The most common question I am asked by my clients is whether they are the most disorganized person I have worked with. The answer is: No – You are not the worst.

I belong to a national association, Professional Organizers in Canada and as a member of the BC Chapter, I have seen our membership grow significantly in just over three years. The acceptance of hiring a professional organizer has increased as awareness of this industry has expanded. Fueled by television shows like Clean Sweep, Mission Organization, and Neat – and dear Oprah, featuring a professional organizer on her show, everyone is beginning to understand the benefits of hiring us.

My Own ‘Stuff’

During the holiday season, I was doing some decluttering of my own. (Yes, even organizers need to keep on top of their own possessions.) It was interesting, when faced with my own ‘stuff,’ how I found myself hesitating:

• What if…
• But it’s barely been used…

When faced with your own possessions, you battle your emotions. For the most part, it is the emotional attachment to your possessions and processes that you will find hard to deal with.

Some Other Examples

I have a client, who was in a major car accident almost three years ago. She has not yet come to terms with the reality that she may have lost her career. Within that same year, ten people from her life had passed on. She was afraid to lose any more! A completely understandable reaction! However, to cope, she resorted to holding onto everything (expired flyers, outdated & ill-fitting clothes). Along with shopping therapy, she created a physical barrier that protected her from her emotional chaos.

There was this 60-year-old gentleman whose wife of 30 years had passed on. He had not touched anything that belonged to her in the 4 years since her passing. He had too much emotional connection to her things to be able to deal with decluttering on his own.

These situations are not isolated to individuals in residential spaces.

Even in the workplace, I assisted a business executive who was overwhelmed by information and resources. His collection of information had overtaken the surfaces of his desk, the credenza, and the floor. His piles were over a foot high. He was surrounded by file boxes. The boxes seemed to grow feet and were spilling out of his office and along the walls of the hallway leading to his office. Everyone knew which office was his — just follow the boxes.

One does not need to experience a life-changing situation before finding themselves in a muddle. Seemingly overnight, piles of order can become piles of chaos. One day you just ‘wake up’ and can no longer stand the clutter and lack of efficiency.

Here are some thoughts to keep you focused, as you tackle your piles:

1. Think big categories when sorting (personal, professional, active, reference, archival) and fine-tune later.
2. Create boundaries designating clear workspace, identifying shelving areas for reference material, and removing archival information.
3. Work 15 minutes at a time to make Keep/Toss decisions. See my previous tips on Procrastination.
4. Remember that letting go helps to make room for achieving greater success.
5. Keeping on top of clutter is a skill that must be learned and practiced.

Having a Professional Organizer at your side, means you are not alone in your quest for order and that ultimate system. Call Out of Chaos. We can help you declutter and organize. Connect with us through our website and remember, you are not the worst!