Getting organized at home is easier than you think
With help, you can save time, reduce stress, and improve the quality of your life

ARGYLE, N.Y. — People today have more space, more stuff, and less time than ever before. But with the luxury of “more” can also come more clutter and more disorganization, making the need for professional organizers greater than ever before. So it’s not surprising that according to the industry authority, the National Association of Professional Organizers® (NAPO®), the professional organizing industry is booming. More than 135,000 clients were served nationally by NAPO® members in 2006. Here in the Capital Region, local NAPO® member Organized by Sharon is available to help combat the overwhelming feeling homeowners can face when they know something needs to be done, but just aren’t sure where to start.

“It’s proven that organized people save time and money, and reduce stress and frustration levels,” says Sharon Schneible, professional organizer and founder of Organized by Sharon. “There is no one right or wrong way to get organized, but a professional organizer will take an objective look at your space and give you parameters on what to keep, what to toss, and where to take action so you can reap the overall benefits that being organized has on your life.”

That there are professional organizers is great news for the more than one in four Americans who say they would like to be better organized. Nineteen percent of people surveyed on behalf of NAPO® in 2007 said if they were organized, they would save more than one hour of time daily, giving them an extra 15 days in a year. The majority of Americans just do not know what to keep and toss. In fact, 80 percent of what we keep, we never use.

With statistics such as these, it is more important than ever to consider ways to get organized and take that step to better living.

“Many people could use the help of a professional organizer, and they don’t even know it — because organization is a learned behavior many people were never taught,” said Schneible.

But NAPO® members help improve their clients’ quality of life by transferring organizing skills that last. “Rather than stepping in to clean out someone’s pantry or garage for them, professional organizers teach organizing skills, helping our clients to find what they need when they need it,” says Schneible. “When a client is able to put those skills to use after we’re gone, we’ve really helped them save time and money, reduce stress, and improve their quality of life for the long run.”

Organization 101 tips for homeowners
Just as a personal trainer creates custom workout plans for each client, so does a professional organizer. NAPO® members realize what works for one person might not work for another.  They strive to help people become “organized enough” at whatever level with which they are most comfortable. Schneible shares the following tips:

• Get rid of things that don’t work! Don’t hang onto items thinking you’re going to get them fixed if it’s never going to happen. 
• Take children with you when you go to donate unused items. This helps them learn to part with things. 
• Make the garage work for you. Determine how you wish to use the space. 
• Sort, purge, and then decide the proper storage containers or fixtures for the treasures that you must keep. Clearly label both the tops and the sides of the containers. 
• Consider floor-to-ceiling possibilities for shelving, racks, stackable drawers, hooks, and pegboards.
• Go through your closet today.
• Pull out everything you haven’t worn in the last year. 
• Hang like items together.
• In the kitchen:
• Things that work together should be stored together. 
• Feel the flow of activity in your kitchen. Place glasses near the sink or the refrigerator. Put snacks in a convenient drawer or cupboard.

NAPO® members serve both corporate and residential clients, specialize in a wide range of services, such as corporate or residential organizing, and many have specialties in niche areas like garages, moving/downsizing (especially for seniors), or even helping businesses with time and data management. Organized by Sharon specializes in organizing, staging, moving event preparation and consulting.  Additionally, NAPO® members are offered education on the most cutting-edge techniques and products.

About NAPO® (www.NAPO.net)
The premier national association dedicated to the field of organizing, the National Association of Professional Organizers® (NAPO®) is The Organizing Authority®. Formed in 1985 as a not-for-profit professional association, NAPO® is dedicated to serving its thousands of members through education, networking, industry resources, and promoting the profession to the public. NAPO’s mission is to develop, lead, and promote professional organizers and the organizing industry. The association is affiliated with the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD) and Professional Organizers in Canada (POC).

As the oldest and largest professional association for professional organizers, NAPO® is supporting the launch of the Board of Certified Professional Organizers (BCPO) and the Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO) exam, a separate independent certification program for the entire organizing industry.