So, you’ve made getting your house in order one of your New Year’s resolutions. Did you know that after losing weight, getting organized was the No. 2 resolution made in 2015, according to the Statistic Brain Research Institute?
“It’s a common resolution people make,” said Heather Radzinski, one of a handful of Certified Professional Organizers in Illinois and owner of Oak Park-based Keeping Chicago Organized. “But a lot of times they don’t know what to do. They’re stuck.
“I tend to encourage my clients to start with the area bothering them the most,” Radzinski said. “What could make the most significant impact in their life?”
Getting organized can be extremely challenging for many people. They make the resolution with good intentions, but become overwhelmed, with many not knowing where to begin.
Therefore, learning organization tricks and skills can make a big difference in their life, she said.
For example, if you haven’t worn something in a year and don’t love it, pass it on to someone who will. Keep special memories by putting items in a bin and labeling them.
“Keeping things that are actually being used and worn can help you be more efficient in your life,” Radzinski said.
But getting organized can be easier said than done.
“People struggle with it,” said Linda Gusloff, a former special education teacher who for the last five years has owned the River Forest-based Gab It Out, where she works with her business partner Meredith Bennett. “Everybody needs help. Even I need help!”
Do a self-assessment, look at your needs, set goals, but start small, said Gusloff, a former special education teacher who uses those skills in this business.
“Baby steps equal lots of yardage,” she said. “Don’t say you’re gonna do your whole basement by yourself. Nobody can.”
It’s a process, Gusloff said, but there are some simple steps to get started.
“The most important thing is to get somebody to help you,” she said. “Get a friend, a bottle of wine, put on some music.”
Establish what your goals are for the space. Set realistic goals for yourself or you will become overwhelmed. Start small.
Get someone to help you sort through things. Make it a friend or family member, but not someone who lives in the home with you.
Set a realistic time frame anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour each day, to get work done. During that time, don’t answer the phone. “Unplug” yourself.
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Pull out the clothes in your closet, try them on and ask yourself, “Why am I holding on to this? Does it bring me happiness?”
Sort through everything and delegate where it goes — to keep, to donate or sell or give away, or trash. Organize when putting stuff back in.
Take before and after pictures and then share your accomplishment with friends.
And if all else fails, call Gusloff and her “Gab Girls,” and they’ll come on over with their “fun and flexible” attitudes and “yak and pack” as they help you stick to your 2016 resolution.
“We’re fun and we love doing it,” said Gusloff.
One sweet show … is the Ideal Home Show Chicago, which runs Jan. 29 to 31 at Navy Pier. Shop for your home and find a pro at the event and while you’re at it, be sure to stop by and say hey to Joana Fischer of Twisted Cookie in River Forest, who will be selling cookies and baked goods all weekend at Booth 173.
Felicia Dechter is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press. Got a real estate-related story idea? Email [email protected].