When we're not good at something, we can either get someone else to do it, or learn to do it better. But even if we've tricked ourselves out with fantastically productive habits, we often go back to the bad old ways when we're overwhelmed or stressed out. One solution, the author says, is to manage stress better so that doesn't happen.
Here are some other options: develop some tricks to make your default methods work a little better, an emergency kit of sorts. Like your spare tire, they won't allow you to drive across the country, but you'll be able to make it through the week.
A similar idea is to have a "lite" version of your chosen organizing system. Choose 3 or 4 things you can do even when things get out of control. Write them down so you can refer to that short to do list when necessary.
A corollary is to choose what you will not do during those hectic times. Decide that you'll delete all but the most important emails, for example. Don't save them till later; we're talking about the kind that will be old news by the time you can get to them.
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