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

All summer long, we’re bringing back some of our most-loved episodes from the This Organized Life archives—because let’s be honest, good conversations deserve a second (or third) listen. For those of you who aren’t familiar with her work, Mel is one of the leading voices in personal development and an international bestselling author.Her work includes the global phenomenon The 5 Second Rule, and her latest book The High Five Habit is already a New York Times Bestseller.As one of the most widely booked and followed public speakers in the world, Mel coaches more than 60 million people online every month and videos featuring her work have more than a billion views online, including her TEDx talk, which is one of the most popular of all time.I invited Mel to join me on This ORGANIZED Life Podcast to share her story of hitting rock bottom and how she completely turned her life around.We talk about the connection between clutter, habits and happinessAnd just wait until you hear her advice for the mom who doesn’t have 5 seconds to herself…    This is a raw and honest conversation, with just the right amount of tough love and inspiration to send you into 2022 with a High Five! ✋One more thing, there is some colorful language in this episode so you may want to listen to it without little ears around!

All summer long, we’re bringing back some of our most-loved episodes from the This Organized Life archives—because let’s be honest, good conversations deserve a second (or third) listen.Does clutter stress them out?  Are they clutter-blind? What strategies have they used to help keep them organized and clutter free?To start our series, I am joined by Enneagram 1, Andrew Lang. ​​Andrew is an educator in Tacoma, Washington, an Enneagram scholar and student of Richard Rohr’s Living School for Action and Contemplation. During the episode we talk about Andrew’s journey into the Enneagram, what life is like as an Enneagram 1 and what he calls “the should monster”Regardless of your Enneagram type, this series gives you a front row seat to how clutter shows up differently in each of our lives.

All summer long, we’re bringing back some of our most-loved episodes from the This Organized Life archives—because let’s be honest, good conversations deserve a second (or third) listen.One of the questions that I often get from listeners is “how do I avoid conflict as we blend our households?”Whether you are talking about physical stuff, which pots and pans should we keep?To deeper conversations surrounding the habits and routines you plan on implementing in your new life together. Between the overflow of physical items, to the practical side of chores, expectations, and family dynamics-blending families is more than just organizing the linen closet.Joining me today is one of our SBO Partners, Kim Snodgrass, founder of Rustic Home Organizing in Portland, OR.  Kim is a mom to 3 girls and has first hand experience blending families-something she talks candidly about on the show. During our conversation Kim shares her story of marriage, divorce, moving across the country and the importance of communication.

All summer long, we’re bringing back some of our most-loved episodes from the This Organized Life archives—because let’s be honest, good conversations deserve a second (or third) listen.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.

Join Brittany Thomas, a certified Enneagram coach and the founder of @enneagramexplained, as she dives into the nuances of procrastination through the Enneagram lens. Brittany shares her journey as a mother of five, discussing how each personality type approaches procrastination differently. From the perfectionist tendencies of type Ones to the adventurous nature of Sevens, she highlights how understanding these traits can enhance organization and personal growth. Tune in for invaluable insights on clutter, parenting, and emotional needs!

All summer long, we’re bringing back some of our most-loved episodes from the This Organized Life archives—because let’s be honest, good conversations deserve a second (or third) listen.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 toughest days.

All summer long, we’re bringing back some of our most-loved episodes from the This Organized Life archives—because let’s be honest, good conversations deserve a second (or third) listen.This week, we’re throwing it back to one of our most talked-about topics: the 5 Clutter Pitfalls.These are the sneaky little roadblocks that keep us from tackling our clutter and staying organized—and trust me, we’ve all fallen into one or more of these traps. I originally broke them down in Chapter 8 of my book Hot Mess: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized (shameless plug—you can grab it here).In this episode, I’ll walk you through each pitfall and how to recognize them in your own life—plus some tips for getting unstuck and moving forward.What You’ll Learn:✔️ The 5 major clutter pitfalls holding you back✔️ Why procrastination and indecision are besties with clutter✔️ How guilt and fear sneak into our organizing process✔️ Why “overwhelm” is more than just a feeling✔️ Simple mindset shifts to help you make progress—even when you don’t have time🎧 Tune in, take notes, and let this be the nudge you need to finally deal with that one drawer (you know the one).

Hey friends!All summer long, we’re bringing back some of our most-loved episodes from the This Organized Life archives—because let’s be honest, good conversations deserve a second (or third) listen.This week we’re talking about your clutter and why it keeps coming back. During this episode you'll learn five common reasons clutter keeps returning and how to keep it in check including:Lack of SystemsImpulse PurchasesNot Decluttering RegularlyEmotional AttachmentsToo Much Stuff, Not Enough SpaceBreaking the clutter cycle takes intention, but with these strategies, you can set yourself up for long-term success. Remember, it’s not about perfection, but progress. By making small, consistent changes, you can reclaim your space and peace of mind.

Hey friends!All summer long, we’re bringing back some of our most-loved episodes from the This Organized Life archives—because let’s be honest, good conversations deserve a second (or third) listen.This week, we’re kicking things off with Navigating Clutter and Anxiety featuring the amazing Angie Robertson. This one originally aired back in July 2022 as part of our Enneagram series, and it’s still one I come back to often.We talk about how our relationship with stuff is rarely just about the stuff—and how clutter can trigger deep emotional responses like anxiety, guilt, and overwhelm.Angie shares her personal journey, what it’s like living as an Enneagram 6, and how she learned to quiet the noise (both physical and mental) in her space.If you’ve ever felt stuck, paralyzed by clutter, or unsure where to start—this one’s for you.

Hey friends,I don’t even know how to start this, so I’ll just say it: this is the final episode of This Organized Life.I’ve been sitting with this decision for a while now. Because how do you say goodbye to something that’s been such a huge part of your life? For eight years, this podcast has been more than just a place to talk about clutter and bins and systems (although we did plenty of that). It’s been my creative outlet, my therapy, my connection to all of you.When I started this show, I never imagined it would turn into over 500 episodes, hundreds of guests, and a community of listeners who’ve stuck around through every pivot and season of life. You’ve heard me talk about business and motherhood, grief and growth, the Enneagram and emotional clutter. You’ve shown up for the conversations that were light and the ones that got real, and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that.But here’s the thing I’ve learned: just because something has been good doesn’t mean you’re meant to hold onto it forever. And as hard as it is to let this go, I know in my gut it’s time to make space for new ideas, new projects, and honestly for rest.That doesn’t mean I’m disappearing. I’m still working with clients, still writing, still renovating my little cottage in the Hamptons (which, if you follow me on Instagram, you already know is a whole thing). I’m just choosing to press pause on the part of my life that no longer feels in alignment, even though I love it dearly.This isn’t a goodbye forever. It’s more like: see you in a new way, in a new space. If you’re on my email list or hanging out with me on Instagram, I promise I’ll still be showing up with coffee in hand, and probably talking about a closet or a junk drawer or what’s going on behind the scenes in life and business.So thank you. Truly. Thank you for pressing play all these years, for letting me into your life, your homes and your hearts. I hope this podcast helped you feel a little less alone in the chaos and reminded you that being organized isn’t about perfection, it's about creating space for what matters.With so much love and gratitude,Laurie