working with a professional organizer Archives - Ellen's Blog, Professional Organizing for Kingwood & Houston

Because of COVID-19 we have lately had more time to declutter and organize our closets. We have the best intentions, however it is hard to get started and still harder to let go of items. We may have the skills to declutter and organize like professional organizers. What we are learning is that it was not necessarily a matter of how much time we have. It is a matter of procrastination. It’s easy to put off getting started and getting organized. Here is a tale of the same day with the same intentions with different outcomes. Names were changed to keep client confidentiality.

Working without the support of a Professional Organizer

Sandy knew that it was time to let go of professional attire and suits. For weeks she had told friends she intended to organize her closet. Finally, she set a date on her calendar to work in her closet. At 9 am she walked with a friend. At 10 am she called another friend. Continuing on with the day, she continued to procrastinate. Before she started, she offered to drive her cousin to work, offered to practice driving with her daughter, and ordered lunch. She texted to find out when the nail salon would be open. Finally at 2 pm she started editing.

Decluttering was harder than Sandy thought. It was much harder and taking more time. There were many items that did not fit so these were easier to declutter and donate. Sandy would pull out an item only to put it back. After two hours, Sandy took a break to assess. She had 3 bags to donate. She was not making the progress she wanted to make and felt discouraged.

Working with the support of a Professional Organizer

My client and I set a date and determined we would meet for a 3 hour session to organize closets. After discussing the goals and taking a tour of the closets, we decided that best place to start would be a place where clothes have been stored rather than edited. The client admitted that it was easier to move the clothes to another closet than eliminate. We started working in auxiliary closets that are in spaces for less frequently worn clothes. We pulled each item out to review whether it was in good condition and still fashionable. We started to declutter and after 2 hours had over 250 items to donate to local charities.

This strong start to decluttering led to organizing the remaining items. We grouped the clothes by short sleeve, long sleeve, sweater and suits. Then, we placed the items accordingly in 2 closets. Donation places will be open soon so I took the clothes with me to drop off at local philanthropies. The entire process took 3 hours to start, finish and exceed the client’s goals.

What’s the result

When we invest time and energy in decluttering and organizing, we want big results. Working with a professional organizer helps you accomplish your goals efficiently and productively.

Having a professional organizer with you, it’s easier to let go of more items. The gentle pressure of another person guiding you helps you make decisions.
A professional organizer helps you get started and finish up. There’s no procrastinating with a professional organizer working along side you. Because items leave at the end of the session, there is no regret or back sliding.
Bonus of organizing! We found some treasured keepsakes too! In one closet was a cherished cub scout uniform to pass along after taking photos.

Regardless of motivation and intentions, working alongside a professional organizer has multiple perks. We are here to help and support you throughout the decluttering and organizing process! Accomplish your goals and get the results you want when you work together.

Starting in the early 2000, I noticed my clients having similar challenges. It was usually a love hate relationship with time, paper and stuff. That’s when I learned about ADHD. Since that time, I have been working with clients with ADHD and helping make the changes they want in their lives. Because of our work together, these clients have started living the life they have imagined. What is it like for us to work together?

What to expect before we meet

My clients reach out through email or phone, bravely taking a first step. It’s courageous because they have finally recognized how asking for help can make a difference. That courage comes from a deep longing to create systems and routines that have been unnatural for them.

When we initially talk or meet, my role is a listener. I am hearing what are the challenges. I am not judging. Because our work is non-judgmental, we are from the start creating a trust relationship.

It’s common that my clients can feel anxious about our first meeting. Perhaps it is about whether there is “hope” for a solution, or whether there will be judgement, or another feeling. After we meet, that all changes.

What to expect when we meet

Our meetings begin with an assessment. It’s further talk and review of goals, expectations, and ho we will work best together. There is a lot of verbal processing going on! My clients are talkers, who as they talk, ideas become clear. We review the process of decluttering, organizing, and maintaining that we will work on together.

My clients and I establish a rhythm to our work for decluttering. Our work always begins with “what to keep and what to let go.” It’s a conversation at times and it’s a quick sort at times. If my client gets stuck, at times we put something aside to talk further and at times we keep it for a while. My clients often don’t know what to let go of because it is not clear how much of an item they own. We gather items together while we are decluttering. In the end, I bring items to donate to facilitate decluttering.

As we organize, my clients and I determine categories together. There’s grouping, there’s placing, and then there’s products to help. Many of my clients have lots of products to help us organize. We can place these more effectively together.

What to expect after we meet

Organizing is a journey. It’s not over after our series of meetings. We discuss what maintenance looks like, how to create routines to maintain and what a maintenance visit together looks like. These new perspectives on organizing help my clients keep organized. We talk about when we might meet again as needed.

What to expect

My clients have recently decided that they want to make a big change. They have hit a point where the time has come to invest in that change on many levels.

The core of our work together is trust, education, support, and communication. Knowing how my clients work best and sharing basic knowledge about ADHD are underpinnings of our work together. My support and establishing a team to support my clients are part of our work together. Communication, verbal processing, and non-judgemental discussions are elements that move our work together forward.

Curious about ADHD and getting organized? Let’s connect!

Tag Archive for: working with a professional organizer

Working with a Professional Organizer: Same Day. Same Intentions. Difference results.