Order, please! Professional organizer Cathy Dietl shares some tools of the trade

Organizing is not high on the list of favorite activities for most people, but for Cathy Dietl, it's a way of life -- both personal and professional. She'd always had a knack for de-cluttering, and when her insurance job was outsourced after 15 years, she enrolled in QC Design School to learn more about organizing.

"Helping and teaching others to get organized gave me a great sense of satisfaction," she says. "It was then I decided to start my own business."

Dietl is a professional organizer and a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, and her Cape Girardeau business is called De-Clutter Bug. We chatted with Dietl about her best organization tips:

Baskets, like this burlap-lined metal style available at Kohl's, make organizing your home easier. (Fred Lynch ~ flynch@semissourian.com)

Flourish: What are the problem areas for most people when it comes to organization? How do you help sort those areas out?

Dietl: "Out of sight, out of mind" is one of the largest problems for most people. Typically the basement. After consultation, I assist clients in achieving their goals without them feeling overwhelmed. Second to basements is paper. I help my clients determine what paper needs to be filed, shredded or recycled and create a filing system that works for them.

Flourish: Stores have so many neat baskets, boxes and other organizers -- how can we incorporate them into our system? Do you have any favorite items?

Dietl: Baskets, boxes and other organizers can be used anywhere and everywhere! Drawer organizers can be used in your kitchens, bathrooms and offices. Boxes and baskets can help in garages, basements and closets. There are over- and under-the-seat organizers for cars and boats. Transparent plastic organizers are great to use in play rooms and craft rooms. Baskets are my favorite because there are so many sizes, shapes and colors. I like the looks of baskets instead of boxes on shelves.

Flourish: What are some other must-haves if we're going to get organized?

Dietl: 1. Labels! You must label boxes, totes, etc., so you know what is in each of them. 2. A timer! Start slow. Set a timer for 15 minutes a day and start with a drawer or a small job. This will help keep you from getting overwhelmed. 3. Patience! Organizing projects will take time to complete. Small steps and patience will get the job done.

Flourish: What are your best overall organization tips?

Dietl: My favorite overall tip is to handle mail as soon as it comes in the door! Decide what to do with each piece: delegate, file, toss, read or respond. Set up an action file for items that need an action taken. Another tip is to spend 15 minutes every evening putting things back where they belong. Every item has a home.

Flourish: A lot of us have trouble getting rid of things -- maybe there's an emotional connection, or we just never know if we might need the item someday! What is your advice here?

Dietl: If it's an item that you think you may need again someday, pack it away in a box in the garage or basement. After six months to a year, if you haven't used that item, you probably need to get rid of it.

For an item that you feel an emotional connection to, ask yourself: Do I love this item? Am I keeping this out of obligation or expectation? Am I keeping this because I think I should love this? If you do love it, by all means keep it. If the answer to the other two questions is no, then think about giving it to someone else or donating it.

Is this item something you buy if needed, or it is costing you to store? If the answer is yes, get rid of it.

Clothes with tears or missing buttons that someday you are going to fix and you haven't fixed them after a certain period of time, get rid of them. When clothes to "someday get back into" have been hanging around for awhile, it may be time get rid of them. When you achieve that goal, reward yourself with a new wardrobe.

As far as children's artwork, awards or other mementos, you don't actually need the item. Take a picture of it and put it in a folder on your computer. You will always have the memory of the item without having the clutter.

Flourish: When might it be time to call in a professional like yourself?

Dietl: If you are overwhelmed when you open a closet or walk to the basement, or suffer from C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and don't know where to start, a professional organizer can help. If you just need direction or a little push, working with a professional organizer can help with the motivation necessary to get your life back in order. Even if you are physically unable do the work, an organizer can help.