Category: Uncategorized

DECONSTRUCTED – DIY Freezer Organization

Your freezer is a powerful ally in bulk shopping, ice preservation, and other general extreme cooling purposes. If the frozen section of your traditional upright refrigerator/freezer combo unit, the following tips will help you bring clarity, accessibility, and order to your frozen foods.

The following steps will help you achieve this very neat, orderly freezer layout [credit: simplyorganized.me]

Tools:

Containers with handles

Alternative size – container with handle (optional)

Ice bins (optional)

Expandable Shelf (optional)

**Measure your freezer space and verify product dimensions before purchasing

Procedure:

  1. Remove your freezer items.
  2. [Optional] If your freezer DOES NOT have a shelf, you may be able to create one by inserting an expandable shelf.
  3. Place frozen items into the assorted bins according to categories (meats, vegetables, ice cream, etc.) and size.
  4. If you are using an expandable shelf that does not fit your freezer from end to end, consider using miscellaneous containers along the outside edge(s), and place the shelf in the middle.
  5. Enjoy the newly-acquired visibility and accessibility to the items in your organized freezer.

Deconstructed – Kitchen Cabinet Organizing

Kitchen cabinets can be a challenge. First, most kitchens have a variety of fragile dishes and glasses that come in shapes that often do not fit smoothly inside rectangular cabinet spaces. Then there is the issue of aesthetics. Perhaps you have a matching set you would like to keep together. Maybe you only use that set on certain occasions. How do you store those 50 commemorative wine glasses from your best friend’s recent milestone birthday celebration? How do you create a cohesive aesthetic in your cabinet if you have a multiple incomplete dish sets? Check out the photo and instructions below for one way you can quickly organize your cabinet with minimal fuss. Need to know where you can purchase the necessary tools? Click on the links in the supply list to order from Amazon using my affiliate code (I will receive a small commission, but the price of each item will remain unchanged – thank you!).

kitchen cabinet organizing supplies

Supply List:

How To:

  1. Insert mug hooks into the cabinet by attaching each row of hooks to shelf above space in which you would like to position your mugs. You can expect to store about four medium-sized mugs on each row of hooks.
  2. Position glasses for maximum visibility. Place taller glasses on the outside edges of the cabinet space. You can also substitute tall glasses for additional mugs nested together or short glasses from a matching set stacked to make a taller pile.
  3. Next, arrange all remaining glasses from left to right in order of height, shortest to tallest (see photo).
  4. Assemble the corner cabinet shelf, and place it in the far right corner. Place stacks of small plates underneath and on the middle row of the two-tier corner shelf. Place smaller items like ramekins on the very top of the shelf.
  5. Assemble your two sets of stackable kitchen cabinet shelves, and place them adjacent to each other on the next lowest empty cabinet shelf.
  6. Stack your plates together according to matching sets (or as desired), and place them underneath and in front the stackable shelf on the left. Place larger bowls on top of the stackable shelf. If you have a set of smaller bowls, stack them, and place them in front of the stackable shelf.
  7. Arrange remaining plates, bowls, and any specialty dishes on the remaining stackable shelf on the right similar to photo.

Note: If you have sets that do not match or dishes you use infrequently, position these directly underneath the the stackable shelf as they will be slightly less accessible and less visible than the dishes you place in front.

Deconstructed – Easy Closet Design with Hanging Shelves and Shoe Storage

Sometimes we want a little more structure in our closets without the total confinement of custom shelves and DIY organizer units. This very basic closet setup featured on Real Simple shows us how we can achieve a very clean, easy-to-maintain aesthetic by adding just a few organizing products. Let’s deconstruct it!

What You’ll Need:

How-To:

Similar to doing a new hairstyle, closet organization projects have the best results when completed in a freshly cleaned, purged closet. Once you have determined the items you would like to keep in the closet, dusted, and cleaned the floors, you can achieve the above pictured organized closet design by following these steps:

  1. Position your shoe rack in the corner. The two-tier wooden shoe rack listed above is designed to store six to eight pairs of shoes while the three-tier rack can store up to 12. Depending on the size of your closet, you may be able to fit more than one shoe rack if you have more shoes. In a standard, non walk-in closet, I most frequently position shoe racks against a wall or directly in the corner with the most frequently-worn shoes within easiest reach.
  2. Position your fabric hanging shelf on the left side of your closet rod. Within the shelf you can store small items like scarves, socks, tights, perhaps t-shirts. The addition of the fabric drawers makes the shelves ideal for storing intimate apparel or items you don’t need to access throughout the year like hats, gloves, and earmuffs. I recommend using the drawers to store items you can afford to have out of sight, but won’t forget their location and go out and purchase duplicates. On the open shelf, I recommend sticking to items you can neatly fold. Alternatively, you can also store items that do not require folding like a few small handbags and clutches or perhaps a few stackable hats. Whatever you decide to store on the open shelf, be sure you are able to keep it maintained neatly!
  3. Decide which clothing items you would like to keep on hangers, and transfer them over to the wood hangers. The closet in the photo only houses tops on its hangers. However, I’ve selected the full triangular wood hangers that allow you to also fold pants over the bottom rung. While these hangers are a little bulkier than some other styles like the popular velvet hangers, the hangers I’ve selected will give your closet a more upscale retail store aesthetic, and they feature notches that allow you to secure your tops with very thin straps. To achieve the color scheme pictured above, start by positioning your white tops on the left side, and gradually add tops of darker colors as you move rightward, keeping your color groups together. Beginning with your white tops on the left side will also help prevent color transfer onto your light-colored clothes. If you would like to include pants in your close, I would recommend putting them on hangers and keeping them together in a separate section further to the right and also organized by color. You can also check out my post on my quick, go-to color-coordinating closet organizing strategy.
  4. Lastly, place your small hamper adjacent to your shoe rack on the right side of the closet. I recommend keeping the hamper in a position within the closet that will allow fresh air circulation if possible. Place your wire cube bin on the left side of the top shelf to create easy storage for lint rollers, fabric sprays, and other clothing and closet supplies.
  5. Step back and admire your work. We did it!

Once again, the following supplies can be found at Amazon and delivered conveniently to your home. Thank you for supporting me by purchasing through my affiliate links:

Stay tuned as we deconstruct more organized spaces in the home!

Deconstructed – Add Drawer Storage to Your Closet

New Yorkers are well aware of the space constrains that sometimes mandate improvisation when it comes to choosing storage furniture. But space constraints exist in a variety of cities and settings. Whether your bedroom simply cannot accommodate a sufficiently-sized dresser, or if you prefer a more affordable, less permanent way of storing folded items, I’m here to help! I deconstructed a popular photo that was posted on Pinterest by Popsugar to help you recreate the look and functionality of the flexible closet storage solution pictured below:

How To:

Supply List:

Procedure

Start by purchasing all the required materials. To achieve the look in the photo, you may choose an organizing cart with wheels or one without wheels. You will need two of them if you would like double-sided storage. While the photo utilizes a stationary cart, I prefer to use wheeled carts when adding storage to closets. Wheeled storage carts can easily be rolled out of place for cleaning. They also provide easy mobility in the event your  storage needs change and you would like to reposition the cart or if you would like to use the storage cart in another area in your home.

Use The Top Drawers for Your Smallest Items

The top drawer is shallower than the remaining three. Therefore, it is best suited for storing underwear, socks, headbands, and other small items. To replicate the top drawers in the photo, you will need to make two grids. Assemble your drawer divider strips to create the number of slots you will need to accommodate the items you would like to store. Once constructed, insert an assembled grid into the top drawer of each cart.

The remaining drawers can be configured as needed. Two packs of fabric drawer organizers will give you more than enough organizers to divide among all the drawers.

Organizing The Right Side

To achieve the configuration on the right side of the photo, remove one of your three lower drawers, leaving two lower, larger drawers in your cart. Between your two packages of fabric drawer organizers, you should have a total of four small 5.5-inch x 5.5-inch cube organizers. For bra storage similar to the photo, place four small cubes into the second drawer. Fold your bras in half, and “nest” them together into four small groups. Place each nested group into the four fabric cube organizers.

To create a similar configuration to that of the third, and bottom, drawer on the right, use the rectangular fabric organizers. The sizing of the rectangular bins is perfect for leggings, scarves, or hand and face towels. Simply roll each item neatly, and place each roll side-by-side in the fabric organizer.

Organizing The Left Side

To achieve the look on the left side of the photo, leave all three of the lower, larger drawers in place. This will create a four-drawer configuration, including the shallow top drawer. On the second level, if you would like to create neat rows of stored items similar to the photo, use your remaining fabric organizers to neatly roll and arrange the items.

In the photo, the middle and bottom lower drawers on the left side house larger towels. They can also accommodate sweaters, jeans, t-shirts, and other items that easily fold into a rectangular shape. You may also opt to use your leftover fabric organizers to store smaller items that fit can neatly fit inside them.

All the products you need to create this look can be ordered from Amazon through the enclosed affiliate links (thanks for your support!):

If you are considering trying this closet configuration or if you would like to see another organize photo deconstructed and broken down into step-by-step instructions, let me know in the comments below!

Organize Your Home and Make Money By Selling On Poshmark


Photo by mentatdgt on Pexels.com

If you have found yourself with extra downtime and a little more uncertainty than usual, you may be looking for ways to occupy your time and make a little extra money. One of the best ways to generate income while tidying up your home is to sell excess items online. Whether your closet is overflowing with clothes, or if you are a makeup junkie with pallets you will never use, the Poshmark marketplace can connect you with willing and eager buyers. The following steps will help you get your Poshmark store off to a running start.

1. Visit poshmark.com or download their app in your mobile device store. You can access the marketplace and build your closet online or on your phone.
2. Enter your personal details, and set up your account by creating log-in credentials.
3. Create your closet! Carefully choose items that are in good condition and meet Poshmark’s guidelines. Your closet will attract more buyers if you start off with a decent amount of inventory. Start by uploading at least seven items for sale.
4. Add a photo! Including a photo and short bio will personalize your page and attract more buyers.
5. Be social. Poshmark is built on a social media-esque type of platform. Therefore, in order to attract buyers to your closet, you will have to interact with other people on the platform. Join parties. Follow other people’s accounts. Comment on items you like (no obligation to actually buy the item unless you want to).

Bonus: Share! Share! Share! Not only should you make a habit of sharing your listings a few times a day, but you should also share other people’s items. In return, they will share your items with their followers. Eventually, someone will see something they like in your closet, and you will make a sale!

This may all sound like a lot. But many of us have extra time on our hands, so it is definitely worth the time investment right now. Furthermore, once you’ve set up your account, all the hard work is done. Depending on the demand and popularity of your items, you should begin to see sales relatively quickly if you follow the above steps. Once I got set up, I made my first sale within a week!

If you are new to Poshmark, help me help you by entering my referral code: RL0214 so we can BOTH qualify for a $10 referral bonus.😉 If you have a poshmark store, drop your user name in the comment section, and let’s connect!

How to Keep a Small Apartment Organized

Moving into a new apartment can be an unnerving task, especially one with confined space. Home organization is not an easy task. It can be challenging for many reasons, from cleanliness to maintaining systems. You might be wondering how you could fit all your belongings into such a small place, but the good news is there are multiple solutions available to help you organize your small space.A cluttered home leads to a cluttered mind. A messy place can never bring mental clarity. No matter how small the place is, if you follow the below-mentioned rules, any place can become a happy place.

Living Room Organizing for a More Pleasant Gathering Space

Since the living room is the place where you spend most of your time when entertaining others, it is best not to keep it cluttered at all. Jackets, coats, and bags occupy a lot of space. As a space-saving solution, install hooks just inside the front door. Creating a mudroom or command center allows you to immediately store your outerwear and bags as soon as you enter the home. Creating coat and bag storage also makes things easier for visitors. If you do not want to hook a nail on the wall or door, simply use sticky hooks. To keep your entertainment equipment safe and away from sight, you may also incorporate storage furniture that blends well with your living room furniture. Many coffee tables come with storage boxes.

Bedroom Organizing for Strategic Storage Solutions

Making your bed every day can be a game-changer in your quest to keep your bed organized. When your bed is neatly made, the rest of the room will automatically appear to be more organized.Many people do not like storing things under the bed as they do not often clean under the bed. As an alternative, you might prefer a bed with drawers. You can keep often used things or off-season clothes in the drawer under the bed. Hang a shoe organizer inside the closet. An over-the-door shoe organizer can hold all types of footwear that might otherwise be cluttering your bedroom. There are many closet organizers are also available in the market today that help you organize things in a very elegant way. There are wire closet organizers and wooden closet organizers. You can hang clothes, place shoes and handbags and even display decorative pieces.

Bathroom Organizing for Space Maximization

Bathrooms are even smaller spaces. Make sure you get rid of the things you don’t need. Install utilitarian storage containers where you can keep your toothbrushes, toothpaste and other toiletries like soap and shampoo. Another small wall hanger can be installed to keep your hairdryer, etc.

Kitchen Organizing Solutions to Tame Clutter

The kitchen is another space that seems to attract clutter. Install wall hangers to hang the pots and pans. Use drawers and cabinets to store other utensils and cooking related gadgets. Keep items you seldom use on the top shelves.Take advantage of every hook and nook in the kitchen by installing a hanging spice rack. Place hanging storage containers at the back of the cabinet or pantry door to hold canned food or bottled food items.

By following some of the above-mentioned organizing suggestions, your small apartment will appear more orderly and spacious. A well-organized small apartment can feel as accommodating as any larger space as long as you keep these tips in mind.

5 Tools to Help You Organize Your Craft Room

If you love crafting in your downtime, chances are you also know the inherent clutter that comes along with arts and craft activities. The following tips and product recommendations will allow you to enjoy crafting while preventing your hobby from overtaking your space.

Keep small craft pieces contained by investing in a high-quality case.

The SnapCubes stackable arts and crafts case is a three-tier clear stackable storage container with compartments. It’s perfectly designed for jewelers, people who love to sew, as well as those who do beadwork. Small compartments within each layer of the case keep intricate pieces organized and neatly separated. A clear acrylic exterior allows for easy visibility. The case has a top handle which will make your craft supplies readily portable. The interlocking stackable design will save space.

A clear exterior and interior compartments make it easy to keep up with the tiniest craft supplies. https://amzn.to/2ILI5dz [affiliate link]

Grab a set of wheels, and put them in motion.

When organizing craft rooms, storage carts are typically a necessity. I prefer wheeled organizer carts with drawers over immobile pieces. While stationary furniture pieces make perfect sense in other parts of the home or office, arts and craft hobbies often involve moving from place to place to gather supplies. Many people also do their arts and crafts in rooms that serve multiple purposes. This is especially true of the confined spaces in metropolitan areas like New York City. If your crafting area serves multiple purposes, you likely find it necessary to occasionally stash craft supplies out of sight or in a more favorable location, especially if you typically convert the area the room to accommodate guests, to be used as a home office, or for any other purpose that does not immediately involve crafting.

The Seville Classics Organizer Cart is available in multiple sizes to suit your crafting needs and to complement the size of your space. The car is available with 6, 8, 10, or 15 drawers. Stylistically, the cart features multicolored drawers, which work well for categorizing and sorting arts and craft supplies and keeping them organized. The cart is wheeled, which makes it easy to take your crafting to other parts of the home or to stash your supplies quickly when you need to make space.

Multi-color compartments are great for organizing and color-coding according to category. https://amzn.to/35yyukn [affiliate link]

Another wheeled option, the IRIS 7-Drawer Rolling Storage Cart includes an organizer top, which is a simple compartmentalized tray that can house scissors, a hole punch, and other hand tools. The seven drawers are comprised of four shallow drawers in three deep bins. The shallow drawers are ideal for storing smaller crafting supplies while the deeper drawers are the perfect places to stash away incomplete craft projects that require days or weeks to finish.

A combination of large and small drawers accommodates smaller craft supplies and unfinished projects that require an extended period of time to finish. https://amzn.to/2OI3RTy [affiliate link]

Organize your desktop.

Keeping your craft room desktop organized can be a challenge. This is especially true for those who need boundaries and separation, neither of which a which an expansive open desktop provides. Fortunately, there are tools that can help you compartmentalize and organize your crafting desktop. The mDesign Lazy Susan Turntable Storage Organizing Container is perfect for organizing larger craft supplies. Divided into five compartments, the turntable storage container is spacious enought to accommodate supplies like glues, containers of glitter, and tubes of paint. A small cylindrical center compartment is sized for supplies like paint brushes, glue sticks, Exacto knives, and sponges.

Turntable organizer keeps desktops neat and attractive. https://amzn.to/2paBVgd [affiliate link]

Get a good desk or craft table.

In a craft room, your work surface is everything. A good craft desk will eliminate the need to purchase many different organizing and storage products. The South Shore Crea counter height craft table is a versatile piece of furniture for novices and for avid crafters. Taller than the average desk, the Crea craft table lends itself to working while standing or while seated on a stool or bar height chair. This craft table has ample storage including interchangeable modules, a wide drawer, and removable shelves. Its scratch-proof work table surface means your Crea craft table will retain its appearance and last for years of continuous crafting.

Removable drawers and shelves make this counter height craft table extra versatile. https://amzn.to/2MzHGMC [affiliate link]

Live in New York City? Need help organizing your space? Give us a call, or book your appointment online.

5 Reasons You’re Afraid to Contact a Professional Organizer (And Why You Should Do It Anyway)

We’ve all been there. We can’t find our keys… for the third time this week. Where did we leave that other shoe; we’re already running 15 minutes late for work. Everyone knows that 8 p.m. really means 8:30 when it’s time to get together and have a good time. Perhaps you hate doing laundry because folding just isn’t your thing. Or maybe you’ve moved into a new place, and you don’t have the time to figure out how to make your new apartment or house truly feel like home. But for some reason, we feel it’s not quite time to pick up the phone and summon the professionals. The following five reasons are common obstacles that prevent many of us from contacting a professional organizer despite desperately needing the guidance and assistance.

1. You never knew professionals who can organize your home existed.

Like cooking, carpentry, and decorating, home organizing is a learned skill that is often greatly enhanced by natural talent. There are people who possess the skills to perform these services for themselves. There are also people who posess a natural inclination and are highly skilled to the extent that they are able to turn the provision of these services into a profession. Home organizing is no different. In fact, professional organizing began to rise in popularity as an industry in 1984. The Los Angeles area is credited as the scene upon which professional home organizing initially emerged. Today, professional organizing has expanded around the world, and home organizers are available in most major cities. Even those who live in mid-sized cities and smaller towns have access to professional home and office organizing services in their communities.

2. You feel embarrassed about needing help with organizing.

For some of us, there is shame in not knowing exactly how to maintain an orderly space or even an orderly life. Some people are secretly afraid their unorganized space will be viewed as reflective of a personal failure to learn avaluable life skills. Those of us who work in high-ranking positions in our career may also feel as if our unorganized personal space is a shameful secret that contradicts our professional image. Some even feel disorganization is a product of irresponsibility and lack of morality. The good news is all these notions are generally false. For many of us, the difficulties we experience in maintaining an organized home are the result of us never having learned a system for organizing that is compatible with our personality, our habits, our learning style, and our lifestyle. There is no singular way to stay organized. Working with an organizing professional can help individuals who struggle with maintaining order in their spaces identify strategies that can make it possible to achieve organizational goals and maintain positive results.

3. You are uncertain of how to communicate your needs to a professional organizer.

Sometimes we know our struggle, but we are unable to conceptualize what an effective remedy may look like. Professional organizers are able to help those who struggle with organizing their spaces and lifestyles better understand the underlying causes of their difficulties with organization and identify effective solutions. The first step toward addressing an issue with organizing is to contact a professional and discuss your current struggles as well as your related lifestyle goals. Organizers are generally able to identify causal relationships and envision solutions those who struggle with organizing may not easily see on their own without professional guidance.

4. You don’t know where to find a professional organizer.

Today, the best place to learn more about professional organizers and to find one nearby is a basic Google search. While conducting an online search for professional organizers, you may be wondering how to find a good one. Sites such as Google, Facebook, and Yelp, all of which include online reviews, are convenient places to start your search. However, as with other businesses, it is necessary to read each review critically and to look for common complaints or common points of praise. Real estate agents, home renovators, and moving companies are other valuable sources for referrals for a professional home organizer in your city.

5. You are convinced you cannot afford a professional organizer.

Professional organizers work with a variety of budgets, depending on the organizer’s target market and the type of service you require. For example, some organizers offer consultations that allow the client to take the knowledge he or she gains from the organizer and DIY his or her own space. Other organizing services are very hands-off from the client’s perspective and include organizing supplies and a team to complete the project without much interaction with the client. Depending on your needs, reach out to different professional organizers and determine whether they are able to offer the level of guidance and service you require to achieve your desired outcome. Today, some service providers are even offering payment plans to extend their reach to a larger audience.

The idea of inviting an organizing professional into your space may seem intimidating as people generally consider their homes to be very intimate and personal. However, you may rest assured that professional organizers, somewhat similar to doctors, are committed to professionalism, and are unlikely to pass judgment or deliberately make you feel uncomfortable in ways that are unhelpful to you. Doing research and, if necessary, speaking at length with an organizer prior to allowing the service provider to enter your home is highly advisable for those who feel anxious about seeking organizing help.

We offer professional, courteous, and discrete service to corporate Executives, entertainment industry professionals, and business owners in the New York City area who would like to create a more organized, balance, and peaceful living space, work space, and lifestyle. Visit or Services page for more information.

5 Tips to Transform Your Home Into a Weekend Self Care Oasis

Self care: it’s something our friends, our doctors, our therapist, and perhaps our life coaches all recommend. However, most of us have come to the conclusion that implementing self care is easier said than done.  Going home to a peaceful, quiet setting may especially be difficult among the confined spaces and abundance of noise in large metro areas like New York City. Nevertheless, virtually anyone can transform an ordinary room into a relaxing, rejuvenating refuge from the outside world, even if the world outside houses the rumbling trains and noisy crowds that characterize Manhattan.

1. Set the tone with lighting.

Migraine sufferers and people who are otherwise sensitive to light can attest to the impact of feeling overstimulated in a brightly-lit room. When your objective is to wind down, the lighting in the room can have a direct impact on your ability to power down. If you don’t have a light dimmer installed, you can make simple changes such as exchanging bright, everyday light bulbs with bulbs that are of a lower wattage. For an even easier hack, simply utilize a small lamp to illuminate the room instead of using standard overhead lighting. Himalayan salt crystal lamps have become increasingly popular to achieve a spa-like, ionized atmosphere. Candle lovers may even opt to forgo electricity altogether and simply light candles to achieve the perfect level of brightness. Scented candles may further enhance the setting by adding a calming fragrance to the room.

2. Wake up your sense of smell.

Aromatherapy is often overlooked in Western cultures as a means of encouraging the mind to enter a more relaxed state. Placing essential oils in a diffuser, placing a few drops of oil on a washcloth in a scented steam shower, spritzing a room with a favorite fragrance, or drying off after a bath with warm towels infused with scented oil are just a few ways naturally calming fragrances can be implemented into daily living. Some of us are aware of smells we associate with happiness or favorable times in our lives or places we have visited. However, there are specific scents that are traditionally associated with positive emotions and optimized mental performance. For example, lavender, ylang ylang, and chamomile are natural oil fragrances that stimulate calmness and enhance relaxation in the mind.

3. Surround yourself with soothing sound.

We are affected by sound more than we may realize. Similar to smells, sound may also be used to induce relaxation and to enhance mental performance. There are some sounds we associate with positive memories and emotions while other sounds add to our tension and stress levels. While it may be tempting to blare top 40s hits all weekend, if your goal is to relax and unwind, it is best to choose slow tempo music with lyrics that do not distract or evoke strong emotions. Nature sounds will also help contribute to your home spa atmosphere. If you feel most relaxed on rainy days and nights, simply include a soundtrack of falling rain as part of your self-care routine.

4. Go off the wireless grid.

High-tech personal devices are more widely available to us now than ever. Untethering ourselves from the electronic devices that have become heavily integrated into daily life can be a challenge. More and more people are establishing personal rules to periodically spend time away from their personal devices to allow for reconnection with the environment and with personal relationships without distraction. Scheduling a tech-free time during your weekend of self-care is essential to fully putting aside all the stress of the work week as well as the feelings of FOMO many of us experience during our free time. If you have dependent children or friends and family members who frequently call, it is advisable to inform people ahead of time before going off the wireless grid. Informing those closest to you about your planned downtime will not only prompt everyone to avoid unnecessarily interrupting your self-care weekend, but doing so will also inform the people in your life that there is no need to panic if they attempt to reach you and find that you are unavailable. It is not necessary to disconnect from all technology and communication for the entire weekend. However, going off the grid for several hours will allow you to more fully focus on self care.

5. Leave guilt at the door.

Self care is as necessary as medical care. Unfortunately, many of us struggle with guilt when we allocate time, energy, and focus toward restoring ourselves. While you may not be able to immediately change your mindset toward regularly engaging in restorative practices, you can adopt a rational approach toward battling your feelings of guilt. For example, before beginning your self care weekend, resolve that you will not entertain guilty feelings regarding your self care during the weekend. Instead, simply remind yourself that you can reflect on your new approach to caring for yourself and evaluate your feelings after you have completed your relaxing weekend. While engaging in your self-care activities, try to remain present and focus on healing and relaxation.

white pillar candle
Photo by Alesia Talkachova on Pexels.com

 

For more information on self-care and strategies you can use to achieve a more favorable work-life balance, contact us for a time management and lifestyle coaching consultation. Our services are available to corporate executives, entertainment industry professionals, and business owners worldwide.

 

 

5 Facts to Know When Choosing a Professional Organizer

With the airing of “Tidying Up”–the Netflix series that showcases Japanese home organizing professional Marie Kondo’s spirituality-oriented approach to bringing organizational harmony to homes–more people than ever are reconsidering whether their household items “spark joy.” Although professional organizers have existed long before the publishing of Kondo’s New York Times bestseller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, the mystery surrounding the profession of home organizing remains intact. As more people consider whether a professional organizer can help them, there is a greater need for an understanding of exactly how to find a good, compatible home or office organizer. The following five facts will demystify the process of finding the right professional organizer.

An Organizer is an Organizer by Any Other Name

First things first, it is important to identify how to request a professional organizer by name. Professionals who organize residential and commercial interiors go by many different names. Some titles include:

  • Professional organizer
  • Home organizer
  • Home interior organizer
  • Interior organizer
  • Personal organizer
  • Organizing specialist
  • Organizing professional

Most organizing professionals are unlikely to be offended by the use of any of the names listed above. However, most organizing professionals will specify their preferred title in their marketing materials or when you contact them by phone.

Certification May Not Mean What You Think it Means

As a New York City professional organizer, a question that occasionally comes up in speaking with people who are curious about professional organizing is whether it is better to hire an organizer who is certified. First of all, there are multiple trade organizations that offer certification to organizing and productivity service providers. The most widely known trade organization for professional organizers is the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals. NAPO has existed 30 years and aims to offer education, networking, industry research, and increased public awareness for individuals who work in the organizing and productivity fields. While NAPO is well-established, the organization consists of 3, 500 members worldwide.

It is important to note that home organizing is a highly unregulated profession, and certification is not a requirement. There are talented professional organizers in virtually every major city. Many of these professionals have opted to forgo certification for multiple reasons. Therefore, it is my opinion that certification is not the most important factor to consider when seeking out a professional organizer. However, there are much greater considerations a potential home or office organizing client should consider prior to choosing to work with a particular professional. These factors can essentially make-or-break the customer’s experience with an organizer.

It’s Okay to Get Personal When Choosing a Home Organizer

Not only is it okay to get personal when considering a professional organizer, but it is highly suggested that you do so. Your home or office organizer needs to know your specific struggles with getting organized and with staying organized. These struggles may stem from your childhood. They may be related to life stressors such as divorce, major financial changes, illness, or a change in business or occupation. While no client is required to disclose his or her innermost personal secrets, giving the organizer in idea of general events or personal habits that impact the way you live and work will give your professional organizer very valuable insight into how he or she may be able to help you achieve long-lasting positive results.

Personality Counts

When choosing a home or office organizer, it is important to get a feel for your service provider’s personality. Communication is one of the most important factors in making the most of an organizing session. The organizer needs to have a clear understanding of your goals and of the way in which you would like to overcome organizational hurdles. You and your organizer will work best if you have compatible communication styles. Choose a home organizer with whom you feel comfortable. After all, this individual will be in your home. If you are using an organizing service provider who dispatches personnel to the client’s location to complete the project, ensure the service provider uses workers who are background checked and are safe to work in your home. If not, at the very least, make sure the organizing service is insured and has a process in place for handling theft or mishandled items.

Your professional organizer should be non-judgmental

I am often surprised when I hear horror stories about negative experiences with professional organizers who overstep boundaries and make their clients feel uncomfortable. These stories are generally few and far in between. However, I express to every client that a successful relationship with a professional organizer is dependent on comfort and the ability to communicate without fear of judgement. Your organizer should not enter your space with a posture of presumed superiority. Instead, he or she should arrive with a spirit of openness and willingness to leverage his or her knowledge and professionalism to improve your quality of life and bring a peaceful harmonious atmosphere into your space.

For more information about our home and office organizing services in the New York City area, send us an email or visit our homepage to book your appointment with us. We also offer virtual organizing services, consultative strategy sessions, and coaching to entertainment industry professionals, corporate executives, and business owners outside the New York City area. Please inquire for more information.

Choose a professional organizer who understands your lifestyle goals and overall vision.