Believe it or not, January is national Get Organized (GO) month! Getting organized is one of the top five resolutions people make each year. Is it one of your resolutions? Organizing can be an overwhelming process, especially if you don’t know where to start. Here are a few tips to get you going in the right direction:
Nina Jacobs
Ship Shape
Professional Organizer
Nina Jacobs is a professional organizer for residential and small businesses and the Owner of Ship Shape. She serves on the board for the Richmond Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) as the Professional Development Director.
More articles by Nina
- Start by identifying which zone you want to organize (i.e., a bedroom, a section of the kitchen, one closet). Choose one area in that space (example: a drawer).
- Make room on the floor or bed and spread out the items from that section.
- Donate items you no longer use or wear.
- Trash the items that are broken, stained or ripped.
- If you find items that don’t belong there, put them in their proper “home.”
- Put the remaining items back in the drawer where they belong.
- Create labels if you find them to be helpful–and to help remind yourself and any others you live with where the proper spots for specific items are.
Voilà! You just passed Organizing 101! Start small and stay motivated!
If you have difficulty doing the simple basic steps, consider contacting a professional organizer. Not everyone thinks, learns, or sees things the same way. An organizer can help you take these steps, keep you motivate, and help meet your organizational needs and goals.
In honor of GO Month, the Richmond Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers is sponsoring a FREE ”Ask the Organizer” panel at the University of Richmond on Wednesday, January 23 from 12:15-1:30 p.m. Bring your lunch and your questions! Register here! We look forward to seeing you there!
