Episode 37: Small Changes, Better Systems

System Saturday

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to Episode 37 of ADHD Life in Real Time.

Today is System Saturday, and I wanted to give you an update on something I shared back in Episode 23 called "Observation Comes Before Organization."

In that episode, I talked about using my OASIS framework when I first started delivering packages.

At that point, I was still experimenting with what worked. I had the first version of my system, but I was learning as I went.

To make sure everyone knows what OASIS stands for, here's a quick explanation.

OASIS stands for:

• O – Observe
• A – Acknowledge
• S – Simplify
• I – Identify
• S – Sustain

It's a framework I use whenever something feels like it takes too long, has too many steps, or just feels like more work than it needs to be.

When I first started delivering packages, it took me about an hour to scan, label, sort, and load everything into my car.

I had a system, and it worked, but it was only my first version.

O – Observe

The first step is to observe.

Instead of asking myself, "How can I make it faster?" I asked myself,

"What is actually happening?"

As I paid attention, I started noticing little things.

For my smaller packages, I was walking around my car at almost every stop.

I had to open the trunk, grab the package, close the trunk, and then deliver it.

My larger packages still had to stay in the back, but I realized I didn't need to do that for the smaller packages.

Then one day, my phone got so hot that it stopped working.

And every time I got back into my car, I had to plug in my phone before CarPlay would connect.

I also noticed that at the end of every route, after I finished all of my deliveries, I was taking time to fold every empty tote.

None of those things seemed like a big deal by themselves.

But when you do them over and over throughout the day, they really add up—especially when you have 80 packages.

A – Acknowledge

The next step is to acknowledge.

I had to admit that my system wasn't bad.

It got the job done.

But it also had room to grow.

There were a few parts of my routine that were taking extra time and extra energy.

S – Simplify

So I started making one small change at a time.

Instead of keeping all of my smaller packages in the back of the car, I now move the next group of ten onto my passenger seat.

That way, when I pull up to a stop, I can grab the package right beside me instead of walking around the car every time.

My larger packages still stay in the back, but this one change made a big difference.

At the end of my route, instead of folding every empty tote, I simply stack them inside each other.

Then they're already together, and it saves me time.

I also added a hand cart that stays in my car.

I don't use it every day, but when I have larger packages or several deliveries at one stop, it's already there.

After my phone overheated, I bought a magnetic charger with a cooling fan.

I also keep a battery pack in my safety vest, so my phone stays charged all day.

Then I added wireless CarPlay, so my phone connects automatically instead of plugging it in every time I get back into the car.

And I even added magnetic delivery signs to my car.

That doesn't save me time, but it helps people know why I'm parked in front of their house, and it makes me feel safer.

None of those changes were huge.

Each one simply made one part of the job a little easier.

I – Identify

The next step is to identify what actually worked.

Some changes made a bigger difference than others.

Moving my next group of packages to the passenger seat saved me a lot of extra walking.

Stacking the totes instead of folding them saved time at the end of my route.

The cooling charger solved my phone problem.

Installing the wireless CarPlay adapter meant I no longer had to keep plugging and unplugging my phone.

And all of those little changes started adding up.

When I looked at the whole process, I realized my loading time had gone from about an hour to around 30 minutes.

Not because of one big change.

Because of a lot of little changes.

S – Sustain

The last step is sustain.

For me, sustain does not mean the system never changes.

It means I keep using it long enough to learn from it.

The more I use the system, the more I learn about it.

And the more I learn, the easier I can make it.

That's why I keep coming back to OASIS.

No matter if I'm organizing my home, creating a morning routine, learning a new job, or improving my delivery system, I can use these five steps over and over again.

I observe.

I acknowledge.

I simplify.

I identify.

And then I sustain what works while continuing to learn.

That's the beauty of OASIS.

It's not something you use once and then you're done.

It's something you can come back to anytime something feels like it takes too long or feels like more work than it needs to be.

This Week's Reflection

So this week, I want to leave you with one question:

What is one system in your life that could be just a little easier?

You don't have to start over.

You don't have to make a huge change.

Just observe what's happening.

Make one small change.

And see what you learn.

Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

Closing

Thank you for spending a little bit of your day with me.

Until next time, I will see you for Sanctuary Sunday.

Until then, I hope today's story helps you create a little more clarity, feel a little more calm, and have a little more confidence. 💜💚