Professional Organizers Make a Mess, Too!

The start of a trip unpack...yikes! And, what the space looks like with everything put away.

Recently, we hosted guests in our home shortly after we returned from a ski trip. When my husband and I come home from outdoor adventures, we spread our gear out in the mud room and living room to air dry. By now, it’s a habit that’s become so ingrained that it’s not even something we discuss or put much thought to. So, when we invited guests over, it didn’t occur to us that they’d be seeing a “mess.”​

Upon entering, our friends seemed a bit concerned - wondering why, if I’m a professional organizer, was our entryway and living room looking like a ski lodge lost and found? Okay, it didn’t quite go like that - but their wide-eyed expressions told me enough. I kindly pointed out that being organized doesn’t mean you never make a mess! In this particular case, wet clothing and gear needed to dry - putting it away damp invites yucky funk to grow…enough said.

There’s a common misconception that professional organizers live in photoshoot-ready homes. I certainly wouldn’t want my clients or anyone else to think I strive for perfection, because it’s a lot of work, and quite frankly, impossible. So, I’m here to de-bunk that myth, with a little unfiltered glimpse into the home and habits of a professional organizer.

Depending on the day, you’ll find all sorts of stuff out on tables, chairs, counters, and hooks. Other days, things are put away and ready for the next activity. Sometimes the house is a mess, and sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes my dining table is clear, and sometimes it’s covered with work, food, and craft projects.

Do you find yourself concerned with clutter or mess and would rather not be? Ask yourself:
Does this encourage and support the life I want to live? I hope it’s a big, bold, heck, yes!

It’s about the habits we create around managing our stuff. Being organized means everything has a home within our home, it’s just a matter of returning items to where they belong before things pass our “mess threshold.” And the good news is, once you’ve edited your items to fit your current life, everything can be put away in a relatively short amount of time.

If you’re looking to develop rituals around tidying up, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Mess is temporary, and maintenance is a part of staying organized. Remind yourself that this is a normal part of life. The cycle of cleanup -> mess continues spinning, regardless of how organized you may be.
• Sometimes we’re out having too much fun or we’re too tired to tend to everything right away. It’s totally okay to put the laundry off for a day if it means you get a full night’s sleep.
• I like to just get it over with. Unpack from a getaway, shopping, or other activity as soon as you can. If you’re unpacking a suitcase or duffel, empty the whole thing - toss dirty laundry where it belongs, bring toiletries back to the bathroom, etc. If items need to air dry - it’s ok to spread them out, but then move them along as soon as they’re ready.
• There’s no hard and fast rule - we all have our own level of tolerance when it comes to mess. Set your own limits when it comes to tidying. What matters is knowing what you have supports your lifestyle, and that you’re able to get out there and enjoy doing what matters most.

How do you feel when you hit your clutter threshold? Do you have any tips for managing your space or mindset? Leave a comment below!