What is a Professional Organizer?
What is a Certified Professional Organizer®?
How do I choose a Professional
Organizer?
What
should I expect from my Professional
Organizer?
How do I know if it's time to hire a
Professional Organizer?
What's an Assessment and why do I need
one?
How should I prepare for an organizing
session?
What should I expect at an organizing
session?
Will you force me to throw things away?
How can
I save money?
What is ADHD and what does it have to do
with organizing?
WHAT IS A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER?
Professional Organizers (POs) use tested principles and expertise to
enhance their clients' lives. By
assessing problem areas, teaching and
implementing organizing skills, and
designing customized systems for
success, they help individuals and
businesses take control of their
surroundings, their time, their paper,
and ultimately, their lives!
(from the National Association of Professional
Organizers, Inc.)
WHAT IS A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER®?
The Certified Professional Organizer (CPO®) designation is earned through
the
Board of Certified Professional
Organizers. These professionals have
proven through examination, client
interaction and education that they
possess the body of knowledge and
experience necessary for certification.
(from
the Board of Certified Professional
Organizers)
CPOs®
are held to a strict code of ethics that
includes confidentiality to their
clients and an agreement to offer
services only in those areas in which
they are qualified.
There are
only 8
CPOs®
in
Oregon and only a few hundred worldwide.
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HOW DO I CHOOSE A PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZER?
Choosing your Professional Organizer is
the first step to success. Try these
techniques to find the right match:
Where do I begin?
Start with an internet search or a good
referral from a friend. Look for
"professional organizer" in your local
community. Call as many prospects as you
want and ask about their credentials,
affiliations, certifications,
specialties, and years of service.
Inquire about their process, rates, and
policies. Some may offer a free
assessment, others might charge for it
but provide you with a written plan.
I'm looking for a true professional, not
someone doing this as a hobby:
Organizers committed to their profession
are most likely members of associations
or networking groups like
NAPO,
NSGCD or
the
BCPO. They are committed to their
continuing education and likely attend
an annual conference, have completed a
specialized training course, or take
ongoing courses regularly. Feel free to
ask your organizer about their
professional affiliations and
credentials.
I'm looking for someone with a proven
record:
Ask your friends and colleagues for a
referral. Perhaps they've had success
with a Professional Organizer in your
community. Also, ask potential
organizers how long they've been in
business. Most new business owners fold
in the first couple years, so someone
with five or more years under their belt
might have a better track record. Also,
don't hesitate to ask for references!
I need to "connect" with my organizer;
personality is very important to me:
Feel free to call as many local
organizers as you want, and peruse their
websites, too. Ask questions. Do they
respect you? Offend you? "Get" you? Do
you feel a sense of compassion? Are they
logical and methodical or more creative
and dynamic? Which is a better fit for
you?
I'm looking for someone I can trust:
Professional Organizers who belong to
NAPO, NSGCD, BCPO or various coaching
associations are bound by a Code of
Ethics.
(Membership in these groups doe not guarantee confidentiality or
trustworthiness from your Professional
Organizer, but it's a good starting
point.)
I'm looking for someone affordable:
Most Professional Organizers work by the
hour or the project. Prices will vary
widely, even by as much as $100 an
hour. But buyer beware: your most
experienced Professional Organizers will
work quickly and efficiently, so a
higher hourly rate doesn't necessarily
equate to a higher overall expense.
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WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM MY
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER?
Professionalism and expertise. They
should be able to assess your projects
and give you an approximate timeline and
budget. Your PO should be able to
prioritize your projects, break them
down into tasks, teach basic organizing
skills, build systems for success, and
recommend products and resources. Your
PO should be able to tell you if they
are under-qualified for your job.
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HOW DO I KNOW IF IT'S TIME TO HIRE A
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER?
If you've tried multiple times to get
organized, but can't seem to succeed, it
might be time to call in a professional.
There are many reasons people struggle
with organization. The sooner you
understand what's standing in your way,
the closer you are to success.
Other reasons to hire an organizer:
-
You're facing a time sensitive
crisis -such as a move or a tax
deadline
-
A situation has led to disorder in
your life - a birth, a death, a
marriage, a job change
-
You feel ready to "get it done"
-
Disorganization is adversely
effecting someone you love
-
You have a diagnosis of ADHD and you
think it's getting in the way of an
orderly life
-
Disorganization is costing you time,
money, energy or peace of mind
-
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WHAT’S AN ASSESSMENT AND WHY DO I NEED
ONE?
An organizing assessment is an
opportunity for your Professional
Organizer to conduct a comprehensive
interview, observe your existing spaces
and review your current systems to
design an organizing plan that will
result in success for you.
With permission, your Professional
Organizer may ask to take pictures and
measurements of all relevant spaces.
After the assessment, your Professional
Organizer should be able to help you
prioritize your projects, break them
down into tasks, estimate a timeline and
budget, and recommend products and
resources.
The assessment takes one to three hours
and results in the cornerstone of your
personal organizing plan. Totally
Orderly recognizes the most success in
clients who participate in a
comprehensive assessment process, and we
do not recommend investing in the
organizing process without an
assessment.
What should I do before the Assessment?
There is no need to “straighten up”
before the assessment. In fact, it’s
best if your Professional Organizer can
see your space in its usual state.
What should I expect at the Assessment?
Lots of questions! Plenty of opportunity
for YOU to ask questions, too. This
should be a time of learning for both of
you. Back
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HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR AN ORGANIZING
SESSION?
Optimize the benefits of your organizing
session with these helpful tips:
-
Stay hydrated and eat healthful
snacks. Organizing can be physically
taxing!
-
Clear your calendar. Avoid answering
the phone or email during the
session.
-
Make sure children and pets are
safely cared for.
-
Gather a few supplies: markers,
boxes, trash bags. Your organizer
may provide these, but it’s nice to
have extras on hand. Back
to Top
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AT AN ORGANIZING
SESSION?
Your organizing sessions will be
productive and rewarding. They can also
be stimulating and exhausting. Prepare
yourself by keeping these tips in mind:
Things Look Worse before they Look
Better
Organizing can be messy business. Spaces
are disassembled, sorted, rearranged and
cleaned. The result is splendid, but
the process can look shockingly
disorganized. Keep your eye on the
prize and know it’s just temporary. Your
organizer should schedule plenty of time
towards the end of sessions for clean
up, but it's important to follow through
with trash removal, recycling and
homework assignments.
Lots of Feelings
You may feel any or all of the feelings
noted below. Your Organizer will be
aware of them and should be comfortable
helping you process them.
-
Excitement
- that you're getting started
-
Overwhelm
– at the scope of the project
-
Relief
- that it's not at bad as you
thought
-
Shame
– that it’s worse than you thought
-
Agitated
– that you have to make so many
decisions
-
Annoyed
– that someone is touching all your
things
-
Angry
– that you’re paying for something
you think you should do on your own
-
Relief –
that it’s fun!
-
Melancholy –
as you revisit old memories
-
Exhausted
- from moving, lifting, reaching,
thinking
-
Bored
– with the process
-
Energized
- by the new energy flowing through
the space
Lots of Questions
Your Professional Organizer wants to
help you create a system custom suited
to your needs. That means she will be
asking you lots and lots of questions.
Some people find this overwhelming and
would prefer the Organizer just "get it
done" or "tell me what to do." Either
approach can work, but one in which you
make most of the decisions will be
better. Feel free to ask plenty of
questions in return so you fully
understand how and why your PO is
recommending a particular course of
action.
An Increasing Pace
The first organizing session can be the
slowest. Progress will go faster in
subsequent sessions as you adapt to each
other's pace and as the project starts
to "take shape."
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WILL YOU FORCE ME TO THROW THINGS AWAY?
A Professional Organizer should never
force you to throw anything away against
your will. Purging items (by disposing,
recycling, donating, returning,
repurposing, etc.) is an important step
in the organizing process, but the
decision will always be yours. If you
struggle with making decisions, parting
with sentimental items, over-collecting,
or hoarding, your PO can offer tried and
true tips for helping you through this
process.
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HOW CAN I SAVE MONEY?
Your "return on investment" is very
important to Totally Orderly. Get the
most bang for your buck by considering
these tips:
-
Complete "homework" assignments
between sessions.
-
Ask your Professional Organizer to
conduct an assessment only, and then
try to complete the work on your
own.
-
Keep notes about what is and isn't
working - share these with your
Professional Organizer at the
beginning of each session.
-
Once an area has been completed, try
to keep it organized while moving on
to another project.
-
Take full advantage of what your
Professional Organizer has to offer
- peruse her website for tips,
articles, and ideas; ask for book
recommendations; subscribe to her
blog; follow her on social
networking sites.
-
Ask your Professional Organizer to
hire a team for big projects -
multiple people work more quickly
and efficiently than just one.
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to Top
WHAT IS ADHD AND WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO
WITH ORGANIZING?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD, also known as AD/HD and ADD) is a
common condition that affects both
children and adults. Children with ADHD
generally have problems paying attention
or concentrating. Adults with ADHD have
trouble with time management, goal
setting, prioritizing, and
procrastination - all skills necessary
for organization.
A Professional Organizer who specializes
in ADHD can help both children and
adults with ADHD live well-organized,
successful lives. Back
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