I want you to know that professional organizer’s house gets messy!!
I have a child, I run a business… I have things going on and I know you do, too.
I do not want you to think, ever, that being organized is being perfect. What organizing is is a tool to help us function in our daily lives. The sooner we let go of perfection the better off we are.
What you think and believe about being organized can make all the difference. Today we are going to talk about 3 common myths about organizing that are frankly just NOT TRUE.
Let’s get these peace-stealers out of the way!
MYTH #1 BEING ORGANIZED MEANS BEING PERFECT
This is my top, NO!
I do not have a perfect home. (By the way, what came to your mind when I said “perfect home?” This might be a clue to what your heart is set on right now.)
What Chris, Jack and I do have are SYSTEMS that help us put things away and get it later from the same spot. Systems are the foundation for our everyday, ordinary, take-the-garbage-out lives.
For example, we have a boot tray near our back entrance. Why? We LOVE being outdoors and we get muddy shoes. We created a SYSTEM that helps us be more comfortable in our home. If you come in the door, shoes come off… at least if they are muddy enough, ha!!
It’s not “perfect” – we don’t hide the muddy shoes. But it’s a simple way that organization helps us enjoy our life in our home.
MYTH #2 ONCE ORGANIZED, ALWAYS ORGANIZED
This is a tough one!! Like a wise woman once told me, “once you figure it out, it all changes…” and this could not be more true.
You have babies, a new job, a parent moves in, you move houses. There is no way that you can just be organized once and that is the only thing that you ever have to do!
Because old systems can’t bear the weight of new circumstances.
(Yes, there are tips to organizing ANY space you have; I did a whole reel series about it!! There are general principles you can follow that help tremendously, and you can 100% learn skills and tips over time. But if a space is no longer working for you, it may be a sign that your season is changing/has changed.)
We did a client’s kitchen five years ago when she was living alone. The old systems worked for her then!! Now she renovated her kitchen to make room for her newly adopted daughters. She needed a new system that made room for more people and different ages & stages!!
Same person, new system 🙂
MYTH #3 PRETTY LITTLE BINS
The third myth is that you have to have the perfect containers and bins to get started.
Now, I’ll be the first to tell you the power of the RIGHT product in the RIGHT place. But it takes time. The enemy of getting started is the pursuit of perfection (see myth #1!!!!!!!).
In my house, I first really started getting organized with repurposed bins and baskets. You know the ones – that random plastic bin you still have from your first dorm room, or small cardboard boxes from your amazon orders.
Repurposing makes so much sense because you can truly see what works and what does not work.
Over time, you can layer in more sustainable, purposeful products that work for you.
For example, I learned the hard way that I do NOT like traditional rope baskets for toy storage. They simply don’t hold up and don’t provide value for the price. Therefore, I always recommend baskets with sturdier sides for my clients.
Like this basket from Target. It’s reinforced w/ vertical seams that help it keep its shape. I use mine for clean laundry!!
If you’re ready to start investing in products that really work in your space, I would love to help. Here’s my “product philosophy” (scroll down) and some of the favorites from our team over the years.
HOW CAN WE FIGHT THESE MYTHS??
Why do I even bother talking about myths???
Because these ideas can all steal our joy and our peace.
Especially as women, we start comparing ourselves to others. Especially in 2024 with the internet, everyone else’s house looks SO GOOD and we feel like ours doesn’t…… all of these myths have something to do with the idea of finding PERFECTION.
Well, we can’t do it! It doesn’t exist!! What we can find is peace in letting go and peace in trying & failing. If you’re looking for help along the way, give me a call. I would love to encourage you.
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