The Art of Decluttering

If you've been listening to this podcast for any length of time you've probably heard me talk about the 'returns box' in our house. Today I delve into what a Returns Box looks like, how we use it, what specifically is in it and how it might look in your home. No more borrowing something and forgetting to give it back or the embarrassment of losing something someone lent you.If you're stuck on where to put library books when you're ready to return them, where to put the casserole dish to give back to your friend or where to put the dress you need to return to the shops, maybe it's time for you to create a returns box in your home!You may also like to listen to these episodes:Doom BoxesWomen's ClutterQuitters DayJoin our communityBecome a Patron – your monthly donation makes a huge difference to me being able to produce this podcast. Donations can be as little as $1 a month!Follow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever noticed that when you clear a space in your home, you instinctively want to fill it with something else? We call this the vacuum effect. A space will draw things into it unless you set an intention for the space you've created.Today I chat with Bonnie from Little Miss Organised about the Vacuum Effect as well as other areas of decluttering we can't help but discuss!Think of your kitchen table... you clear it off and then 24 hours later a new pile of random clutter has accumulated. Or you empty out a cupboard and it just doesn't stay empty, random things are magnetised into the space, almost like it's a crime to have empty space in your home.The vacuum effect is strong - and it's only nemesis is INTENTION. If you create intention of what the empty space is for (say actually leaving empty) then the vacuum effect is neutralised. The vacuum effect also happens when you declutter and a room/ cupboard/ wardrobe/ pantry etc. When you've reduced the quantity, you might instantly have a compulsion to go and purchase things to 'fill the space'.You declutter 40% of your clothes, because honestly you just don't wear them... but even though you know you don't need it, you start searching online for new clothes. Instead... make the decision and intention that you're going to experiment living with less clothes for the next month and see how that goes. Be OK with the space you've created and resist the draw of the vacuum effect.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Confirmation BiasAnti GoalsObligationJoin our communityBecome a Patron – your monthly donation makes a huge difference to me being able to produce this podcast. Donations can be as little as $1 a month!Follow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have doom boxes cluttering your home? Discover how they can be both a hindrance and a handy tool for quick organization. Learn when to embrace these temporary storage solutions and how to conquer the chaos inside. Uncover effective strategies for re-homing items while tackling those emotional ties to your belongings. Navigating the clutter doesn’t have to be overwhelming; with practical tips, you can transform your space and mindset!

Explore the art of logical organization at home. Discover how to assign items their perfect places based on where you instinctively look for them. Learn to streamline your decluttering process by focusing on your personal retrieval habits instead of social media ideals. The podcast also touches on the surprising efficiency of putting things back where you first sought them. Plus, delve into the significant role of life insurance in ensuring your family's financial security.

When my kids were little we had a zoo membership and used to try to visit every few weeks. The challenge was the zoo was too big for us to see everything, every time. So we created themes for each visit.Australian animals... animals that are bigger than we are... animals that live in water... white animals. It made an otherwise potentially overwhelming zoo visit into a fun themed visit.In your decluttering you might play this game on your own, or with your kids... "let's see if we can declutter 3 red things". Or you might set yourself a theme of just decluttering broken toys in the backyard, or 5 novels you've already read, or large pieces of unused furniture. Instead of just seeing decluttering as a room by room, or space by space job, get creative and see what categories you can use to see your home with fresh eyes and tackle decluttering from a new perspective.You're invited to join my Free 5 Day Wardrobe Declutter Challenge!You may also like to listen to these episodes:Fresh EyesObject PermanenceObligationAnti GoalsJoin our communityBecome a Patron – your monthly donation makes a huge difference to me being able to produce this podcast. Donations can be as little as $1 a month!Follow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Murphey's Law says as soon as I declutter this thing, I'm going to need it""I knew it would happen that I needed this once I got rid of it, that's why I keep everything"Confirmation bias is processing information by looking for, or interpreting information consistent with your beliefs. So even though you got rid of 100 items in your big declutter and you haven't needed 99 of them, the one that you could have used a week later is the one you focus on and confirms what you've always believed, which is if you get rid of something you'll need it.It's also biased by the fact that even owning that item is fresh in your mind. Had you not handled it and made a decision about it, you might have completely forgotten that you owned it and been able to solve your current need in an alternative way.Instead of leaning into confirmation bias in your decluttering, use these questions to help you realise that just because you 'could' have used it doesn't mean you 'should' have kept it.- What is a possible alternative solution?- Is there an alternative item I could use?- Could I borrow it from someone?- What is the cost of not having this item anymore? Is it catastrophic or just annoying?Solutions might look like using an alternative item that you already own, it might be that you genuinely need to purchase the item again (rare but possible) or maybe the thing you're trying to do doesn't actually need to be done and you can let the task/ job go completely.When you're tempted to keep things just in case, or you've decluttered something you could use, think about the full picture of your decluttering rather than through the lens of confirmation bias.You're invited to join my Free 5 Day Wardrobe Declutter Challenge!You may also like to listen to these episodes:Fresh EyesConsumerismObject PermanenceADHD Series: Adult Diagnosis and Managing a HouseholdJoin our communityBecome a Patron – your monthly donation makes a huge difference to me being able to produce this podcast. Donations can be as little as $1 a month!Follow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week I attended the funeral of a client who had become a friend. I had the privilege of visiting with her in palliative care in her final days and during our short time together she shared some reflections on her relationship with her 'stuff'.After a lifetime of struggle with severe clutter, what she shared with me was so insightful and I believe will be helpful for many others.An episode you don't want to miss!You may also like to listen to these episodes:ConsumerismValuesObligationGrief & GratitudeJoin our communityBecome a Patron – your monthly donation makes a huge difference to me being able to produce this podcast. Donations can be as little as $1 a month!Follow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s no doubt the digital revolution has changed we way we store, keep and access information in our homes. If you think about all the physical ways we kept information only 30 years ago, so many have been replaced digitally… but have you also decluttered the outdated physical items in your home?Today explore some things in your home that have been replaced by technology and be challenged to declutter the physical items which are no longer needed because you're now using an app or device for the same purpose.Think things like street directories, business cards, paper calendars and much more.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Physical PhotosDigital PhotosDevicesDigital LifeBusiness & Loyalty CardsJoin our communityBecome a Patron – your monthly donation makes a huge difference to me being able to produce this podcast. Donations can be as little as $1 a month!Follow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether you've lived in your home for 4 months or 40 years, stepping back and seeing your home with fresh eyes will help you make decluttering decisions from a new perspectiveHave you ever decided to list your house for sale then all of a sudden started to see your home with fresh eyes? You may start to notice all the things you’ve happily lived with for years: the grout in the bathroom is dirty, the gutters need replacing and the concrete driveway is falling apart. It’s the reason so many people do up their house for sale then wish they could stay living there themselves – but you don’t have to move to start afresh, you can do some simple improvements instead. Begin by seeing your home with fresh eyes.Use the principle of 'fresh eyes' to see things you've become so used to you don't even notice. Is there a piece of furniture in your lounge room that is superfluous? Do you have items on your bench or countertop that just make it feel cluttered and could easily live in a cupboard? Maybe there are old photos or art you no longer love cluttering up the walls. Are there broken kids toys in the backyard or a washing line you don't use? How can you use fresh eyes to create a home that you feel great in now, and not just one day when you prepare your house for sale.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Object PermanenceLisa Woodruff from Organize 365Bigger Living, Smaller Space with Judy Granlee GatesJoin our communityBecome a Patron – your monthly donation makes a huge difference to me being able to produce this podcast. Donations can be as little as $1 a month!Follow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How full is your garage? Are you running out of floor space? Do you feel like the garage walls are closing in on you? Is it hard to find items in your garage?If you answered yes to any of these questions, it might be time to declutter your garage.The garage is a space that can easily attract clutter. Sometimes it’s easier to put things away in a place where we don’t spend much time. But over time, items pile up, making it impossible to access your space, let alone move around without knocking things over.In todays episode learn the 5 steps to decluttering your garage and organising it like a pro. Tips around storage, how to use the space and the benefits of storing your car in your garage (novel I know!) If you are someone who has managed to fit your car in the garage as a result of decluttering, make sure you let us know in our Facebook group!You may also like to listen to these episodes:Garage/ShedGarden OrganisingNuts & BoltsSports EquipmentInside Your CarJoin our communityBecome a Patron – your monthly donation makes a huge difference to me being able to produce this podcast. Donations can be as little as $1 a month!Follow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.