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Media Releases 2013

Professional Organizers Clean More than Clutter

Whatever the environment, take control – ask a professional

March 28, 2013 – Toronto, Ontario – When it comes to organizing, 67 per cent of Canadians think they don’t need the assistance of an expert. Most individuals relate professional organizers to extreme cases of disorganization, similar to the TV show Hoarders. Yet professional organizers are qualified in a large number of services that can benefit Canadians and their businesses. Considering 70 per cent of Canadians feel disorganized, it’s clear that assistance is required.

These are the three broad service areas of professional organizing:

  • Home
  • Small Business and Home Office
  • Corporate Organizing

Most people think of a professional organizer as someone who comes into their home to help reduce clutter. They’re so much more than that.

“It’s true the default impression of a professional organizer is someone who helps put your home in order,” says Jacki Hollywood Brown, President of Professional Organizers in Canada. “Organizing the home is not just about decluttering. Professional Organizers create systems that allow the home owner to maintain the level of organization long after the decluttering is completed.”

Here are a few things to think about if you’re preparing to downsize to a smaller residence. Start thinning out your belongings several months before you move by donating items such as hobby supplies and sports equipment that no longer fit your lifestyle. Consider gifting heirlooms and sentimental items to family members.

Professional organizers can help small businesses and home offices. According to Industry Canada’s most recent statistics (2010), 98 per cent of all registered employer businesses in Canada are small businesses. Clutter in the workplace can disrupt everything from employee morale to cash flow.

An ongoing organizational issue is technology. With so many devices today (PCs, smart phones, tablets, etc.), how do business people keep track of their files and updated documents?

Creating a document management system is the first thing small business owners should do. The system should dovetail with the way in which the documents need to be accessed. If employees spend a lot of time outside the office, a cloud solution might be the way to go. If the employees spend more time in the office, then a common hard drive or network might suffice

Professional organizers can also provide valuable insight in the corporate space. Whether it’s helping a manufacturing company to optimize their space or assisting with employee coaching, professional organizers can contribute in a number of areas.

As an example, to help increase employee productivity for a corporate client, a Professional Organizer might give this advice:

To minimize interruptions, arrange office furniture so employees do not face a doorway and make eye contact with others. Set start and end times for meetings including telephone meetings. All meetings should have an agenda to minimize the risk of getting sidetracked by less important items. Encourage employees to create standard form letters and templates for documents to save time in the long run.

“Some professional organizers focus on people such as seniors, children, students, people with ADHD, those with hoarding issues or who are chronically disorganized,” says Jacki Hollywood Brown, President of Professional Organizers in Canada. “Other organizers specialize in specific niche professions such as moving and relocations or medical and legal offices.”

No matter what area you’re feeling overwhelmed with, keep in mind that there is help available and an expert willing to support you through the process.

To find a Professional Organizer in your area, visit the POC website's online directory.

Learn more about Professional Organizers in Canada.

Download a printable version of Professional Organizers Clean More Than Clutter.

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It’s the New Year. Are You a New You?

Professional Organizers in Canada help you keep your resolutions and your life organized for 2013

January 21, 2013 - Toronto, Ontario – With almost a month of the New Year behind us, have you given up on your resolutions? According to the UK's Guardian newspaper, 78 per cent of people who made resolutions over the New Year’s period have broken them already. Are Canadians the same? Now’s the time to get organized and back on track.

A recent survey conducted on behalf of Professional Organizers in Canada by Environics shows that 70 per cent of Canadians say they’re not organized. Almost 20 per cent of those surveyed said they can't relax at home because of clutter and disorganization.

“Most people don’t realize that just like anything else in life, the key to consistency and success is keeping yourself organized and this applies to everything you do, including your goals for the New Year,” says Isolde O’Neill, Director of Marketing for Professional Organizers in Canada.

In today’s fast paced environment, the top resolutions include getting healthy, organizing your finances, your home, and spending more time with friends and family.

Here are some tips from Professional Organizers in Canada on how to approach each one of these areas of your life in the most organized fashion:

HEALTH

Creating a healthy lifestyle is one of the most popular resolutions Canadians make. It’s no surprise how busy the gym gets in January, but changing to a healthy lifestyle is more than just a temporary fix. Here’s an organizational tip from POC to help keep you healthy and happy for 2013:

  • Choose a fitness activity/routine you can conveniently maintain
  • List all the fitness supplies you’ll need (equipment, exercise clothes, water bottle, bag)
  • Establish where to keep, dry and maintain your equipment
  • If you exercise at home, keep your equipment accessible
  • Schedule your fitness routines: how often, how long and when

FINANCES

One of the most important goals for many Canadians in 2013 is putting and keeping their finances in order. Whether it’s creating a budget or organizing receipts for tax season, POC professionals have advice on how to keep your finances in check all year round:

  • In your calendar/agenda/smartphone, input the dates each bill is due and for how much
  • Create the following categories in your filing system: banking (for bank accounts and credit cards), investments/retirement (investments, CPP, RRSPs, etc.), bills (hydro, Internet, telephone, etc.). taxes (for tax returns, accounting, CRA, etc.)
  • Have a drawer/tray/box where incoming mail is put that needs an action (i.e., must be paid) – nothing else goes in there. When you pay it (write the paid date on the bill) and file it away.

HOME

Another popular resolution for Canadians relates to the home. Changes at home, though, tend to be too ambitious and are often disregarded early into the New Year. Sometimes it’s important to ask for help or to start small. Sixty-seven per cent of those surveyed by POC thought they could organize their home on their own and 46 per cent of Canadians surveyed revealed their laundry rooms were less than organized.

Isolde has these tips to help keep your home relaxed and organized throughout the year:

  • Create a simple action plan for each room. Note what each problem is (what is not happening that should be happening) and how this currently makes you feel. What would you rather feel and experience in the room?
  • Prioritize each room based upon urgency, extent of work needed and budget.
  • Ask for help! Whether it’s from a friend or family member or advice from a professional, make sure you ask for help. It’s difficult to approach your home renovations or projects on your own.
  • Start small. Your laundry room might be less daunting than the garage or basement and it will give you something to check off your list

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Sixty-three per cent of Canadians who responded to POC’s survey said time management was one of their biggest struggles. Here’s a tip on how to keep your friends and family a priority for 2013:

  • Make a routine: “Tuesday nights Johnny has sports. Friday evenings are family dinner time.”
  • Plan ahead: Even if you don’t know exactly what you’ll be doing on Saturday with your friends, all of you should block out the time.
  • Being organized will maximize the time you can spend enjoying life with family and friends. Take ten minutes every evening to plan what you need to achieve the following day in staying connected to those who are important. This could be making a call, sending an email, writing a thank you card, or going out for dinner

Whatever your New Year's resolutions are this year, Professional Organizers in Canada can help keep them organized and attainable.

To find a Professional Organizer in your area, visit the POC website's online directory.

Learn more about Professional Organizers in Canada.

Download a printable version of It’s a New Year. Are You a New You?

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