Some of you may remember today’s guest author, Jim Deitzel of Rubbermaid.  I interviewed him back in 2008 and was the first pro organizer he profiled on the Rubbermaid “Q&A  With a Professional Organizer” series.  Jim has picked up a few organizing nuggets along the way and he was kind enough to share them with us.

Once upon a time on a dark and stormy night…wait a second, the story doesn’t actually start like that. It actually starts with the Rubbermaid Adventures in Organization blog. A few years ago, I embarked on an adventure to blog about getting my home & life organized. I wanted to document the process of how an everyday individual, without super organizing powers like Deb, could slowly but surely get their life in order. It started with a small win of organizing my desk drawer and progressed rapidly into larger wins, such as organizing my garage, kitchen cabinets, and pantry. And, during this adventure, I’ve received significant help and advice from professional organizers across the country, and have learned how to get, and more importantly, how to stay organized.

Below is some of what I’ve learned (based on the “What I’ve Learned” series in Esquire magazine).

What I’ve Learned About Organization

• Organizing a space is not a one-time event. If you think you’re going to organize a closet and it will magically stay organized you’re mistaken.

• It’s amazing what 5 minutes of organizing maintenance can do. Pick up clothes on the floor. Hang up the jackets in the closet, toss the junk mail. Maintenance is key to staying organized.




• Getting organized can be overwhelming. Start small and color in the lines. If you’re going to organize a junk drawer, don’t end up organizing the entire kitchen. Small wins eventually add up to big wins.




• Declutter, declutter, declutter. Half the battle is getting rid of all the stuff you don’t really need.




• Identify the problem before creating the solution. You need to know what’s wrong before you can fix it.




• Make it personal. You probably won’t change your habits too much so make the solution work within how you live.




• Organizing a space does not mean it needs to look like a magazine cover. Organization is about function, not form.




• Think continuous improvements. Your first attempt may not always work. Keep adjusting until you get it right.

• If all else fails, call Deb. I’m positive she can help :)

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About the Author

Jim Deitzel is eMarketing Manager for Rubbermaid. During his seven years with the company, Jim has been responsible for online marketing, website management, as well as acting as chief blogger and social media strategist for Rubbermaid. Prior to joining Rubbermaid, he was marketing communication manager for Soft Play, the playground company who’s equipment is found in many McDonald’s. Before moving to Charlotte, he lived in Fort Collins, Colorado where he managed a graphics production department for a nationwide publishing company.

Connect With Jim: Web | Blog |  Facebook | Twitter

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