Where to Start Organizing Your Life

“Getting organized” is cited as among the top 10 New Year’s resolutions made by Americans each year according to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). But many struggle with where to start. NAPO has proclaimed January as National Get Organized Month to inspire Americans to tackle the clutter and simplify their lives.

“It can be overwhelming for people to get rid of the things they spent a lifetime accumulating, but there are many resources to help,” said professional organizer Rebekah Phelps of ExtraYou in Reston.

For do-it-yourselfers, Phelps offers some simple tips on her blog. First, she suggests you make a list. “Prioritize projects, delegate some and cross off ones that are non-urgent. Then, start with something small. Breaking the job into smaller steps or tasks can make it manageable,” according to Phelps, who also encourages you to “grab a friend” if you need motivation. Finally, Phelps suggests you work in your natural daily rhythms. “If you are a morning person, strat a project early.”

However, “if clutter has taken over every room of your house and you can hardly walk or move, hiring a professional can be the best choice,” said Phelps. People hire professional organizers to do a wide assortment of jobs. From organizing closets and rooms to orchestrating a move and cataloging photos, there is an organizer for the job. NAPO’s Washington, D.C. chapter has a database of local professionals with many unique specialties from chronic disorganization to memorabilia.

Alisa Levy, owner of Embrace Your Space in Silver Spring, MD and vice president of NAPO-DC said that the impetus to hire a professional organizer includes various personal reasons. “Sometimes people have a special occasion coming up or family coming to visit which prompts them to ask for help,” said Levy. Both Levy and Phelps specialize in helping seniors who are downsizing homes, especially when family members live out of town.

Professional organizers charge rates from $60-$125 per hour, notes Phelps, but some projects pay for themselves. “I often find new clothes or household items that have the tags on them. As part of my service, I will return things to the store, which can often cover a good part of my costs,” Phelps said. Levy agrees, citing several unusual finds. “One family I helped downsize found two car loads of silver flatware to sell and another had nearly 200 paintings that we helped find new homes.”

Organizers do both projects and ongoing work with clients to help keep things organized long term. “Paper management is the number one problem for most of my clients,” said Levy. “I help many clients file papers every month so they stick to their new system.” Phelps creates a file map for her clients, giving them do it yourself tips on what papers can be thrown away and when.

With organizing and decorating shows on every channel, many people approach organizing with somewhat unrealistic expectations, notes Levy. “It’s great for people to realize they are not alone in their disorganization, but some projects require much more than an afternoon or weekend to tackle,” Levy said. Phelps also points out that while TV organizers tend to purchase expensive, perfectly matched containers, most of her clients can simply reuse what they have to save costs.

If you do need additional supplies, Annandale and Northern Virginia offer a wide range of resources including dollar stores, craft stores, party stores and national chain stores such as:

▪                located at 4251 John Marr Drive in Annandale

▪                Home Depot located at 6555 Little River Turnpike in Alexandria just outside of Annandale

▪                Staples located at 6548 Little River Turnpike just outside of Annandale in the Pinecrest shopping plaza

▪                The Container Store, locations in Tysons Corner and Arlington

▪                IKEA, located in Woodbridge

Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, you also have to consider what to do with the things you decide you no longer need. There are many local resources to keep items from going in the trash. NAPO’s DC chapter has a list of resources on its website. Others include:

▪                Prom Dress Shop (Fairfax County Schools) – gently used formalwear

▪                Fairfax County's Electric Sunday – Monthly electronics recycling events

▪                Habitat for Humanity’s Restore - building materials like doors, windows, appliances, and tools.

▪                Craigslist - free want ads. 

▪                eBay – low cost online auction place. 

▪                Freecycle - give away anything locally.

One great reason to get organized now is to relieve stress according to a NAPO survey, which found that more than 70 percent of people felt that the quality of their lives would be improved with more organization. “It is a tremendous weight off of people’s shoulders to not have to worry about this mountain of stuff in their home,” said Levy.