Sustainable Simplicity Organizing – What’s in a Name – Part 1

When I set out to pick a name for my professional organizer business, I wanted it to represent my mission. I ended on Sustainable Simplicity because both of the words, Sustainable and Simplicity, have double meanings that are important to me. Sustainable represents both Long-Term Transformation & Eco-friendly Practices while Simplicity represents a Simple Process to Achieve Organization as well as Minimalism.

Sustainable #1: Long-Term Transformation

Usually when people are asking for help from a professional organizer, it is because their small imperfect habits have added up to the point where they feel overwhelmed and no longer in control. They need a body double to help them face the piles of things that have accumulated. These piles however did not appear overnight, they grew slowly over time and the individual is exhausted from trying to keep up. That is where the professional organizer gets to come in to help people make small reasonable habits that will last and keep the piles at bay.

A few things that can help this process:

-          Get rid of the excess clutter: Once people see what it is like to live with less stuff after the decluttering process, it helps them make more intentional and conscious discissions. The marketing in our society is constantly trying to pull at our weaknesses for their benefit. It takes practice and conscious effort to know that you are happier without the excess.

-          Find a “home” for each item: It is amazing how much easier it is to put something away when there is actually a spot for it to go. If you don’t know what an item’s home should be, think of where you would first look for it when you need it. 

-          Boundaries: Things are less likely to get re-scrambled if there are barriers separating them. Using boundaries (drawer dividers, etc.) keeps things in their place…and suddenly a junk drawer becomes a utility drawer. Boundaries also have the ability to notify you when the space if full and it is time to revisit what belongs there.

-          Know Yourself: People are individuals and all function differently. Embrace that by finding an organizing solution that works with your tendencies, and isn’t just something you saw on social media.

The goal is to make changes that will be sustainable and will continue to serve you in the future.

Sustainable #2: Eco-friendly

As we all become more and more aware of our impact on the natural world, my hope is to help create and provide some eco-friendly solutions for my clients.

The most obvious way to be eco-friendly during the decluttering process is to donate or recycle as many items as possible. We have the benefit of living in Portland, Oregon where there are many services that will gladly accept things you are ready to let go of.   

Second, the decluttering process makes you more aware of items coming into your space. As a result, you will be less likely to buy stuff you don’t need just to avoid the process of having to get rid of it 6 months later. You may even find solutions like borrowing items you need temporarily that you would have historically purchased. Then of course the most likely reason, you will not buy duplicates solely because you can’t find the first (or second, or tenth) one. 

Finally, the organizing solutions can often be eco-friendly as well. Whether you want to utilize organizing products you already have or buy ones with more eco-friendly materials, these options can often create a long-lasting organized solution.