Millions of people struggle with chaos from a lack of organization in their homes, their office, and their various systems of life. A professional organizer is a an individual who helps people organize the various areas of everyday life by coaching, training, and offering tips to help control clutter and chaos. Much like a personal trainer helps people with their weight and health goals, a professional organizer helps people organize both their physical surroundings and their lifestyles when they have become too overwhelmed to tackle the job themselves.

As a business concept, professional organizing is fairly new. The National Association of Professional Organizers was formed in 1985 and serves as a professional organization that serves its members by offering networking, business solutions, and training through seminars. Many people now choose to become professional organizers as a full-time career.

An individual who becomes a professional organizer is often drawn to the idea through a combination of a desire to help others and through their own desire for order, structure, and organization. There is a large clientele base for professional organizers because there are many people who struggle with organizational skills, which can eventually wreak havoc in their lives. These people can benefit from the services of a professional organizer.

Someone may choose to hire a professional organizer to help them sort out their homes or offices when clutter, paper and record systems, and disarray begin to interfere with day-to-day living. Often times, major life changes such as marriage, children, or divorce prompt people to become better organized. A professional organizer offers their services to help people become better organized and regain control of their lives.

When a professional organizer comes into a home or office, he or she may assess the surroundings and ask questions about their client’s daily activities and long term goals. The professional organizer then begins the process of creating organized space and making suggestions for modifying behaviors that will help keep their clients organized long after they are gone. Professional organizers are usually skilled at identifying problem areas and providing solutions to eliminate clutter.

If you decide to hire a professional organizer, you might ask for references, inquire about professional memberships, and ask what their full range of services include. Fees for services vary depending on the area, the services being offered and the scope of the job. Many people feel the expense of a professional organizer is worthwhile because they can reclaim their lives and their time.