August 15 is National Back to School Preparation Day! As families prepare for a new school year, one important factor is often overlooked—clutter.

In this episode, we explore how a cluttered environment can affect a student's ability to focus, manage stress, and perform academically. From overflowing backpacks and messy desks to disorganized bedrooms, physical clutter can create mental clutter, making it harder to concentrate, stay organized, and feel confident.

You'll discover practical strategies to help students create organized spaces that support better routines, improved productivity, reduced anxiety, and greater academic success. Whether you're a parent, educator, or student, these simple decluttering and organization tips can help your household start the school year feeling calm, prepared, and ready to thrive.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Question of the Week:

👍 If you found this episode helpful, please Like, Subscribe, and Share to help more families create organized, peaceful homes that support learning and well-being.

What if the secret to a clutter-free home isn’t organizing more—it’s creating better systems?

In this episode, we’re diving into the power of the drop zone and why it’s one of the most effective ways to simplify your home and reduce everyday stress. From misplaced keys and overflowing backpacks to piles of mail, clutter often begins where daily routines end. An intentionally designed drop zone can help every family member develop habits that keep clutter from accumulating in the first place. 

Whether you’re organizing your entryway, mudroom, or a small corner by the front door, this episode will inspire you to create a home that feels calm, functional, and welcoming from the moment you walk in. Drop zones can exist anywhere in your home where you need a system to keep clutter at bay.

Tune in and discover how one small system can make a big difference in creating a more organized, clutter-free home.

#dropzone #clutterfree #systems #routines #home #organized

If buying more means using more, are we actually saving money or accelerating consumption while filling our homes with stress? Do you subscribe to the mindset of buying in bulk - does it save you time and money? Or are you a person who believes in only buying what you need? Jen and Courtney are here to discuss the pros and cons of buying in bulk and what it may mean for you and your home.

A study by Pierre Chandon and Brian Wansink found that when consumers stockpile products, they are more visible and convenient. This mentality of convenience creates a mentality of availability and often increases how often and how much a person uses the item. Their study found that people tend to consume products faster when they have larger quantities on hand - simply seeing excess inventory increases psychological permission to use more.

#bulk #buyinginbulk #savemoney #mentality #mindset

It is summer time! Most families are focusing on vacations, events, and fun, but we want to focus on reclaiming quality family time this summer. Quality time is intentional and purposeful time that you choose to spend with your family. It does not have to cost money or be an extravagant gesture. And time is the most valuable asset because you cannot gain it back. 

How do you want to spend your time with family this summer? In what ways do you show your family that they are a priority for you?

#reframe #qualitytime #family #time #prioritize

Does meal preparation and planning seem like a chore? Are you exhausted at the end of the day and not have the energy to plan a meal? Listen in as Courtney and Jen discuss how meal planning can help reclaim your time and money.

The average family can spend $40 - $125 eating out for one meal. This may be convenient at the moment, but this habit can eat away at your budget. Jen has found how meal planning can take the stress out of meal preparation, and she shares how this new strategy has saved her family money as well. On average, each planned meal is $15 per meal, or $3.64 per serving. 

Using the R.E.C.L.A.I.M. process, Jen has found success in planning and preparing multiple meals at once - saving time and money in the process. If you want to reclaim your time and money while eating well balanced meals, listen in.

#reframe #mealplanning #savemoney #reclaim #time

We are away enjoying some summer fun! This year, the United States is celebrating its 250 year anniversary. There have been many changes and transitions in American history, just as we have in our lives individually. We hope this episode helps remind you how to honor and celebrate your personal history while allowing space for change and newness.

In life we are guaranteed change. It is inevitable that we will experience transitions in life:

All life transitions bring evolution in our identities and what we need and want in life. Allowing your home to reflect these changes can be challenging and bring about mixed emotions. However, when you give yourself time to reflect and manage how to shift in life transitions, you can find healthy balance as your identity evolves. 

Listen in as we discuss different life transitions and strategies to create space for change in your life. What life transitions have you already navigated? What strategies did you practice that helped you become who you are today?

#lifechapter #history #change #transition #250

We have just returned from the NASW New Mexico Chapter conference! It was a pleasure sharing about our book, Reframe & Reclaim and the research behind how our environment impacts our well-being. Courtney presented during the conference, “Clutter & Cognitive Congestion: Cognitive Reframing for Healthier Home Environments and Mental Wellbeing.” Jen exhibited our book and resources during the conference and shared about our mission to support the community at large.

What a wonderful experience meeting new professionals and learning about the social work community and resources in New Mexico. Social Workers help the community in multiple capacities including advocacy, case management, education, medical, and clinical support. Thank you to everyone who participated in the NASW New Mexico Chapter conference, especially the board and event coordinators. We look forward to next year!

#NASW  #NewMexico #NASWNM #connection #community

We are away enjoying some summer fun! We wanted to replay one of our most viewed episodes from summer 2025. We hope you are enjoying a successful summer. We will be back soon!

Description: Summer is just beginning. Are you already feeling the stress and frazzle of the summer schedule? Whether you are a parent trying to keep your kids safe and entertained or you are ready for some respite and relaxation, 🎧  listen to hear Courtney’s advice to keep your sanity and have a successful summer. Prioritize you with these 3 Summer Success Tips.

#podcast #summer #sanity #selfcare #summersuccess #summer2026

Summer is here! School is out, the sun is up longer, and the kids are free! But don’t let all of the routines and expectations fly out the window. Summer is a great time to relax the busy and hectic schedules and focus on helpful self-care and life skills.

Whether you are a single adult trying to have fun in the sun or a parent of kids at home, we all need some form of routine to keep a sense of normality. Focus on the basics of self-care and be sure you are not sacrificing your self-care for summer chaos.

Sleep schedules, decluttering spaces in your home, focusing on basic life skills, and allowing yourself and your kids down time can be helpful in the sizzling summer months. Listen in as Courtney and Jen discuss what research has shown to be helpful for everyone during the summer fun!

#summer #relax #chaos #lifeskills #selfcare #sleep #boredom #declutter

Have you heard of the “latte factor,” how small recurring purchases can prevent bigger goals if unchecked? Today we are talking about reframing our mindset about spending. It is easy to spend $3 - $6 on a morning latte, but how much are you investing in coffee each year? 200 days of purchasing a $4.50 latte can cost you $1,350! If you were to reduce this small spending, what would you do with that extra money?

What is your opportunity cost - what are you giving up with your small daily spending habits? Practicing trade-off-thinking can help us to consciously ask ourselves if we would rather have this now or something bigger later. Immediate gratification and convenience can keep us stuck in unhelpful mindsets and habits. Listen in as Courtney and Jen discuss their experiences and practice of cognitive reframe to help them to reach bigger goals than the immediate gratification of now.

Whether you are saving to bulk up your savings account or budgeting for a family vacation, practicing delayed gratification and trade-off-thinking can help you reach your goals.

#reframe #goals #spending #instantgratification #lattefactor