Let’s face it. We’re not all neat freaks. We get pre-occupied with work, meetings and other commitments and barely have time to clean our office spaces or homes. We let paperwork pile up as the amount of work increases.  Before long, mountains of paper and unnecessary clutter crowd our offices or living spaces.

Fortunately, the National Association of Professional Organizers provides tips for how to de-clutter. They say that 80% of clutter is due to disorganization and that the average executive wastes 180 hours looking for misplaced items. Professional organizers are available to guide and offer tips on how to sort out clutter and establish a system to better organize documents or spaces. They aim to help individuals and businesses increase productivity and accomplish more in their personal and professional lives.

The National Association of Professional Organizers offers business and residential organizing services. Aside from sorting out information (paper or electronic) and maximizing space, professional organizers can also help with time management, event planning, personal or group coaching, office or home moving, and even arranging photographs and memorabilia. These organizers work with individuals and businesses as they apply tested principles and expertise to help their clients take control of their surroundings, their time, their paper piles, and their lives.

After recognizing the need for organization, the next step is choosing your organizer. This is important because your success will depend on the knowledge and expertise of your organizer. To find a professional organizer, go online to NAPO to search by zip code or country. Look under “Organizing products and services” or similar headings. Fees will vary, but don’t let price be the deciding factor. NAPO recommends focusing on value by finding an organizer with a personality you click with and a skill set that matches your needs.

The organizer does not necessarily need to be a member of NAPO to be a great organizer; nor does being a member guarantee quality work.  Knowing that a potential organizer is member of NAPO means he or she is committed to continuing education and an industry code of ethics. Other professional associations directly related to the organizing industry include Professional Organizers in Canada (POC), the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD), and the Australasian Association of Professional Organizers (AAPO).

We recommend meeting with  several organizers before making a decision. Be sure to ask relevant questions like what kind of organizing projects they do, who their clients are, what services they specialize in, will you be working with them directly or will they send an employee, their fee structure, etc.

If you are ready to make the mountains of papers disappear, then visit NAPO today to find a professional organizer.  Good luck!

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