Ok! You have had your consultation, you have a vision for your space and a plan of how to get there with the help of a professional organizer.  Now what? Here are some Do's and Don'ts to help you get the most out of your time together:

Do

• Get Comfy - No need to dress to impress here.  You will be getting into the nitty gritty, it is easier to focus on the task at hand when you are not worried about getting your clothes dirty.

• Eat & Drink - Make sure you are taking care of your body just as you are taking care of your space.  Plan on a snack break or five, it might sound trite but your body needs fuel.  Have your favorite beverage nearby to sip on throughout, it is easy to become hyper-focused on the task at hand so having food and drink ready to go will help.

• Time Block - Set aside this time just for working with your professional organizer.  Try to eliminate distractions and other responsibilities. That being said, I understand it is not always possible to eliminate all distractions, but doing your best to plan ahead will help you get the most out of your time with your professional organizer.

Don't

• Stress - I know telling you not to probably made it worse, but I want to remind you that you are not alone.  You might be tempted to judge yourself for "letting it get this bad" or shame yourself saying "Why can't I just get it done?" Struggling with clutter, or having a hard time finding functional systems that work for you says nothing about your worth.  Life gets messy, this is about making your space work for you.

• Tidy - Resist the urge! I know, I know, it goes against everything you have ever been taught.  But it will be best for your professional organizer to see where things naturally migrate.  If you tend to have piles of paper all over the dining room table they will be able to learn two things, you need a system that is more functional for papers that come into the house, and the dining room table is where things naturally land.  If you had taken all of those papers and shoved them into a drawer your organizer would have missed out on that valuable information. Also, save your energy! No sense spinning your wheels before you even get started.

• Worry - You are 100% in the driver's seat! There are a lot of reasons why people hold on to stuff.  At no point should you feel pressured to get rid of things you don't want to. You do not have to explain or justify why you want to keep anything.  The organizer will ask you questions that help you assess what adds to your life and what you might be holding on to for reasons that don't bring calm to your space.  This is about you, you are in control.