“How did you become a personal organizer?”
“Why are you a personal organizer?”
“How are you so organized?”
“Are you a minimalist?”
These are a few of the questions I get whenever I tell people what I do for a living. [1]
I am not organized because of a calling or because it’s my passion. I am organized because I am lazy! Lazy is defined as unwilling to work or use energy. I know that it’s usually seen as a negative personality trait, but for me it’s been a primary behavior that shapes how I live my life. For things I value, I don’t mind and even enjoy working (spending time with family and friends, researching trips, and decorating my home). But I don’t like cleaning, dusting, or tidying...actually any kind of housework (except cooking when I want to cook, not pandemic cooking). I have a few friends who love housekeeping and cleaning. It relaxes them and they love looking at the final product. Not me. My dream home is always clean because I don’t have a lot of stuff laying around; minimalist because the less stuff you have, the less you have to clean.
My house motto is ‘a place for everything and everything in its place.’ Before you buy something, ask yourself:
● Where will I store this item?
● Will this item enhance my serenity or uplift my home?
These are not empty questions; they’re essential for someone like me who is lazy and doesn’t want to do unnecessary housework (to be honest, I don’t want to do any housework). Once you have had an item for awhile and you see it doesn’t have a place in your life or home anymore, don’t be upset that you have to set it aside. We are human beings who change and grow as we live. What we loved five years ago, we may not like today, or that amazing gift that we received from our parents may not fit into our current lifestyle. When I work with my clients, we spend 30-60 minutes reviewing what they value in their home. If you love having family over for dinner, you need room for a dining table. If you love clothes or shoes, you need more room for storage. If cooking is your thing, you need an organized kitchen. My home is filled with art and elephants from my travels, accompanied by simple furniture pieces that aren’t too fussy and are easy to wipe down. I do not have lot of extra stuff laying around and what’s not in use is put away behind closed doors.
I wipe down my kitchen and bathroom on a regular basis, but tidying my bedrooms, living room, and dining room takes about 90 minutes on the weekend. And if it takes more time, I know that I need to declutter and review my spaces. Twice a year I review my clothing closet to make sure everything fits and it still suits my current lifestyle, and before each new year I go through my storage closets to declutter and reorganize if necessary. Some of my clients are maximalists, but values are still discussed and brought to every room as we declutter and organize.
While I am organized because I am lazy, your reasons for decluttering and organizing are your own and it matters. Take a minute to ask yourself, “What matters to me? What brings me peace and calm?’ Your home should be your serenity and I am here to help you get there.
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