The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) has declared the first week of October to be National #GetOrganizedWeek. With the holidays coming up, this initiative couldn’t come at a better time. Our social calendars and to-do lists are about to fill up so now’s the time to make sure everything is organized.
Since scanning and archiving print photos is oftentimes a big part of any organization project, we follow and chat with a lot of professional organizers—all of which have incredible information and advice to share.
So, in honor of #GetOrganizedWeek, here are a few must-try tips from professional organizers that will help you get organized.
Andrew Mellen – @andrewjmellen
Andrew Mellen is an organizational expert, speaker, and the best-selling author of the book Unstuff Your Life. He’s been featured in The Oprah Magazine, Realm Simple, The New York Times, and more.
Tip from Andrew’s most recent blog post:
“Start thinking about freedom, of living a life of purpose and meaning where stuff doesn’t crowd you out or occupy your free time. Think about the things you will contribute to your community of friends, family, and neighbors without the burden of buying stuff you don’t need, working more to pay for all that stuff, and then having to take care of all that stuff as well. Don’t you already have everything you need? Really? Let today be the day you think yourself free.”
Laurie Palau – @smplyBorganized
Laurie Palau is the founder of simply B organized and her goal is to help everyone lead a more organized and simple life. Laurie’s approach is unique as she understands the need “stuff” plays in our lives and helps us organize it in a way that prevents us from living in sheer chaos.
Tip from Laurie’s one of her recent blog posts:
“What I am proposing is that you give pause before putting something in your cart and ask yourself these 3 questions: 1) ‘Do I really need this?’ 2) ‘When am I going to use/wear this?’ and 3) ‘Do I have room in my house for it?’ Once you begin to incorporate this mantra into your routine you’ll notice that you not only have more money in your bank account but that you have less clutter in your life allowing you to focus on what is really important.”
Bonnie Joy Dewkett – @TheJoyfulOrg
Bonnie Joy DewKett is better known as the Joyful Organizer and she does wonders encouraging everyone to go into an organization project with a positive, upbeat mindset. In addition to being a nationally recognized organizing expert, author, motivational speaker, and internet radio personality, Bonnie has been passionate about organizing ever since she was little.
A quick tip from Bonnie’s website:
“There is a saying, ‘What gets written down gets attended to, and what gets attended to gets done.’ Write down your organizing goals and hold yourself accountable for completing them. I know it seems like a big chore, but you’ll be glad you did it once you’re done!”
Erin Doland – @erdoland
Erin Doland is editor-in-chief of Unclutterer—a website for home and office organizations with a focus on providing everyone with useful organization info, whether you’re a packrat or obsessively tidy. The site aims to make the process of organization both fun and informative.
Tip from Erin’s Today Show appearance:
“I have seen a lot of media centers. It is the place where stuff goes to die. You’ll see sunscreen sitting on the DVD machine… and it’s the middle of January. You’ll also see VCRs and other antiquated electronics — stuff you don’t use anymore — still taking up precious shelf space. For such a small amount of space, it probably gets the most traffic in the entire house. Get rid of what you don’t need. You will feel good about it.”
Julie Morgenstern – @JulieMorgenstrn
Julie Morgenstern’s name is nearly synonymous with the “Inside Out” philosophy when it comes to leading a more organized life. She is an internationally renowned organizing and time management expert, New York Times best-selling author, consultant, and speaker according to her website.
Tip from Julie’s New York Times Letter to the Editor:
“Organizing isn’t about being ‘tidy’ or throwing stuff away. It’s about creating systems that provide access to the things we need to achieve our goals. It’s not about how a space looks; it’s how it functions. Organizing provides the infrastructure that reflects and supports our unique talents, skills, and interests.”
Perri Kersh – @theneatfreak
Perri Kersh is the owner and creator of Neat Freak, a professional organizing service dedicated to creating a sense of calm and peace, reducing stress, and saving clients time and money through the organization.
Tip from one of Perri’s latest articles:
“Set aside a specific day [after a vacation] to manage photos, memorabilia, and other trip-related leftovers. While this isn’t an urgent task, it is the kind of thing that can pile up and quickly be forgotten. Savor those trip memories by pulling out your favorite pictures and making a quick photo book.”
No matter what organization project you have on your plate, it’s always a good idea to get tips from professionals before diving. Best of luck this week!
