ARE YOU A HOPPER? Learn Your Organizing Style Series Time #1

Do you often jump from task to task to task without completing anything? If so, you’re a Hopper.

Hopping is the most common organizing style. Hoppers switch from one task to another – like playing in a leapfrog game. In the age of digital and video everything, people’s attention spans have become shorter.

Want to be sure? Take this Quiz:

As you answer Never (N), Occasionally (O) or Frequently (F), rate yourself according to the following scale.

Never 0 points              Occasionally 1 point                 Frequently 2 points___N__O_  F   

1-      Do you enjoy having many irons in the fire?                                                   

2-      Do you mind working on several tasks simultaneously?

3-      Do you interrupt what you’re working on to do something you just remembered?

4-      Do you leave tasks unfinished?

5-      Do you find yourself moving in fits and starts?

6-      Do you have trouble remembering where you replaced items?

7-      Are you easily distracted?

8-      Do people complain that they can’t follow your train of thought?

9-      Do you tend to run around faster when you feel confused or anxious about your work?

10-   Do you ever start to work in one room and wind up in another without knowing how you got there?

                          TOTALS

0-6 points           You’re not really a Hopper.

7-13 points         You have strong Hopper tendencies.

14-20 points       You’re a full-fledged Hopper.

WHY YOU HOP:

1-      You’re easily distracted.

2-      You enjoy variety and a change of pace.

3-      You desire immediate gratification.

4-      You like to feel busy.

WHEN YOU HOP: (even if you’re not a Hopper)

1-      You’re bored.

2-      You’re frustrated.

3-      You’re anxious.

4-      You accept too many unnecessary interruptions.

Planning your next steps and knowing where you’re going to land is what separates the successful Hopper from the unsuccessful ones. Hopping works well only when you’re comfortable and in control.

Now I have offered you a basic outline of this organizing style but if it resonates with you and you want to learn strategies and ways to make this organizing tendency to work for you can find it all in the book:

HOW TO BE ORGANIZED IN SPITE OF YOURSELF   

We all fit into at least one (if not more) category, and I would love to hear your thoughts as you read through the series.