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    How to declutter your home with this Dubai-based professional organiser

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    Lifestyle

    by Olivia Morris
    58 mins ago

    Salam Shaban, professional Dubai-based organizer and founder of Tidymess, discusses how you can reset your space for a successful 2023.
    What inspired you to enter the organisational space?
    I always loved organising, so it was something I was eager to learn more about. After seeing the amazing work of Marie Kondo I felt inspired to pursue it more seriously. Once I created a system that worked so well for myself and my family, I felt it was important to share it with others.
    You launched Tidymess a few years back. What was the initial response to the concept?
    At the time, it was a very new concept. I found myself having to explain it to most people I knew. Once people started to see my work they thought it was a great idea and encouraged me to pursue it.
    How have things evolved since you launched?
    I’ve been so lucky to have received such a phenomenal response from my clients and social media. This has really helped me grow my business. Every day people hire me and my team to help organize their spaces. We immerse ourselves in their homes and move through their spaces tailoring a highly-functional system. In the beginning, it was difficult to take on large projects, but as my team grew, we are now capable of really helping our clients organise as many spaces in their homes as they need.

    For those who are having a refresh for a new year, what are your top tips to start organising your space and life?
    Before buying anything new, take a minute or two to think about where it is going to live in your home and life. Think about how long you will need this item and what will happen to it in the future when you no longer do it. If it is something that you feel will add no real value to your space, then you most probably don’t need it.

    A particular place where clutter can build is your wardrobe. What is the best way to approach decluttering this space?
    Ask yourselves questions such as: When was the last time you wore it?; Is it in good condition?; Does it have sentimental value?; Have you worn it in the past year?; Does it fit you properly? Your answers will help you decide whether you want to keep, donate or store away your item.
    Over the years, what have been the hurdles you’ve experienced when building the Tidymess concept?
    Starting any business from scratch is a challenge. In my case, I was starting a business from scratch about a new concept that few people had heard of. I would say bringing my vision to life was a great challenge because it took a while for people to realize the necessity of adopting a new lifestyle for their homes as opposed to seeing my work as simply “cleaning up” the house.
    What have been the key milestones?
    I would say my first milestone was when I was able to bring in a team to help me serve my clients better. Building a team gave me a sense of accomplishment that something I had started on my own was now growing into something more. My second milestone was after having my third child and realizing that I did not need to stop working. It took a lot of mental and emotional energy to see that it was okay for me to keep doing what I loved. Once I started taking on new projects again, I was so proud of myself and happy that I had not just let it go because of my new responsibilities and busy life.
    What does the future hold for Tidymess?
    Continue to grow and reach more people. Everyone can be a part of this concept. Whether they want to hire our services, buy our favourite products online or simply gain a few ideas from our social media page. I hope my team and I can help more people organize their spaces and love their homes.
    What will you be doing to reset your mindset and body for 2023?
    Keep finding that balance. As a mum of three and founder of a female-owned business, I find myself wearing many hats at once and that can quickly become overwhelming. I just need to keep finding that balance between my home life, work life and also those moments that are just for me.
    January’s – The Reset Issue – Download Now 
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Unsplash @hutomo-abrianto More

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      How I got my job as… Founder of the UAE’s first leading decluttering company

      by

      Lifestyle

      by Sarah Joseph
      3 hours ago

      Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
      This week we chat with Shelina Jokhiya, founder of DeCluttr Me and author of “Can you Find it in Five Seconds?” As the first podcast show in the Middle East focusing on decluttering and organizing your life, Jokhiya brings practical advice on how to achieve a clutter-free space and set up systems tailored to each individual’s needs.
      Emirates Woman sat down with the brand’s founder to learn about her career path and how she’s converted her passion into a full-time business.
      What was your favourite subject at school?
      My favourite subject was English literature and Chemistry.
      What was your first job?
      In my late teens, I worked at Mcdonald’s making the burgers and putting the dressings on them – I was an expert. When I realised that I wanted to study law, I also worked as an intern at the county court chambers, and various law firms to learn more about the profession.

      What brought you to Dubai?
      I had been working as a solicitor in London and then I got a job as a lawyer at Emirates in 2005. I had visited Dubai 3 years before with my family so I knew a little bit about it.
      What inspired you to enter the organizational space?
      I have always been organised since I was a child. I used to organise my Madonna collection, music, DVDs, anything and everything. I dreamt about being an organiser when working in London in the early 2000s but I didn’t think anyone would pay for this service. After so many years of being a lawyer, I was fed up with my life and started to research online about being an organizer. That’s when I realised that it was a thriving industry and no one else was doing it in the Middle East so I thought I would start.
      How did you come to launch your own company?
      I created the website and social media accounts for DeCluttr Me in March 2013 whilst still working and then blogged for a few months to build content. I saved money at the same time and finally quit in September 2013 from my job to start this full-time. DeCluttr Me became the region’s first licensed, professional organising service.
      What are the key elements of your role?
      Mostly decluttering and organizing clients’ homes, especially closets and kitchens. But I also help clients when they are moving into new homes with unpacking and organizing. I help a lot of clients who are dealing with mental health issues, grief, divorce or abuse which has manifested into physical clutter so it is not just about organizing and labelling items into nice boxes.
      Talk us through your daily routine
      I try not to look at my phone in the morning except to play Wordle, breakfast is cereal and a coffee and then if I’m working with a client it is getting my work bag ready and heading to their place. Usually I work an 8-hour session with clients so I am exhausted by the time I finish and get home. I try to cook in advance so that I can warm up the food, eat, catch up on admin and watch some tv and then sleep. If I have a day off I love hiding in the cinema watching movies. I love switching off my phone and my mind, and just concentrating on whatever I am watching. I am also currently trying to see as much of the UAE as possible so will book to go to a tourist attraction in one of the emirates on my day off.
      What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
      Think about how you can help your clients. It is not just about organising into nice boxes like you see on TV and social media, there are other elements to consider when being a professional organizer including the temperaments of the clients and the clutter they have. If you get overwhelmed seeing clutter then this is not the job for you.

      What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
      If you are a solopreneur like me, have a board of friends and advisers to talk to about your business and to give you non-biased advice. I have five people I can contact at any time to discuss my business issues and achievements and to get their sage advice.
      And what is the worst? –
      I get so much unsolicited advice from people that I tend to block them out now.
      What has been the biggest challenge you had to overcome?
      Getting people to understand what decluttering is and how it can be beneficial for you mentally and physically. Now it has become a cool thing to do but it took many years to get to this point.

      What are the future plans for your brand?
      I recently published my first book “Can you find it in five seconds?” which is available in hard copy and e-book on Amazon. I have also expanded DeCluttr Me to offer a wardrobe shopping service. It involves a visit from our stylist, who will assess the current contents of your wardrobe, evaluate what works for you, determine what should be kept, and how items can be mixed, matched and accessorised to create new looks. The idea is to help you to achieve a more sustainable, compact, capsule wardrobe that suits your style, from items you already have, without spending on new clothes. Next, I plan on creating another book, publishing worldwide and also getting a tv show about how decluttering and organizing has benefited my clients in the region.
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Pexels @marina-podrez More