Giving the Gift of Organizing

From year to year, I seem to have selective amnesia when it comes to how busy the month of May can be.  From Mother’s Day to end of school year celebrations and graduations to the start of summer with the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the month tends to be filled with special occasions – which entails gift giving.  If you are looking for gift ideas for the moms in your life or the soon to be graduates, consider the gift of organizing!

• New moms often need help making space for baby.  I continue to be amazed by how these adorable, teeny, little beings come with SO much stuff!  And big stuff too as those swings, pack n plays, bouncy seats, play mats and changing stations take up a lot of room.  Those are the physical items that need spaces to accommodate them.  What about what I refer to as the mental clutter of time management?  Babies wreak havoc on pre-established routines that have now been thrown out the window.  New parents often need to revisit their time management systems and set up new family routines.
• If it’s not a new mom then “older” moms may be in need of fine tuning their spaces and routines.  Maybe they have just downsized, retired, taken on a new hobby or are starting to consider one of these life transitions.  Put It There organizers are able to help with those decisions and redoes.
• High school graduates could really benefit from a session on time management and learning how to best manage all that college has to offer.  Up until now they have only needed to know how to manage the 4:00 – 11:00 time frame, as school has taken up the rest of their days.  Now, for the first time, and with little formal instruction offered, they need to manage all 24 hours!  These skillsets are not as common sense and easy as some people think.
• College grads are making their way into the adult world with new jobs and likely new housing.  Setting up their new homes and offices, learning how to create file systems for important papers and other adulting requirements are rife with opportunity for an organizer to ease the transition.
• And, of course, gift certificates for birthdays and anniversaries are always a great idea as well as a thank you or welcome to your new home gift.

Now that you’ve decided to purchase a gift certificate for your recipient, we are often asked how to present the idea without offending.  Here are some tips on how to best deliver your well-intentioned gift of organizing.

• “I’ve really benefitted from the services of a Professional Organizer and with your new transition I thought one would help make the change smoother and easier.”
• “I heard you mention that you aren’t sure where all the new baby items are going to go.  I thought a Professional Organizer could come and help you maximize your space in order to make room for it all.”
• “I know you will get plenty of baby clothes and toys as gifts. I wanted to get you something different to help with this big life change.”
• “I wish I had someone teach me time management when I was starting out.  I hope you will gain invaluable skills as you head off to college or start your first job.”
• Notice the use of “I” statements and the emphasis on the benefits that come from the services we offer.

The gift of organizing is not only thoughtful and personal, but it is also one that some would not get for themselves, making it that much more appreciated!