JK Organizing Helps Declutter Homes And Lives

Many professionals, parents and individuals going through life transitions have experienced the reality that a messy home can amplify mental and emotional stress as well.

In 2020, lifelong Marylander Jessica Terenyi became the first entrepreneur in her family when she launched a business centered around helping people declutter both their homes and their minds. Five years later, JK Organizing continues to offer clients professional home organizing services to reduce clutter – and ultimately stress – in every space of a house, from closets to attics, basements to garages, and more.

“When our physical environment is cluttered, and even our mental and emotional mind is cluttered, we can’t see straight, we can’t think straight, we can’t function in our day-to-day lives, and it can be such a hindrance and such a burden,” Terenyi said, underscoring the correlation between a lack of organization and a lack of peace.

As she built her faith-based business, Terenyi saw a common thread among her clients, who are typically working women who have families and/or who are going through life transitions ranging from expanding families to divorce.

“I noticed there was a greater need beyond serving clients with getting decluttered and getting organized, so I actually went through the Health Coach Institute and certified as a life, health and transformation coach so I could provide more to my clients,” she said, noting that mental health is important to her as well.

As a life coach, she now also provides one-on-one support to help clients overcome the overwhelm and anxiety that stand as roadblocks to a simple and happy home and life. Terenyi comes alongside clients to not only help them unearth what is holding them back but also develop a plan to successfully achieve goals in their homes and lives.

Terenyi shared that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to organizing and coaching. With some clients, she is hands-on in organizing their spaces. But her desire is to be an equipper to help individuals discover what is most helpful to their unique situation.

“I really want to focus more on the person and empowering the person to do the work, because when I’m not there and things are falling apart, I want them to be able to move forward,” she said. “It’s powerful to be able to take ownership and to be able to do the work yourself and not have to rely on delegating.”

Simply taking ownership was a game-changer for one client. Terenyi told her on a strategy call, “you need to own your clutter,” and that profound phrase changed the client’s perspective on her clutter.

Terenyi explained that it’s common for people to be able to roll up their sleeves and help a friend or family member get organized, but when it comes to tackling their own clutter, it’s harder to deal with. “I don’t want to take care of myself, but yes, I will pour out into others,” she said as an example of this mindset.

“And then we empty our cups, and we have no room to take care of ourselves, foundationally,” Terenyi added.

Launching a professional organizing service was not a new idea for Terenyi in 2020. She shared that she’s loved organizing since she was little, helping friends and family over the years. The idea of starting a business came a decade prior to launching JK Organizing, but there were a couple of stops along her career path prior to realizing her dream.

“You never know where life’s going to take you,” she said.

A longstanding interest in forensics and law enforcement led Terenyi to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice. She explored opportunities in police work, even going through the police training academy before making the difficult decision that the field was not a good fit for her.

But she is grateful for the training experience: It was there that she met her husband, who is a county police officer and in the Army reserves. The Terenyis are a blended family: they each have a daughter from previous relationships, along with a dog named Bear.

In 2020, Terenyi knew it was time to step away from her job as a surgical assistant and take a leap of faith to launch JK Organizing. Within months, she was pursuing her dream full-time, later evolving the company to include life coaching.

“I want people to know that I truly do meet them right where they are, in the hardest of times, and we’re going to go as slow as you need to go and work where you’re at, and we’re going to build on that,” Terenyi said of how she partners with clients. “And it can be super simple, very small steps. This isn’t extreme; it can be super easy and not overwhelming.”

To learn more about the professional organizing services or life coaching Terenyi offers, go to www.organizinghomesandlives.com.