Organize Your Clutter, Transform Your Life
by Theresa Torgunrud

How often have you heard someone say, “I need to be more organized!” What does this really mean? Is it just a random figure of speech? Does it imply some personal inadequacy? Does it reflect a part of the self-help movement so present in our popular culture? Does it indicate things are headed to the chaos seen on reality television shows? Or, is this a request for help to deal with something fundamentally important? A professional organizer addresses these questions.

Qualified organizers have formal training and experience in a multi-dimensional field and are usually affiliated with established professional associations. The scope of services provided by the professional organizing community is extensive; however, each individual organizer typically specializes in a few areas. What these professionals share is the expertise to empower people to think about their relationship to their surroundings and to simplify their lives. They provide objective observations and useful advice in a non-judgemental way and encourage their clients to make decisions and get things done. A primary goal is to help clients minimize clutter and keep it from coming back. This results in environments where things are easy to find and utilize effectively, and people who feel more at ease, efficient, and balanced.

There are three main categories of professional organizing services: residential, business, and specialized needs. Residential-related services include organizing the whole home, particular rooms, specific areas, the home office, paper flow management, and filing systems. In addition, professional organizers may assist clients with moving preparation and unpacking, family and time management, memorabilia and collections, electronic information management, and garage sales. Business-related organizing services are intended for home-based businesses, non-profit organizations, corporate offices, retail stores, and small businesses, and include services such as office space organizing, records and information management, filing systems, time management, and electronic information management. Specialized organizing services are for the chronically disorganized, creative individuals, people with disabilities, and seniors, among others. Specialized tasks may include downsizing, estate sales, event planning, feng shui, interior design, and moving relocation.

A professional organizer’s clients come from all walks of life. They are homemakers, home-based business owners, professionals, retirees, students, and others. They are typically bright, active people with full lives and one thing in common—they feel overwhelmed. They find their closets are stuffed, their rooms are in chaos, their desks are covered in paper, their files are disorganized, or their schedules are overloaded. Clients are usually aware of the problems and feel that they just do not have the time, energy, or expertise to handle it all; so, they call for professional assistance. The professional organizer offers support by providing objective organizational planning, identifying specific needs and developing tailored strategies for improvement. For some clients, a concrete strategy is all that is needed. Others require a professional organizer to help them actively implement their plans. The professional organizer’s goal is to assist clients in gaining control over their unique version of chaos and to help them create functional and harmonious spaces that meet their needs.

Conquering clutter involves two main elements: the effective use and arrangement of material things, and the client’s thoughts and feelings. These are so closely connected that a single improvement can have many rippling effects. De-cluttering a room can not only revitalize a space but also change the client’s state of mind. Fundamentally, the professional organizing process is always about people.

The first step toward creating order in someone’s environment involves determining what is of value and clearing away the rest. This can be a surprisingly challenging task because our things are not only objects but they also often possess significant meaning. Physical things can be deeply connected to our inner selves and our outer lives. Consequently, making changes and letting go of objects can be stressful and overwhelming. A professional organizer helps deal with the difficulties and emotions involved in letting go of things and holding on to what is of value. Once what’s unnecessary is removed, the remaining items may be organized in a more effective and appealing way. This ideally results in renewed and harmonious surroundings that reflect who we are today, and enhance our quality of life. Consequently, organizing is much more than just an activity; it is also a process that lightens the soul and frees us to enjoy today and look forward to the future.

Professional organizing is a transformational endeavour. Through un-cluttering and re-creating the spaces that surround us, we discover how the things in our lives affect our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. When our environment is in order, we feel balanced and are free to focus our attention and energy on pursuing our dreams.

Theresa Torgunrud is a Professional Organizer and Records Manager. She specializes in transforming chaos into harmony through her business IN PLACE ORGANIZING. For your individualized solutions, call 306-668-2880 (in Saskatoon) or email: inplace@sasktel.net. Theresa is a member of POC (Professional Organizers in Canada) and ARMA (Association for Records and Information Managers). Also see the classified ad under Home & Office Systems on page 44 of the 17.6 March/April issue of the WHOLifE Journal.