Februrary 2007
New Homeowner Magazine
The Cure for the Common Mess!
by Judi E. Loomis
It's a new year, with the first month already tucked safely behind us, and there are still promises and resolutions made for 2007 that have never come to fruition. For many, some of those promises were to get organized - clean-up, toss out, and give-away. But, that takes energy, and for most it's an effort that can easily be put off. But there is a cure for the common mess.
According to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) January was officially "Get Organized Month", raising awareness of the benefits of the organization and hiring a professional organizer.
In many cases the first step to getting organized is realizing that you may need the help of someone who does this for a living - a pro that can get you started in the right direction.
Emily Fitzgerald is the owner of Organized Living Solutions, a Fort Wayne business specializing in getting offices and households organized. Fitzgerald has been a member of the NAPO for several years. She has been in and out of all types of disorganization and through the benefits of her training and innate abilities she has successfully turned chaos into rooms and offices that make sense. According to Fitzgerald the first step toward getting organized is recognizing the fact that you can not do it alone.
"For many people it's the fact that they are tired of living at a 'point of pain'", Fitzgerald says. "Basically, it would be more painful to continue doing what they are doing than to get help. If someone feels stuck, or overwhelmed, and if they have a project that they have not been able to move forward on, they would probably benefit from some help. If it is causing problems in relationships (i.e. spouse or co-worker), this is a big sign that they could use an outsider's objectivity."
One has to wonder where a professional organizer starts on a project. But, Fitzgerald seems to always have a plan of action and it begins with an assessment with each client.
"This includes a walk-through of the space(s) where we talk about what the frustration and trouble spots are," says Fitzgerald. "I also focus on finding something that is working for each client. That is important for me to understand so we know what kinds of things to try as an answer for areas that are not working so well. We then prioritize the projects based on the impact of their daily life. Once that has been defined, we tackle the sorting of objects or paper in the high priority space. I try to get them started so they can do some "homework" on their own if they have time. This keeps the process moving forward."
For many the big question isn't just where to start, it's what to save and what to toss! Fitzgerald has a method for getting homeowners started in the right direction. She also recommends that if you are going to hire a professional organizer expect to spend some significant time with them.
"With businesses I usually spend an hour or two talking with clients about the issues in their office," Fitzgerald says. "It really helps us focus our work and prioritize where to start. There are some key elements I look for in analyzing the office to see what might be causing the problems in the first place."
How long does it take to reorganize someone's home? Fitzgerald offers that it depends on a number of things including the size of the home, the amount of clutter, how motivated the client is and how much of a support system they have in place.
Equally important to getting organized is staying organized long after Fitzgerald has finished, and that takes motivation and in many cases making new habits to deal with incoming items effectively.
"Some people mistakenly think that they have to tackle the backlog to get it current," adds Fitzgerald. "It's really best if you can get a handle on incoming items and then tackle the old stuff a little at a time. Do a little at a time and stay up on it!"
For more information about Organized Living Solutions call Emily Fitzgerald at (260) 456-7703 or go to www.organizedlivingsolutions.com.