Disorganization happens and there are many reasons:
And there are probably a few more but oftentimes it stems from
These are harder to identify as somehow they help us cope with stressful things we don’t want to deal with. Working with a Professional Organizer can help you overcome some of these underlying issues. (If you don’t have it in your budget to hire a P.O., try to find a family member that can be there for you). It provides accountability, motivation, support in making decisions and completing those unfinished tasks you have been postponing forever. It gives you that necessary push to get it done and over with. One of the sentences I hear quite often is “ I know I would never do it if you weren’t here!” And that is because my presence provides them with accountability. When people hear the word Professional Organizer they either think about someone that comes and makes them go through all their belongings and discard ½ of it, or they think about perfect pantries and closets full of plastic bins and minimalistic in possessions! That is because TV and social media are portraying that picture. That picture is different in real life. Yes, I do have clients that love to have that perfect pantry or closet, and don’t get me wrong I love them too! I am a minimalist at heart and I love well coordinated spaces, but that is not everyone’s reality or wish. There are everyday people with smaller budgets and longer wish lists of things that need to be done and this is when a Professional Organizer puts on one of her other many hats and becomes a support person there to help you anyway she can. I can’t tell you the variety of things I have helped people with, for some reason people keep asking me for advice or assistance with many different things, I must look very resourceful ;-) 😅
Now these might not be tasks one might associate with a Professional Organizer but it is a daily occurrence for me. If it is something that is in the way of my client achieving some level of organization we will tackle it!! While most of the time my work focuses on bringing order to chaotic or cluttered households, usually in closets and flat surfaces which tend to accumulate clutter overtime. Once the accumulation reaches a certain level it causes overwhelm and thus the individual tends to postpone the decision to deal with it! Which is a natural reaction to something we perceive as difficult or unpleasant . Luckily for me I enjoy bringing order and clearing up messes. Closets tend to be a place where people put things and never see them again! ;-) Naturally disorganized people also have the disadvantage to think creatively rather than logically and organization is not something that comes naturally to them. These individuals tend to have lists of uncompleted tasks, piles of mail and bills, and no systems in place so they are constantly misplacing items and repurchasing them, only to misplace them again. I can’t tell you how many times I have found multiples of items within a household for this specific reason! Flashlights, scissors, razors, blow dryers, cords, I can fill bins with them. There have been times when the “goal” was to find specific items, like a missing shoe, a passport, a tax document, a pet vaccine record, even a specific shirt needed for an event!! Other times a good chunk of time is taken by completing tasks, especially when there is a deadline, like items that need to be returned or bills that need to be paid or assembling furniture and finding the right size bedding because guests are coming. Once there is a person present to keep you focused and accountable to, things get done! In conclusion, if the type of disorganization you are dealing with is just material, meaning your closets are messy, overstuffed, and you are not able to see or find things due to lack of time, or skill a PO can reset your closet to a place that is functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time, same goes for other rooms, but if the situation you are dealing with is due to inability to get things done you need the assistance of a PO that can be your push to tackle those issues, complete those tasks, keep you focused, and steps in when you can’t do it on your own! You will feel like a New lighter version of YOU! As you can see there are multiple reasons why a person, a home, a room might be disorganized oftentimes it has nothing to do with space, I have worked with roommates situations where the individual has a single room, apartments, and families with large homes, disorganization happens everywhere.
Some might deal with material reasons, too much for the space they have, sometimes it is a poorly designed space which does not provide much in storage space, but often it has to do with life and its twists and turns, someone might have to move in a hurry, might have an elderly parent to care for, have a baby. Or it might just be that life is too busy and time is lacking so the focus would be on the most important items on your list. But as I said before sometimes time is not lacking and it has nothing to do with material things, it is just a matter of accumulation, not only in belongings. An accumulation of unfinished tasks, postponed decisions, procrastination and that is a change that has to happen within the individual. I am not a psychologist so I am not familiar with all the intricacies but I have witnessed the change happening with a little support and a soft push. Even just being there and taking charge, finishing those tasks and lightening the load for the client will provide enough relief for them to want to continue and get things done, either with help or on their own. So don’t let things pile up any longer, it will just get worse, ask for help to get it done, it’s worth it. Getting Things Done!!! It is an important step in getting your life organized. Remember that soundtrack from the iconic movie Flashdance? Irene Cara was bellowing out “What a Feeling!”…..Well that is how I felt today… I got things done!!!! The previous night I made a plan, set some goals, and had a good night sleep. This sets your intentions and prepares your mind for the next day tasks. If you go to sleep without clear intentions and goals you will wake up with no path to follow and your day won’t be as productive, which in turn will make you feel unaccomplished :-( I don’t like that feeling. Like many others I have things that I dread doing or simply “don’t have the time to do “ (???) so I decided, no more procrastinating. Another little helper was my list of to-do, and I did not just make a random list, but I tried to think about the places I needed to visit and arranged my list according to my route.
Once I got home I had more tasks to take care of.
I portioned my meats so I can quickly defrost only what I need, and precut my veggies and fruits leftovers for next meal. I use the precut potatoes for breakfast hash browns, the strawberries in smoothies, and the chopped veggies for stir-fry meals. I accomplished everything that was on my list and it was not that hard, I just have to set and prepare my mind for it. And like the good old James Brown sang…. I feel Good!!! I knew that I would! Once you are able to get things OFF your to do list, and off your mind you will feel like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders. Walking around carrying with you the burden of things undone, feeling unaccomplished and frustrated is not how you want to spend your days. When you are relaxing in your home those undone and overdue items are looking at you, reminding you over and over they are waiting. Getting things done will rid you of those reminders and make you feel lighter, relaxed and happier. All you need is some planning, a little motivation and intention. Here are some tips to help you along:
In conclusion, being and staying organized requires multiple steps, routines, habits and good planning helps you to maintain that organization you worked so hard to achieve, it is not hard and definitely doable, set your intensions and go!
|
AuthorHello, my name is Vicky and I am a Professional Organizer in NYC. I am passionate about anything related to organizing and most of all I fully believe in the benefits of it. Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|