Dump the clutter

Get organized with the nation

Gannett News Service Cut out the clutter today.

Susan Fowler-Gallagher's photography studio was in constant disarray for 10 years.

''I would go and travel and put piles in bags ...'' said Fowler-Gallagher, who works from her home in the Town of Clinton. ''I was never good about my desk. I would have piles and piles and piles.''

Bills for home expenses would get mixed in with those for her photography business, as well as those tied to her family's farm.

That was one year ago.

She's since been able to maintain a system that helps her keep her work space organized.

In an effort to reach business owners like Fowler-Gallagher, who have struggled to keep their offices clutter-free, the National Association of Professional Organizers has established today as National Organize Your Home Office Day.

Getting organized does matter.

''The bottom line is, it's going to save you time when you have to find things,'' said Ellen Kutner, who helps Fowler-Gallagher with a filing system. Kutner owns a personal organizing business, Simply Organized, in Pleasant Valley. ''Time is money. It's going to increase productivity and reduce stress.''

Most people aren't disorganized because they lack time or need a personal assistant, Kutner said.

''I think that many times, people just don't have it initially set up where it's going to be really easy maintenance, such as having a file to reflect all your bills,'' Kutner said.

Keep 'em separate

Whether it's for business or personal use, Kutner said, a home office should have a filing system. There should also be a clear division between business and personal space and files.

Another of Kutner's clients, Tiffany Stevenson of Beacon, said just because you have five-year-old magazines tucked away in pretty boxes doesn't mean you're organized.

''I think we set up systems that we're comfortable with, but are habits,'' said Stevenson, who is in the business of making custom scrapbooks in her home. ''I think another thing is, there's something about people standing over your stuff. ... Shame factor is very motivating.''

Signs that people need to get organized include massive clutter, unfinished projects, a paperwork backup and no clear-cut place for supplies to define the use of the space.

''Your leisure time should go up because you become more efficient at what you're doing and you're not wasting your time searching for things,'' said Stevenson.

She added that working more efficiently helps her work better.

Work without results

''The amount of time that I would spend looking for something, I have that time back now, which allows me to be more productive and allows me to make more money,'' Stevenson said. ''You feel like you're working because you're looking for something, but you're not really working because it doesn't allow you to work.''

Kutner said if a simple system is created, it will be easy to maintain. People should take time out at the beginning or the end of the day to simply put things away, she added.

''You can't just close the door at the end of the day and walk out, because things start to stack up,'' Kutner said.

Nicole Edwards can be reached at nredward@poughkeepsiejournal.com.

If you go

What -- Organization workshop with Tara Schinsing of the organizing service Controlled Chaos.

When -- Today, 7-9 p.m.

Where -- Stanford Free Library, 14 Creamery Road, Stanfordville.

Admission -- Free; no registration required.

Information -- Call 845-868-1341.

A little help

Here are some tips from LaGrange-based personal organizer Meryl Starr, author of ''The Home Organizing Workbook.'':

- Get rid of what you don't need. Start small with clearing the desk and going through piles. Create piles for items you need, items to give away, bills, etc.

- Have a filing system with all documents that pertain to the home or split it up into home and office files.

- File often.

- Make an appointment with yourself once a week to maintain organization.

- Establish a system that works best for you.

- Visit www.napo.net, www.simplyorg.com or www.merylstarr.com for information.

What a waste

According to the national Association of Professional Organizers:

- Americans waste nine million hours per day searching for misplaced items.

- Eighty percent of papers that are filed are never referenced again.

- Twenty-three percent of adults say they pay bills late and incur late fees because they lose them.

- Eighty percent of clutter in your home is a result of disorganization, not lack of space.