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

Hi Friends, On today’s episode I get to sit down with my friend Kate Bosch who is our SBO partner in Rhode Island.  You might remember from ep 298 and ep 333 (both episodes are worth a listen!) Today we’re talking about one of the biggest sources of clutter for many people: storage units. Kate is here to share some surprising statistics on the entire storage unit industry: Specifically the amount...

Hi Friends! Happy April Fools Day!  We’re kicking off this months tip of the week  with a quick actionable tip:   Fill 1 bag with stuff for donations AND make sure to drop it off or schedule a pick up. If you’re not in the habit of doing this on a regular basis, it might be tough at first, but trust me, it gets easier with practice! If you haven’t listened to our episode on reducing clothing waste...

Hi Friends,  This year I decided to give up two things for lent: vodka (because I love a good martini like it’s my job) and all non-essential shopping. For the sake of today’s podcast, we’re focusing on the latter.   The scope of my shopping hiatus included any in person shopping aside from the grocery store and ALL online shopping.   Today I’m sharing what I learned during those 40 days! Whether...

Hey Friend, Today, we're tackling the topic of managing household chores (womp-womp!)  Whether you live alone, with roommates, or have a houseful of kids, we often get overwhelmed with all the things that need to be done to keep our household moving. Below are some quick tips to help you stay organized when it comes to household chores: List all the things-what are the tasks on your to-do list (th...

Hi Friends, We talk a lot about donations around here, but what do you do with the stuff you can’t donate-like single socks, stained t-shirts or clothing with holes?   Instead of throwing those items in the trash and adding to our overflowing landfills, my guest today is here to offer an alternative solution. Joining me is Lisa Sciannella, Chief of Staff of  www.helpsy.co . a certified B-corp dedi...

Hey Friend! For today’s Tip of the Week we’re delving into a common struggle faced by many parents: finding the balance between teaching your kids how to do certain household chores versus doing everything yourself. The two biggest pushbacks I hear from parents are: wanting things done “right” and wanting them done “quickly.” As a somewhat Type-A mom, I can totally relate.  Even now that my girls...

Hey Friends, Today we're diving into a topic that we all struggle with from time to time – staying on track when you just don't feel like it. Whether it's decluttering a closet or tackling a daunting project, we've all had those moments when we'd rather do anything else other than what we are “supposed to” do.  I'm here to share five actionable strategies to help you stay on track, even on the tou...

Hey Friend! Today we’re delving into the benefits of scheduling family meetings. When it comes to staying organized both at home and with our schedules, having everyone on the same page helps to significantly reduce conflict and improve communication. Below are some key benefits that can come from regular family meetings: They prevent overlap, overscheduling, and things from being overlooked. Allo...

Hi Friend, You are in for a treat today! By now you know that clutter comes in many forms aside from physical stuff. It shows up in our calendars, on our devices, and our relationships. But have you ever stopped to think about how your clutter is tied to your identity? Maybe it represents who we once were, or perhaps it’s who we want to be. From books, to hobbies, and even that old varsity jacket...

Today I’m talking about how having a command center can really be a game-changer for your household organization. It's not just about finding a spot to put your stuff—it's about creating a central hub that keeps everything running smoothly. I’m giving you practical tips like: Having designated spots for storing your devices Setting up an action file system to prioritize paperwork Using calendars a...

Hi Friend! Since leap year only comes around every 4 years, I thought it would be fun to focus today’s episode on leaping into the unknown. Regardless of whether you're going through a major life transition or thinking about a career change, stepping out of your comfort zone is never easy. It requires courage, resilience, and a willingness to pivot, but I want to assure you that you are not alone....

Hi Friends! We’ve made it to the end of February, which if you’re a parent, likely means that you’re sick and tired of looking at toys everywhere and ready to take a big trash bag and dump everything inside it. But before you do…you’re going to want to listen to today's mini episode where I talk about:. Why the winter is a good time to tackle kids toys Making some executive decisions as a parent T...

Hi Friend! Today we’re talking about how to organize all the 1099’s, w-2’s and other documents needed to prepare your taxes. If you’re like me, this is less than exciting stuff to talk about, but thankfully my guest today is here to help! Joining me is Samanta Besnoff who has been a CPA for 22 years and recently named one of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs Women to Watch. She hosts a podcast ca...

Hi Friends! On today’s Tip of the Week we’re talking about Mindful Consumption. Mindful consumption helps you avoid impulse buying and focus on acquiring things that truly enhance your well-being. In other words, before making a purchase, ask yourself if you really need the item. The timing of this episode aligns with something going on in my personal life. I decided that for lent this year I was...

Hi Friend! Regardless of how organized you might be with your closet, kitchen or garage, the one area that most folks find hard to keep up with are photos. If you’ve been around me for a minute you know that I always talk about “the ease of retrieval” when it comes to organizing, and photos are a prime example of where people waste hours of time looking for those precious memories! Between boxes a...

Hi Friends! One of the most popular questions I get asked as a Professional Organizer is “Is it Worth it to Sell My Stuff?” On today’s Tip of the Week I’m going to walk you through the process I go through with my clients to help them determine the right answer for them. We talk about some general guidelines I like to follow including: What types of items typically hold their value When to consult...

Hey Friend, If you’ve ever been through any type of renovation you know that budget can be a sticky subject. On today’s episode I’m sharing with you: the different factors that contribute to renovation costs Ways you can save money on your project The importance of getting a breakdown of product and labor How to determine how much to spend on a project If you are thinking about doing any home reno...

Hey Friend! For today’s tip we’re talking about High Impact Areas. What do I mean by a High Impact Area? I’m referring to making time for any room or obligation that has a direct impact on your life currently. Many people make the mistake of focusing on what’s loudest, messiest, or right in front of them, but that approach often comes at the expense of the things that are most important. During th...

Hi Friends, In today's episode, we're diving into downsizing, staging, and moving. Linda and Betsy have mastered the art of decluttering and staging homes over the past six years, especially during the pandemic real estate boom. Their approach starts early, two months before moving, allowing ample time for decluttering and organizing. They're all about creative storage solutions within the home, m...

Hey Friend! I don’t know about you, but It’s been a crazy month-not necessarily bad crazy (thank goodness) but lots going on! I am actually writing this from ☀️ Florida where I’m speaking at the 10th annual PodFest Conference all about Creating a Content Calendar. But I digress…. Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at not one, but TWO career day fairs about life as a Professional Organizer an...

​​Joining me today is my dear friend Amy Revell, host of popular podcast The Art of Decluttering, leads the largest Professional Organizing company in Australia, and is the author of the book Simply Organised (yes, that organised with an S-remember, she’s from Australia!) Amy is happily married to her husband Cal and together they have 2 sons Jesse and Elijah. Back in the summer when we released o...

Hi friends, Today we’re discussing strategies for better communication around clutter. When we feel overwhelmed by physical things, mental load, or calendar clutter it can often trigger a Clutter Spiral. The 5 phases of the Clutter Spiral include: Anxiety, Frustration, Anger, Resentment, and Shame. The first step in reducing (or ultimately removing) the Clutter Spirals from happening is to write d...

On today’s show I am joined by my friend and fellow professional organizer, Martha Carol Stewart of Chaos Organizing in Baton Rouge. You may remember MC from episode 91 where we talked about Back to School Organizing Strategies , or episode 156 where we talked about Holiday Organizing and Storage , or most recently, episode 346 during our series on Unpacking After a Move . Today we’re talking abou...

Does your clutter start to blend into the background of your home? After a while do you become desensitized to the piles of paper, cluttered counters, or messy closet? If so, you are not alone. This is common with roommates where one person has a higher threshold for what messy or disorganized is. This is where communication is so important. Because one person's definition of organized is differen...

Hi Friends! If getting fit is on your list for 2024, this is the episode for you! I’m joined by online fitness expert, Megan Dahlman. You may know Megan from her popular YouTube Channel VigeoFit, and podcast Self-Care Simplified. During our conversation we talked about: How to create a realistic fitness routine that works for you! Debunking the harmful myth that you have to “go all in” to get resu...