Wendy Tidies Up, Freed From "Stuff"

Wendy approached me to help her with organizing her office and home because she “felt overwhelmed by so much ‘stuff.’ My home and workplace were cluttered and I didn’t easily remember what I owned or where things were located.” As a busy law professor and mother to one foster child while we were decluttering, she said she had no reservations about inviting me into her home and office. “Mrg was very professional in all of our initial communications and let me know what to expect. She was always nonjudgmental and trustworthy, both which made me comfortable letting her into my home.”
 
After introducing her to the principles of the KonMari Method®, Wendy developed a clear idea of what she wanted for her home. She said the hardest part of the experience was “getting started. But once I got started, I had traction to keep going.” Wendy picked up on the KonMari Method quickly and was soon making dozens and dozens of decisions every hour during our four-hour-long sessions. It can be draining, but it was worth it.
 
The most satisfying part of tidying she described as “feeling much lighter,” referring to the sensation after separating the joy-sparking items from those that no longer serve their purpose. “It feels better to be in my work and home environments and I’m more motivated to keep them uncluttered.” When the 2 sessions for her office and 8 sessions for her home were completed, Wendy says she felt “freed from the tyranny of stuff.”
 
For those items she chose to discard, Wendy was very thoughtful about the disposition. She gave some things to friends, donated others to thrift stores, or sold them on ebay or Facebook marketplace. She threw away or recycled the rest that were outdated or used up. And that thoughtfulness meant she didn’t feel guilty about getting rid of electronics she’ll never use, for example.
 
 When asked how she feels her lifestyle has changed after tidying both her office and her home, she proudly says “I feel like I have a different relationship with my ‘stuff’ and I want to only hold onto things that make me happy and/or that are useful tools to accomplish tasks I want to do. I more easily say ‘no thank you’ when people offer me something I don’t really need/want. It’s a process and I feel like I’m continuing to grow in the right direction.” And she now has time to enjoy her favorite room in her home, her living room. “It has great sunlight, a turquoise accent wall that I love, and a cozy sofa where I can read books or binge watch a good tv show.” She’s living the lifestyle she envisioned.
 
After undertaking such a dramatic change, she admits that she has some challenges maintaining her tidy and organized home. “Good habits still need to be built and maintained. And I welcomed 2 new foster youth to my home so there are others contributing to clutter and a need to find more space. But I feel like I have the mindset to make more efficient decisions about whether to hold onto something, where to store it if I do, and I’m more likely to put things away in their designated place. I also don’t have to hunt for items nearly as much as I did pre-decluttering.”
 
Her advice for others who are thinking of hiring a professional organizer? “Do it. It helps to have the support.”

If you're interested in a free consultation about tidying your home or office, contact me today!

Mrg Simon
Professional Organizer
KonMari Certified Consultant
605-929-1493
​mrg.simon@designed2stick.com