The Art of Decluttering

🎄Merry Christmas!!🎄Today whether you're running from one event to the next or you're having a quiet day at home alone, I want to take a moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas.Today I've dropped a quick episode called Keeping Company. Many people have reached out over the years to say that podcasts are sometimes the only human interaction they have on Christmas day and so I wanted to say I see you and I'm here to keep you company today.Others of you will be escaping the chaos for a walk/ blocking out the sound of children in a long car drive and to you, I hope I'm also able to keep you company.And finally I talk briefly about how you can be good company on a day as big as today and how you can care for yourself and your loved ones.https://www.theartofdecluttering.com.au/podcast/Praying you all have a Peace-Filled Christmas xxYou may also like to listen to these episodes:Tackling Christmas ExtravaganceRejecting BusyJoin 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.

Today is a BONUS episode with my Christmas hacks!Discover my tried and true hacks for food, transport, gifts, rubbish, hungry and tired kids and so much more!You may also like to listen to these episodes:Tackling Christmas ExtravaganceJoin 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.

Does the idea of running out of something cause you untold anxiety? Could you learn to use the moment of running out to embrace making do? Or learn to live with less?I've found the most natural way to declutter is to use what I already have in my home. Use things up before buying a replacement. Think about how we so often shop - it's retailers and companies that often dictate when we purchase, how many items we purchase and how much money we spend. We are unknowing slaves to their marketing agendas.Be challenged on the concept of 'running out'. How does it feel to you to run out of something? Does it make you stressed? Or does it actually create more space in your home, less to keep track of?Often if you have more of an item than you need, it's actually harder to keep track of it (think the more pairs of glasses you have the harder it is to find a pair).It's also easier to keep track of things, you're not constantly trying to work out if that's the 'good one' or one that only has a few wears/ uses left in it. Make sure you listen today as this hack has the potential to change the way you store and use items in your home.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Tackling Christmas ExtravaganceMaking DoLimiting ChoiceJoin 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 do you firmly and sensitively impose limits on others in regards to Christmas gifts.Todays episode is in response to a listen question: "My children are 3 and 5 and the only grandchildren for my and my husband’s parents. The number of gifts we receive at Christmas is overwhelming and quite stressful. I’ve had a frank conversation with my parents about sticking to a limited number of presents. This has worked pretty well.My mother-in-law is a bit harder. I don’t feel the freedom to be as frank with her. She loves giving gifts, and has taken offense in the past to the suggestion of experience gifts.Please help! For many reasons I don’t want to continue having an outlandish Christmas celebration at her house that results in a packed car and a very stressed out mama.In this episode I share my response to this email with my top tips and tricks to enjoying a less stressful/ less extravagant Christmas.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Christmas BlenderChristmas FunctionsChristmas Gifts and WrapChristmas DecorationsChristmas ScheduleChristmas HolidaysJoin 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.

When you're planning to renovate or build a new house, how you tackle decluttering before you begin is critical to reducing the clutter when you move back in and for any period you need to move out of the house. Today Amy is the guest (in her own podcast) and Frances from My Forever Home podcast is the interviewer - we initially recorded this episode for Frances' podcast and knew straight away it would be perfect to share with you too. Whether you're renovating/ building... or that's the last thing on your mind, the tips and tricks shared in this episode are going to help you to create a home that you love, free from clutter and all while reducing the mental load of managing a household. You may also like to listen to these episodes:Deathbed ReflectionsGaragesBigger Living, Smaller SpaceJoin 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.

December is a prime decluttering month on your calendar… out with the old before it’s in with the new.You are invited to join my 12 Days of Christmas Declutter Challenge!Making space is such a great practice before the silly season really ramps up.It’s amazing the freedom that comes when you take the time to intentionally declutter your home.Christmas time can be crazy busy and overwhelming and so this challenge is designed to put you back in the drivers seat, back in control and taking positive steps towards your decluttered home.Join TodayJoin 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.

The art of making do is a bit of a lost practice of common sense in our current culture. We buy gadgets that perform just one task (melon baller or rice cooker...) and in our attempt to find quicker and easier ways to do things, we often unnecessarily complicate our homes with clutter. A product is only as good as your ability to access and use it.We unpack what it means to 'make do' and what areas we've both been making do with positive outcomes. No cake server... can you use an egg flip? No salad servers... can you use tongs or cutlery? No microwave... can you reheat food on your stovetop?The benefits of making do are that you will save money, reduce waste, increase your creativity and problem solving skills, and save time.When you next need to solve a problem in your home, is there a 'make do' option that you could try out before you purchase something new?You may also like to listen to these episodes:The Vacuum EffectConfirmation BiasFresh EyesJoin 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.

Peter talks this week about being an advocate for people when you are invited into their homes. How Professional Organisers are there to help you achieve the life you want, and how he is committed to doing everything in his capacity to help you, even when you feel unable to help yourself.Our lives are stages, and the stuff we hold onto are representations of those seasons. Even though it's hard to let go of things from our past, it frees us up to live today and celebrate the past without having it hold us back.We also discuss the power of empathy, how to work with clients without judgement, and what it looks like to be a 'hope bringer' to those we work with. You may also like to listen to these episodes:Peter WalshBigger Living, Smaller Space with Judy Granlee GatesEngaged or EntertainedJoin 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.

Peter Walsh is an internationally recognised Declutter Guru, who has been decluttering heads, hearts and homes for over 20 years. Peter has been on our screens most recently on Space Invaders in Australia, but you'll also know him from The Oprah Show, The Living Room and Clean Sweep.Season 4 of Space Invaders will be hitting our screens in Australia early 2024 so keep an eye out for Australia's favourite decluttering show!Today we unpack some of the underlying reasons we accumulate in the first place, and how comparison is the thief of joy and happiness. The impacts of clutter on our lives is significant and freedom from that clutter is life changing.Today's episode is part one of a two part series so make sure you subscribe and don't miss part two!!You may also like to listen to these episodes:Peter WalshBigger Living, Smaller Space with Judy Granlee GatesEngaged or EntertainedJoin 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.

When does limiting choice actually bring greater freedom?When your head is already full, too many choices or options can be incredibly overwhelming.Your capacity on any given day can be increased when you put some limits on your own choices. You might create a framework that you can overlay on decisions so you have a natural default and then you have the freedom to change, or you might create systems in your life to simplify decision making. This week think about how you already limit choices for yourself to free up much needed mental space, and come and share them with our podcast community on Facebook - allow us to learn from you and you might pick up some tricks for yourself!You may also like to listen to these episodes:Creative OutsourcingTechnological ReplacementQuitters DayLogical OrganisingJoin 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.