You Are Not Alone In Your Clutter And Disorganization
The National Association of Professional Organizers has over 4000 registered members. This number does not include the countless number of people who are organizing for friends and family but have not joined our national association.
Why is this number important? Well, it clearly indicates that you are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by clutter and hopefully it helps you understand that you are not the only one challenged by getting organized and staying organized.
Why is this important information to start with? Well, there are a lot of people out there who are experiencing shame, health issues, depression and family separation issues due to the clutter in their homes. Whether the clutter and disorganization is situational, meaning caused by an event or series of events or it’s always been a challenge, it’s important to know that you are not alone.
These issues may be preexisting and exasperated by the clutter and disorganization. Regardless of what shines the light on the issue – the issue is underlying. It’s not about the stuff.
So let’s address the effects straight on and see if we can shine a light on a path of help and hope for those affected by this challenge.
Shame: I can’t tell you how many times I have known a potential client for a period of time before they were willing to let me into their home to help them. I have been greeted at the door by tears. I have arrived on site and the first thing I hear is, “I’m so embarrassed” or “this is really hard for me” or “you can’t imagine how hard it was for me to call you.”
What I want you to know about this is that qualified professional organizers are just that, professional. We have worked with all level of clients. Our goal is to help you find relief; create a better quality of life for you and your family and to be a supportive outlets for you to do the work that needs to be done. If you come across an organizer that does not feel safe to you, please, please keep looking. It’s OK for you to say, “I don’t think this is going to work for me” and continue looking. If you cannot do it in person, leave a message, send an email. Don’t work with someone who doesn’t feel safe to you, you will do yourself a disservice and potentially do more damage than good. There are many, many different styles and personalities out there – find someone that fits for you.
Health Issues – There are many health issues that can develop as a result of clutter and disorganization. Clutter is a breeding ground for dust and germs and in some more extreme cases mold. If you are feeling sick, depressed, having trouble breathing or your energy level is much lower than normal for you, consider your living conditions.
There is research being done to correlate clutter and depression. For some it may be hard to determine which came first; the clutter or the depression. Even without the scientific and statistical facts it makes sense that if you walk into a home that is overgrown with clutter, devoid of family and friend energy and closed up to keep the outside away, you will feel depressed. Often times I enter homes that are like this and there are pets too. Add animal hair and dander to the dust and it increases the instances of illness. It’s hard to clean when surfaces are covered. Consider working with a Professional Organizer specializing in Chronic Disorganization or Hoarding if this describes your home. You can learn more about Chronic Disorganization and Hoarding on the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization website at www.nsgcd.net
Family Separation issues – Disorganization can be one of the many reasons for family separation issues. Clutter and disorganization play their part by eliminating spaces big enough for more than one person to populate. A kitchen table with only a two foot space cleared, a living room with single or no seating in it, bedrooms where only the sleeping surface is clear, an office where only the keyboard is uncovered from paperwork or a common room where the only things common are the piles of clothing.
Another way family separation can happen even in an esthetically organized home is the imbalance of time priorities. If time management is out of control, the home can be in a constant state of “do” or “run” or “hurry”. The table may be cleared but if life is so unmanageable that your family eats dinner while driving around running errands there is no time to sit together and share the day. If family is so busy “doing” you miss out on so much.
Beginning the organizing process can help alleviate the symptoms of clutter and disorganization and create a space for you to look a little deeper at why life is cluttered and disorganized.
Kelli Wilson is a professional organizer and owner of A Simple Plan Consulting. Kelli started A Simple Plan in 2005 with the intention to help others reduce stress and find serenity by reducing clutter and streamlining their homes. Kelli is President of the Sacramento Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, a disciplined martial artist and mother of two. She strives for serenity in her life which she knows is contagious to those who desire it. Kelli can be reached at
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