Raleigh business honored in LA

Did you know …

…the average American has $10,000 in credit card debt yet has an average of $3,500 in usable items collecting dust? 

…more than 85 percent of couples say they argue about clutter and disorganization?

…depression can cause clutter, and clutter can cause depression?

These and other statistics have helped professional eco-organizer Julie Seibert make a career of finding ways to repurpose and reuse items people already own, and suggesting ways people can make money from decluttering. Seibert is the owner of the North Raleigh-based Healing Through Organization, which works with people’s natural habits to save time and money while also reducing stress.

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Her dedication was recently recognized with an award for Most Eco-Friendly Organizing Service from the National Association of Professional Organizers in Los Angeles.

ON THE WEB:
healingorganization.org

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“I have seen organization transform spouse and family relationships, decrease depression and increase work productivity so people can reach their full potential,” Seibert said.

When Seibert started the business in 2009, she was the first professional in the Triangle and the state to specialize in helping people take back their lives via eco-organizing services.

Before she launched her business, Seibert spent 10 years in fundraising and other roles for nonprofits. To be successful, she had to be organized. But organizing your world does not necessarily mean buying lots of plastic bins, however. Repurposing everyday items is the cornerstone of Seibert’s mission to transform lives through education and customized plans that create productive and sustainable environments.

An assessment is the first step in the reorganizing process. When working with potential clients, Seibert does a walk-through of the areas to be decluttered and organized and discusses the options. Everyone’s responsibilities are spelled out in writing, and clients also sign a pledge committing to making the effort a priority.

“Julie is top notch,” said client Angel Lebak, a virtual assistant who performs tasks for offsite businesses. “She helped me focus on my office goals and the use of each item in the office, understand why I am keeping information – or getting rid of it – and kept me motivated to continue.”

As a member of the national and state chapters of the National Association of Professional Organizers, Seibert is working toward a professional organizing certification, which requires 1,500 hours of paid experience. She works with clients at their home or their office. Seibert said people who consistently lose things around the house or who always find themselves paying interest because they can’t pay bills on time are among those who could benefit from her services.

She also has a YouTube channel with organizing tips and frequently blogs about organization and green topics, including tax credits and rebates for “going green.”

“It is not about being Martha Stewart – that’s only realistic if you have a staff of 50,” she said.

“For the rest of us mere mortals, being organized is about being in a space you love, that inspires you, and that helps you be productive.”


The News & Observer
Mar 2011