By Jolene Monaco
When I used to say I was a professional organizer, I would get the response, “Is that a real job, and do people pay you to do that?” Well, thanks to reality TV, I’m not hearing that anymore! Reality TV has brought much attention to this profession, although it doesn’t always align with real life. You know if you know if you ever saw a picture of Khloe Kardashian’s pantry.
Having a professional organizer is now more accessible and is as mainstream as having a cleaning service. It’s a form of self-care and investment in your lifestyle. January is GO Month — Get Organized — and is prime to kick off your resolutions and end procrastination. And if you think you can’t afford a professional organizer, here are some life-changing facts as to why you can’t afford not to hire one:
- You’re overspending: You buy the same things over and over because you can’t find a pair of scissors or the blouse that’s lost in your closet.
- You shop to relieve stress: Shopping is a dopamine hit, but it contributes more to the chaos in your home. You’re too disorganized to remember to return items you don’t need or can’t find receipts.
- You’re not productive: Physical clutter impacts mental clutter. Every time you’re distracted by your environment, your brain resets itself. Think about starting to peddle a bike and then stopping before you gain momentum, then starting again and again.
- You’re stressed and anxious: People with a lot of clutter have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Higher cortisol levels contribute to insomnia, weight gain, high blood pressure, and more!
- Your environment affects your relationships: The members of your household suffer because your stuff affects how they live. There never seems to be enough time because you’re stuck in a pattern and are overwhelmed. If you were to die, it would be difficult for your loved ones to find important documents. Your problem now becomes someone else’s.
So, what does a professional organizer do that a friend or family member can’t do for free?
- We don’t judge and are discreet. I joke we know where all the bodies are buried. We have found money, gift cards, lost jewelry, and more.
- We understand spatial relations. There are so many times I’m in a home where people think they need more storage — and sometimes they do. But, there are also times when the space someone has isn’t being utilized properly. We’re there to figure that out.
- We have product knowledge. Many clients who try to organize independently will buy all these containers and baskets, which is backward. We know which are the best products for their space and contents. If you know, you know, if we’ve ever turned you on to a valet rod. (rewrite the last sentence. Do you mean “If you know, you know”?)
- We teach you household management: While it may seem intuitive, many people don’t understand all the rooms in their home operate in tandem with each other. We take your whole home into consideration when we organize so your systems will work for you instead of you working for your home.
- We organize your moves: I don’t know anyone who loves moving, but we do! A professional organizer can help you declutter before a move so you’re not paying to move and unpack what you don’t need. We manage every aspect of your moves until you are completely unpacked and organized. Are you putting your home on the market? Any Realtor will tell you a decluttered home will attract more potential buyers.
Jolene Monaco, CPO,® is a board-certified professional organizer and founder of Habitually Organized. She is a professional member of NAPO – National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals and a former board member of NAPO-DFW. She holds an inactive real estate license in the State of Texas and is currently on the affiliate committee of MetroTex Association of Realtors. Before becoming a professional organizer, Jolene worked for 28 years in domestic and international aerospace sales and jet engine maintenance operations.
