For the Do-It-Yourself type of person who needs a little motivation to get started, we have some simple tips. 

Many people become overwhelmed by their clutter.  They take one look at the overstuffed closet, the piles of papers in the home office, or the unopened boxes in the basement from their move four years ago, and they freeze.  The project looks so time consuming, they don’t even want to begin unless they can carve out an entire day (or more) to tackle it.  Here’s a tip that we tell our clients all the time during our needs assessment.

Break down your organizing project into smaller, more manageable chunks.

·        If there are several piles of papers on your desk, isolate one pile (or maybe only a portion of the pile, depending on how large it is) and work on that pile only.  Start with the most recent pile first, as this is where you will find the most time-sensitive action items.  Identify where each piece of paper needs to go (the shredder, garbage can, files, etc.), get them to their final destination, then start the next pile.

·        If there are several boxes in the basement, identify one box to tackle at a time.  Get through the contents of the entire box, get those items to their final destination (garage, elsewhere in the basement, garbage, etc.) before opening up the next one. 

·        If your closet is overstuffed with clothes, pick one section to start in and make your way across.  Remove a few items of clothing at a time.  Identify what is staying, what is being donated, and what can be tossed.  Put those items where they belong and then move on to the next few items, etc.

Resist the urge to start by dumping all of the clothes in your closet on the bed, or opening up several basement boxes at a time.  You don’t want to run out of time or run out of steam halfway through the project and then have an even bigger mess on your hands.

Ways to stay focused on that project:

·        Move the items you are working on to another area of the home.  For instance, you can take a pile of papers out of the office and work on it in another location.  This will minimize the visual distraction the other piles add.

·        Throw a sheet over the other boxes in the basement or push them up against the wall behind where you are working.  Again, you don’t need the visual reminder of how many boxes are left to be gone through.

·        Set a timer.  If you only have 30 minutes to work on organizing your closet, then work with a few items at a time until your 30 minutes is up.

The object is to reframe your way of thinking about the project at hand.  Instead of viewing it as one big project, view it as several smaller projects that can be done over time.  It is better to make progress in small increments than to not make any progress at all.

Here is some great advice that Betsy shared in her most recent newsletter….

You must de-clutter and let go of the old to make room for new prosperity to come in to your life.  If you don't believe me, listen to what today's financial guru, Suze Orman, says about clutter.  

Those of you who know me and who have worked with me, know how strongly I believe that "stuff" is energy and if the energy stops moving, your life can get clogged and it will prevent things, including money, from coming to you.  In Suze Ormans' book The Courage to Be Rich, Ms. Orman has dedicated a whole chapter (chapter 3) to how important it is to let go of the old to bring in what serves you NOW! 

She says:  "You make room for more by knowing what you have, by not owning anything you don't want or need or love, and by valuing every item you own. You make room for more, literally and metaphorically, by creating a place for more to enter." 

A step by step process on how to gain clarity on you life and your finances can be found in Ms. Ormans' book, pages 52-55.

Here’s a portion of an article Betsy wrote in 2006.  Given our current economic state and the desire for people to postpone putting their homes on the market, many are opting to renovate or even redecorate instead.  Here are some ways an Organizer can help you fall in love with your home again.

Every time Norwalk entrepreneur Jane Pollak noticed the closets bulging with unused clothing and stored memorabilia in an unused bedroom, she knew that something had to be done. With her grown children no longer living at home, their bedrooms were typically used as storage areas.   “Along with being a waste of space, those rooms no longer functioned with the rest of the home,” admits Pollak, an accomplished business coach and author.

That’s when Betsy Krobot, owner of the Black Rock-based Betsy K Home Choreography, LLC www.BetsyK.com stepped in and made a few strategic but important changes.  Pollak was amazed to find not just the de-cluttered bedrooms, but the entire home transformed.  “I’ve fallen in love with my house again,” said Pollak.

Pollak was enjoying the results of a new business venture – Betsy K Home Choreography, LLC – recently launched by Krobot, a 30-year veteran of the corporate business world.  “Home Choreography”, explains Krobot, is a unique combination of strategic organizing, ruthless de-cluttering, and gracious decorating to completely transform a home at minimal cost. 

Krobot named her business Betsy K Home Choreography, LLC to reflect the sense of graceful movement that occurs when a homeowner’s furnishings and possessions are redistributed to create an entirely new environment.”  Krobot describes her work as “a dance.” 

With the same precision and grace that dancers bring to the stage, Krobot strongly believes that all elements in a room should work together. When this occurs, harmony is created in the home, she says. “I have found that there is a ripple effect from even the smallest changes. When you start changing one area, it changes the rest of the house,” she said. 

Since Betsy K Home Choreography usually involves discovering new uses and placements for a homeowner’s own beloved possessions, rather than purchasing new ones, this transformation takes place at minimal cost to the homeowner.  “I take what people already own and love and make it work more effectively in an appropriate environment,” she said. “When all elements are working with each other, rather than against each other, a sense of harmony and order is established.” 

For example, by emptying Pollak’s stuffed closets and adding “a soft, feminine look,” what was once her daughter’s bedroom became a personal dressing and meditation room for Pollak.  This freed up more closet space in the master bedroom as well

“Betsy made our bedroom a place for peace, quiet and rest, which is what it’s supposed to be. It still takes my breath away when I walk in there. And I feel a sense of calm and joy when I enter my dressing room every day,” Pollak said.  Krobot says that by making only a few changes in select areas, homeowners can once again love the home they once cherished.  “When a house no longer suits their family’s needs, people often feel that they have to move,” says Krobot.  Then they spend exorbitant amounts of money and energy sprucing the house up so that it will sell faster, she says.  “What about fixing it up because you love it?” she said. “Sometimes by making only a few minor changes to freshen up a room, my clients will notice a new energy and vitality present throughout their homes. Many of them fall back in love with their homes all over again.” 

As she deftly executes Home Choreography, Krobot gently encourages clients to “let go of the old and let your new life come in.”  “It’s spectacular when you watch the people go through the process,” she said. “When you feel in control and in harmony with your world, you are automatically more confident, creative and productive.”