Confessions of an Organizer: Why My Home is Organized

When someone finds out that I’m a professional organizer, I often hear the statement: "So, I know your house is perfect." And to that I say "No, my house is organized.”

I'm a busy business owner with no kids, so it’s probably easier for me then a lot of the population. But if you aren’t quite organized, take heart! It could take months or even years of learning what works and putting it into practice to get organized. Everyone's situation changes throughout their lives which affects their level of organization. But there are basic principles of how you can stay organized.

Here is a list of reasons why my house is organized:

1. We don't own a lot of things

I'm no minimalist (although some of my clients may think I am), but we try to pair down and purge on a regular basis. I try to only have what I need and buy only for the space that I have. When shopping not only do I ask: “Do I need or want this?” I also ask, “Where will I put it?” Because we live in a cozy one-bedroom apartment the answer to that question often leaves the item at the store.

2. I learn from the struggles of my clients

When I'm with my clients I see time and time again the same resistance: emotional struggles and the turmoils associated with unnecessary acquisition and letting go of things. It's like I get the privilege of seeing the same lesson over and over again. My own personal Ground Hog day, and unlike Bill Murray’s character Phil, the day is different, the client is different and the things may be different, but again and again and again it's often the same challenges. I get to see the moral, and I try my best to "get it" when I practice the acquisition and letting go of things in my own life.

3. “The best things in life aren't things” quote means more to me than a pin on Pinterest  

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but I want to emphasize how important it is. The moments we experience and share with loved ones are always more important than the collection (and working for and maintenance) of more and more items.

4. I don't strive for perfection

I'm in my late 30's and I'm over what people think (mostly). With age, my spiritual perception, and a little help of Brené Brown and her book The Gifts of Imperfection, I’ve come to realize living life based on unrealistic expectation is unfruitful. Organizational bliss, in my opinion, is a cross between finding what you need, when you need it, and knowing what is priority in your life.  How things look is often just the icing on the cake. Ironically when you have priorities in place, and put your belongings where you can find them, things tend to look nice naturally.

5. I try never to organize for the sake of being organized or for what others think  

I organize because it adds value and supports the functions of my life. Overall, it allows me to have great experiences, and to do things and be with people who are important to me.

When I'm balanced, I'm happy, and it doesn't bother me that I didn't make up my bed (for the day) or the laundry basket is full if it’s for good reason. If I know I gave the more important things in my life attention, then I'm at peace. When I feed my soul (or things that make me, me), then I have the energy and the desire to take care of the day to day maintenance that being organized requires.

6. I make a game plan  

Sometimes having a game plan works out, but the fact that I had a plan in the first place often gives me the courage to start. If you were shipwrecked on a desert island, would you just jump into the sea hoping for the best? No. You'd get your Tom-Hanks-in-Cast-Away skills on and make a plan of action. It's still scary, but that fact that you thought about a plan of attack will help you move forward. And, if you happen to get stuck, you can always refer back to your original plan.

7. I delegate and I don't try to do it all by myself (anymore)

Honestly, if it weren't for my husband my house would only be organized 80% of the time…(Thanks, Honey).But he’s not the only person on my team who helps me get the job done. It’s important to call in for backup when we need it, it’ll help us get to the things we love to do much quicker. It took me a while to get that lesson.

8. I make sure all my things have a home

We have assigned homes to most things in our home and car. It’s a rare occasion that we are frantically clueless about where something is. This practice can save a lot of time. If we are looking for something we need to have a vague idea of where it is. If you have a drawer filled with random, miscellaneous items, it’s time to empty the drawer and give each thing a home to call its own.

9. I realize the rhythm of my week, and energy levels  

When I first ended my 9-5 career I was still stuck in that mentality. I soon realized that I need to get up and get started earlier to get everything done. Then I realized that my mental clarity was sharper in the morning and when I was alone.  Because of this, I do a lot more administrative and creative tasks (like my planning, bookkeeping, blog writing, social media) earlier in the day and more laborious but less mentally intensive tasks (like cleaning, exercise, folding clothes, responding to emails) tasks at night. I also realize that I don’t have the gumption to go the gym early, but I’m more likely to go at 9:00 p.m. than at 6:00 a.m. Instead of forcing myself to go to the gym early, I don’t waste  time or energy trying to drum up motivation in spite of my low-energy level. Understanding my personal rhythm and energy has allowed me to get more things done because I work on things that match my energy levels.  Where you have the luxury of setting your own schedule, make sure you do so effectively.

Every individual is different, and what I’ve found that works for me may not work for you.  And what works for me now, may not work for me later. It's about learning the ebb and flow of your life and taking steps to readjust when necessary.  

You can try to incorporate some of the things that worked for me and see what happens. If you’re still struggling to get your home organized, reach out. We can help you come up with some personalized solutions that may work better for you.

Andrea Hancock is a professional organizer & productivity consultant, blogger, speaker, and educator that assists and empowers busy professionals, entrepreneurs and those experiencing major life transitions to create and maintain organizational systems that work for them personally.  Andrea is also founder of Dexterous Organizing, a results-oriented professional organizing company.  Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call to begin your journey to better productivity and more organizational prowess or give us a call at (703) 606-8968.

Inspiration & Motivation!

We often must conquer procrastination, negative thoughts and emotions, fears and just plain laziness.  But if you put a system in place for ourselves we have to conquer ourselves to move forward.

Getting Organized F.A.S.T.: The Pep Talk you'll need this Spring

Nowadays people are all about getting things done in a snap! Speed dating, Go-gurt® and even express manicures shows that things people used to take time to enjoy are rushed and squeezed into schedules. Let's face it, we all are busy and our times are at a premium. As a professional organizer I often use the acronym F.A.S.T. But ironically it breaks organizing down not to make it as quick as possible but hopefully as long-lasting as possible. How efficient can you be if you're always looking for things? Being disorganized takes our precious time away. So let's break it down so that we can get into the process of being organized and maybe you can enjoy a regular manicure and maybe even a pedi.

F. - FOCUS

1. Turn off the T.V. -- Organizing is NOT cleaning. It really isn't a mindless activity, it involves your eyes and hands and yes, your brain. I tell clients to turn off the t.v. as it causes distraction from our thought process. But if you desire some fun while getting the job done, upbeat music can give you the energy boost you need to continue.

2. De-clutter/Pare Down -- Spring Cleaning is all about letting go and opening your arms to embrace space and let new and more wonderful things in your life. Do you really need a food processor, Magic Bullet, and a set of Ginsu knives? If you use all three often than perhaps you do. But if you can't justify keeping all of the similar items, consider donating one to a friend, family member or Goodwill and let it go to someone who will use it. Open that space and place in your life to something useful or beautiful.

3. One area at a time -- If you start with the idea in ONE Saturday you will organize and clean your WHOLE 3 bedroom home you are setting yourself up for failure. Many times we pull everything out the closets, drawers, and bins and find ourselves 4 hours later in a bigger mess than we began with and no energy left to finish or no plan of action of how to put everything back in an organized fashion. Focus on one space, one place. Organize a junk drawer in the kitchen then move on to under the sink in the bathroom. You'll be surprised how organizing one small space can make a huge difference in functionality and you will be able to carry your enthusiasm throughout the whole house without feeling overwhelmed. Remember to De-clutter/Pare down during this process.


A. - Action Plan

1. Goals - What areas really bug you or stump you the most? Sometimes it's best to start with these areas but write down (yes write it down) what you'd like the space to become or transform into. Often a mind map is a good place to start to let your creative juices flow and give yourself a road map to follow.

2. Make it real - Wouldn't we all want to island hop once a year in the Caribbean? *Raises hand* But either because of time or budget it's not realistic. When making your action plan be realistic about your time and your budget. Make the plan as simple as possible and then once you've accomplished that goal you can add all the bells and whistles later.

3. Get a timeline - If you want to de-clutter for instance, give yourself a date to sort out things you don't use any longer, and then a date to donate (or schedule a donation pick up). If you create an action plan without a deadline or a time in your calendar set aside, it's just a dream and not an action plan.

S. System & Sustainability

1. Make an "I-do-this-anyway" System - Sometimes it's better to create an organizing system around the habits we already have versus trying to create new habits. For instance, if you kick your shoes off at the front door, it may be best to create an organized place for your shoes at the front door rather than to feel like you will suddenly create a new habit of walking your shoes to the bedroom closet each day. This way you make your organizing system more sustainable and longer lasting.

2. Maintenance - All good processes require maintenance. Schedule time each week or day to maintain the systems you've created. Remember that organization is a process not a destination. It may take several tries and tweaks until you get it right, or perhaps you experience changes in life (new family member, a move, a new job) that dictate you change a system. It's okay, you're not a failure you just have to adjust and tweak a system until you find the one that works for the life you currently lead.

T. Training & Tools

1. My first tool of recommendation as a professional organizer is HIRE A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER! *smile* We keep up with the latest tools, gadgets, gizmos and organizing trends. We may even help you to see you don't need any gadgets but give you tried and true tips and tricks that could tweak how you do things but make a grand difference in your life. Organizers have foresight and the outside opinion that you may seek without the judgments and comments from the peanut gallery of family and friends.

2. Books and pictures - If you don't know what you want initially, it's great to peruse the library or Barnes & Nobles to look at books and magazines on homes organization. Once you've gotten an idea of what you want you may slowly get ideas of how to get there.



Like what you read and want to share on your blog or in print? No problem. Just make sure you make this statement at the end: Copyright 2012. Andrea Hancock is a Professional Organizer, Speaker and Owner Dexterous Organizing based in the Washington DC Metro Area. Dexterous Organizing not only provides hands-on organizing services but attempts to also enlighten the world with tips of staying dexterous, organized and efficient in a world that demands much on our time and resources. Contact Andrea at (703) 606-8968 or via e-mail andrea@dexterousorganizing.com if you'd like to learn more about how you can put the pieces of your life together with organization!

Don't Believe the Hype!

If I were to tell you that I were a doctor, what are some automatic things you'd think about me? Smart, articulate, makes a lot of money, healer, knowledgeable, are a few adjectives that come to mind for me. Now for a moment let me be more specific. If I said I was a neurosurgeon or if I said I was a veterinarian you get two vastly different pictures right? What is my point? The possibilities are endless and depending on your experience or lack of experience (say what you've seen on television of these professions) you have a mold of what these professions do, what type of people choose to be in this profession, and the qualities they possess.

I say that I'm a professional organizer. This industry is relatively new and for now the majority of the population who has any idea of what an Organizer is gets their ideas from television. Some are a little off "So you're like Nicey Nash right?" Um, no. I love Nicey Nash as an Entertainer and Host of the show but she is not an Organizer, she is a celebrity of a show who helps people de-clutter and facilitates a team of professionals (one who happens to be a Professional Organizer) and the home owner. She does a little of what an Organizer does by helping the home owner make decisions about what to keep and what to sell all with hilarity and pizazz. Then some people are much closer to what and Organizer is: "I love Peter Walsh." So do I. He is actually an Organizing Expert that helps people think about their stuff in a different way and then gives them the mental and physical steps to over-come clutter and organize their spaces. Yes, although he probably doesn't like the label, he is a Professional Organizer. So there are different pictures in our heads and in the heads of others (particularly our clients) that we have to address as to who we are as people and what we do as a profession.

When I first decided to pursue a career of a Professional Organizer, I too was under the "stereotype hype" of what an Organizer is. I thought this person was Mary Poppins and Martha Stewart's love child and everywhere he or she went the world was a little tidier with a throw pillow and a vase of peonies left in their wake of song and dance until it was time for them to fly off with open umbrella to the next appointment. With that idea, the pressure was immense. And although I love being organized and some of my friends think I am very organized - yes I like to straighten up my hotel room before I leave for the day as part inventory and part anal retentive. I drool while at The Container Store and could stare at pictures of organized spaces with dreaminess, but I also didn't come out the womb organizing my stuffed animals by type and color. As a child my room was messy on many an occasion and I kept things that I should have thrown away (like a Dixie cup of full of my baby teeth). I joined NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) and stood in a room full of veteran Organizers and thought they were organizing giants. I thought about their years of experience and techniques and my messy childhood turned organizing fan and I felt like a fraud.
I recently read Organizing from the Right Side of the Brain by Lee Sibler. I suddenly had an ah-ha moment.

I'm a right-brain thinker who has some of the traits Sibler lists. I wear my B Dexterous signature tee-shirts and they say "I love organizing" and trust me the shirts don't lie. I do love organizing. I love organizing because I hate the alternative. Sure I can leave a space messy for a short while but after I spend 10 minutes looking for something my other right-brain characteristic – impatience comes to the fore and I get anxious, angry and moody (moody being another right-brain characteristic Sibler lists). I love organizing because it brings calm and cohesiveness to my world and helps me feel like I'm accomplishing my goals and not spinning my wheels. Sibler states about the creative right-brainer who stays organized: "There are wanna-be creatives, and then there are the truly creatives. The wanna-bes are people who have very low attention spans and are all over the place. They can come up with all kinds of truly wonderful ideas but rarely follow through on them. The second type of people are also extremely creative, but as it happens they are extremely disciplined as well. It's a most remarkable combination." I follow through. I love being creative and seeing a project from start to finish. I am a right-brained-creative-organizer.

I didn't fit into my own "stereotype hype" of what an Organizer is. I didn't come out of the womb with a file folder and a label-maker. But I love leaving a space organized so that my clients can feel calm and cohesive in their space. If they feel like they have to doodle for 30 minutes before they figure out how to organize, that's okay. If they want to pile instead of file, if it works go for it! Organizing is about creating a system that works for each individual. Being able to find the things you need and want without being anxious, angry and moody. Yes to create, you have to be creative. But being creative doesn't mean being disorganized. I actually DO think Mary Poppins and Martha Stewart's love child would make a great organizer. A song, a dance, a lesson on potting your perennials while your unkempt office, living room, and kitchen all put themselves neatly away. But that's a stereotype that no longer causes me angst. I say that I'm a professional organizer. I'm not a left-brain run-of-the-mill organizer stereotype and I think I I'm wonderful the way I am. Thanks Lee.

Andrea Hancock is a professional organizer, blogger, and speaker that assists and empowers busy professionals and business owners create and maintain organizational systems that work for them personally.  Andrea is also founder of Dexterous Organizing, a results-oriented professional organizing company.  To receive free productivity and organizing tools, or to venture into a more organized home, office, and life, click "I'm ready to get started!" at www.DexterousOrganizing.com or by phone at (703) 606-8968.