This week we reflect on the small but powerful act of fixing a broken wheel on an office cart—and what it taught us about decision-making, resourcefulness, and letting go of mental clutter. We explore how these “tiny wins” can create major momentum in your organizing journey, and how to know when it’s time to fix something, repurpose it, or move on.

This is part of our ongoing Fix It or Free It series, where each month we take on a single item we've been avoiding and finally make a decision. This month? A quick 20-minute fix made a big difference—and we’re breaking down why.

• How small repairs can spark a sense of progress and empowerment
• The hidden weight of “wobbly” systems and unmade decisions
• A practical mindset shift for tackling your fix-it pile with purpose

• The Fix It or Free It challenge
• Why “just fix it” can be a powerful organizing tool
• How to assess when to repair, replace, or release an item

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

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In this episode, we explore the subtle but important difference between coaching and guiding when it comes to helping someone through a decluttering or downsizing journey. Whether you're supporting a parent, friend, or managing your own stuff, understanding your role can make the experience more effective—and more compassionate.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The difference between coaching and guiding during decluttering
• How to tell which role you’re playing (or should be playing)
• Tips for adjusting your approach to be more supportive and effective

Mentioned in this episode:

• Signs someone needs a coach vs. a guide
• The emotional stakes of helping someone declutter
• Tools to support others without overstepping

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

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Thinking about hosting a garage sale but not sure if it’s worth the effort? In this episode, we dive into the real-life pros and cons of garage sales—from the emotional benefits of letting go to the practical challenges of pricing and planning. This conversation explores whether a garage sale is the right fit for your organizing journey and how to make the most of the experience if you decide to move forward.

Whether you’re a first-time seller or a seasoned garage sale pro, you’ll walk away with helpful tips and a fresh perspective.

• The emotional and environmental benefits of hosting a garage sale
• Why garage sales get a bad rap—and what’s actually true
• Tips for deciding whether this decluttering method is right for you

• Free Garage Sale Planning Checklist on our Resources page
• Blog post Garage Sale Tips: In-Person vs. Online Reselling
• Garage Sale Tips: How to Make the Most out of Your Sale
• Garage Sale Tips: Shopping with Intention to Avoid Overwhelm
• Episode 87 on outsourcing vs. doing it yourself when organizing

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

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In this episode of the Storage Series, we explore the sneaky ways future-based thinking affects what we keep. From saving items for the “next house,” “the kids,” or “retirement,” we often hold onto things that don’t reflect our current reality. This conversation invites listeners to challenge the stories we attach to stored belongings and offers thoughtful ways to reconnect with what we truly need today—not just someday.

• The most common future-focused reasons people store things
• How to recognize when storage is based on hope, guilt, or fear
• Practical ways to shift toward storage that serves the present moment

• The “Review in 6 Months” strategy for guilt-free decision delays
• Tips for talking with loved ones about items “saved for them”
• Episode 114: Storage vs. Stalling—Are You Keeping It or Postponing a Decision?

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

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In this episode, we dig into a surprising trend from a recent Harvard Business Review article: more and more people are using AI to “organize their lives.” But does organizing digitally mean we're actually taking action in real life?

We reflect on how technology—from notebooks to planners to AI—has always promised to help us stay on track. But in our experience, clarity is only half the battle. The other half? Doing the work. We explore what AI can and can’t do when it comes to organizing, and why the emotional, human element still matters most.

In This Episode We Talk About:

• Why “organizing my life” is now one of the top AI use cases in 2025
• The difference between making a plan and making progress
• How AI tools can support, but not replace, hands-on action and emotional decision-making

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Harvard Business Review article: “How People Are Really Using Gen AI in 2025” by Marc Zao-Sanders
• AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and other generative platforms
• Common organizing tools of the past (planners, Pinterest boards, magazine clippings) and what they have in common with today’s tech

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

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In this episode of Organize & Cherish, we're diving into March’s Fix It or Free It moment—a month that turned out to be more about letting go than fixing. After trying my hand at repairing items earlier in the year, this month I faced my overflowing fix-it box with honesty and a 15-minute timer. Tune in to hear what stayed, what left, and the big reminders this month brought up about storage, sentimental clutter, and giving yourself permission to move on.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How a 15-minute timer helped speed up decision-making
• What I learned from repairing items in January and February
• Why storage should align with your actual life (and goals!)

Mentioned in this episode:

• My February project: turning a dress into a skirt (Ep. 115)
• A reminder that "taking care of your stuff" also means making decisions
• My own slip-ups and what they taught me as a professional organizer

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

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Sometimes, the most overwhelming clutter isn’t what we see—it’s what we’ve quietly stored away and forgotten about. In this episode, we explore how on-site storage areas like garages, closets, and attics can slowly become emotional and financial burdens when they're used as long-term holding zones. These spaces may not feel like a problem at first, but over time, they carry hidden costs—monthly fees, decision fatigue, and a subtle weight of guilt.

This conversation is part of our ongoing Storage Series, where we help listeners reframe what it means to store things with intention—and how to move forward when storage starts holding us back.

• Why “out of sight, out of mind” doesn’t always work in our favor
• The hidden costs—emotional, mental, and financial—of long-term storage
• Small, actionable ways to reconnect with forgotten storage spaces without overwhelm

• How to set a “review date” for anything stored in bins, attics, or garages
• Tips for creating a visual inventory using quick phone photos
• Questions to ask yourself before deciding what stays and what goes

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

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In this heartfelt episode, Certified Professional Organizer® Stephanie Deininger shares how family stories can guide the decision-making process when sorting through sentimental and inherited items. For many in the sandwich generation, decluttering isn't just about making space—it’s about honoring memories without holding onto every physical object. Stephanie offers a compassionate, practical framework for using stories to determine what to keep, what to let go, and how to preserve legacies in meaningful ways.

• Why storytelling is a powerful tool when decluttering sentimental items
• Questions to ask that help clarify whether to keep or release something
• Creative ways to honor the story without holding onto the entire item

• A client example of using one story to keep one special item
• Tips for creating a “story shelf” or curated memory zone
• A simple practice for letting go with clarity and compassion

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

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In this episode, Stephanie discusses the often overlooked positive aspects of storage, shifting away from the idea that decluttering always means discarding. She highlights practical and emotionally beneficial reasons for intentional storage, reassuring listeners that storage can sometimes be the best solution for managing life's transitions, preserving memories, and simplifying everyday living.

• The pressure people feel about constant decluttering and why it's sometimes unnecessary.
• Six reasons why storage can positively impact your life.
• How intentional storage empowers decision-making and enhances daily routines

• Practical examples of seasonal storage solutions.
• Real-life success stories about thoughtful storage decisions.
• Tips on preserving family heirlooms and sentimental items.

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

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When you're faced with a home full of inherited belongings—or trying to help a loved one downsize—it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But just because it feels heavy doesn’t mean you have to carry it alone.

In this episode of Organize & Cherish, Stephanie breaks down the different types of support available to help during emotional and logistical organizing challenges. Rather than just listing resources, she offers a thoughtful guide for knowing what kind of help is right for each stage—from emotional decision-making to hands-on sorting and specialized services.

Whether you're sorting through generations of family items or supporting someone else who is, this episode is a compassionate reminder that the right help makes all the difference.

• The three types of support you might need (emotional, logistical, and specialized)
• How to match the right kind of help to your current situation
• Why asking for help is a strength, not a shortcoming, especially in the sandwich generation

• A breakdown of support roles: organizers, therapists, appraisers, and more
• Common mistakes people make when trying to “go it alone”
• Where to find reputable help when you're ready to ask for support

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

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