Overcome those Organizing Obstacles

Hi everyone!  This is my first blog for Westhampton-Hampton Bays Patch.  I am a wife and mother of two with a passion for organizing and helping people declutter their homes or offices and create systems that work for them to keep clutter at bay in the future.

Sometimes, when I tell someone what I do,  I get kind of a sad reaction.  The person immediately cuts herself down and tells stories of the messes she has gotten herself into.  She cites obstacles, such as lack of time, her natural unorganized temperament, her feeling of overwhelment, her lack of interest in organizing, and well, the list goes on and on.  What she doesn’t know (shhhh!) is that with every obstacle she claims is keeping her from the organized home or offices she seeks, my mind is working on ways to overcome that obstacle and get her that organized space.  

Obstacle #1:  “I’m too busy to get organized.  I don’t have time.”  Many people don’t have the time to get organized because they spend a lot of time looking for lost things.  Does this happen to you often?  If so, creating systems for easy retrieval for what you need to get thru the day will ease frustration.  Once you rid yourself of clutter and create designated homes for your and your families’ items, you’ll be amazed at how much time you have.

Obstacle #2:  “I’m just not naturally an organized person.”  Many people are not.  Some days I’m not even sure if I am.  Just like anything worthwhile, it takes work.  But once you find the systems that work for you, staying organized is like running a well oiled machine.  You will know exactly what to do when you start slipping off the Organized Wagon. 

Obstacle #3:  “I don’t know where to start!” (often followed by a sigh.)  I hear this a lot.  That’s when I ask the person, “What prompted you to call me?  What is the straw that broke the camel’s back?”  That is where to start.  If an overall overhaul is in order, I firmly believe in fixing one area at a time before moving on, even if all you have is 5 minutes a day to work on it.  You need to see results and zig-zag organizing is not the way to do it.

Obstacle #4:  “Organizing is boring.”  There are times that the process is tedious, but isn’t that better than feelings of frustration, embarrassment and futility?  During the sorting and decluttering, you will find things you lost, and probably things you never knew you had.  We ALWAYS find money when I help someone declutter.  Donating your unwanted items will make you feel good, and you might find some real gems that we can sell on eBay and earn you some serious cash.

The list goes on and on.  Do you have an obstacle keeping you from getting organized you’d like me to address?  I’d be happy to write about  it in an upcoming blog.

Jean Linder

631-806-4852

jeanl@obstacles2organized.com

www.facebook.com/obstacles-2-organized-for-long-island