Excuses, excuses! As a Professional Organizer I hear them all! Well, in my mind excuses are just that…excuses. These are the top 10 excuses I heard from actual clients last week regarding why they can’t get organized and clear out the clutter, can you relate? I am including my responses to these excuses to inspire you to conquer your inner organizing demons and get to work! If you need an extra push please send me an email!
Excuse: I don’t have time!
Answer: Yes you do, you just have to make the time!
Excuse: I don’t know where to start?
Answer: I always tell my clients to start in the room that needs the least amount of work so you have a “staging area” for the rest of the rooms. From that starting point, move counter clockwise or clockwise throughout the house so you aren’t bouncing from room to room.
Excuse: I wasn’t feeling well.
Answer: Getting organized gives some people anxiety, once we get started that uncomfortable feeling will go away. If it is something more serious, take some time get healthy and set an appointment on your calendar to get started another day.
Excuse: It’s depressing to go through my old stuff.
Answer: Why let the things that give you bad memories hog valuable storage space in your home?
Excuse: I get frustrated when I see all of the money I have wasted…
Answer: It is important to learn from your mistakes! Don’t dwell on what you have wasted money on, get excited about getting control of your home and knowing what you have so you don’t make the same mistakes.
Excuse: My dog died.
Answer: Wow, I am so sorry for your loss! Take a few days off and get back into your routine. Staying busy and getting organized is a productive way to grieve and stay positive.
Excuse: I can’t afford it, the shelving options and tools are too expensive.
Answer: Working with a Professional Organizer is 3 to 4 times as effective as getting organizing on your own. There is so much value in having someone keep you on task, give you professional advice on what to keep, and suggest storage solutions that you already have (FREE) or that are affordable.
Excuse: My parents were unorganized, it’s genetic!
Answer: Being organized is a habit, not genetic. Once you clear out the clutter it is important to set a maintenance schedule to keep you on track. Practice makes perfect!
Excuse: I can’t get rid of it, someone gave it to me.
Answer: I don’t care if it was a gift from the Pope, if you don’t love it or need it right now give it away!
Excuse: It was on sale.
Answer: I don’t care if it was free, if you don’t love it or need it right now give it away!
6 comments :
Thank you for this article. I'm in the process of organizing my kitchen. Well obviously I'm not on task. I'm just standing there with the cabinet doors open staring at it. This has given me a push in the rear to get busy. Thanks again.
Hmmmm. These all sound very familiar. Are you reading my mind somehow? You are right. We all have the time to get organized if we just MAKE the time and make it a priority. Great blog and great KICK in the pants.
Gifts are such interesting territory… I think people confuse their feelings for the giver with the actual gift itself.
Have you ever had an awkward moment because you had given a gift away? I once killed a houseplant which was a gift and (luckily) decided to replace it before my friend visited. Sure enough, she came in the front door and immediately wanted to see the plant. I'm pretty sure she would have asked after any type of gift, too.
I read all your excuses but breezed past the answers, as I have no intention of doing any organizing any time soon
I wouldn't mind making some of that yummy looking bruschetta though!
'my dog died' made me laugh out loud…not because a dog dying if funny but it caught me off guard…I LOVE being organized (it is so calming for me) and am forever trying to get my mom and brother to be a little more diligent…
just thought I'd let you know you made me laugh
Great article. Can I repost it over on my site (with link back and attribution to you of course)?