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

Hi FriendsLaundry is an essential chore that we all have to do, yet it can quickly pile up and become overwhelming. Establishing a laundry routine can help make this chore less daunting and ensure that you always have clean clothes to wear.Having a laundry routine means that you can plan ahead and avoid a last-minute scramble to find something clean to wear. This can save time and energy in the long run, as you won't have to spend hours sorting through piles of laundry to find what you need.Regular washing and proper care can help extend the life of your clothes. By establishing a laundry routine, you can ensure that your clothes are washed and dried properly, preventing damage and wear and tear.A laundry routine can also help keep your home clutter-free. By washing and putting away clothes on a regular schedule, you can avoid piles of dirty laundry taking over your living space.Tips for Establishing a Laundry RoutineSet a regular day and time for doing laundrySort clothes by color and fabric type before washingUse the right amount of detergent and avoid overloading the washerHang or fold clothes immediately after drying to prevent wrinklesEstablishing a laundry routine may seem like a small task, but it can have a significant impact on your daily life. By saving time and energy, keeping clothes in good condition, and reducing clutter, a laundry routine can help you feel more organized and in control of your home.If you have a tip that you’d like to submit for our Tip of the Week episodes, visit simplyborganized.com/questions and you might be featured in an upcoming episode!

Hi Friends!In honor of Earth Day, today’s episode is all about responsible recycling.We’re looking across 10 of the most popular areas and sharing the do’s and don'ts while sharing some resources of places for you to take your unwanted goods without adding to your carbon footprint.Tech & ElectronicsClothingFoodPaperStuffed Animals & ToysMedicineBatteriesPaintBuilding MaterialsFurnitureThis episode is chock full of insight into both WHY we often struggle letting go, as well as the practical side to decluttering your home.Make sure to check out the links below for the resources we mentioned in the episode, and if you prefer to read the transcript, click here. Happy Spring!XOXO-LLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEStaples Recycling ProgramBoston University Article on Clothing Consumption Vox Article on Food Waste Reducing Paper Usage Stuffed Animals for EmergenciesTerra Cycle for Toy DonationProperly Disposing of Unused MedicineDrug Take Back Days Article from EPA on How and Where to Dispose of Batterieshttps://www.call2recycle.org/locator/Lowes Recycling Centers How to Properly Dispose of Paint (state specific)Junklugglers1-800-Got Junk

Today we’re talking about homework. Giving your kids a "Homework Hub" a designated area where your child does his/her homework on a regular basis. It can be anywhere from a desk in their room, a home office, or the kitchen table.For us, it made the most sense to use our breakfast bar in our kitchen as the girls' hub. There is plenty of room for them to spread out to do their work, they have a designated area to store their supplies and best of all I am literally 5 feet away. It enabled me to easily prepare dinner, check email, while allowing them to ask me questions about their homework or engage in a conversation about their day.Most importantly, it created a routine. They quickly learned where to go when they came home, and what to do. They had everything they needed within reach so that they could work independently.Let me know if you try it! Happy Organizing!Xo Laurie!Links Mentioned ROLLING CARTCheck us out on FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |

Hi Friends,Joining me today is Jennifer Ford Berry, best-selling author of the Organize Now! Series, national speaker, creator of the Created Order Neighborhood and host of the podcast, The Make Room Show (check out my recent convo on her show HERE).I invited Jennifer on the show to talk about her latest book: Make Room: take control of your space, time, energy & money to live on purpose.During our conversation we talked about:The evolution of the professional organizing industry (since Jennifer is an OG like me!)How we know if we are being held back, or weighed down by our possessionsWhat we lose every time we bring new “stuff” into our homesThe impact on our TIME, ENERGY and FINANCES and how that affects our livesNavigating emotional and calendar clutter throughout the different seasons of lifeJennifer also shares how her life has evolved as her kids have grown, and gives some words of wisdom for younger moms as you look to discover your purpose.Make sure to check out the links below for everything we talked about in this episode.XOXO-Laurie P.S. Did you know that we are now releasing 2 episodes of TOL per week? Every Monday we’ll release a new TIP OF THE WEEK to give you a little extra boost as you kick off the week. Then on Thursday’s we’ll continue to bring you our regular episodes filled with great guests!***Make sure to click the subscribe or follow button wherever you get your podcasts.CONNECT WITH JENNIFERWEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTERESTOTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEMAKE ROOM PODCASTTHE PHOTO STICKJENNIFER’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: GOAL GETTERS

Today’s tip of the week is the 2 minute rule: If you can do something in 2 minutes or less, do it rather than procrastinating.Simple tasks like opening the mail, putting the dishes in the dishwasher, hanging up your coat, folding the blanket on the couch-are little wins that have a larger impact.We underestimate the negative impact on our mood or stress levels from neglecting to do these simple tasks.So the next time you are about to procrastinate on something-ask yourself “can I complete this in 2 minutes or less?” and if the answer is YES, then push yourself out of your comfort zone and as Nike says- JUST DO IT.If you have a tip that you’d like to submit for our Tip of the Week episodes, visit simplyborganized.com/questions and you might be featured in an upcoming episode!

Hi Friends,Back by popular demand is my good friend, Matt Paxton! I invited Matt on the show today to talk about a question that I get asked all the time .... “Am I a Hoarder”.Matt Paxton is one of the top cleaning, downsizing, decluttering, and hoarding experts in the country. He was a frequent regular on A&E’s Hoarders for 12 years and now hosts the Emmy-nominated PBS show Legacy List with Matt Paxton. You also might remember Matt from Episode 269 of This ORGANIZED Life, where he talked about Creating a Legacy List and his book Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff.During today's conversation we looked at:The psychological side of hoarding and how it differs from general clutterThe difference between hoarding and collectingThe role of trauma, specifically, divorce, death, and abuse as it relates to hoardingIs hoarding permanent or can you be “cured”?How to help someone who you might suspect is struggling with a hoarding disorderWhat NOT to do, that can actually cause more harm than goodMatt shares some personal stories about working with hoarders, his time on the show, and why he has dedicated his life to helping those who are most in need of getting rid of “stuff”.There is so much shame around clutter and there doesn’t have to be. If you know someone who could benefit from this episode, please pay it forward by sharing it.XOXO-LaurieP.S. Did you know that we are now releasing 2 episodes of TOL per week? Every Monday we’ll release a new TIP OF THE WEEK to give you a little extra boost as you kick off the week. Then on Thursday’s we’ll continue to bring you our regular episodes filled with great guests!Make sure to click the subscribe or follow button wherever you get your podcasts.CONNECT WITH MATTWEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDINOTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEEp 269-Creating a Legacy List with Matt PaxtonMatt’s Book Recommendation: Die with Zero

Hi Friends, We’re kicking off our new series today with Tip of the week! It’s a new bonus episode of This Organized Life. If you only have a few minutes a week these are the episodes for you. Each week you can enjoy a few nuggets of wisdom or getting actionable advice to move you forward!Obviously, if you've been with us for a while, you know that we talk about three main types of clutter.The three main types of clutter are:Physical- the stuff that you seeEmotional-the guilt and fear that holds you back from getting rid of thingsCalendar-feeling or being overscheduled, not being able to say no to things.In addition to that, we have other types of clutter. We have digital clutter, financial clutter, and relational clutter.Today I wanted to start with something simple that I’ve been doing long before Simply B Organized and This Organized Life. Make Your Bed.Making your bed first thing in the morning allows you to have a little win right away and can help you feel a sense of accomplishment.I look at the making of the bed as turning that page. You are turning the page to a new day, and then you are turning the page at the end of the day.And so it gives you a starting and an ending. And in the realm of organization that is a really key.If you liked this episode share it with a friend! And if you haven’t already, join our This Organized Life Facebook Group below!Connect with MeWEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

In this chat with Kate Hufnagel, a former high-tech industry expert and now a digital organizer, listeners learn about the often-overlooked issue of digital clutter. Kate shares practical tips on easy file retrieval, password management, and effective phone storage. They dive into generational differences in digital fluency and the importance of maintaining digital hygiene. With insights on deleting unwanted files and reviewing cloud storage, Kate equips us to streamline our digital lives and enhance efficiency.

Exciting News! Starting Monday, April 3rd we'll be adding a bonus episode each week to our podcast feed called Tip of the Week!These episodes will be short and designed to give you a boost to start your week off on the right foot! This might be something that I'm doing in my personal life, or perhaps it's a tip that someone shared with me that I wanna pass along.If you're already subscribed to This Organized Life Podcast new episodes will automatically show up in your podcast feed each Monday and our Regular full episodes will continue to drop each and every Thursday.If you're not subscribed be sure to click the subscribe button and you'll receive both!Have questions? Let us know at simplyborganized.com/questions and be sure to follow us @thisorganizedlifepodcast @simplyborganized.

Hi Friends,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.We talked about the countless variables that make each situation unique;The ages of kidsHow often the kids spend at each house (are they here every week or every other week, or just in the summer and holidays?)How involved your ex is in parentingDo you have chores at one house but not at another?Although everyone has a different story, there are some universal challenges and I asked Kim to share a few practical tips for anyone listening who might be in the process of blending households. All of these interpersonal questions add a layer of complexity to making a smooth transition to combining multiple families.Create Clear Zones that are easy for everyone to adapt-from shoe drop spots to simplifying laundry routines.Ask first. Don't assume that you know what to keep or get rid of.Consider the stage of life for all parties involved. Setting ground rules for a 5 year old is different than for a 17 year old.Have Patience. Give people time to adapt to new rules, expectations and living situations.Forgive. You are going to make mistakes and so are the members of your new family. Have grace, be kind and keep an open line of communication.There are so many great reminders and new take-aways that Kim shares, I encourage you to listen and share this episode with someone who might need to hear it.XO-LaurieP.S. Prefer to watch the convo? Head on over to our YouTube ChannelCONNECT WITH KIM WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOKKIM’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION BORN TO SHINE***LOOKING FOR A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER? CHECK OUT OUR NETWORK FOR SOMEONE NEAR YOU!