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

Joining me today is Bestselling author of Chasing the Bright Side, Jess Ekstrom. Jess has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The View, Vanity Fair, People Magazine, Business Insider, Huffington Post and Forbes.After starting and growing her multi-million-dollar company, Headbands of Hope, in her dorm room, her speaking and writing career took off. But Jess realized that her success wasn’t about how far she can reach—but how far she can help other women reach.She helps women uncover the value in their story through her popular Mic Drop Workshop®, so they can make a living and a difference at the same time. She, her husband and her 70lb fur baby reside in Raleigh, NC.During our conversation you’ll learn:Jess’ origin story-what prompted her to start a business while being a full time college student.Life living in an Airstream-how she paired down her things and how they stayed organized on the road.Entrepreneurship-how she manages her time while running multiple businesses.CONNECT WITH JESS:Text “HYPE” to 7042289495Website: https://jessekstrom.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/jessekstrom/Twitter: @jess_ekstromInstagram: @jess_ekstromLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-ekstrom-59160342Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jessekstrom/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessekstromOther Links Mentioned in This Episode:Jess’ Book Recommendation: Stop Living On AutopilotDeniseAlbright.com: Use code SBGIFTS and receive 25% off your order (offer valid through 12/15/22)

Hi Friends,Before we get started into today’s episode, we would like to thank our sponsor, Denise Albright for sponsoring this episode. Check out her entire catalog of products, including her gratitude journal and take advantage of a special offer exclusive for TOL listeners. Use code SBGIFTS and receive 25% off your order.We’d also love for you to check out the new look of our website. There you will find links to past episodes, tons of free resources and downloadable checklists, plus you can easily connect with our trusted SBO Professional Organizers in a variety of cities across the US and Mexico. Now more than ever we are here to help you in your decluttering journey!Now for today’s episode, I know that the time between Halloween and New Years can be stressful and overwhelming. Those 60 days seem to happen overnight, leaving you feeling like there is never enough time to get it all done.Today we are talking about all of it:The feeling of drinking from firehoseIncreased mental loadMaxed out BudgetsThe rise in Calendar Clutter on top of Physical Clutter  Forget about your regular list of TO-DO items, and heaven forbid you throw a birthday in the mix to add to your already overflowing plate. (thanks Josh for being born on Dec 17th!)All of this can easily lead to a spectrum of emotions, spanning from snippiness to a complete mental shut down. So today we are here to give you some actionable steps, spread some grace, and share some words of encouragement during this time. I will walk you through exactly what I do on a daily basis to help prioritize the important from the urgent.By getting in the practice of doing this everyday, you will begin to:Make decisions based on intention rather than by default.Recognize that some tasks take longer than expected while others can be completed quickly.Set realistic expectations on what you can and cannot accomplish in a dayLearn the natural rhythms of your personal peak productivity time and when you need to rechargeLearn to say “no,” or “not now” based on the facts rather than feelings  I have been Time Blocking for years and last year I started my Top 3 List which has been a game changer. It forces me to prioritize what I need to do versus what I want to do.As you embark on this fun, yet stressful time of year, I hope you can take a moment to exhale and enjoy the ride. Show yourself grace, give yourself permission to pause, and recognize that Superwoman is a fictional character.You’ve got this, and I am here to help you every step of the way.XOXO-LaurieLinks Mentioned in This Episode:Top 3 DownloadTime Block TemplateIf you are a professional organizer or thinking about turning your passion into a profession, click HERE to learn more about our partner offerings

Hi Friends,Joining me today is Angela O’Brien, founder of Your Space Reclaimed in Dallas, TX. Angela is one of our incredible SBO Partners and I invited her on the show to talk about motherhood, organizing and all things Enneagram!I specifically asked Angela to visit our show in October as we recognize Down Syndrome Awareness Month. As a mom of 2 grown-ish kids, Angela shares her story of finding out her daughter was born with Down Syndrome and what she wants people to know about the Down Syndrome community.During our conversation we talked about:Life transitions, knowing when to pull back and when to lean in.Her personal discovery into the Enneagram and how it led her to becoming a certified Enneagram coach and finding her passion as a professional organizer at the age of 51.The importance of teaching independence, providing support and building confidence for all kids, especially those with Intellectual Disabilities.How she gives back and supports the Down Syndrome community in Dallas We also talked about her struggles as an Enneagram 9 (The Peacemaker) and what strategies she has put in place to help her live an organized life.Make sure to check out the links below for everything we talked about including Angela’s fav organizing products, book recommendations and special promos for our TOL listeners.If you know someone who could benefit from this episode, please take a moment to share it with your friends.And finally, if you are a Professional Organizer, or thinking about becoming a Professional Organizer, we would love to talk with you about our Group and Individual Offerings. Click HERE to learn more!XOXO-LaurieP.S. If you are curious about finding your enneagram type, here’s a link to a free assessment:https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test***(note: online assessments have a high rate of inaccuracy. Assessments can prove helpful in giving insight, but we believe that the best way to determine your Enneagram type is through self-discovery and learning about each of the 9 types. Learn more)LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODECONNECT WITH ANGELAWEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOKANGELA’S FAVORITE PRODUCTS:Lazy Susans | Deep Acrylic Bins with WheelsANGELA’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:You are a Badass | The Gift of an Ordinary Day

Hi Friends,Today I am joined by Joshua Becker, founder and editor of Becoming Minimalist, a website dedicated to intentional living. He is also a best-selling author of five books, including The Minimalist Home, The More of Less, Clutterfree with Kids, and his most recent book: Things That Matter.Joshua is also the Creator of Simplify Magazine and Simple Money Magazine.It comes as no surprise that he is one of the leading voices in the modern simplicity movement based on his thoughtful and intentional approach to minimalism.Currently, he lives in Peoria, AZ with his wife and two teenage kids.I invited Joshua on the show to share his story of how he was introduced to minimalism 14 years ago, and what has transpired since then.During our conversation we talked about:How a conversation with one of his neighbors changed his lifeThe power of leading by exampleChoosing Time over StuffSetting BoundariesThe one question that you should ask yourself while you are decluttering We also talked about The Hope Effect, a nonprofit organization that Joshua founded, which is changing how the world cares for orphans.Make sure to check out the links below for everything we talked about in this episode.If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with your friends! If you are not already subscribed to our show or YouTube channel, please hit the subscribe button so new episodes will be downloaded to you every week!One final request, if you enjoy our show, will you please take a moment to click the 5-star button and leave us a review. It helps others find our show, and your opinion matters!Xoxo-Laurie CONNECT WITH JOSHUA:WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAMJOSHUA’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:MONEY, POSSESSIONS & ETERNITY | THE 100 THING CHALLENGE

Hi guys,Thanks to everyone who sent in questions for our Ask Me Anything episode. We tried to answer as many questions as possible, and encourage you to continue submitting questions to info@simplyborganized.com for future episodes.Below are a few of the questions that you asked:What is the best bin or basket to use?What are simple ways to declutter everyday so the mess doesn't pile up?How do you start your day?What is your top organizing tip?What books have inspired or had an impact on your life?What organizing product are you loving these days?Where do you feel the most organized?Where do you feel like a bit of a hot mess?  XOXO-LaurieP.S. ***If you are a fan of our show, would you take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating & review so others know how awesome we are? 😊

Hi Friends,To kick off October, I had the opportunity to sit down with a very special guest. Joining me today is Shannan Martin, author of The Ministry of Ordinary Places and Falling Free. I have been a long time fan of her work and had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of her new book, Start with Hello, which is due out on Oct 11th (but available for pre-order today!)Shannan writes and speaks about the simple things we can do to build community. For many people, clutter is a roadblock to welcoming people into their homes, and we are here to help remove the shame and embarrassment you may be feeling by sharing some simple ways to start the conversation.During our conversation we talked about:The power of communityLiving with intentionPushing past fear of awkwardness to build something newPrioritizing what matters   I loved this conversation and hope you discover some nuggets of wisdom from my chat with Shannan!Make sure to check out the links below for things we talked about in this episode.XOXO-LaurieConnect With Shannan:WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOKOther Links Mentioned In this Episode: Divided Lazy SusanShannan’s Book Recommendations: Tattoos on the Heart | The Catalog of Elizabeth Bird | This Here Flesh

Hi Friends!Today we are back with another one of our incredibly talented SBO Partners. Joining me today is Courtney Wilson, founder of Simpli Sort in San Diego. Courtney started her career as a graphic designer turned stay-at-home mom to her 3 kids who are now “bigs”.Like many, when Courtney’s kids started getting older, she began to look for an outlet that afforded her the flexibility to be able to juggle a household, motherhood and a career. Courtney found her passion in professional organizing and officially launched her business in 2019.Her mission is simple: “helping clients turn stress into calm one project at a time.”Courtney is in the process of downsizing, and is faced with making the decisions of what to keep, something she is used to doing alongside her clients. During our conversation we talked about:Asking yourself tough questions, like “what is my life like now?”“Am I holding onto this because it reminds me of my old life?”The importance of establishing and maintaining systems in your home   Courtney shares some specific examples from her own life, and drops so many nuggets of wisdom- I can’t wait for you to listen!We wrapped up the show by asking her what her favorite organizing products she is loving these days and you are never going to guess what they are? (hint! The links are in the show notes 😉)If you or someone you know is thinking about starting a professional organizing business, we would love to hear from you. Click HERE to learn more about our SBO Partner Program and how we can help you get started.XOXO-LaurieCONNECT WITH COURTNEY:WEBSITE www.simplisort.comINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/simplisort/ETSY https://www.etsy.com/shop/SimpliSort?ref=seller-platform-mcnavCOURTNEY’S FAV PRODUCTS:Bamboo Drawer Organizers | Chip Clips | Timer Cube

Hi Friends!Last month I had the pleasure of sitting down with my dear friends, Kirsty and Amy, for their popular podcast The Art of Decluttering to talk about my Enneagram and Clutter framework.It was such a great conversation that I decided to share it with all of you. Grab a cup of coffee (or whatever you prefer) and enjoy!BTW, if you’re not already subscribed to their show, you are missing out. Check out the links below to learn more!XOXO-LaurieP.S. There is still time to send in your questions for our “Ask Me Anything” episode.Email: info@simplyborganized.comDM: @thisorganizedlifepodcastComment in our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thisorganizedlifepodcastLinks Mentioned in this EpisodeEnneagram and Clutter Course(s) https://simplyborganized.com/enneagram-and-clutter/Use the code DECLUTTER20 at the checkout to receive 20% offConnect with The Art of Decluttering https://www.theartofdecluttering.com.au/

Before we get into today’s episode, I have a favor to ask you. We are planning an “ask me anything episode” where we answer listener questions on the air. Questions can be about organizing, parenting, marriage, the enneagram, entrepreneurship-you name it! Nothing is off limits.To submit a question:Send an email to info@simplyborganized.com with Ask Me Anything in the subject lineShoot us a dm or better yet, make us a short video and send to @thisorganizedlifepodcastWe can’t wait to hear from you!Now back to today’s episode. Joining me today is Noell Jett- the creative force behind the popular Jett Set Farmhouse, where she and her husband Daniel, along with their now FIVE children share their lives, DIY tips, cleaning and organization hacks, recipes, and their home building journey with their millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram. In her debut book, From the Ground Up, Noell tells her incredible life story. Today, I’ve invited her onto This ORGANIZED Life to share her story with all of you.During our conversation you’ll learn:How her husbands passion for building a house had them living in an airstreamThe appeal of being “real” on social media and how it helped her build her dream homeWhat it was like growing up in extreme poverty to living a life she could only dream ofFun Fact: Noell was 9 months pregnant during our interview, and graciously sat for an hour to chat about her life, home and future-no easy task for a preggo mom!If you are a home decor lover like me, you’ll be inspired by Noell’s story!Make sure to check out the links below for everything we discussed in today’s episode.CONNECT WITH NOELLWebsiteInstagramTik TokNOELL’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Rich Man, Poor Man

Hi Friends!Join me in celebrating our 300th episode 🎊with a very special guest. Joining me today is New York Times bestselling author Eve Rodsky. Her book Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live), walks us through a system for couples seeking balance, efficiency, and peace in their home. Her book was endorsed by Reese Witherspoon's book club and has been turned into a documentary, called Fair Play, (available on Apple TV or Amazon Prime) which I highly encourage you to watch.During our conversation, we unpack a very real problem that many of us suffer from: TIME POVERTY.Eve walks us through her personal story about being overworked, under appreciated, and shares the moment she recognized that something had to change.What started as a simple spreadsheet titled “Invisible Sh*t I do” has resulted in a movement to help rebalance the division of labor inside our homes.The mental load that many of us carry is what feeds into fatigue, frustration, and ultimately resentment towards our partners, roommates, and even our kids. In the midst of chaos, our health suffers, our relationships suffer and our homes suffer-but trust me, it doesn’t have to be that way.We talked about how to stop being CIYOO (Complicit In Your Own Oppression)Setting Boundaries, Systems, and the importance of CommunicationWhy having an “Ownership Mindset” is far more effective than giving someone a “To-Do List”  Eve’s no-nonsense approach is much like mine, which is probably why we got along so well!Whether you are partnered or not, have three children or none, or whether your work is paid or unpaid, the message applies to you.Make sure to check out the links below for everything we talked about in this episode.XOXO-LaurieP.S. This is the last week for our 40% off promo with denisealbright.com. SHOP her entire catalog of organizing products to help you get and stay on track this fall! Use promo code SIMPLYB to receive 40% off your entire purchase of -valid through Sept 15, 2022LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Website Fairplaylife.comInstagram https://www.instagram.com/fairplaylife/ | https://www.instagram.com/everodsky/Documentary Trailer https://youtu.be/RX95jSQqV-Y