and say they would like to declutter but, In the end, they decide they are not ready. During contemplation we are grappling with information and emotions and the outcome of this stage will decide whether or not we move forward to the next stage.

Preparation/Determination: Getting ready to change

When a client reaches out to me during the Preparation phase, his or her convictions are strong and goals are clear. I hear sentences such as "My clutter is preventing me from being functional and I want to do something about that." In this stage, we are gathering more research, which serves to ground our thinking and makes it more likely that we will jump into the next phase.

Action/Willpower: Changing behavior

This stage is where most of the external visible work happens. Ironically, it is the shortest phase. This means that most of our work is invisible and internal. But it all comes together during the action phase where we can be seen working toward our goal. This stage is where I am having sessions with my clients and providing accountability and strategies to help them move forward. All is good (usually... more on that shortly)

Maintenance: Maintaining the behavior

This final stage involves keeping on track after achieving your goals. In maintenance, we have periodic check-ins with ourselves reminding us why we have have changed. To maintain a decluttered space, I provide my client with strategies that will help them create routines. Hopefully, these habits can carry them through in times of struggle. We also talk about how to reset, so when a space or system falls apart, they can recover.

Obstacles To Progress - The 5 Stages of Change in Play

Once I had a familiarity with the 5 Stages of Change, I was able to pinpoint why I wasn't seeing progress with some of my clients. Maybe some of these situations will resonate with you and why you haven't seen the results that you would like.

Scenario #1: The Preparation Phase is Cut Short

In this scenario, my client has conducted enough research to hire me but is still missing a strong foundation for change. So when we start working together, they are not motivated to do the work. Going over client values or even having clients take some time to reevaluate their priorities has proven helpful in this stage.

Scenario #2: Help with Willpower & Discipline

In this case, my client has done the prep work but needs more support with willpower. Hiring an organizer can help, but additional support from family and friends, along with building good habits, is essential. Those with executive functioning issues might need more time establishing and practicing new routines.

Scenario #3: Relapse

In this last iteration, my client will be making the most strides and then suddenly have a setback. Here, I have found that the best move is to evaluate their coping strategies while making sure they show themselves plenty of grace and self-compassion. I try to model this compassion for them. If they can get past this phase, they can reset and often rebuild, creating an even better, more organized and productive life.

In Conclusion

Understanding the 5 Stages of Change has been transformative in understanding myself and my clients. It has shifted the way I approach organizing and helping others, giving me the insight needed to identify where each person is in their journey and how best to support them. Most importantly, understanding that most change occurs internally allows me to give myself and my clients the space to do the invisible work. Whether you are struggling to start, feeling stuck, or facing setbacks, recognizing where you are in the process can be the key to unlocking progress.

Have you experienced a stall or setback with your own or with your client's progress? Does this fit into the framework of the 5 Stages of Change? Send me a comment and share!