Watch The Resolutionaries on December 31 beginning at 8/7c

According to organization coach Leslie Ann Woodward, "People either have a clutter problem or a storage problem." Regardless of what category you fall under, if you've vowed to get more organized this year, you've made a good start already. Read on for some interesting details on the typical American and their clutter. Then, get tips and ideas for taking your home from whoa to wow.

Facts:

• 64% of disorganized people say that their clutter has affected their relationships.
• Americans take 80 billion digital photographs a year
• The average American receives almost 50,000 pieces of mail in their lifetime.
• 80% of household messiness is the result of disorganization, not insufficient space.
• 31% of people find cleaning out their closets more satisfying than having sex.
• People only wear 20% of their wardrobe most of the time.
• Almost 8 million Americans work from home.
• 50% of homeowners rate the garage as the most disorganized place in the house.
• 80% of all filed papers are never looked at again.
• Over 35% of resolutions are broken within one month.
• You can be evicted from your home if the health department deems it unsanitary.
• Contaminated food sickens at least 76 million Americans each year.
• Most Americans have about $2,000 worth of unwanted items.
• Americans have up to 9 million garage sales a year, generating approximately $2 billion in revenue.
• A professional organizer can earn up to $150 an hour.

NEXT: Three Methods to Try

Three Methods to Try

• Professional Organizer: A professional organizer will come to your home or office for a thorough assessment of your specific situation. Once you've discussed your issues and goals, he or she will offer solutions and techniques to help get your rooms and life organized and running smoothly. 
  
  If you have a hard time letting go of things, or if you have hoarding issues, a professional organizer may be just what you need. Professional organizer Michelle Quintana believes, "Disorganization is about what is going on inside the person's head." Once you can figure out what's making you hold on to clutter, you can begin to dig your way out. 
  
  
• Design and Organization Coach: Some organization coaches believe function can be fashionable, too. If you need help re-organizing your home, and want to freshen up the place too, look for an interior decorator with an eye for function.
   
• Life Coach: If you find the clutter is mostly in your mind, there are many resources available to help get your mojo back. Amy Applebaum, founder of "Boot Camp for Your Mind," offers real solutions for people who are scatter-brained or for those trying to do too much. Amy suggests to her clients that they focus on "one specific project" at a time. She helps them set a schedule and an action plan. If you work better with deadlines, consider looking into this type of coaching to help you get organized.

NEXT: Tips & Tricks

Tips:

When cleaning out closets and drawers, use these rules of thumb to help you determine if it should stay or go:

• If you have not worn it in the last 18 months, it is gone. Donate it or sell it if it is still wearable. 
  
  
• If you would pay $5 for it, then you get to keep it. If you wouldn’t, then donate it somewhere. 
  
  
• Professional organizer Michelle Quintana also recommends "power sorting" to her clients. Power sorting is a fast method of cutting through paper clutter. 
  
  Papers are collected into one pile, then sorted into three categories: "file," for important papers, like tax documents; "action," for papers that require follow-up, such as bills; and "toss," for everything else. Give yourself a certain amount of time, set your timer and sort! 
  
  
• If you're cleaning out an entire room, all that stuff has to go somewhere, right? Think ahead and make sure your garage or other storage area is organized and clean before you bring in the next load of clutter to sort through. 
  
  
• If you have a lot to organize, or dozens of projects all in different stages, try focusing on smaller goals so you can get a sense of accomplishment. 
  

Though working from home certainly has its benefits, it can also be a real disorganization downer. If you work from home, try some of these tips:

• Focus on one project at a time. 
  
  
• Clean off your work space before you begin. Put away any other projects that may distract you from the current project at hand. 
  
  
• Create a schedule and stick to it. Amy Applebaum says, "When you create your master plan, you are creating your life how you would like it to be. The second part of that is to actually take steps to make that life happen for you."
   
  
• Keep your work space and living space separate. If you don't have a spare room for your office, avoid setting one up in the bedroom. Also, try using a screen for privacy and to divide between the family space and the work space.

More Solutions for Your Resolutions