What motivates us to take action? As a professional organizer for almost 20 years, I’ve noticed certain patterns that propel people to reach out for organizing help. When I ask a potential client, “What prompted your call?” there are some typical responses. They include answers which include feeling overwhelmed, feeling stuck, and experiencing big life changes.

Let me know if any of these resonate with you. Or, are you experiencing something other than what is described?

Top 10 Reasons People Ask for Organizing Help

1.“I am overwhelmed by my clutter, lack of space, and time to manage the ‘stuff’ of life.”

Overwhelmed – This general sense of overwhelm is the most frequent reason given for enlisting organizing help.

2.“ I’d like to be organized, but I never learned the skills.”

Never Learned How – For some, organizing comes naturally, while for others it’s learned. It's never too late to start, even if organizing wasn't taught or modeled.

3.“ I want to organize, but I don’t know which organizing products are best, where to purchase them, or where to donate unwanted items.”

Need Resources – The physical part of the organizing process sometimes requires help from others. Organizers have an abundance of resources including places to donate or purchase storage containers, and contacts for other professionals such as therapists or coaches.

4.“I know what I want to accomplish, but I can’t figure out how to make that happen and what to do next.”

Next Step Paralysis – Our organizing end goal might be clear, but we're not sure what our next small step should be. This can cause procrastination and inaction. Organizers can help break large goals into smaller, doable steps.

5.“ I know how to organize, but I don’t have any time to do it.”

Time Poor – Some prefer to delegate or outsource organizing projects because their schedules are too busy to handle the work themselves.

6.“The only way I’ll get organized is if I’m accountable to someone.”

Want Accountability Partner – Establishing set appointments and follow-ups with an organizer or accountability partner can be a great motivator for completion of projects.

7.“I’m organized, but my spouse is not. It’s making me crazy, and I don’t know what to do!”

Disorganized Family Member – Frustration over family members with different organizing styles and tolerances is very common. Organizers are often enlisted to help families figure out workable solutions by staying neutral and non-judgmental.

8.“I used to be able to organize, but because of my declining health, I no longer have the strength or the energy to do this myself.”

Health Challenges – Medical challenges can cause limited mobility, loss of energy, or concentration. This is another reason people ask for organizing help.

9.“I have ADD and find it difficult to focus and stay organized. It’s been a lifelong struggle. I want to figure out systems that work for the way I think.”

Brain Differences – ADHD and other brain or learning differences can make organizing more challenging. It’s very common to enlist help from specially trained organizers or coaches. ICD is a wonderful resource for finding organizers with training in these areas.

10.“ My kids are out of the house, my parents have both passed away, and I have too many things that no longer fit my life. I need help letting go and reorganizing.”

In Transition – Before, during, or after changes such as births, moves, divorces, empty-nests, or loss of loved ones, our routines and needs shift. Organizers can be valuable partners in negotiating that new normal.

I’d love to hear from you. Do any of these seem familiar? What can you add to list? Come join our conversation.

The excitement continues with our recently launched “Ask the Expert” feature on The Other Side of Organized blog.  In the past few months, we have discussed change with John Ryan of The Life Change Network, explored next steps with Yota Schneider of Open for Success, and explored letting go with Geralin Thomas of Metropolitan Organizing. This month, I’m thrilled to introduce you to the energetic author and organizing expert, Lorie Marrero, to share her wisdom about clutter.

Lorie is a wonderful colleague and industry dynamo. I recall a conversation we had together many years ago at a NAPO conference, when she was about to launch her innovative Clutter Diet concept. It’s incredible to see how much she has accomplished and contributed to the professional organizing industry in such a short time. My appreciation and thanks go to her for taking the time to join us. Before we begin, here’s some background about Lorie.

Lorie Marrero is the author of The Clutter Diet book and the creator of ClutterDiet.com, an innovative program that allows anyone to access expert help at an affordable price. Lorie serves as the spokesperson for Goodwill Industries International, and she is a sought-after expert for national media. She writes regularly as an organizing expert for GoodHousekeeping.com and lives in Austin, TX, with her dog, two sons, spouse, and her 30,000 bee daughters. You can connect with Lorie on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, her blog, or her website.

Linda:  You’re an expert on helping others manage their clutter. What are your favorite clutter management tips?

Lorie:  When you’re creating an organizing system, whether a closet, pantry, or garage, assume that laziness is the norm. Nobody wants to take extra steps, use more than one hand, or spend a long time putting something away. Make things as visible, easy, and obvious as possible so that other people can help maintain the space. Labeling and grouping really help, and products like hooks and open baskets are easier and work with our “lazy” tendencies.

Just like weight loss, getting organized is really about Prevention (cutting the clutter calories coming into the house), Reduction (working off the accumulation you already have), and Maintenance (creating a pattern of habits to maintain your good work). Most people focus on the Reduction part, meaning doing projects like organizing their closets or garages, but they forget to think about Prevention and Maintenance, so their spaces soon revert back to being cluttered.

We have lots of resources at www.clutterdiet.com/freetips, including our popular Clutter Prevention Wallet Reminder Sleeves, which you can print out and use to store your favorite credit or debit cards. On them are the five questions you should ask before buying anything!

Linda:  Why are we so clutter obsessed?

Lorie:  In North America, we have innovated and worked hard as a culture to raise our standards of living, and we’ve reached an unprecedented level of abundance. We are faced daily with hundreds of advertising messages that insist we still don’t have enough, or that what we have is no longer in fashion, so we keep acquiring.

Linda:  Is there such a thing as “good clutter?”

Lorie:  If you realize your clutter is a result of your fortunate abundance, you can look at it as a great problem to have. I would rather have this problem than having no clean water or war in the streets, which is what many in the world live with each day. Also, one person’s clutter is another person’s treasure, so perspective is everything!

Linda:  Do you have a philosophy about clutter?

Lorie:  One of my personal missions is to remind people that this “problem” of clutter is a result of our abundant lives. I believe we should activate our gratitude for this abundance by being responsible donors. Donating household goods IS philanthropy, so always be aware of how your donations will be used. Latest numbers from Goodwill® show that 82% of your donations’ collective revenue goes directly to their mission of helping people find work. This message is very important to me! It’s why I am the ambassador of Goodwill’s Donate Movement, and it’s also why at the end of my YouTube videos, I always say, “May you always be happy and grateful for having more than enough.”

Linda:  What has been your biggest personal clutter challenge?

Lorie:  My kids! Definitely. I have two teenage boys, and they are naturally not as conscious of keeping their parents’ house as tidy as they probably will be with their own homes.  In various ages and stages, we’ve had different challenges with different kinds of toys. Right now it’s clothing and school papers that are their biggest clutter problems.

Linda:  Is there anything you’d like to share about clutter that I haven’t asked?

Lorie:  Fear is a huge factor in this topic of clutter and organizing that I feel needs addressing. I hear a lot of fear out there:  fear of waste, fear of loss, fear of offending someone, fear of not doing it perfectly right, and fear of missing out or not keeping up.  Fear is there to keep us safe, certainly, but it’s also there to challenge us, and its presence makes our victories sweeter. We have to push past it confidently to get clutter out of way so we can do the important things that really matter!

What inspiring thoughts, Lorie! I’m grateful that you shared your insightful, clear ideas about clutter, fear and abundance with us. I invite all of you to join Lorie and me as we continue the conversation. What are your clutter challenges, successes and stories? 

Our oldest daughter just graduated from college. As we returned from our trip, it became clear that an integral part of any transition, whether it's graduation or otherwise, often involves clutter reduction and management.

Clutter can be overwhelming. If you need some help, consider experimenting with some of these seven practical tips.

7 Practical Tips for Reducing Your Clutter

1. Clear Slate

Return things to square one. That might include putting away the dishes, clearing off your desk, or placing dirty clothes in the laundry basket. This will help to maintain clutter and promote mental clarity as you begin your day. When returning from our trip, it felt great to come home to a clutter-free space.

2. Think Less

How much is enough? The less stuff you have, the easier it will be to manage and maintain. While away, I was amazed by how many things I didn’t need.  I only packed a small portion of my belongings, of which not all were used. Remember the 80/20 rule. In general, we only wear 20% of the clothes we own. We only reference 20% of the papers we file.

3. Complete Cycle

Develop an awareness of what you are doing. If you have just entered the house with groceries or purchases in hand, take time to put them away. The few minutes spent doing this minimizes clutter that might otherwise collect in hallways, corners, and floors.

4. Create Homes

When things have no place to go, they start to gather in piles. Establishing a place to put your things helps reduce clutter. Make sure that what you keep is “home worthy.” Is it useful? Do you love it? Does it fit? Do you need so many? Is it time to let go? Ask the questions before putting things away.

5. Pass On

What if the clutter represents things no longer wanted? Do I really want to keep my marble collection or pants that no longer fit? Is it time to reroute them? Many people would appreciate them. Can you donate to a local charity or give it to family or friends? Many charities will pick up clothing, linens, furniture, and household items. Especially during transitions, we may find that our things “no longer fit” who we are or where we are headed. This can be a clutter-reducing motivator.

6. Use Minutes

Clutter management doesn’t have to involve hours. Doing periodic ten-minute sessions can be less overwhelming. Unpacking from our trip included clearing out my travel folder. Some items were filed, and others were recycled. I used additional minutes to look through the four-year-old college folders and clear out papers that are now irrelevant.

7. Purchase Consciously

Before purchasing, consider whether you genuinely need it and where you will store it. Factoring in this aspect of purchasing habits will prevent clutter from entering your home.

What are your favorite ways to manage and reduce clutter?