Organizing Advice From a Professional

Dear Readers. Qlubb is all about helping groups of people get online and organized so that they can succeed. We thought it would be useful to bring in a professional, certified expert on organizing for the blog post today.

April Welch is a CPO® (certified professional organizer) who resides in WA State with her two sons and her firefighter husband. Her organizing specialties are with children/families and chronically disorganized communities.

[Qlubb] Hello April. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us.

[April] Thanks for having me!

[Qlubb] It seems everyone is so busy these days. Is this something that has always been with us or is this a new phenomenon?

[April] Interestingly, time management has always been seen as a challenge. When I work with clients most times we find that the struggle isn't in the amount of activities but rather in the habits of the individual or the tools they are trying to make work for them (but really are working against them!)

[Qlubb] Many of our users have very active lives, either participating or organizing multiple groups, clubs, organizations and activities. What are some of the special challenges of being organized when multiple people are involved?

[April] What a great question! Communication. Hands down, if you haven't figured out a way to keep everyone on board as things progress - you've probably stepped over to the dark side of chaos!

[Qlubb] What general tips do you have for people who are trying to get a group of people organized?

[April] First, ask yourself "What priority will this have in their lives?". I recently taught a filing fundamentals workshop & one of the attendees shared that she had 4 choices of what to do with her evening! I was excited she chose to commit to her paperwork dilemma that night, but it shows that when you try & pull a group together you really are competing with other priorities. Make sure you respect their time and do your best not to waste it - or they won't return the next time.

[Qlubb] Does it take a certain type of person to be successful at organizing a group? How can one get better at getting a group organized?

[April] I work from a philosophy that organization is a learned skill. That said, it takes a ton of patience, flexibility and acceptance to organize anything - whether it's an event, group or just your "me time"! Sometimes, when clients call me in for help we are working our way through the many projects they are dealing with. We often find they have skipped a step or misunderstood how to break the different things to do into tasks. I would recommend taking a step back & reviewing from time to time (especially if they feel stuck!)

[Qlubb] The holidays are fast coming upon us. Are there any special organizing tips you suggest for preparing for those holiday parties and family get togethers?

[April] Yes! Do as much as you can early on! Take a look at your calendar/planner and determine where the different chores or errands will work best. If you're hosting, check your supplies both in the kitchen/pantry but also in the guest quarters - bathrooms and bedrooms. The best story I've heard regarding a Turkey day dinner was that the host forgot to check the guest bathroom supplies and the family was carrying the ONE roll of toilet paper from bathroom to bathroom for the day! If you're traveling, begin getting the items together that you'll be taking along or creating a list of things you often pack to keep in your suitcase. Use a spot to collect the items until you're ready to pack - some clients have utilized plastic storage containers while others have simply opened up the suitcase in a corner & began dropping things in a few weeks ahead. Most importantly, find what works best for you and stick to it!

[Qlubb] Haha! That's a great story. I'll have to remember to stock up. Thanks April for imparting your words of wisdom. How can our audience reach you if they need that extra level of assistance from you?

[April] You bet! I work virtually with folks from across the US - they can look into services at my site www.simplyorganizedonline.com or they can email me directly with specific questions april@simplyorganizedonline.com.

[Qlubb] Thanks again April for your time. Good luck readers on planning for the upcoming holidays!