[This article originally appeared in Solutions At Hand]
Image courtesy of Pixabay and cocoparisienne
Most people waste one to three hours a day because of disorganization, according to the National Association of Professional Organizers. That statistic tells you why harried homeowners seek help from the pros.
“Our clients are usually women-between ages 35 and 55-who feel overwhelmed with their personal and professional lives and need to simplify and streamline,” says Vicki Norris, president of Restoring Order and author of Reclaim Your Life… and Get Organized for Good and Restoring Order to Your Home.
DO YOU NEED A PRO?
Most people do, in part, because they struggle with downsizing their possessions. And other are legitimate reasons why they struggle, Says Norris.
Maybe you think an item is still good and you might use it again someday, even through you haven’t touched it in years. Or maybe you can’t part with something because you either paid too much or got an incredible deal on it.
GET CONTROL
Organization problems can be resolved. Here’s a few scenarios with expert advice on how to handle them:
- Problem: “I’m drowning in paper. And not just my office.”
Pro Advisor Monica Ricci, author of Organize Your Office in No Time and founder of Catalyst Organizing Solutions.
Solution Turn to technology, Ricci advises. Miniature scanners will scan business cards and then add the information to your database or address book. Use a large scanner to capture receipts and other shreddable paper. Use a cell phone or digital camera if you don’t have a scanner.
- Problem: “My kids’ room is small but it’s a big disorganized mess.”
Pro Advisor Donna Smallin author of The One-Minute Organizer. Solution Consider bed lifts, Smallin suggests. They are inexpensive and easy to use. They fit under bed-frame posts, raising the bed and
- Problem: “The closet’s overflowing, but I find it so hard to part with any of my wardrobe.”
Pro Advisor Jamie Novak, Bite Size living organizer, speaker and author of 1,000 Best QUick and Easy Organizing Secrets.
Solution Look at your clothing in terms of function, suggests Novak. How many pairs of pajamas or gym outfits do you use in a given period? (Remember to factor in laundry time.) After you’ve determined the amount of clothing you need per function, start paring down to that number. Carefully consider everything and don’t rush paring or you could end up loading too much.
-By Solutions At Hand
See the PDF here: Solutions At Hand – Restore Order 9/2008
