3 Ways Professional Organizing Creates a Home that Supports Your New Year's Goals
I truly believe that to feel in control and have time for what is important to you, you must start with gaining control of your home. Our physical environment can play a huge role in our mood, our productivity and our ability to achieve a life balance that includes self-care and fun. Let me share three ways that a professional home organizer can support some of the more common New Year's goals that are set each year.
Benefit #1: Organization Calms the Chaos & Gives You Control
When your closets are bursting at the seams and you can't find the scissors in the junk drawer because it is overflowing, you feel frustrated because you are wasting time finding the things you need. You also feel stressed because you know you are overdue on decluttering that closet, cleaning out that junk drawer and reorganizing your home in general. Addressing and organizing the pain points in your home will save you time in the long run and make you feel so much more at peace. There is nothing like the feeling of a closet after it's been cleaned out and you can easily hang up your coat, place your shoes, and find your hat and gloves. Double that "feel good" emotion if you don't have to help your kids find their stuff because with everything in its place, they can find it themselves!
If your goal for the New Year is to "finally get organized," you must sit down and dedicate time to tackling only one space or room at a time - do not try to bite off more than you can chew. Schedule your organizing projects on your calendar in small chunks of time - even 20 to 30 minutes can leave you feeling both accomplished and motivated. If you really don't have the time or energy, hire a professional home organizer. Here at Organized by Meg in Denver, we keep it "REAL" simple when it comes to decluttering and organizing your space. First we "Remove" the items from that space and sort them into categories according to how you use them. We also freshen up the space by giving it a good cleaning since it's now empty. Next, we "Edit" all the categorized piles we've made, and with your input, we mark and move items to trash, donation, other rooms in the house they belong in, return to borrower, send for repair, or whatever other category you identify with.
With what's left, we then "Assign" a home within that space for that category of items. This is where the organizing happens. Our team creates a system within that space that is going to work best for your family, using bins and baskets you already have, adding new organizing products if needed, and even new custom closets if you so choose. We think of lots of details that you would not, such as wasted space that can be utilized (like the back of the door) and whether you need containers with or without lids. Our focus is on simplicity, functionality and beauty. Lastly, we "Label" the space your stuff now lives in - such as the edges of the shelves, bins and baskets and the inside of drawers. This helps maintain the system because everyone will be able to see what belongs where. Creating organizing systems like this leads to control for you of each space we've tackled, creating a sense of calm and peace of mind knowing you can find the things you need and want. You'll also feel motivated to tackle another space, or even the entire house!
Benefit #2: Organization Makes Room for Meditation & Mindfulness
We live such busy lives, in a culture where "hustle" is celebrated and we can feel “lazy” during downtime. But life is meant to be lived and enjoyed, not just worked to death, and once we accept that it is more than okay to desire balancing our careers and our "to-dos" with fun, self-care and quality time with friends and family, the faster we will commit to creating space in our homes and calendars. You can DIY your projects, or call in reinforcements by way of a family member or friend, or ultimately outsource the work to a professional organizing company. Being mindful of how we spend our time and how we wish to spend our time is the first step in getting to a place where we can enjoy our lives more.
If your goal for the New Year is to meditate or to be more mindful in general, investing time in decluttering and organizing your home will be well worth it. We need white space in our environment and schedule to make room for our hobbies, journaling, prayer and meditation - or whatever mindfulness looks like to you. These activities are so hard to carry out while feeling calm and relaxed if we are surrounded by clutter and distractions. When you declutter your space to make room for these relaxing activities, consider eliminating distractions in addition to physical clutter - mainly, technology. If there is a TV playing in the background, or an iPhone that keeps lighting up or a smart watch that keeps dinging you, it will be very hard for you to concentrate on reading that book, writing in your journal, or just sitting in silence - and moms, you know how enjoyable just sitting in silence can be!
Getting into the practice of routine decluttering is essential, because home organization is a practice after all and not just a project. A commitment to reducing clutter and living with less will aid in your ability to focus on what really matters to you more regularly.
Benefit #3: Organization Prompts Additional Physical Activity
Many of us wish that we were more physically active or that we could be better at committing to an exercise routine. We are so lucky to live in the beautiful state of Colorado, with access to so many outdoor activities like walking in neighborhoods with beautiful views, hiking on trails near and far, biking in state parks and canyons, world class skiing and snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains and paddle boarding in local lakes. I fell in love with the outdoors and natural beauty of Colorado the very first time I visited Denver and again when I moved here to the foothills (specifically, Littleton). The outdoors is at the very forefront of my mind when we are hired to declutter and organize for Denver area families because I want to ensure that we are creating efficient systems for these families to take advantage of what life in Colorado has to offer. If our clients are not working, they want to be out playing, and my team and I organize their homes so they can easily access their hiking gear and ski equipment as well as move freely about their home gyms.
If indoor activities are more your speed, or a combination of both indoor and outdoor workouts, that's great too! The best physical activity is the one you enjoy the most. Consider what activities you want to prioritize and organize your home and schedule to include space for your Peloton equipment, rowing classes, and strength training.
So if your goal for the New Year is to recommit to a routine, getting your home and your calendar organized is essential to accomplishing your goals. A professional home organizer can help you do just that if you are lacking the time, patience or know-how to get that done. If your house is a mess, it will be hard to feel OK about leaving it a mess and working out because you may be thinking about the mess! Or if you don't care about the mess (some of just don't), it might be really frustrating for you to find the gear you need to get moving, like running shoes, a water pack or sunglasses. Lastly, creating space in your calendar and starting a daily routine that includes a time block for the physical activity you love will help create a lasting non-negotiable habit.
get organized so you can focus on what matters
New Year's resolutions aren't always easy! There is a reason gyms are packed during January and then empty out. It's hard to create habits that stick without the proper base put into place and a real mindset shift. To give your new "intentions" a real fighting chance, try hiring a professional home organizer to whip your home environment into shape first and then take a good hard look at your calendar clutter. Organizing your home and your schedule will help support your resolutions to feel more in control of your life, be more mindful of your time, and stay active in colorful Colorado.
If you loved learning about how the organization supports your goals, you’ll love learning how Organized by Meg will transform your whole Denver area home…and your life! Join our mailing list to get inspired and grab your behind-the-scenes guide here.
Sending you organized vibes,
Meg
