"GO" Get Organized

One of the top ten New Year's Resolutions, according to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), is to become more organized. This has prompted NAPO to declare January as the official “Get Organized (GO)” month. For many, just the thought of organizing brings on feelings of shame and failure, making it paralyzing to get the difficult task done. If you are feeling disorganized, you are not alone. According to a poll of 400 adults, 65% of respondents noted that their households were at least moderately disorganized.

Remove guilt and shame. So, Love yourself for who you are. There are long lists of reasons why homes seem to fall apart at the seams, and many times you are not to blame. Here are just a few I have observed from helping my clients over the years:

1. Grief - after losing a loved one, people often become numb and lack energy. This makes it difficult to stay organized. Sometimes it is hard to face certain rooms or items which bring back the memory of the deceased. This often creates avoidance of the issue.

2. Life Crisis - often results in depression which can cause fatigue, loss of energy and lack of focus. Once you get behind on your clutter during the crisis, it is hard to get back on track.

3. Physical Disability – cannot get the work done physically, such as reaching high places and carrying heavy bags...so many procrastinate. Some are in denial thinking that later they will be able to do it alone rather than asking for help.

4. Creative Personalities – collect a lot of “stuff” in hopes that they can possibly use it later.

5. Detailed Personalities - are paralyzed by the small details to the point where they cannot move forward.

6. Overly committed – have too many passions and dreams with no time for organizing.

7. Distractions – make it difficult to find quiet time to think about what needs to be done.

Focus on the benefits. Now, let us focus on the positive reasons for getting organized. Think about how you will benefit from a de-cluttered home which will hopefully motivate you to “GO”.

- Improve your memory and ability to find things.
- Reduce stress.
- Gain control.
- Admire a beautiful room.
- Allow more time to do the things in life that you enjoy.

Real Simple Magazine took a survey in 2003 that revealed women spend 55.2 minutes per day looking for lost or misplaced items. Just think if you cut that time in half, you would have 27.6 extra minutes a day to do what you want, “reclaiming” 14 days each year. It this is not enough motivation, the American Cleaning Institute says that getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40% of the housework.

Mark your calendar. The first step to getting started is making a date and marking your calendar when to begin work. It could be helpful to go ahead and pencil in several
dates in advance to keep you motivated. Choose a time of day when you have your best energy. Only block off 3-4 hours, or a time frame that is comfortable for you.
Get started For many, it is best to start on the easiest project first so you will feel a
sense of accomplishment when completed. You’re ready now, just GO, GO,
GO!

Need help? Refer to the NAPO website and find a Professional Organizer located in your area. They will work with you one on one to support you both physically and emotionally. These professionals have the training and experience to guide you through the completion of your project.