Motivation Matters

As a Professional Organizer, I’ve learned that many people are temporarily motivated to get organized by complaints about  the appearance of their space, time spent looking for lost items or by the need to downsize. 

Creating and maintaining a system to stay organized on an ongoing basis is more difficult.

The best and most enduring motivation is that being organized makes your life easier! 

Perhaps these additional benefits of organization will provide you with the desire to maintain the systems you create:

• Having your tools at hand when you’re ready to work (e.g., kitchen is organized for cooking) 
• Being able to keep to a schedule  
• The ability to set goals and reach them  
• More time for fun, family, and friends 
• More rest, sleep, and peace
• More confidence in your home (so you can more readily invite people over to socialize.
• Less time cleaning 
• Less anxiety and stress

Not everyone experiences all these benefits from every organizational project they complete, but using great organizational tools consistently, like the ones you'll find at the new IKEA store in Merriam, has an overall effect on the quality of your life. 

Although it takes effort to stay organized, the many benefits make it a worthwhile goal.  

Mary-Ellen Vincent

Mary Ellen is a personal organizer, specializing in custom organization projects for the average home. Visit her website, OrganizeME, or visit her column on The Midwest Makeover for more articles.