That got me thinking: Often, the hardest part of any project or task is getting started. I know that can be true for getting organized.

You may have heard me say that my mission is to make getting organized fast, easy, and even fun. Maybe that sounds impossible?

I know that my Less Mess = Less Stress™ process takes the mystery out of how to get – and stay – organized. But even with a proven system, it can be really hard to get organized on your own.

If you’ve struggled with organization, you’re not alone. There’s a reason I’ve been a professional organizer for 20 years: a lot of people need help! 

There’s nothing wrong with you! You’re not lazy. So, why is it so hard? 

You may be feeling so overwhelmed (the word I hear most from my clients) that you can barely even fathom getting started. Or, you might be so busy that even the thought of taking time to organize stresses you out.

Maybe you beat yourself up for not being more organized, and you layer shame and embarrassment on top of that. You might be nervous about the possibility of letting things go in the clutter-clearing step of the organizing process.

Or, you could be feeling pessimistic about getting organized, since you’ve tried and failed in the past.

Does it all just feel like too much?

Here’s what happens when you experience strong negative emotions like stress and overwhelm: The regions of your brain that control “executive functioning” — the thinking and planning required to get organized — don’t function at their best. You’ve heard of the fight or flight reaction to stress; there’s a third common response — freeze.

That’s where I can help. With an experienced, non-judgmental, thoughtful, trusted pro on your side, you can replace stress, embarrassment, and pessimism with calm, confidence, and hope!

If you have even the tiniest desire to improve your situation, I can guide you through the process, either remotely or in person.

In a 45 minute phone call or video chat, we’ll pinpoint what’s been blocking you from getting organized and will come up with a concrete action plan with bite-sized, doable steps so that you feel excited about getting started.

Ready to let go of stuff, stress, and wasted space? GO for it!

Email me to schedule a session.

Stop struggling to do this on your own. You deserve to feel good about the spaces in your life – your home, your work space, even your storage unit. You don’t have to tackle a big organizing project like a move all by yourself.

If you have other challenges with the 5 steps in the Less Mess = Less Stress™ process, we can address those, too:

Step 1: Commitment: Do you feel ambivalent about being able to get and/or stay organized? Do you keep putting it off? Do you hate it when you hear me say GO do it? 😊

Step 2: Clearing Clutter: Is it hard to make decisions about what to keep? Do emotions take over when you try to let things go?

Step 3: Categorizing: Does your brain hurt when you think about how to categorize things and group similar things together? Does it seem like many items or types of information fall into many different categories and you can’t narrow things down?

Step 4: Containing: Do you have trouble with spatial relations? Does the thought of purchasing the right containers for things make you want to take a nap?

Step 5: Continuing: Do you hate routine tasks? Do you often leave things “just for now”, then never get back to them?

In just 45 minutes, I can help you break out of the organizing rut you’re in and get you excited to make a change.

Let’s GO!

Cheers,

* Email me to receive to the newsletter.

The post Why Is Getting Organized So Overwhelming? appeared first on Gotham Organizers.

If you don’t know Nextdoor, it’s a terrific online platform that connects neighbors and local businesses with each other and creates a sense of local community.

Gotham Organizers Founder Lisa Zaslow has made it her mission to leave her community a better place than she found it. With 20+ years of experience, she has helped thousands of individuals and businesses develop effective organization systems that make their day-to-day routines run more smoothly. She tackles home and office organization with a personalized approach that is tailored specifically to each client’s needs.

Lisa’s organizing expertise has been featured across a variety of media platforms, appearing in well-known print publications, websites, radio shows, and television programs. She loves collaborating with journalists to share advice on how to organize for a more productive and less stressful lifestyle. You can learn more about her recent appearances here.

Want to know what folks are raving about? Get in touch for a complimentary consultation!

The post Gotham Organizers is a 2024 Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave! appeared first on Gotham Organizers.

While I usually preach ways to pare down and lighten your load, in this case it pays to take on  a few more things to do before December 31 so you don’t miss out on a variety of money-saving benefits that will vanish when the calendar flips.

Do the following things by December 31 and start the new year with more money!

1. Talk to your accountant and find out about year-end tax strategies that can cut your tax bill next year.

This might include:

• Make charitable donations
• Contribute to retirement plans
• Make deductible purchases
• Pre-pay tax-deductible bills due in January, such as mortgage payments, property-taxes, estimated tax payments, tuition bills
• Defer income into next year
• Sell stock
• Establish a new retirement plan

2. Take advantage of programs that you participate in which have year-end due dates:

If your company has a “use it or lose it” vacation plan, take any unused vacation days pronto or ask for an extension.

Check if you have any frequent flier or rewards points expiring at the end of the year. If you do, redeem them. Check out www.points.com to consolidate points from different reward programs.

If you have a Medical Reimbursement Plan or Flexible Spending Account, use any remaining funds if they expire at the end of the year.

If you are retired and have a retirement plan that requires you to withdraw a certain amount each year, make sure you’ve done so.

3. Get your free annual credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there IS a free credit report. Three of them, actually. Each of the three credit reporting agencies offer you a free credit report every year. Get yours and make sure there are no errors that could make it harder for you to borrow money, get a credit card or buy a home in the future.

4. Make plans for a wonderful New Year’s celebration!

This one won’t save you money, but it will help you get next year off to a great start.

GO Do It!

Schedule some time before the end of the year to take advantage of these opportunities before it’s too late.

The post Things To Do Before December 31 appeared first on Gotham Organizers.

If you don’t know Nextdoor, it’s a terrific online platform that connects neighbors and local businesses with each other and creates a sense of local community.

Gotham Organizers Founder Lisa Zaslow has made it her mission to leave her community a better place than she found it. With 20+ years of experience, she has helped thousands of individuals and businesses develop effective organization systems that make their day-to-day routines run more smoothly. She tackles home and office organization with a personalized approach that is tailored specifically to each client’s needs.

Lisa’s organizing expertise has been featured across a variety of media platforms, appearing in well-known print publications, websites, radio shows, and television programs. She loves collaborating with journalists to share advice on how to organize for a more productive and less stressful lifestyle. You can learn more about her recent appearances here.

Want to know what folks are raving about? Get in touch for a complimentary consultation!

The post Gotham Organizers is a 2023 Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave! appeared first on Gotham Organizers.

I was really excited when the website Insider.com contacted me to help one of their staffers organize her NYC apartment.

This video gives you a sense of how we work – it’s a collaborative process.

You don’t go off to Disneyland and come home to a surprise reveal. The goal is to have all your organization systems work for your preferences and needs. You let me know what’s important to you, and we make it happen.

I don’t tell you what to do, then leave. I’m with you every step of the process. Unless you want to work on some areas by yourself – great!

I don’t tell you what to let go of, or make you throw anything out. It’s your space!

There’s no need to make a huge mess to start – you don’t have to take everything out of the closet or off your shelves.

And, no, you don’t have to assess every single item in a specific order to determine the level of joy it sparks. Want to focus on your kitchen or home office, but not your clothes? We can do that!

Contact us for a free consultation to find out how we can transform your space.

We’re happy to discuss your situation and how we can help, free of charge.

A few notes about the video:

Since we just had one day to shoot, the process was a little different than how I usually work. We had to order organization products ahead of time so we’d have them available.

Typically I don’t recommend getting any new products until after we have completed these steps: decluttering; categorizing items to group like with like; and determining where we will put different types of items.

I know – the vanity drawer dividers! They weren’t able to get the dividers I recommended, and we were pressed for time. Who knew they’d show them so much in the video. Or that the pencils would roll around so much!

Gotham Organizers offers virtual organizing services and remote organizing services. Click here for more info

The post WATCH LISA ORGANIZE A SPACE (OVER 3 MILLION VIEWS!) appeared first on Gotham Organizers.

We can help you get – and stay – organized wherever you are.

Contact us for a free session to see how we can help you!

Get a sense of how virtual organizing services work – in this Real Simple article I helped a writer in Canada organize her home

Read the article

Here are some virtual organization projects we can tackle together:

Take on an organizing project you never seem to have time for

It’s been on your to do list forever. Together, we’ll get it done. Create your dream closet. Clear out kitchen clutter. Get your papers under control.

Re-purpose a space

Create a home office that works. Make room for a baby. Carve out more closet space. Take back your kid’s old room.

Get unstuck

If you’re not feeling motivated to do the things you want to do and have to do, we’ll get you into action.

Be more productive

We’ll pinpoint the ways that you can use your time more effectively and create customized strategies to do your best work.

Develop simple systems to get things done

Routines, schedules and habits make it easier to get things whether it’s managing the mail, making time to exercise or making dinner.

Finally deal with your storage unit

It’s been months – or years – since you’ve been there. We’ll create a plan to deal with the stuff and cut your monthly costs.

Whatever else you may need

Remote Organizing Services With Gotham Organizers

Get organizing help customized to your needs. Contact us today to get started.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for organization inspiration!

The post VIRTUAL ORGANIZING SERVICES AND REMOTE ORGANIZING SERVICES appeared first on Gotham Organizers.

Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave

Our neighbors voted us a Neighborhood Fave on Nextdoor in 2023, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. The annual award recognizes the top 1% of local businesses that are important change-makers within their neighborhood. We are honored to be part of this prestigious group.

New York Magazine and The Strategist

When New York Magazine and The Strategist reach out to NYC professional organizers for advice and recommendations, we are often one of their go-to resources. We’ve had the pleasure of sharing our expertise on organizing closets, kitchens, books and more:

• 13 Professional Organizers on the One Item They Tell Every Client to Buy
• How to Organize Your Kitchen and Pantry, According to Professional Organizers
• How to De-clutter Your Book Collection (Without Throwing Away All of Your Books)
• The Best Closet Organizers, According to Professional Organizers

Other Media Mentions

We have also appeared in multiple blogs and online publications that feature tips from the best professional organizers in NYC and beyond. Below are some of our media mentions:

• Capacity.com: Top 35 Leaders in Efficiency and Time Management To Follow
• Spare Foot Blog: 11 Best Professional Organizers in New York City
• MakeSpace: 58 Best Organizing Tips And Ideas From 24 Top Professional Organizers

To check out more of our press, featuring videos and a wide variety of articles on organizing with lots of useful tips, visit our Media and Television page.

Our customized approach and commitment to our clients’ individual needs has earned us recognition as one of the best NYC professional organizers. If you’re looking for support in your organizing journey, we would love to help you implement effective organization strategies in your space.

Contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation!

The post The Best NYC Professional Organizers appeared first on Gotham Organizers.

Many people rely on New York Magazine’s The Strategist as a trustworthy source of advice to find all of the best products on the market. When it comes to organizing products, The Strategist trusts Lisa to provide expert recommendations. She has been featured in several articles:

● The best storage bins and baskets – Check out this thorough review of the best containers for kitchens, offices, closets, kids’ rooms, and more.
● The best drawer organizers and drawer dividers – From bamboo to plastic to metal, this article features organizers and dividers to keep pens, socks, and other small items from getting lost in the depths of your desk and dresser drawers.
● The best kitchen carts – If you’re lacking storage or counter space in the kitchen, you need one of these handy kitchen carts.
● The best paper towel holders – Don’t forget the essentials! Try one of these paper towel holders to keep things looking neat and clear in your kitchen.
● The best dish racks – Say goodbye to puddles on the kitchen counter with these top-notch racks for drying dishes.
● The best trash cans – Keep trash and clutter at bay with these simple and streamlined trash can options.

Need help finding the best way to use these organizing products in your home? Contact Gotham Organizers today!

The post The Strategist appeared first on Gotham Organizers.

“When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.” – Erma Bombeck

“[Organizing] your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.” – Phyllis Diller

Here are some tips to keep in mind when you are organizing for children.

1. Safety First

Before you get carried away with the latest kid organization idea you see online or in a magazine, keep safety in mind!

Make sure that the storage furniture and containers you use are suitable for kids.

There are special safety standards for furniture that’s made just for children. You can’t just re-purpose any piece of furniture for kids – watch out for sharp edges and hardware, dangerous hinges, splintery wood and tall pieces that might topple over. Your grandmother’s old trunk with the heavy lid doesn’t belong in the playroom! No matter how cute that idea looked in a blog or on Pinterest.

Make sure any high furniture is securely anchored to the walls.

Store heavier items on low shelves or the floor so that they can’t be knocked down and hurt someone.

Don’t even think of using zippered plastic bags or glass containers when it comes to organization for children.

Use lightweight containers that won’t crush little toes if they are dropped. Fabric bins and thin plastic containers are great choices.

2. Durability

Kids play hard, so you want products that are well-made and will stand up to years of use. If your kids are climbers, it’s especially important that you get furniture that’s sturdy!

Containers may be dropped or tossed around, another reason that durable plastic or cloth is a good bet.

3. Size Wise

One size does not fit all! Desks, tables and chairs should be the right size for your kids so that they can work and play with ease and avoid strains.

Light-weight furniture makes it easy for kids to re-arrange the room to suit their needs.

An adjustable keyboard tray promotes proper form at the computer.

Low shelves and kid-sized containers make it easy for children to put stuff away themselves.

Containers shouldn’t be too heavy or too big for kids to handle. Speaking of handling, containers with handles are especially handy for kids.

4. Label!

Labels are especially important when it comes to organizing for kids. With labels, everyone knows what goes where.

Get your kids involved in coming up with labels that are most meaningful to them. I was working with an 8 year old girl and suggested labeling one bin “Cars and Trucks.” She replied, “How about Vehicles?” Much better!

Label storage containers and the edges of shelves.

Add a photo or drawing for kids who can’t read yet.

GO Try It!

Apply these tips and you’ll create organization systems for kids that are fun and functional! And most importantly, it will be easy for you – and your kids – to put things away.

Please share any tips you have on organizing for kids below!

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The post Top 4 Kid Organization Ideas and Child Organization Tips appeared first on Gotham Organizers.

Redfin features

We were named a top organizing and decluttering expert by Redfin. Check out the articles we were featured in:

• The Ultimate Room-By-Room Decluttering Checklist
• 20 Tips and Tricks for a DIY Bedroom Makeover on a Budget

The post Redfin appeared first on Gotham Organizers.