Organizing Gifts for Dads and Grads

Community Manager — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:57:00 GMT

June is all about dads and grads. Celebrate a special someone this month with a gift that never languishes in the box or goes out of style: the gift of organization.

Professional Organizer: Consider gifting your loved one with sessions with a professional organizer. If dad would love a spic and span garage but doesn't have the time or inclination to do it solo, consider outsourcing the job to a pro. Professionals can often work faster and more effectively than home-owners. Plus they are savvy about resources and tools needed to best tackle a job. College grads could also benefit from tips on handling their new adult lifestyle: job hunting, bills, and setting up and maintaining a first-home all require effective organization systems. To find a professional organizer in your area, visit the National Association of Professional Organizers.

There's an App for That: Organizing is easier than ever with all the digital devices and apps on the market. Consider splurging on a lap top or iPad for your loved one. CNET has a great 2012 gift guide of must-have tech tools here. You can even pre-load many with useful organizing apps which you can find here and here. Or gift them with iTunes cards so they can buy apps for devices they already own.

Old School, Still Cool: Sometimes the old way, is the best way. For jotting down notes, lists and capturing brainstorms, gift your grad or dad with one of these stylish moleskin notebooks accompanied by one of these classic pens. We also think nothing says "I love you, and I know you will love being organized" like the gift of an amazing, high-end label maker.

Do you know a dad or a grad who would love an organizing gift? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Organizing by Deputizing

Community Manager — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:50:00 GMT

Want to be organized? Not sure how to proceed? Consider outsourcing the job to a pro.

Professional organizers can help you deal with everything from papers to your kitchen cabinets to your time management challenges. They have the been-there-done-that expertise in every area of organizing that many of us lack.

How can a pro help?

Professional organizers offer a wide variety of services, ranging from general organizing for home and office to specialists who provide services in niche areas such as estate planning or home staging and moving services. This comprehensive article by ProfessionalOrganizersOnline.com lists the many areas where pros can be helpful

How to find a get-organized guru?

Start with the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). For 25 years, this industry group has served as a clearinghouse for information and experts working in the organizing industry. NAPO has a state-by-state database of professionals and offers information about criteria to consider when hiring a pro.

Once you've found a few good candidates, be sure to interview each just as you would any prospective hire. Does the pro have expertise in the particular area you need help? Check to see if they are licensed and insured and be sure to check references. Also, be clear about fees and expenses before getting started. For more questions to ask when hiring a professional, check out these two helpful resources:

Investing in organizing pays dividends

Hiring a professional to tackle your organizing might seem like a luxury but consider that the investment can actually free up time and money.

Do you restock your pantry with items you already own? Keep buying items for the home that you know are already there...somewhere? Is your home office running on slo-mo because invoicing and paperwork keeps piling up? Would you rather hit the beach than tackle the task of locating those beach chairs in your buried basement?

If you've answered yes to any of these questions, it's time to outsource your organizing.

Have you used a professional organizer? Was it helpful? Do you have any tips for maintaining organization after working with a pro? Share your thoughts here and on the Beyond Folders Community's Facebook and Twitter pages.

by Carly Fadako

Beyond Folders : NAPO

Organizing Gifts for Dads and Grads

Organizing by Deputizing