Posts tagged organizing journey
12 Benefits of Hiring a Professional Organizer That Go Way Beyond Organizing

Many people hire a professional organizer to declutter, create order, or make their spaces more functional. The good news is that professional organizers can help achieve those goals. However, the benefits of working with a professional organizer go much deeper than the visible changes in a space.

The right support can help you build confidence, make decisions more easily, develop sustainable habits, and create a home that reflects who you are now. These are just a few of the benefits beyond simply “more organized.”

For over 30 years, I’ve had the joy of helping others on their organizing journeys. I’ve seen clients transform, becoming more confident, capable, and self-trusting. Beyond becoming more organized, they’ve made profound changes in their mindset, habits, and self-efficacy.

 

 

12 Surprising Benefits of Hiring a Professional Organizer

While some clients have seen results in as few as three virtual organizing sessions, most continue working with me longer to create more positive changes. These are the top twelve benefits beyond getting more organized that my clients consistently experience during our work together.

 

1. Make steady progress.

“I am making significant progress. I couldn’t do that a while ago.”

  • Get past feeling stuck and take consistent action.

  • Complete projects that have been on hold for months or years.

  • Build momentum that carries over between virtual organizing sessions.

 

 

2. Reduce overwhelm.

“I am way less overwhelmed.”

  • Break large, overwhelming projects into small, manageable steps.

  • Replace confusion with a clear, personalized plan.

  • Feel less anxious about organizing tasks.

 

 

3. Create lasting organizing habits.

“This is so empowering.”

  • Develop realistic, sustainable routines.

  • Practice maintaining spaces rather than starting over repeatedly.

  • Learn systems that fit individual lifestyles and preferences.

 

 

4. Strengthen decision-making skills.

“I do not need those.”

  • Become more confident about what to keep, donate, recycle, sell, or discard.

  • Spend less time second-guessing decisions.

  • Learn practical decision-making strategies that work in all areas.

 

 

5. Develop accountability and consistency.

“I’m building on my wins.”

  • Stay focused on goals through regular check-ins.

  • Follow through on action steps between sessions.

  • Celebrate progress while maintaining motivation.

 

This is so empowering.
— Oh, So Organized! Client

 

6. Improve daily functioning.

“It feels great in here. I have hope and am not as overwhelmed.”

  • Create spaces that are easier to use and maintain.

  • Reduce time spent searching for items.

  • Increase efficiency in everyday routines.

 

 

7. Receive personalized guidance.

“I just want to be my true me.”

  • Benefit from solutions tailored to individual challenges, goals, and strengths.

  • Learn organizing strategies that work with, not against, personal thinking styles.

  • Adjust strategies as life circumstances change.

 

 

8. Experience compassionate, nonjudgmental support.

“Not impossible or unconquerable anymore.”

  • Feel understood, not criticized.

  • Work at a comfortable pace, without pressure.

  • Build trust within a supportive, collaborative partnership.

 

 

9. Improve emotional well-being.

“Things feel mentally more manageable.”

  • Feel calmer, less distracted, and more in control.

  • Reduce guilt and frustration associated with clutter.

  • Strengthen self-awareness and emotional resilience by addressing personal patterns such as perfectionism, burnout, decision fatigue, negative self-talk, and unrealistic expectations.

 

 

10. Create more functional spaces.

“I now have a blueprint for how to declutter.”

  • Reclaim rooms for their intended use.

  • Improve access to frequently used items.

  • Make spaces safer and easier to navigate.

 

 

11. Build long-term independence.

“I feel very motivated.”

  • Learn skills rather than relying on someone else to organize.

  • Apply organizing principles to new areas.

  • Continue making progress after formal organizing sessions end.

 

 

12. Increase confidence and self-trust.

“I can do this!”

  • Experience success through small, achievable wins.

  • Trust your ability to stay flexible and determine your best next action.

  • Feel more capable of managing your time, energy, space, and things independently.

 

 

 

How Can Hiring a Professional Organizer Help?

The reality is that we all need help at times. There is no shame in reaching out for the support you need. I’ve experienced this many times, hiring someone to help with something I was stuck on, to manage a large project, or to fill a skills gap when I couldn’t accomplish what I needed on my own.

Have you worked with a professional organizer? What benefits did you experience? If you are an organizer, what benefits have your clients experienced working with you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

 


 

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, disorganized, or stuck? You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here to help! Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s talk! I’m easy to reach.

Getting organized, building confidence, and reaching your goals are possible, especially with support.

 
 
How One Small Change Can Help Reduce Overwhelm and Boost Task Activation

There are two challenges related to change that many of my clients face. The most common reason is overwhelm, often because the changes they seek are significant. Overwhelm can happen when you:

  • Have difficulty deciding where to start

  • Want to make multiple changes

  • Are unsure whether what you want to accomplish is possible

  • Engage in negative self-talk or unhelpful loops and scripts

  • Are uncertain how you’ll have time to make the changes you seek

The second most common challenge is task activation. My clients often know what to do, yet struggle to take action. They may experience low mood, boredom with the task, self-doubt, exhaustion, or difficulty managing their time.

The good news is that even when you’re feeling overwhelmed and having difficulty activating, things can shift quickly in a positive direction. I’ve seen this happen consistently with my clients, and it’s inspiring to be part of.

Are you curious about how to shift from overwhelm to hope and from stuckness to action? If so, keep reading to learn a few helpful strategies.

 

 

Change Strategies That Work When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed and Stuck

Strategy 1: Go Small

You know the phrase, “Think big?” For the first strategy, do the exact opposite. Instead of focusing on all the changes you want to make, go small, really small. This shift creates a boundary.

Let’s say you want to edit and organize all the rooms in your home. The goal is doable, but the enormity of those tasks feels overwhelming. For now, set aside thinking about the big picture and focus on a single, small piece.

For example, you want to edit and organize your clothes, which are stored in many rooms, dressers, and closets. Select one small area to begin, such as a drawer, a shelf, a closet rod, or a bag stuffed in the basement. Anywhere is OK as long as the area is small.

You’ll notice almost immediately that your mood begins to regulate because you’ve contained the organizing task to something more manageable. Overwhelm and anxiety subside when you set boundaries around your area of focus.

 

 

Strategy 2: Engage in What’s Doable

Combine the first strategy, going small, with this next one. As you can imagine, it’s not enough to create a tinier boundary and shift your mindset. It must be paired with an action or task. By reducing stress and cortisol surges, activation becomes possible. You can calmly face your task.

Here’s the magic. Making progress on that one small thing has a wonderfully positive effect. Your thoughts transform from “I can’t do this” to “I’m getting it done!” Your mood shifts from blocked and negative to lighter, more energetic, and more excited about taking on more.

  

Overwhelm and anxiety subside when you set boundaries around your area of focus.
— Linda Samuels. CPO-CD®, CVOP™

 

Strategy 3: Enlist Help

The first two strategies are effective. However, if you’re ready for change and still feel unable to move forward, it’s time for the third option: Ask for help. This can come from a nonjudgmental friend, family member, or professional organizer like me. You don’t have to do this alone.

My clients recognize that having a partner on their organizing journey is the secret sauce. They appreciate ongoing support, discussions of solutions and challenges, help with decision-making, a thought partner, and encouragement.

Some recent client organizing tasks included:

  • Decluttering the dining room table

  • Refining a project management system

  • Editing several bags of shirts

  • Sorting and releasing old business files from a shelf

  • Editing and letting go of a box of electronic material

For all of these projects, my clients’ starting point was feeling overwhelmed and unable to act. However, by narrowing the scope, focusing on one small part at a time, and enlisting external support, they improved their mood, accomplished a specific task, boosted their confidence, and were motivated to do more.

 


 

Why Does a Tiny Change Matter?

Small shifts are doable and sustainable. When you think about change, it can feel overwhelming, especially when the changes are big. However, by adjusting your mindset, narrowing the scope, and enlisting help, you can make progress. What helps you when you feel overwhelmed? How do you work with task activation? What resonates with you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

 

 

 

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, disorganized, or paralyzed? Do you seek change, yet feel stuck? I’m here to help! Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s connect! I’m easy to reach.

Embracing change and getting organized are possible, especially with support.