It is not a secret that Americans have a lot of stuff. According to an article by The L.A. Times, there are 300,000 items in the average American home. Stuff can add up and take a toll. It costs us money, takes up space, and can even affect where we live. Stuff plays a role in health issues too.

What is S.T.U.F.F?

It is anything that simply takes us from freedom. In this blog, I am only referencing the material aspect. So, stuff is:

• “Things we cannot live without.”
• “Things we cannot get rid of.”
• The “what-ifs”. This is the thinking that goes something like this, “ what if I get rid of _______ and then I need it?

When we allow stuff to have a hold on us in a very real emotional way, we’ve lost freedom. It is difficult to freely make a good decision in and amongst the clutter. Then we become a slave to our things.

In the United States, there are over 50,000 storage facilities with new ones popping up every day. (Don’t get me...

They say, “change is good.” I would say it’s one of the most challenging aspects of life. Good changes are included in this. The funny thing is that it’s not the change that’s challenging; it’s how we adjust to the change. As an Organizer, I work with my clients as they experience change. To transition in an organized way, you need to understand the reasons change is challenging. Once you’ve done this, you can utilize strategies to work through change and this is what I’d call living an organized life. Creating order in your day is the foundation of an organized life.

Why is Change Challenging?

Here are some reasons I’ve seen in my own life as well as in the life of an organizing client:

• Causes you to step out of your comfort zone. Truth be told, it is easier to stay in an unpleasant situation than it is to break free from it. It is scary outside the comfort zone because of the unknowns.
• A feeling of loss of control, especially...

Though I have helped hundreds of people get organized since I started this business six years ago, I still struggle to stay organized! Does that surprise you? Well, I wasn’t born organized. It's something I've had to learn! It is at this point right here where I fall down from time to time. The first time it happened, I thought I had failed at becoming organized and staying organized. My intention here is to share that I got back up and continued to live organized.

Backsliding is the term we use in the organizing biz. It entails setting up a system and for a myriad of reasons, the clutter and disorganization shows its ugly head. This is completely NORMAL!!! It can last a day or couple of weeks and can happen more than once. The best piece of advice I can give is to remain calm, give yourself grace, you’ll get back in the groove. If you do happen to get down on yourself, it will take a lot longer to get back on track.

Let’s look at some causes of...

Life is busy! Some days have you feeling as if you haven’t accomplished a single thing. The list you started the day with continues to grow throughout the day leaving you feeling overwhelmed. Whether you work in Corporate America, are in business for yourself, or run the household as a domestic engineer, productivity is important. By definition, productivity is the state of producing. How can you be a better producer? Below are ten tips I personally use in my life as well in the lives of my organizing clients.

1. Use a daily planner. I cannot stress this enough! Pen to paper connection is powerful. I use the Living Well Planner because it allows me to keep track of all aspects of my life! All planners are not the same. It’s good to know what you like and need because functionality is key. https://livingwellshop.co?aff=621( this is an affiliate link that I am sharing with you because I love this product so much!)
2. Identify your top three priorities of the day. Simply begin...

If there is anything I love doing, it’s saving money at the grocery store. Grocery costs
are up 12% since last year according to healthline.com This means the $500 you used
to pay for groceries is now $560! Yikes!! One other “fun” fact from the USDA website is
that as of January 2023, the cost of groceries for a family of four ranged from $1,025 (
Thrifty plan) to $1,675 (Liberal food plan). So how can we save a little money on
groceries?

Shop the sales. This allows you to create a meal based on what’s on sale and what you
may have at home. Did you know that most items go on sale every 6-8 weeks, so get in
the rhythm to buy enough when it is on sale to last you 6-8 weeks.(Word to the wise,
sale is when the item is 30-50% off regular price ). Buy what you actually eat and don’t
buy it because it is on sale.

Create a meal plan. This is key because the grocery list is created from the ingredients
you need to make these meals. Having this as your foundation, makes...

These are my starting five questions that I ask my clients when we being a declutter/organizing session. This has to be done before any organizing can occur. I have learned so much from my organizing clients based on their answers. This better allows me to create systems that are customized for them. Hoping you will find this process therapeutic and constructive in your own organizing journey.

Would I buy this again?

There are things we like but don’t love. We buy them because they may seem like a good idea in theory but in function they really aren’t. This is really an honest question to assess what you have in your home. It works for everything!

When is the last time I used it?

Just because it has been a year since you last used something does not mean it has to be donated or sold. I am able to use the answer to this question as a way to store items. For example, the platter that is used for Thanksgiving dinner does not need to go away, it can be stored...

Problem Solving Strategies in Organizing

In order to get the organizing space completed, you may encounter an obstacle or two along the way. I want to equip you with strategies that I personally use in my own projects and in working with clients. I have been there enough times to write this blog as an expert!! Oh my, things I wished I knew when I started my organizing journey. Happy to share them with you!

1. First and foremost, KEEP IT SIMPLE! I cannot stress this enough. This means thinking about the goal of the project and then work backwards to create the necessary action steps. The last blog talked a lot about this so I won’t go into it again.
2. Be flexible. This comes in handy when the project starts to get bigger than you planned. STOP! Now, break it down to smaller projects within the big project.  When it becomes harder than you imagined, allow yourself permission to ask for help. You could use a trusted friend or family member that knows you well. If this is...

Recognizing some people are inherently better planners, those who aren’t can certainly improve. Planning does involve some work depending on the magnitude of the goal. This can be anything from a meal you will eat this week, a trip you will take in the future, preparing your home for sale or decluttering a space in your home. I have found that planning is a huge piece of good time management. Learning the skills will benefit your life in so many ways.

Before we can set up a plan, it is necessary to know the reason behind the need for this plan- the MOTIVATION. Once the motivation is known, the success rate goes up 50%. We can plan all we want, but without a motivation to trigger the action part of the plan to carry us through to the end goal, we only have a plan. Goal-motivation-plan are all connected. If this is your struggle, stay with me. You will feel better once it is broken down. I have used this in my work with children as well. If we teach them early, it sticks...

Life is busy, days fly by, and suddenly you realize you missed it (whatever “it” is for you.) This is all due to a lack of presence or being present in the moment. Once the moment is gone, we can never get it back. In a time of focus right here and right now, we can truly experience whatever we are doing even if it’s just thinking. Each moment can be a treasure for us if we take the time to recognize it . Becoming aware can facilitate order in our day, the crux of living organized.

Reasons you need to be focused in the moment:

• Better ability to complete actions in a way that is of tremendous quality
• Better attention to detail so things are not forgotten
• More happiness because there is not worry about what will happen next
• Allow for better engagement in all you do
• Much easier to find balance in everyday life

“If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living...

What does impulsive behavior have to do with clutter?

Clutter can be anything. It can be a relationship and it can be stuff. One thing that is true in the world of clutter is that we aren’t innocent bystanders. There are a multitude of factors that contribute to our clutter. Let’s focus on impulsivity.  For someone suffering with impulsive behavior, clutter is a byproduct. 

Let’s look at some ways that impulsivity can contribute to clutter. 

Spending more that you can afford. Accumulation of stuff because it’s on sale or because you deserve it leads to clutter. Buying without thinking it through can certainly see people end up with more items than they actually have room for or need. 

Strategy to overcome: interrupt the process. Take a moment. This is the pause between acting and not acting. Write down the consequences of your action on a note card or in your phone. When ready to act, pull out the note to remind yourself of what this...