Getting Organized Can Be a Lifesaver

I grew up in a house with a lot of things placed randomly by my mother. It was a beautiful house but we didn’t necessarily know where everything was. My mom called it “Organized Confusion”.

Recently, I learned that decluttering and home organization was actually a profession. Diane Krojanker, a close friend from Seattle, moved to Israel 18 years ago and introduced me to the concept. She began her company “Let’s Organize” around seven years ago when a friend came to her house and said, ” Can you do this for me?” Diane’s response was “Do What?” Her friend went on to say she needed to get her home organized and had no idea where to start.

Diane couldn’t believe her luck. She had been decluttering and organizing for people her entire life, but never dreamed it could be a profession. From that moment on, she turned her love for organization into a successful business.

“Growing up in a home overflowing with things, I found it difficult to concentrate and focus. I discovered at an early age that having less and being able to access what I need easily gave me a sense of calm. I understood that every item I own, I had to deal with. This helped me be mindful regarding what I allowed into my space. Less is more was my motto, and almost the name of my business, but that isn’t the entire story. It’s not about having less, but rather truly honoring what you love. If something is shoved in a closet, unseen, how is it bringing joy to your life?”

People seek out Diane’s Let’s Organize services to help them declutter, downsize for a move, pack, unpack, set up their home after making Aliyah, and create organizing systems in their homes and office space.

One client had this to say after Diane assisted in organizing to open her Daycare business;
“Diane played an invaluable role in helping me set up my daycare, Adama. From organizing classrooms, toys, and supplies to creating practical, inviting spaces for the children and staff, her creativity, dedication, and attention to detail made an enormous difference.”

Another client used Let’s Organize services to unpack her shipment upon making Aliyah and had this to say;
“Diane made the job of unpacking and organizing a new home seamless and stress-free. She was methodical, hard-working, and a pleasure to work with. A job well done!”

Diane provides individualized service, catering to each client’s particular needs. She asks questions regarding the desired outcomes and helps throughout the process to achieve their goals. She assists them through the process of letting go of that which no longer serves their best life and then organizing what remains.

When asked why she chose Let’s Organize as the company name, she stated that this was carefully thought out and chosen intentionally.

“The name is strategic and explains my philosophy to a T. I want my clients to know that it’s, “Let’s”, meaning you and me. They are an active part of this process. Decluttering and organizing are learnable skills. As we work together, we discover patterns and I provide tips for addressing them. Becoming mindful and making intentional decisions will help you stay organized.”

“My personal goal for each client is to create a comfortable, clutter-free home with easy, maintainable systems.”

What does that look like? This is how Diane describes it:

“Home is the one place where you should be relaxed and able to exhale. You should be surrounded by the people and objects that you love and not overwhelmed by piles of things.
We work together to A.C.T.
Assess – Know what you have.
Condense- Keep what is necessary and/or provides joy and donate the rest.
Thrive- Spend less time maintaining all that you own and go and live your best life.”

She states that constantly wasting time and feeling stressed looking for things is no fun. Diane explains: “I want to know where everything is. I’ve designed a permanent place, “home” for my bag, keys, and important items. The minute I get home, I spend 5 minutes putting everything in its space and never have to worry about finding them. No matter how my day was, I can let go, relax, and just BE. The world is filled with stressors and chaos. Especially in Israel, you need a way to find your inner peace. Having an organized home helps me foster this feeling.”

Diane found that organizing gave her a sense of clarity when she was young. Her mother, being a child of the Depression, bought multiples of everything and had a difficult time discarding anything.

Diane stated that you either embrace this lifestyle or rebel against it. This is how she developed her passion for organization. Friends often invited her to go over their clothing. She made a party out of going through their closets. “We’d turn on music and get to work. We emptied the closets and sorted by categories to assess all of the items. We’d even design outfits, and I would help them decide what was no longer part of their present lifestyle. Of course, color coordinating their clothing was a must. It made an overwhelming task fun and so rewarding when they navigated their closets for months to come.

Diane understands that allowing someone into your home and starting the process to declutter is not easy on many levels. She brings a mixture of non-judgment, compassion, and tough love to the table, all while maintaining a sense of humor. She says her biggest joy is seeing clients become empowered as they feel lighter during the process. Diane works her clients hard, but tells them, “The best thing is that I leave and you get to enjoy your home.”

A Jerusalem client had so much to say about Diane and her organizing business. Here’s an excerpt:

“Moving after thirty years from the same home was a very emotional and overwhelming experience. Every room held memories, and so many of our belongings carried deep sentimental value. Working with Diane made all the difference. She brought warmth, patience, remarkable sensitivity, and a wonderful sense of humor to the process. She touched us with how deeply she cared.

Diane didn’t just help us organize; she helped us to let go and move forward. She directed us on how to continue organizing in our next home. Her compassion, integrity, and positive spirit transformed an exhausting experience into one that felt supported and hopeful.”

Diane’s philosophy consists of being mindful of your decisions and intentional with your actions. From the word go, she talks with clients about managing expectations. Many people want magic, and that is just not the case. There is NO MAGIC! It’s hard work, and they have to be an active part of the process. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but when you become more intentional in all aspects of your life, things will change.

“When our environment is overwhelming and full of stuff, we can’t see the forest through the trees. My greatest joy is watching a client let go of things that weigh them down. I literally have seen clients become lighter in their nature and open to possibilities. I’ve had clients learn how to cook after organizing their kitchens, create art studios, lose weight, and start to exercise. This process is a catalyst to a life of possibilities once there is physical room and mental space.”

Diane helped me realize that well-thought-out systems allow you to utilize them without much energy. They save you time and undue stress. We have a finite amount of bandwidth and decision-making abilities daily. Why waste them on the mundane? Save your mental energy for the important things.

While Diane’s mother kept everything, her father imparted different wisdom.

Diane’s father emigrated to Ecuador in 1939 from Berlin under the Nazi regime. His family left everything behind to save their lives.

He instilled in her the wisdom that clinging to things only brings sadness and pain of our own making. Everything in life is temporary. We should live in the present, continue to learn, love, and make a difference in this world. This is what truly matters.

As her father learned under the most challenging of circumstances, one thing in life is a given, and that’s change. How we accept change and whether it brings us joy or unhappiness is up to us.

For more information about Diane and her organizing business, see her website at www. letsorganizeactnow.com. One thing I can assure you: you won’t regret it!