The Thing Nobody Tells You About Getting Organized

I've been organizing homes in Sarasota for 15 years, and I need to tell you something that might sound weird coming from a professional organizer:

Most people don't have a clutter problem. They have a decision fatigue problem.

Let me explain what I mean.

Last week, a client sent me photos of her pantry. It wasn't even that messy by most standards—she had bins, labels, the whole Pinterest setup. But she was still stressed every time she opened those doors.

When we talked, the real issue came out: she'd spent so much mental energy organizing "perfectly" that now she was exhausted just thinking about putting groceries away. Every can of beans became a decision. Does it go with the other beans? Or with the soup? What if the label doesn't face forward?

She'd turned her pantry into homework.

Why Traditional Organizing Advice Fails Real People

Here's what most organizing blogs won't tell you: those beautiful Instagram pantries with matching containers and color-coded labels? They work great for about two weeks.

Then life happens. Your kid grabs a snack and doesn't put it back in the "right" spot. Your partner does the grocery run and doesn't know your system. You're tired after work and just shove things wherever they fit.

The system falls apart because it was designed to look good, not to actually work for how you live.

I learned this the hard way back in 2010 when I was still doing in-home organizing. I'd spend 6 hours creating these elaborate systems for clients, feeling so proud of the transformation. Then they'd call me three months later, embarrassed, saying it "didn't stick."

It took me years to realize: I was the problem. I was organizing for my brain, not theirs.

The One Question That Changes Everything

Now, before I create any organizing plan, I ask clients this:

"What's the dumbest place you've found [item] in the past week?"

For kitchen stuff, it's usually cereal in the coat closet or snacks in the bathroom. For garages, it's tools in the kitchen drawer or beach stuff in the bedroom.

These "stupid" spots aren't random—they're clues. They show you where things naturally land when you're tired, rushed, or just living your life.

And here's the secret: that's where the storage should be.

If your kids keep dumping backpacks by the front door instead of in their rooms, stop fighting it. Put hooks by the door. If you're constantly finding mail on the kitchen counter, that's your mail spot now—just add a tray.

Work with your habits, not against them.

My Actual Process (No BS)

When someone hires Simply Spacial for virtual organizing, here's what really happens:

1. They send me photos—usually taken in a panic at 11pm when they can't find something

2. I look for the "hot zones"—the spots where everything piles up

3. I ask annoying questions—Who uses this space? When? What's the last thing you did here before it got messy?

4. I create a stupid-simple plan—Usually 3-5 zones max, with rules a tired person can follow

   
   

That's it. No fancy systems. No $400 in matching bins. Just making it easier to put things away than to leave them out.

What Actually Works in Florida Homes

Living in Sarasota means dealing with specific challenges that organizing bloggers in Minnesota don't think about:

• Hurricane season storage - You need quick access to flashlights and batteries, but they can't take up prime real estate 10 months a year

• Sand and humidity - Beach gear needs to dry out before being put away, which means your "system" needs to account for wet stuff

• Seasonal residents - If you're only here half the year, your storage needs to be easy to shut down and restart

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I've seen too many people buy organizing systems designed for cold climates with basements and four seasons. They don't work here.

For example, I'll never recommend cloth bins for Florida garages—the humidity ruins them. But stackable plastic containers with ventilation holes? Perfect for sports equipment that might still be damp from practice.

The Reality Check You Need

If you're reading this hoping I'll give you a magical 5-step system that solves everything, I'm going to disappoint you.

There is no perfect system. There's only "good enough for how you actually live."

The goal isn't a magazine-worthy space. It's being able to find your keys in under 30 seconds. It's not crying when you open the pantry.

It's your teenager actually putting dishes away because you made it so easy they can't mess it up.

What To Do Right Now

Pick one spot that's driving you crazy. Just one.

Take a photo of it, then ask yourself: "What ended up here that doesn't belong?"

Whatever that thing is—that's what your system needs to accommodate. Not punish, not train away, not ignore. Accommodate.

If mail always ends up on the kitchen counter, congrats—you have a mail counter now. Add a small basket or tray and call it done.

If you're constantly tripping over shoes by the door, stop trying to make everyone walk them to the closet. Put a shoe rack by the door.

Give yourself permission to organize for the life you have, not the life you think you should have.

When To Get Help

Look, I run a virtual organizing business, so obviously I think professional help is valuable. But I'll be straight with you about when you actually need it:

You do need help if:

• You've tried multiple times and it keeps falling apart

• You have ADHD or executive function challenges and systems don't stick

• You're overwhelmed and don't even know where to start

• You're moving/downsizing and need a strategy, not just muscle

For most people, the virtual organizing route makes more sense than having someone physically come to your house. It's cheaper ($147 vs. $700+), faster (plans in 72 hours), and you don't have to tidy up before the organizer arrives (which, let's be honest, is the most stressful part).

The Truth About My Service

Since this is my blog, I should probably do the sales pitch thing here. But honestly? Virtual organizing isn't magic.

What I do is look at your photos with fresh eyes, ask questions you haven't thought of, and create a plan that matches how your brain actually works. Then you do the physical work yourself.

Some people love that—they want the strategy but enjoy the doing. Some people hate it and wish I'd just come do it for them.

If you're the second type, I'm probably not your organizer. But if you like the idea of getting expert advice without coordinating schedules, paying for drive time, or having someone judge your mess in person? Send me some photos and let's figure it out.

One Last Thing

The clients who get the best results aren't the ones with the worst clutter or the most motivation.

They're the ones who give themselves permission to be imperfect.

The ones who create a "junk drawer" instead of trying to find a home for every random battery and twist tie. The ones who use a laundry basket as a "I'll deal with this later" zone instead of pretending those don't exist.

Organization isn't about perfection. It's about reducing the mental load so you can think about literally anything else.

And if you're still reading this, you're probably someone who overthinks things (hi, me too). So here's your permission slip: good enough is actually good enough.

Ready to stop overthinking your clutter? I create custom organizing plans based on photos you send—no home visit required. Plans delivered in 72 hours, starting at $147. Get started here.