See Mary Sigmann, Certified Professional Organizer® on WHO-TV with Megan Ruether

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You might be a little stressed as you get home from work if your closet is cluttered or your desk is a mess. Getting organized is usually one of the top ten New Year's resolutions. But, where do you start?

Certified Professional Organizer® Mary Sigmann says she's busy cleaning up cluttered desks this time of year. She says, "When people call me in for organization, it's making them unhappy or it's making them unhealthy and they're feeling stuck and they don't know how to get started."

So, we called her to find out where to start. She says to get rid of things you don't use or don't belong. She says, "Think subtraction, always look around and think, what can I get rid of, what can I get out of here, what's not serving my purpose anymore and subtract those things from your space and from your life."

She says a big problem is piles of paper. She says to separate pending bills, items that need attention and receipts. Find a place for everything and always put it in its place. She says, "Executives waste six weeks a year looking for things, so organization can really help productivity because once you get rid of the clutter, it really frees up your mind so you can be more creative."

Sigmann tackled a messy desk in just five minutes. She says the biggest mistake people make is putting off the project. She says, "They don't realize that once they get started they'll feel so great getting it done."

Sigmann says you should always start your day organizing your to-do list and then end the day cleaning up the area. She says you should also de-clutter your life by not overcommitting so you have time to stay organized.
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