Declutter, get organised!

Declutter, get organised!

Category Expert Insight

It is said that organising is a journey, not a destination. In this case, a very good starting point on this journey would be Paula de Jesus, owner of Absolutely Organised, who offers a professional, discreet organising service in Cape Town.

Being organised is not necessarily about being neat, says Paula. It is about being able to find something in the shortest amount of time with the least effort and stress.

Her own journey to organised calm started in a dusty, unused old storeroom.

Paula, then a remedial therapist, was working at a school in Wynberg when she discovered the unused storeroom downstairs.

"I was always putting things away and organising them in the classroom. Then, when I found the old storeroom, I started sorting through all the dust and dirt to find things I could use in therapy and for storage. I found that I was enjoying myself."

Although Paula has always been an organised person it had never occurred to her that she could turn other people's messy situations around and into a business for herself.

"I guess the interest was there already, but it was only when someone told me about Tracey Foulkes, one of the first organising gurus in Cape Town, that it dawned on me that I could actually make a living from doing what I love."

Paula started her studies at the Get Organised Academy, owned by Foulkes, founder of international productivity company Get Organised. Soon she had her entrepreneurial ducks in a row and her business took off. Today her company offers organising solutions that are easy to implement and maintain.

Paula and her company handle anything from project-managing a move, to organising a home office, decluttering a wardrobe or dealing with deceased estates.

Absolutely Organised also disposes of unwanted goods. It is either safely disposed of, recycled or donated and distributed to suitable charities. Paula's mantra is reduce, reuse, recycle, and she ensures that it is done responsibly. Sometimes interesting and dangerous items must be disposed of such as medical waste and even the odd set of false teeth ...

Of course, when you go through people's personal belongings, you get more than a glimpse into their private life.

A client's dress is not just an item of clothing, it was once a colourful chapter in her social life, even part of her personality. A bottle opener bought at the Cango Caves in the sixties is not junk. It is a memory. A moment in time.

Therefore, discretion is needed and most of all, kindness.

Paula understands what we all know - it is difficult to let go.

She tells her clients - "I am here to hold your hand through the process of letting go. I am not here to force you to get rid of anything - however I am here to hold you accountable. In order to become less overwhelmed with clutter, it is essential that some pairing down happens."

While an organised, decluttered house can bring calm into your life, it may be difficult to achieve if you do not have the correct mindset. There is an essential stage of readiness in the decluttering and organising process- if you are not ready to let go of anything, you will simply be moving stuff around and the clutter will return.

 It is normal to experience a sense of loss when downscaling. "There can be grief attached to the process of letting go," says Paula. "That is why I also listen to the stories behind the objects. That bottle opener  was bought on their honeymoon. It was a lovely, hot day. I validate the memory."

Finally, Paula cautions us all to not set unrealistic expectations for yourself and others.   Decluttering and organising are about making your life and your home work for you, and not about perfection."

#Tip 1: Declutter before selling your home

Thinking of selling your house and moving elsewhere? The first thing you should do, is to declutter, says Paula de Jesus, owner of Absolutely Organised. Remember, prospective buyers need to see the bones of the house. Get rid of everything you don't need. This way you will also save on time and money since you will have less to pack and to move.

#Tip 2: Pack a survival box when moving

Pack a survival box for your first day in your new home. Pack in the box: soap, toilet rolls, cleaning equipment such as  sponges, dishwashing liquid and cleaning sprays, a kettle, coffee cups, beverages, snacks and a little gas stove and emergency light in case of load shedding. Also pack breakfast, toiletries, a capsule wardrobe and school uniforms if you have children.

Contact Paula on cell: 082 723 2924. For more information click on www.absolutelyorganised.co.za

Author: 8761