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

Hi Friends! Today Erika & I take a different approach to getting things done. Instead of sharing our thoughts on how to structure a To-Do list, we are talking today about creating a TO-DON’T LIST. Yep, you heard me correctly!  I was so sick and tired of thinking about all the things that I had to do, I decided to create a list of things that I have control over that I could eliminate from my day. I set some ground rules: 1. It had to focus in one of two categories: RESPONSIBILITIES or RELATIONSHIPS 2. Whatever gets added needs to be SPECIFIC and describe the ACTION, rather than the FEELING. So here’s a snapshot of what I came up with: Responsibilities: 1. I will not look at my phone first thing in the morning or after 9pm / Instead I will establish more healthy habits of quiet time, meditation, reading, etc to start and end my day. 2. I will stop making my kid’s beds, put away laundry, empty dishwasher/ Instead I will empower them to own the process and set expectations of when it must be completed. 3. I will not stop what I am doing just because some asks. Instead I will look at my schedule and see how and when I can help 4. I will not check email after blank time (or I will only check email 3 times per day)/ Instead I will set boundaries around when I check and respond to email. 5. I will not beat myself up for not getting everything on my to-do list completed/Instead I will work on setting more manageable expectations by adding no more than 3 things to accomplish each day. 6. I will set goals for myself both personal and professional to help me to be the best version of myself. Relationships 1. I will limit the amount of time I spend on social media to x amount of time per day. 2. I will unfollow anyone who makes me feel badly or is argumentative. 3. I will not respond yes to every request without taking time to make sure it works with my schedule. 4. I will not go shopping when I am bored, instead I will fill that time proactively by reading a book, going for a walk or meeting up with a friend. 5. I will schedule down time for myself and the family once a week (doesn’t have to be all day, it can be dinner, or Friday night family game, etc. 6. I will not prioritize activities over spending time with my partner. I encourage you to come up with your own TO-DON’T LIST and share it with a friend or accountability partner.  We would love to encourage you, so feel free to take a pic and tag us on IG @simplyborganized or post it in our Facebook group This ORGANIZED Life Podcast. xo - Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to 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

A special thanks to our good friends at Organized Living for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! For sponsorship inquiries and collaborations  click here Hi Friends! If you have ever stood in your closet and thought “I have nothing to wear,” THIS is the episode for you. Today I am joined by color specialist, Jeannie Stith-Mahwinney, founder of yourcolorguru.com, a company she started to help women shop smarter.   Jeannie shares her story of frustration with her own wardrobe, and how she developed a system to make shopping and getting dressed super easy. I took the assessment, and the results were both shocking and amazing! It has completely transformed how I shop, and has simplified the entire shopping experience for me. We talk about things like: Where people tend to go wrong when it comes to clothes shopping Jeannie’s step-by-step process What to expect after taking her assessment I can’t wait for you to listen to the episode!  Meet us over in our facebook group This ORGANIZED Life to join the conversation! CONNECT WITH JEANNIE WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM |FACEBOOK A Word from our Sponsor: Organized Living are giving 20% off all freedom rail systems during the entire month of January.  No promo necessary! Use the Organized Living online Design Tool to create your dream freedomRail storage solution before the sale ends. Visit shop.organizedliving.com to purchase freedomRail Closet Kits or Over The Door solutions. It’s the perfect time to purchase additional accessories for your freedomRail closet like shoe racks, hampers, valet rods and more to receive 20% off.

A special thanks to our good friends at Organized Living for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! For sponsorship inquiries and collaborations click here. Hi Friends! As the New Year gets underway, I am always looking for ways to stay motivated. Sometimes that means learning something new, but other times it means pulling out some tried and true strategies. On today’s episode, Erika and I talk about several simple decluttering tips; some you may have heard of, and others might be brand new to you. The one thing they have in common is that they work! Perhaps not all of them for you, but there is enough variety on this list you are sure to find something that gets you motivated. You’ll want to listen to the full episode to hear our take on each of these, but for all my readers, here you go!    Give yourself 5 solid minutes to declutter something everyday. It can be as simple as cleaning a drawer, putting away laundry or purging old papers.  Give away one item each day.  Fill one trash bag per day (or per week) depending on your level of clutter.  Try the Closet Hanger Experiment. Turn all of your hangers backwards, and each time you wear something you turn the hanger the correct way. At the end of the season you can see what clothes you actually wore, and hopefully donate the rest!  Take the 12-12-12 Challenge. Each week pick 12 items that need to be thrown away, 12 items that can be donated, and 12 items that need to be returned to their proper home.  Experiment with Project 333. (Check out my conversation with Courntey Carver to learn more!)  Put a load in your car for charity.  Create a 30-day list.  Use caddys or trays to corral things like remotes, perfumes, face creams,etc.  Don’t buy something just because it’s cheap or on sale.  Purge anything you can easily get on the internet such as user manuals, take out menus, credit card statements, etc.  Save instead of Spend. Every time you get the urge to spend, put that money in a jar or separate account and at the end of the month see how much you have saved.  Start with the easy stuff first. Getting some small wins under your belt helps with motivation and tracking process. Believe it’s possible. The first step in any change is believing it’s possible  Finally, Asking yourself these two questions while decluttering can be very helpful. 1. Where would I look for this item? 2. Would I know if I already have one? If you liked this list, or looking for a deeper dive into decluttering, My book, HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is filled with strategies and a complete room by room decluttering guide. There are lots of great resources available, from books, to podcasts, to online courses. The key is to find the combination that works for you.  Several people have shared that they listen to our podcast while they declutter helps to keep them engaged and motivated! Whatever method is working for you, feel free to let us know in our facebook group This ORGANIZED Life Podcast, or tag us on IG @simplyborganized so we can cheer you on! xo - Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to 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 Articles Mentioned in this Podcast 7 FUN WAYS TO START DECLUTTERING | 99 CLUTTER HACKS FOR YOUR HOME A Word from our Sponsor: Organized Living are giving 20% off all freedom rail systems during the entire month of January.  No promo necessary! Use the Organized Living online Design Tool to create your dream freedomRail storage solution before the sale ends. Visit shop.organizedliving.com to purchase freedomRail Closet Kits or Over The Door solutions. It’s the perfect time to purchase additional accessories for your freedomRail closet like shoe racks, hampers, valet rods and more to receive 20% off.

A special thanks to our good friends at Organized Living for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! For sponsorship inquiries click here. Hi Friends! Today we are joined by my friend, Rose Lounsbury. Some of you may remember Rose from episode 92 where she shared her journey to Minimalism. Since then, a lot has happened…Rose has become a bestselling author, a TEDx Speaker and has been featured all over print and tv including USA Today and NPR. Rose has been on a new minimalism quest: financial freedom from debt, and I asked if she would come on our show and share her personal story with all of you. YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST PEOPLE! Rose has never discussed her financial journey publically, and I am so grateful that she choose TOL as the place to share her story. Some of the topics we discuss include: How the evolution began to live debt free What her process looked like How it impacted her day-to-day life The conversation with her kids about their new lifestyle Rose has some great suggestions for anyone who wants to reduce or eliminate debt, regardless of where you are in life! I hope you find value and inspiration from this episode, I know I did!  If so, would you do me a huge favor and share it with your people? With Gratitude, Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to 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. Links Mentioned in this Episode TEDx TALK |   FREE MINIMALIST STARTER GUIDE | THE BOOK |ON-LINE COURSE Connect with Rose WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | IG | PINTEREST | LINKEDIN Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST A Word from our Sponsor: Organized Living are giving 20% off all freedom rail systems during the entire month of January.  No promo necessary! Use the Organized Living online Design Tool to create your dream freedomRail storage solution before the sale ends. Visit shop.organizedliving.com to purchase freedomRail Closet Kits or Over The Door solutions. It’s the perfect time to purchase additional accessories for your freedomRail closet like shoe racks, hampers, valet rods and more to receive 20% off.

Hi Friends! Happy 2020!  I can’t think of a better way to kick off the New Year (and decade) than to invite my friend Theresa Finnigan to share some organizing tips with all of you. Theresa is the director of marketing for Organized Living, and no stranger to This ORGANIZED Life. She was a guest on episode 38 and 102.   Today we focus on 2 specific areas: Pantries & Closets. Theresa’s practical and on-trend solutions have made her the expert trend spotter and problem solver she is today. Her organizing tips have been shared nationwide in television shows and in national publications. She is chock full of ideas to springboard you into action!  I can’t wait for you to LISTEN, LIKE and SHARE with your peeps! Make sure to check out our helpful links below. Happy Organizing! Laurie P.S. A special thanks to our good friends at Organized Living for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! For sponsorship inquiries click here Organized Living are giving 20% off all freedom rail systems during the entire month of January.  No promo necessary! Use the Organized Living online Design Tool to create your dream freedomRail storage solution before the sale ends. Visit shop.organizedliving.com to purchase freedomRail Closet Kits or Over The Door solutions. It’s the perfect time to purchase additional accessories for your freedomRail closet like shoe racks, hampers, valet rods and more to receive 20% off. Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to 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. Links Mentioned in this Episode SWEATER VIDEOS Secret to Storing a Sweater on a Hanger | The Best Way to Fold a Sweater BLOG 3 Simple Ways to Store Your Sweaters Connect with Organized Living WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | IG | PINTEREST | HOUZZ | YOUTUBE Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! Today we are wrapping up part 3 of my conversation with Enneagram teacher, and fellow 8, Joey Schewee. If you haven’t already listened to parts 1 & 2 of our conversation, I encourage you to hit the pause button and go check them out.  In our earlier conversations Joey walked us through the characteristics of each of the 9 numbers in the enneagram, including where each struggles and shines. Today we begin to look at the link between each number and their unique relationship to clutter. I pose the question “do certain numbers on the enneagram have a tendency to struggle more with Physical Clutter, Emotional Clutter or Calendar Clutter?” And if so, why? Unlocking this question could be a huge game changer in how we approach the process of decluttering and living a more organized life. I can’t think of a better guest to help me close out 2019! I look forward to diving deeper into this topic as we embark on a new decade. I hope this series has challenged you to look deeper into your motivations and behavior. If you’re interested in learning more about the enneagram, make sure to check out the links below. To participate in my research study on the link between clutter & the enneagram, CLICK HERE! xo - Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to 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. Links Mentioned in this Episode THE ROAD BACK TO YOU  |  THE PATH BETWEEN US | THE ENNEAGRAM JOURNEY PODCAST Connect with Joey WEBSITE | EMAIL | INSTAGRAM Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! Today we are back with part 2 of my conversation with Enneagram teacher, and fellow 8, Joey Schewee. If you haven’t already listened to last week’s episode, I encourage you to hit the pause button and go check it out. Joey Schewee has been a student of the Enneagram for more than twenty years, studying under her mother, Suzanne Stabile, otherwise known as the Godmother of the Enneagram– author of The Road Back to You and The Path Between Us. Last week we spoke about the aggressive numbers, focusing quite a bit on  3’s, 8’s (since Joey & I are both 8’s and Josh is a 3). We also talked about how easy it can be to mistype numbers by looking at BEHAVIOR vs MOTIVATION. Our conversation picks up with the 7’s and then moves into the dependent (1, 2, 6) and withdrawing (4, 5, 9) stances. I hope you enjoy part 2 of my conversation with Joey as much as I did. P.S. If you are a student of the enneagram, I’d love for you to participate in my study between clutter and your enneagram number CLICK HERE to learn more ! xo- Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to 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. Links Mentioned in this Episode THE ROAD BACK TO YOU  |  THE PATH BETWEEN US | THE ENNEAGRAM JOURNEY PODCAST Connect with Stefanie WEBSITE  | INSTAGRAM  |  EMAIL Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! This is the moment you have all been waiting for…well, maybe it’s the moment that I’ve been waiting to share with you;  my 3-part conversation with Enneagram teacher,  and fellow 8, Joey Schewee. Joey Schewee has been a student of the Enneagram for more than twenty years, studying under her mother, Suzanne Stabile, otherwise known as the Godmother of the Enneagram– author of The Road Back to You and The Path Between Us. As Joey shares on the show “I have known the enneagram longer than I haven’t.”  This perspective and insight flows through all aspects of life including dating, marriage, motherhood, managing employees and navigating the corporate and educational realms. If you are not familiar with the enneagram, this is a great introduction to understanding things like What is the enneagram? What do each of the 9 numbers represent? How do find out my number? If already know your number, Joey dives deeper into Triads, Stances, and Orientation to Time. There’s so much rich content that we couldn’t cover all of it in one episode!  I hope you enjoy part 1 of my conversation with Joey as much as I did. xo-  Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to 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. Links Mentioned in this Episode THE ROAD BACK TO YOU  |  THE PATH BETWEEN US Connect with Joey WEBSITE  | INSTAGRAM  |  EMAIL Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! Today I am joined by SBO Partner, Martha-Carol Stewart, founder of Chaos Organizing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  You might remember Martha Carol from episode 91, where she talked all about Back to School Organizing Strategies (it’s a great episode if you want to go back and check it out!) Today we are talking about holiday decorating and storage ideas. Martha shares her simple strategies of what she calls “ZONE DECORATING,” and answers questions like: When do you recommend people start decorating? How long do you keep decorations up? What is your process for purging holiday décor? How do you store outdoor & oversized decorations? How do you store lights to keep them from getting tangled? How do you organize wrapping supplies? If you love the finished look of beautifully decorated Christmas house, but dread the process of getting it all together–this is the episode for you! xo- Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to 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. Links Mentioned in this Episode MARTHA-CAROL’S CHAOS FREE HOLIDAY DECORATING BLOG CHRISTMAS LIGHT STORAGE OPTION 1 | OPTION 2 ORNAMENT STORAGE OPTION 1 | OPTION 2 | OPTION 3 GIFT WRAP ORGANIZERS OPTION 1 | OPTION 2 | OPTION 3 Connect with Martha-Carol Stewart WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! Today you are in for a treat, it our annual Thanksgiving Episode, where Erika and I share who and what we are grateful for. This year I decided to put a spin on things by asking our podcast community what they are grateful for this holiday season.  In the second half of the episode I interviewed 100 5th graders and their answers were introspective & thoughtful with a touch of humor. You’re going to have to listen to the entire episode to hear the responses (no spoiler alerts here!)  One thing I will share is that I was pleasantly surprised that only a few answers had to do with material items, which not only warmed my heart, but reinforced our true priorities. Before I leave you to listen, eat turkey, or hide from your family, I want to let you know how thankful I am for YOU. Thank you for listening each week, for being part of my This ORGANIZED Life community, and for joining me on my journey of living simply. From my family to yours,  Happy Thanksgiving! xo- Laurie Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to 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