Is that really the question? It is probably uncommon for a Professional Organizer to even ask such a question, but….. I am (kind of). Don’t get me wrong, I could spend countless hours reciting a long list of reasons why it is beneficial to live an organized lifestyle. However, if a person is not in the right frame of mind to do so, no matter what you do to try to help that person get organized, they are likely not going to be successful in staying organized. It is similar to any other life transition that a person may need to make, whether it be the need to lose weight, kick an addiction, etc. The first step is admitting there is an issue to be addressed. The next, and equally as important, step is a readiness/willingness to address the issue. Once that commitment is present, success is more likely. And often, all it takes is a baby step to get you started.
Let’s use my house as an example. First, allow me to give you a little background…. In my house, I maintain organization of “my” things as well as all things within the “common areas”. There are some areas of the house, however, that I do not maintain. A few of those areas include my husband’s coat closet, “his” belongings within the portion of the basement that is used for storage, and the garage. Are those areas disorganized? They could be worse. Could they be organized differently to better foster the ability to quickly and easily find things when they are needed? Keep reading….
Now, for the example….. One cold, snowy winter day, my husband decided to go cross country skiing for a couple of hours, while I worked on a project at home. When he returned from skiing, he noticed that I was still in the same area of the house in which he had left me when he went skiing. As he entered the room, he said “Honey, I’m frustrated.” I asked “What about?”. He said, “I have three winter face masks and I cannot find any of them. I figured it would be best to let you know this now, before you go downstairs.” I smiled and asked “And if I go downstairs, will I see evidence of your search for these face masks?” He responded in defeat “Yes”. OK…. Now I was curious. I walked downstairs and what did I see?
Oh my….. Is there anything left on the shelf of his closet?
Believe it or not, yes!
My next instinct was to ask my husband “Honey? Would you like for me to help you organize your coat closet?” He responded with excitement “Yes, please!” I also offered to help him organize another space that I have been eager to help him with, but he admitted he was not ready to tackle that yet. His frustration over not being able to find his face masks when he needed them was just enough inspiration to make him ready to organize the closet. Baby steps. I understand it and I’ll take it.
The original issue…. Lots of sports gear, crammed into (overflowing) small, black wicker baskets. It was hard to know what was in each basket, just by looking up at them on the shelf. Also, the overflowing piles made it challenging to slide the baskets on/off the shelf without causing an avalanche.
The solution…… his items are now nicely organized by category (e.g. ski gear, bike gear, etc.) in clear, labeled (more appropriately sized) containers that allow him to easily see what’s inside. They are also lidless, so that he can just pull down a container, grab what he needs (or replace what he has used), and slide the container back on the shelf. He loves them! I was happy to help. And when he is ready to tackle another organizing project, I will be happy to help again!
By the way…. While sorting through his belongings to determine what categories to break things down into, as well as what size containers were needed, guess what I found! Needless to say, they are much easier for him to find now.
If you are visiting this website/reading this blog, it likely means that you are looking to get organized. Congratulations on being ready! You’re going to love it! Whether you are looking to hire a Professional Organizer or are looking for tips to help you get organized on your own, I am happy to help you the best that I can! Please contact me to discuss your organizing needs. And please do continue to visit my blog page for additional organizing tips going forward.
Thank you for stopping by & Thank you for organizing with me!
– Beverly