This Organized Life: Decluttering Tips for Moms, Entrepreneurs and Professional Organizers

Hi Friends!
Today I am joined by home organizing expert, Shira Gill. Shira is known for her online makeover programs, popular lifestyle blog, and Instagram feed that have inspired a global audience.
She can now add author to her list of accomplishments! Her new book, Minimalista Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Better Home, Wardrobe, and Life, is due to release on Nov 2nd.
I invited Shira on the show to talk about all the things…
How she got started
What her life was like growing up
How her childhood relationship with clutter and organization has shaped how she parents, lives and runs her business  


In the second half of the show we dive into her new book, including her 5 step process that she uses with her clients. Her book is filled with gorgeous images designed to inspire you.
I’m so grateful to be surrounded by friends and colleagues like Shira who continue to inspire and empower others to live simply and love their space.
I hope you enjoy this honest conversation as much as I did!
XOXO-
Laurie
If you are a professional organizer or thinking about becoming one, I’d love to hear from you. I currently have openings for 5 one-one mentor spots and our group partner program continues to grow! Schedule a free intake call to see if it’s a right fit for you!  
CONNECT WITH SHIRA
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | MINIMALISTA BOOK 
SHIRA’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION
THE COMPOUND EFFECT 
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Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!



Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back.
Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold. 
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We are always looking for ways to improve our show. Before we get into today’s episode, will you please take a moment to fill out our short listener survey ? 
One of the many comments I hear as a professional organizer is “I wish I could afford to hire someone like you!”
The truth of the matter is that getting organized does require time and a level of intentionality, but it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.
Dave Ramsey says “where a person spends money is a reflection of their priorities,” and I have seen that play out in my own life. If someone handed me $500 I would rather go out to a nice dinner with friends, or put it towards a home improvement project. Whereas someone else might want to go on a shopping spree or put it towards a vacation.
There’s no right or wrong answer, it’s simply a matter of priorities. Even if no one is handing you a stack of Benjamins, if you want to get organized, I assure you that you can do it on a shoestring budget.
The greatest organizing tools I have to offer you are vision, strategy and a plan of action. Today I am going to walk you through my exact process that I do with my clients. It’s completely free, the only investment is your time. You can always add the fancy bins later if you so choose.

Before you begin, I want you to ask yourself 2 very important questions:
“Do I want less stuff or do I just want to know where my stuff is?”
“What's more important to me, stuff or space?”
When we look at IG or Pinterest, there’s one common theme-LESS. Lots of white space, in between shelves, hanging rods, under cabinets. 

Which leads me to point #2- I recommend using social media for inspiration, but be mindful of trying to keep up with the Jones. You can accomplish much of what you see online with stuff you have in your home, or inexpensively-you don’t have to have a custom closet and bins from the Container Store to have an organized space.

Before you dig in, come prepared with the essentials:
Bins to sort
Bags to donate
Post-its or label roll to temporarily label categories
Music/podcast to keep you motivated

Pick one space to declutter and set a limit on how long you are committing to stay there (ie: until this space is done, for 20 min, 2 hours…) The time doesn’t matter as much as following through on your commitment.

     5. Here’s where my 4 pile method comes into play. As you are emptying the contents, sort the items into these piles: 
KEEP (in that space only)
DONATE
RECYCLE 
RELOCATE (anything you want to keep, but doesn’t live in the space you are organizing. This can mean it’s going to a different room, or going into memorabilia, or getting returned to someone.)

     6. Once you’re done, now it’s time to ZONE, Corral, Contain. 
This is where you can get creative, and figure out what products will make you feel good about your space--remember, an organized space needs to accomplish 2 things:
 
HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL
HOW QUICKLY CAN I FIND WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR?
 
Regardless of where you are in your life with age or financially, you are capable and deserving of living an organized life. 

I’m here for you every step of the way!

XOXO-

Laurie

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

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Struggling with Clutter?
Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!

Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!
HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 
Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back.
Available on amazon , barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.

Connect with Me
WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends,
Before we get into today’s episode, will you please take a moment to fill out our short listener survey? 
Today I am joined by Amanda Cunningham, founder of The Glory Days Co., a company that provides organizational tools for parents and caregivers of special needs children.
Amanda shares her story of giving birth to her beautiful daughter Aurora “Rory” and finding out upon her arrival that she had Down Syndrome. 
She walks us through the early months following Rory’s birth and speaks candidly about how she struggled with feelings of overwhelm. From attending weekly doctors and therapy appointments, to wading through the unexpected newness of becoming a stay-at-home mom.
When looking for tools to support her in this new role as a special needs parent, she couldn’t find anything that encompassed everything Rory needed. So Amanda created her own planner filled with checklists, calendar, daily tasks and a robust notes section to document the countless appointments and therapies required to help Rory thrive, and now helps parents everywhere do the same.
During our conversation we talk about:
Her unexpected transition to stay-at-home caregiver from working professional
The role that both physical and calendar organizers play in raising a child with special needs
The importance of routines to help everyone to flourish
October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I encourage you to check out The Glory Days Co-for free downloads, articles and some amazing products.
CONNECT WITH AMANDA
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | BLOG 

AMANDA'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
RISING STRONG | THE BLESSING | THE LUCKY FEW 

Please support us!
FOLLOW TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!
REVIEW Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!

Struggling with Clutter?
Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!

Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!
HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 
Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back.
Available on amazon ,barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.

Connect with Me
WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends!
Whether you are heading back into the office or on day 7,693,421 of working from home-finding motivation can be a struggle. 
Studies show that when we lack motivation, our productivity decreases. 
So the question becomes: “how do we find motivation?”
To answer that question, I invited Grace Treutel to share some insight with us. Grace is the Manager of Culture at a rapidly growing eCommerce startup where she helps colleagues get more organized within their workflows and navigate company culture, which results in a healthier work environment. 
She is also the host and producer of The Standard Office Procedures, a podcast that aims to help professionals grow and prosper through culture, communication, and candor. 
On the personal side, Grace is a mom to two littles, so she knows what it’s like to have your motivation sucked out of you on a daily basis-jk!
During our conversation, Grace walks us through some everyday struggles and shares some tactical steps that you can use in the office, at home, or in an academic setting (hello students!)
I loved the part of our conversation when Grace talks about how we can show up for our coworkers or colleagues rather than waiting for them to ask for help (which is often hard to do). 
Make sure to check out the links below for everything we talked about on the show.
Prefer to watch our conversation?
Click HERE to head over to our Youtube channel!

Connect with Blue Summit Supplies:
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER 
STANDARD OFFICE PROCEDURES PODCAST 

Grace’s Book Recommendations
RADICAL CANDOR | YES, PLEASE 

Please support us!
FOLLOW TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!
REVIEW . Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!

Struggling with Clutter?
Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!

Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!
HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 
Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back.
Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.

Connect with Me
WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends!
When I was in my early 20’s I had a subscription to Martha Stewart Living. Each month when it arrived in the mail I would open it up and immediately flip to the monthly calendar of things to do. From changing out air filters, to checking your smoke detectors, I loved the actionable checklist she provided. Although I may not have been planting bulbs in my garden or harvesting berries to make homemade jam, I was all over the tasks that helped me to stay organized. 
There’s no question that September is a busy month for all of us, and if we are not intentional, some important areas can easily fall through the cracks, leaving us unprepared when it really matters.
On today’s podcast episode of This ORGANIZED Life I share my Fall Organizing Checklist which is a simple list of 10 specific tips to help you prepare for the home stretch of 2021.
Check out the full episode above or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also print a free copy of my Fall Organizing Checklist here .
Happy Fall Y’all!

Prefer to watch our conversation?
Click HERE to head over to our Youtube channel!

J.O.Y. Lifestyle Festival
An online event dedicated to helping you create a daily mindset and lifestyle for a JOY-FULL life.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION 

Please support us!
FOLLOW TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!
REVIEW . Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!

Struggling with Clutter?
Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!

Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!
HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 
Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back.
Available on amazon , barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.

Connect with Me
WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends!
Joining me today is national bestselling author, Christy Wright, host of The Christy Wright Show and ever popular Business Boutique. She is also the mom to three littles, and knows first hand what juggling career, parenting, marriage and home looks like. I invited her on the show to talk about her new book, Take Back Your Time: The Guilt Free Guide to Life Balance, and why this is different from other books out there.
Christy walks us through How to stop saying “yes” for the wrong reasons and what organization looks like in her life right now.
During our conversation we talked about:

Doing the right thing at the right time
The role of seasons in your life
How she defines “life balance”

It’s a fun and candid conversation with 2 very high energy Enneagram 8 personalities-lol!
If you know someone who is struggling with “all of the things”, will you do them a favor and forward this episode to them?
P.S If you want to learn more about why you struggle with saying no, you’re going to want to check out our Enneagram & Clutter course. We have special running through Sept 10th-get lifetime access to the complete course which covers all 9 Enneagram types + a LIVE masterclass with me, for $197- grab your seat before this offer ends tomorrow at midnight.
Click HERE for details!

Christy’s Book Recommendations
THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY 
Links Mentioned in this Episode
Take Back Your Time Book 
Follow Christy on IG 
Please support us!
FOLLOW TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!
REVIEW . Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!

Struggling with Clutter?
Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!

Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!
HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps yo u get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls. 
Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back.
Available on amazon , barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.

Connect with Me
WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! On today’s episode I am joined by Sarah Dalton, founder of Your Simply Big Life. In addition to her online community, her signature Peace and Productivity Planner as well as her online course, help women lighten the mental load and create space in their lives for what matters most.
Sarah is also the host of Your Simply Big Life podcast where she has weekly conversations with like-minded women and offers inspiration on all things simplifying and living an intentional life. (where you can listen to yours truly!)
She is passionate about helping women learn to find their unique balance and flow with both peace and productivity, so I wanted to share her with our TOL community!
During our conversation, we talked about

What makes her planners unique
How do get clear on your personal core values
How to prioritize the important from the urgent

Sarah knows first-hand the demands of women, especially moms, and I love her supportive, nurturing approach to helping other women (and men too!)
Make sure to check out the links below to grab a special promo code only for TOL listeners!
P.S. Our Enneagram and Clutter “mini courses” are here!  Learn what strategies DO and DON’T work for you based on your Enneagram Type. 
Click HERE for details


Sarah’s Book Recommendations
THE ONE THING
ESSENTIALISM
ATOMIC HABITS

Please support us!
FOLLOW TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!
REVIEW. Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!

Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!
Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back.
Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.

Hi Friends! On today’s show I am joined by Kath Younger. Kath is the mom of two boys, and the blogger behind the website Kath Eats.  Kath has been in the online space since 2007 and over the years her website has grown from a recipe and nutrition blog, to a complete lifestyle brand, where she talks about motherhood, beauty, budgeting and home organization. 
One area in particular that Kath gets really excited about is streamlining Digital Clutter, specifically emails and photos (an area that stresses most people out!)
I invited her onto TOL to share some of her proven strategies with y’all. During our conversation we talk about:

Her STAR BOX method
How not to use your inbox as a digital filing cabinet
Why SEARCH is our best friend

Kath also talks about what she calls “Your digital POWER HOUR”-a dedicated time each week to tackle through all of those unwanted pics on your phone!
This episode is filled with actionable tips and resources, so I encourage you to listen or watch us on YouTube.
Make sure to check out the links below for anything we mentioned during the show!
XOXO
Laurie
P.S. Our Enneagram and Clutter “mini courses” are here!  Learn what strategies DO and DON’T work for you based on your Enneagram Type. 
Click HERE for details


Connect with Kath
INSTAGRAM

Kath’s Book Recommendations
SUPERFOODS HEALTHSTYLE

Links Mentioned in this Episode
Free masterclass to learn more about digital clutter cleanup

Please support us!
FOLLOW TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!
REVIEW. Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!

Struggling with Clutter?
Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!

Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!
Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back.
Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.
Connect with Me
WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends!
Today we are talking about what happens when a health crisis causes you to get rid of everything you own.
Joining me today is actress, entrepreneur and health advocate-Noel Ellie. Noel shares her story which includes putting her career on the back burner to care for her sick mom, and what she learned during that season of her life.
Little did Noel know that a few years later she would be facing her own crippling illness that resulted in her having to get rid of 99% of her possessions.
During our conversation we talked about:

How she had to prioritize health over work
Mourning the loss of material things
What items were hardest to let go

In the second half of the show we talk about what organization looked like for Noel while she was growing up and she shares some of her tips and strategies with us.
I hope you find inspiration and connection during this episode
Watch this episode.
xo- Laurie
P.S. Want to learn more about the role that our personality plays in how we respond to clutter?  Check out our new Enneagram and Clutter framework! 

Connect with Noel
INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

Noel’s Book Recommendations
I DECLARE | THE WAR OF ART

Please support us!
FOLLOW TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!
REVIEW. Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!

Struggling with Clutter?
Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!

Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!
Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back.
Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.

Connect with Me
WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! Laura Markz is a former online strategy executive, turned corporate dropout, entrepreneur, and mom of two. With over a decade of experience building businesses online and being in the trenches herself, she’s the founder of MyBizU, where her mission is to help moms across the globe build their own businesses.  
Her entrepreneurial journey came on the heels of a near death experience after the birth of her son.
During our conversation we talk about:

Her personal wake-up call that caused her to launch her business
What she calls the “Mom Dilemma” and why it’s a problem
3 common mistakes entrepreneurs make when starting out (and how to avoid them!)

During the second half of the show we dive into what living an organized life looks like in Laura’s home. I ask her what her life was like growing up, and we discuss how her enneagram type plays a role in how she views and handles clutter.
It’s a fun conversation that’s jam packed with lots of actionable information!
XOXO,
Laurie
P.S. Laura has a special discount code for all TOL listeners, so make sure to check out the links below ↓

Book Recommendations
YOU ARE A BADASS | HOW TO STOP WORRYING AND START LIVING

Struggling with Clutter?
Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!

Connect with Me
WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST