An Organizer or a Declutterer?

There have been times when I’ve actually thought, “Am I really a professional organizer or am I a professional declutterer?” Yes, I can and do take spaces and make them look more appealing but if I really look at the steps to get there it makes me consider changing how I describe myself as a professional.

When initially meeting with a client, I often get the question as to whether or not they need to buy things to organize with. I’ve addressed this question over and over again with clients, through social media and in presentations I’ve done. As I’ve said in the past, most clients have what they need to organize with; it just isn’t being used effectively. Not only this, but typically through the organizing process, items are deemed unwanted. Often times, A LOT of items. I spend a significant amount of time with clients sorting through the items that they’re hoping to contain. Clients come to realize they had things they didn’t even realize they had that they end up getting rid of. So again, am I an organizer or a declutterer?

The second thing that I hear from nearly every client upon meeting them is how overwhelmed they are. They look around, see all of their belongings and can’t cope. The piles, filled closets, unopened boxes, stuffed drawers and more are a burden. The only way to organize effectively is to empty these spaces out and start from scratch. Again, in the organizing process, clients find items they deem unwanted. Am I an organizer or a declutterer?

If you look around your home and your belongings are causing you stress, are they all really worth having? If you can’t function properly in your home because your belongings are cluttering your life, are all of those items really needed? If you are hanging on to items because you ‘might need them for something’; even though looking around your home stresses you out; are those items really worth saving?

If you want to feel a burden lifted and feel that you can function normally in your home, you might be surprised to find that saying goodbye to some belongings can be the answer. Time and time again I work with clients sorting through their overfilled homes. I see clients find items they deem as trash, unnecessary or useless. So many items have been let go of through donation; so much so that the people at Goodwill recognize me when I pull up. These clients have felt immense relief from seeing things leave their home. A burden of clutter around them has been lifted. Am I an organizer or a declutterer?

Most of the time, I’m a declutterer. I help people gain control of their homes and their stuff. I aid them in reminding them it’s okay-and helpful-to let go.

80% of the time I’m a declutterer. 20% of the time I’m an organizer. 100% of the time, I’m a friend who is supportive in your journey to let go and rebuild your home; whatever that journey may look like.