Conquering clutter: professional organizers help create order out of chaos.

• Author: Westby, Tim

Admit it. That stack of papers you haven't gotten around to filing bugs you. Or is it the growing pile of unopened mail that makes you cringe? Or that muddle on your desk? Sure, it's organized. Sort of. You can find what it is you're looking for--eventually. But deep down, all the clutter around you is a source of stress. You keep telling yourself that one of these days you will take the time to simplify and create order out of chaos, but haven't you said that for months--if not years? And really, do you even know where to begin?

We're a nation of stuff. And we bring more of it into our lives on a daily basis, often without knowing where to put it. So we pile it into corners, boxes and closets. Our two-car garages are so filed with stuff we leave our cars exposed to the elements. For those things we really don't know what to do with, but can't bring ourselves to toss, there is the attic or basement or, for the truly beset, the rented storage locker.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by it all. But don't worry. Help is here. In fact, it's everywhere. Countless books and magazine articles (and even whole magazines), videos and classes have spawned a kind of anti-clutter movement.

If the books are not helping you cut through the clutter, consider forking out the bucks to bring in a pro. The web site for the 2,000-member strong National Association of Professional Organizers lists 13 members in Utah alone. A professional organizer will come into your home or office and work with you to clear out the clutter and show you a plethora of ways to keep organized.

Do not hire a professional organizer expecting to get a premium maid service. Instead, be prepared to do much of the work yourself. A professional organizer will help you get things in order, but you'll need to be fully involved in the process in order for it to work.

"Organizing is mostly a skill, so teaching is a big part of the process," says Marla Dee, owner of Clear & Simple in Salt Lake City. "Eighty percent of people I work with, once they have a system in place, they're fine."

Most professional organizers will start with a one to two-hour consultation in your home or office. "I sit down with my clients and find out what is working and what is not," says Vickie Hansen, owner of My Organized Life in Ogden. "I need to understand the flow of what my clients are trying to achieve."

Then they will map out a detailed plan. This is also where the acronyms and mantras come in. One favorite...