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

Laurie Palau
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Aug 7, 2025 • 52min

Best of This Organized Life: Digital Clutter Hacks with Kath Younger | Ep 452

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.
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Jul 31, 2025 • 1h 12min

Best of This Organized Life: Procrastination and The Enneagram with Brittany Thomas | Ep 451

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.Joining me today is Brittany Thomas. Brittany is a certified Enneagram coach and educator. She is also the founder of the popular Instagram account @eneagramexplained.Today’s topic is all about PROCRASTINATION.   During our conversation Brittany opens up about her own struggles with procrastination as an Enneagram 1 (the perfectionist).We talk about clutter and organization in her home as a parent of 5 kids ranging in age from seventeen to eight.Brittany walks us through each of the types and shares her insights into how procrastination looks with all nine types.
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Jul 24, 2025 • 17min

Best of This Organized Life: Strategies for Staying Motivated | EP 450

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.
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Jul 17, 2025 • 17min

Best of This Organized Life: 5 Clutter Pitfalls | Ep 449

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).
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Jul 10, 2025 • 22min

Best of This Organized Life: Why Your Clutter Keeps Coming Back (And How to Fix It) | Ep 448

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.
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Jul 3, 2025 • 48min

Best of This Organized Life: Self-Doubts and Other Fears with Angie Robertson | Ep 447

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.
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Jun 26, 2025 • 22min

End of an Era: My Heartfelt Farewell to This Organized Life | Ep 446

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
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Jun 19, 2025 • 50min

Decluttering Advice and Organizing Tips with Janelle Azar | Ep 445

Hey Friends,Today I’m joined by my good friend and fellow organizing pro, Janelle Azar, she’s the founder of A Meaningful Space and host of the Organizing the Entrepreneur podcast. We sat down to answer YOUR real-life organizing questions, and let me tell you…we went there.From convincing a partner to declutter (without starting WWIII) to managing kid clutter and the never ending paper piles, we tackled it all. We also talk about running a business while managing a home, the beauty of the two-minute rule, and the deeper stuff, like emotional clutter and why Enneagram twos can have a hard time setting boundaries.If you’ve ever stared at a pile of paper and thought, “I just can’t even,” this episode is for you. We’re sharing real talk, practical strategies, and a few good laughs, because organizing can be fun, especially when you’re not doing it alone.What You’ll Learn:How to get your spouse on board with declutteringWays to help your kids manage their own clutterTips for balancing business life and home life without losing your mingWhat to do when you’re overwhelmed by paperWhy understanding your Enneagram type can seriously help your organizing game.How to stay motivated even when progress is slow.Grab your coffee (or laundry basket) and tune in, you’ll feel like you’re right here chatting with us.Links Mentioned in this Episode:Organizing with Kids: Getting StartedOrganizing the Entrepreneur PodcastInstagram: @ameaningfulspacePinterestDigital Organizing with A Meaningful Space & Trustworthy
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Jun 12, 2025 • 26min

5 things to Declutter for Summer | Ep 444

Hey friend,If you’re feeling like your summer could use a little more breathing room, this episode is for you. Today we’re tackling some easy, actionable steps to declutter your space, streamline your schedule, and make summer a lot less stressful!From optimizing your car to refreshing your outdoor spaces and wrangling kids’ schoolwork (because honestly who knows what ends up in those backpacks!) we’re diving into all the places where clutter can sneak up on you.I’ll also share some tips on how to get ahead of your summer calendar so that you can actually enjoy the season without feeling like you’re running on empty. Oh and if you’ve been thinking about turning your organizing skills into a business, I’ve got some exciting news about an upcoming mentoring cohort I’m running!Let’s get organized together!Links mentioned: https://simplyborganized.com/for-professional-organizers/
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Jun 5, 2025 • 38min

Balancing Summer Chaos: Parenting, Organizing & Making Time for You | Ep 443

Summer is here, and if you’re anything like me, you might already be feeling the chaos creeping in. Today I’m joined by my friend Lisa Eckerle, a professional organizer and mom. We dive into the real juggle of managing kids, camps, work, and everything else that comes with this season. We talk about planning summer schedules (yes, even if you’re behind like I am), sharing chores with the kids, and setting up routines that actually stick. Lisa also shares some of her favorite tips for beating decision fatigue and introduces her handy CRAP method to help you tackle clutter without overwhelm.We discuss:How to avoid last minute summer stress by planning aheadThe truth about decision fatigue and practical ways to deal with it.Why it’s so important to share the load at home and how to start those conversationsHow to handle the emotional side of clutterLisa also opens up about how she balances being a business owner and a mom, and the honest truth that it’s messy but manageable.Why I think you’ll love this episode:Because summer doesn’t have to feel like total chaos. Whether you’re a planner or just trying to survive until school starts again, Lisa and I share real doable tips that can help you breathe a little easier this season.Hot Takes:It’s never too late to start planning, even if summer’s already underwayTeamwork at home isn’t about guilt, it’s about supportLisa’s CRAP method is a great tool when clutter feels overwhelmingYou don’t have to pack every minute of the summer to make it meaningfulYou’re doing better than you think and you’re definitely not alone.Connect with Lisa: https://thedesignerorganizer.com/Grab our 30 day Kid’s Checklist here: https://simplyborganized.myflodesk.com/30daykidschallenge

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