Reason #1 I should be able to do it all by myself.
When you look at your house through the eyes of your parents who would say something like, why can’t you keep your room clean? you feel sad and guilty. You start getting back into the “what is wrong with me” and “why can’t I, really?”
Growing up, I was told my future husband would throw me out of the house because I am so untidy. But I learned. It took more than three days. I lived on my own and learned the rule of Sunday. Sunday is the day when my place is supposed to be cleaned out and picked up. It was way too much fun to get my friends over. I was ready every Sunday. I learned basic meal planning when my mom would tell me we were having company and she was too busy at work. I had to figure out finances when she had two major surgeries in a row and I was left in charge of the household, my brother’s dinners and hospital visits.
There was nothing wrong with me. There was a time when I didn’t have the skill and I now have it. I learned it, so can you.
Sometimes, though, you are not ready or are just not willing to spend time learning on your own.
Self-studies are great as long as you stay diligent. BUT, there are other times.
The times when you want it done.
When a tap is leaking, you hire a plumber.
When you need to get organized, you hire a professional organizer.
Reason #2 What? You mean someone actually would be going through my things and telling me I MUST throw them away?
Well, kind of… That’s a really good one. We tend to multiply the things we own. They make us feel better about ourselves, keep the hope that some of the burned bridges can be restored, help us keep the memories.
At some point, though, you may ask yourself if it is you who owns the things or the things own you? Have they taken over the prime real estate of your home?
Let me be more specific. Do you own so much makeup that to get ready in the morning you spend more time digging through it than applying? If your answer is yes, then it may not be a bad idea to have someone else take a look at your collection and help you discard the items you don’t use, don’t like, or it’s just time for them to go.
Do you wear everything that is stashed in your closet?
Is your pantry organized enough so you can make dinner without having to run to the store?
Are your drawers so full, you can’t even close them, and you garage is a dumping ground?
All of the above would be a good reason to hire a professional organizer.
Reason #3 Why would I need one? I can find everything in my house. Eventually.
When you spend 5 minutes a day looking for something, it is really no big deal, right? Make it ten.. Or twenty. And now you are late. You are stressed. You are sweating and your hair’s a mess. You get to the meeting and you start thinking up one more reason. Another lie to cover up why you really are late. Tired of lying yet?
Another way to look at it is to add up all those minutes. 20 minutes a day add up to 7,300 minutes a year. That is 121 hours. That is 5 days. What could you have accomplished in 5 days?
Reason #4 I don’t need anyone else confirm I am a slob.
This has nothing to do with you being a slob. There always is a reason for a person to seek the help of a professional organizer. You may have never had a chance to learn certain organizing skills. They never teach that at school, you know.
You might have fallen a victim to the “get more” disease and are having a hard time to stop.
You may be an exhausted and sleep deprived mom who just doesn’t have the mental energy to get through this on her own.
Whatever your reason is, if you are considering getting help, this is the first step.
Reason #5 There will be a better time for it
There will be a better time to wear this pretty dress, and then i gained 20 pounds and it wouldn’t fit. There will be a better time to chat with this neighbor. The neighbor moves to a different state and never hear of her again.
There will be a better time to read this book, cook this meal, enjoy this bottle of wine, fall back in love with my house…
You get the picture. The life is now and the time is now. What are you really waiting for?
Reason #6 I can just go with a cleaning service. Professional Organizing is overrated.
Yes and no. I had a client who had her cleaning lady help her get organized. They bought a lot of plastic bins and moved all the belongings from overstuffed drawers into those bins and in the garage. Where it stayed until she realized she needed to park her car in there. This was when I came in. We spent three days organizing that garage. We ended up digging through every single bin and purging, purging, purging. Getting organized doesn’t mean you have to purge. It means you can not organize one spot at the expense of the other. Your house should become and well oiled mechanism that makes your life easier not over complicates it.
Reason#7 This is too expensive
Let me ask you this. What are the options?
Option #1 You could sell your home and shoot for a bigger one.
Pros: you get more space, the need for a professional organizer is non-existent anymore
Cons: you pay for the move $5,000. You pay the fee to your real estate agent $7,000. You move into a new house, you need new furniture, appliances, hire a painter to get the walls repainted and such… anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000. AND, let’s not forget, your mortgage and property tax skyrockets. You do the math. Just seeing these numbers freaks me out. Haha.
Option #2 You could do everything in your power to fall in love with your house again. If it takes some painting done, so be it. If it takes rearranging the furniture and maybe swapping a couple pieces, great!
If you need more space, you know who to call. GhostBusters! Just kidding.
Having said all the above, it really is up to you. It is up to you if you had had enough and you want your house back. It is up to you if you want to gain the control and be in charge of your things. It is up to you if you are done wasting your time and making up excuses.
This is all your choice.
BUT, if one day you know you are ready to get help, – do hire a professional organizer.
