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5 Tips for Getting Organized (From a Professional Organizer)

If you’re looking for tips for getting organized, you’ve probably realized that it’s time to get on top of your clutter once and for all. Good for you! I’m glad that you’re here. After all, the hardest part of taking on any new project is getting started.

Graphic with a photo of a professional organizer organizing a fridge with the title, '5 Tips for Getting Organizer'.

According to The Homeworld Forecast Consumer Survey, people have a lot of reasons for not becoming more organized — ranging from lack of space, to lack of time, to having too much stuff (and having no clue what to do with it!).

As a professional organizer, I’ve dedicated my career to helping people just like you not just get organized, but stay organized. Today, I’m excited to share my top five tips for getting organized — so you can jump in and head down the RIGHT path when it comes to total organization.

1. There is no right or wrong way to organize

The right way to get organized is whatever way works for you!

We all have different habits, lifestyles, and aesthetic preferences. Don’t stress over doing it “perfectly” — or even doing it “right”. I want you to approach getting organized with the mindset that whatever you do will be great.

Remember, you can always go back and change things once you’ve lived with them for a while. I’ve reorganized and changed up systems many times!

Organized closet by a professional organizer.

2. Find the area that stresses you out the most and tackle it first

It’s extremely overwhelming to think about getting your whole house (read: whole life!) organized at once. It’s also not possible.

Instead, I want you to take this journey in baby steps. What area of your home stresses you out the most? Is it your disorganized pantry? Your mail situation? The cluttered mess of toys that you can’t stand looking at for one more minute?

Get clear on what one area, if organized, would bring more calm and peace into your mind. That’s the space to start with!

3. Think about what isn’t working — and what you want to see instead

Ok, so you’ve picked the area in your home that’s stressing you out the most with its disorganization. Why is it stressing you out? How has it gotten so out of control?

Is your closet a mess because you have clothes in three different sizes and you can never find what you need? Is your bathroom a mess because you have too many products? How do you want it to be instead?

This is the FUN part of getting organized because you get to be creative. Dream big! Hit Pinterest and blogs to discover some home organization inspiration. Figure out what kind of systems you gravitate towards, and think about why.

Bonus tip: Don’t get carried away right now about making things look pretty. Getting and staying organized is less about beautiful baskets and bins and a lot more about finding systems that work for you and your family.

4. One of my toughest tips for getting organized: Purge, baby, purge!

Purging is the holy grail of organizing… but it can also be the most grueling part of getting organized.

The reality is, you have to get through the first, second, and third tips for getting organized to purge effectively. Understanding what’s stressing you out about your clutter and getting clear on how you want to interact with your space makes getting rid of stuff so much easier.

Take the closet example – I know you want to lose those last 15 pounds (first of all, you look amazing, you don’t need to). But let’s choose to be happy with how we look right now. Get rid of those too-tight clothes. If you lose weight, you won’t be lamenting that you got rid of them — you’ll be thrilled to buy new stuff! In the meantime, not only will those tiny clothes not be staring at you, making you feel bad about yourself, but you’ll also have a closet full of clothes you can actually wear.

Go ahead. Gather them up, put them in a bag, and give them away for good. You know you want to.

5. Put your new system in place

You get to decide exactly what your new organizing system will be and how it will look. Whether it is new slim-line hangers displaying a perfectly color-coordinated closet or a pantry with an alphabetized spice rack — get creative! This is the fun part!

This part of your organizing journey will require some measurements and trips to The Container Store, Target, or Bed, Bath and Beyond. And it may require a bit more budget than you’re anticipating. But trust me on this one, friend: the results will be worth it. Once you’ve gotten your organization systems in place, you’ll have more time and more peace to do the things that fulfill you.

Not sure where to start when it comes to creating and implementing organizing systems? I can help with that! Check out my professional organizing services — or, if you prefer to DIY your organizing (or are on a budget), you’ll love The G+G Membership.

Bedroom drawers organized by color.

Bonus tips for getting organized

Looking for some more advice on how to get organized, once and for all? Here are some of my other posts that I think you’ll love.

I believe in you, friend

A final note on feeling stuck. For some of you, there may be an underlying fear or situation that’s holding you back from starting. Take some time to explore what that may be. Be gentle with yourself. And just decide that today will be the day you start to get organized. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it will feel SO good.

You’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner!