There are myths surrounding every profession it seems, but some of the ones about Professional Organizers are very funny! Here are the top 5 that I always hear:
Photo by Erin Watt Photography, 2019
1. I will make you get rid of all your stuff. I can’t speak for all Organizers, but I don’t encourage or bully my clients into getting rid of anything – I just offer them a different perspective. I don’t want my clients to let go of something and feel regret later. I ask them questions about how often they use it, if they remembered they had it etc. and see how they react. If they seem to be uncomfortable by the prospect of letting go of that item, I will ask them to put it in a “maybe” pile to decide later, or say “it’s ok! You can absolutely keep it”. I want my clients to make those decisions for themselves, and not feel pressure. When you feel pressured into something, you usually don’t make the best decisions… We can always re-visit the item later, or they may decide a few years down the road that they definitely don’t need that item. Organizing is a lifelong process, not just a one time thing!
2. I will ask you if your items “spark joy”. This is a term coined by Marie Kondo and I have never asked my clients this (though sometimes they ask themselves this!). I find a more useful way of looking at “stuff” is to ask multiple questions: “Do I use this item?”, “Do I enjoy using this item?”, “Is this item worth the space it takes up in the cupboard?”, “Is there something else I could use instead of this item?” etc. PSA, not all Professional Organizers are like Marie Kondo! In fact, I would say the majority are not.
3. I will purchase a whole bunch of bins and organizing supplies. There have been a few instances where I have purchased organizing supplies for my clients, but I typically don’t! I try to use what my clients already have in their homes, and often we declutter so much that bins end up getting emptied very quickly and can be repurposed. I don’t think that every single items needs to be contained for it to be organized. However, I usually purchase hanging file folders and labels when I am organizing someone’s file cabinet!
4. I will make your home look like a picture in a magazine. I find magazines about home staging and organizing frustrating to look at, because they look like a magazine spread! It doesn’t look like a space that someone can actually live comfortably in… So no, I do not aim to make your home look like a magazine photo. Instead, my vision of organization is to have a place for everything, and for it to be easy to put those things back in their home. I want you to feel comfortable and relaxed in your home, not stressed if one thing is out of place or not colour coded to perfection!
5. I only work with hoarders or people struggling with chronic disorganization. I work with a variety of clients! Some have been on the hoarding spectrum, some have chronic disorganization, ADHD, PTSD, Autism, or are neurotypical. I enjoy working with a diverse clientele, and like the variety of working on a simple closet one day, to a neglected filing system the next, to a hoarding situation the next. If you know of someone who struggles with hoarding or chronic disorganization, you should look up the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, as they have Certified Professional Organizers who specialize and have very thorough (on-going) training on Hoarding and Chronic Disorganization. They will be the most helpful for that person in your life.
I hope I have debunked a few myths for you! What did you learn today? If you or someone you know struggles with keeping their home organized, please get in touch with me! I would love to help.
For anyone outside of my geographical service area of Peterborough-Kawarthas-Muskoka area, check out Professional Organizers in Canada to find a reputable professional near you!
