Decluttering Gifts

The season of gift giving is upon us! This time of year makes me think about those of you who have asked me about gifts you have received but no longer want. My reply is usually “Just donate it,” but that answer is often met with mixed reactions. Even though you have stated very clearly that you don’t want the item, something about it continues to sow doubt and you end up keeping it.

I understand that you don’t want to hurt a relationship, offend someone you love or make them feel bad. But let’s flip this the other way around. This gift is actually making you feel bad. This thing is truly clutter because it is taking up space that you could otherwise use for things that you do want in your home. Remember: It is your home and you get to decide what you keep in it. 

I suggest taking a few minutes to write about the feelings you have around a gift that you are struggling to get rid of. Not only will this help you shed emotions, but it can lead to ridding yourself of the item, too. Also, on the off chance someone asks where their gift is, you can use these reasons to feel confident as to why you didn’t keep it. Of course, it’s up to you whether you want to share this information. If you feel like avoiding that question you can reply with a simple, “I’m not sure where that is right now,” because honestly you donated it and you have no idea where it is. 😉

Being clear on what you would like to receive and planning ahead is going to be your best defense. Even though it is fun to be surprised by the perfect gift, our loved ones are not mind readers. If there is something that you want, it is acceptable to ask for it. It might take a while, but eventually people will get the idea. If your family is opposed to lists, then it’s best to start these conversations before the holidays. I would start with something like, “we are working very hard to simplify our home and reduce the number of things that we bring into it. This year we made it really simple for you and created a wishlist online.”

If you do happen to get a gift that you know you are not going to keep, then deal with it right away. If possible, take a picture of the item in your home or in use and send that photo to the gift giver with another thank you. After that, you have done your duty and you can donate it out. 

Thoughtful unexpected gifts are the kind of gifts that we all want to give our loved ones. I think we all have good intentions but sometimes we miss the mark. Lets love each other and not put such a high value on the things that we have or give, because the people in our life are more important than that.

Thoughts Are Things

I’ve been making more time for meditation. And, let me say that working on quieting your mind and noticing all the thoughts that are going through it can be quite disconcerting. We only have control over what is happening to us right now, yet in our minds we dwell on the past or worry about the future.

The same goes for physical objects. A lot of our things are not serving a real purpose in the present. We save them because they were meaningful to us in the past or because we think we might need them for our future. But saving all of that stuff makes us feel very overwhelmed, especially if we do not have the space for it. When thoughts and things become overwhelming, my go to solution that works every time is decluttering. If the thoughts and things are not purposeful in your life right now then they can either leave your mind or leave your home.

I know that sometimes we have to plan ahead for things to come and it can be helpful to look at the past for insight or to remember pleasant experiences and fond memories, but these items can paired down to the true necessities and those that spark joy.

Just as important is taking time to work on a calmer mind. It is exercise for the brain that gives you a deeper understanding of your values and how you want to spend your time. It will bring clarity to your decisions regarding the items that you actually need or want to keep in your home. The things that make you overwhelmed can be let go of along with the limiting beliefs about who you were in the past or who you think you might become in the future. Who you are today is the only state of mind that is important right now. This is the state of mind that will move you forward in a way that is most true to yourself.

Family Meetings: Don't Groan, It's Worth The Effort

If you have school-age children then you know that September brings about a tumultuous schedule shift that is never the same from year to year. These changes can bring about a lot of chaos if you are not prepared. If you identify with any of the questions below, then NOW is the perfect time to gather everyone together and have your very first family meeting.

• Do members of your household have very different schedules and you are not all together regularly?

• Do members of the household argue over who does what?

• Are chores not getting done?

• Do you have a specific problem(s) that need to be addressed and fixed?

• Are there unfinished projects around the house? Do those projects make it difficult for you to run an efficient household and take up valuable space in your home?

• Are you are consistently arriving late to school or other activities?

• Is homework getting handed in late? Is instrument/athletic practice getting done enough?

• Are you trying to figure out what you are going to have for dinner an hour or two before dinnertime?

• Do you need more help?

• Do you need to teach your children more life skills?

• Do you want to establish healthier routines?

Not only are meetings about fixing problems but they can also bring families together in more meaningful ways. We may spend a lot of time living together but we may not be using that time to communicate effectively with each other. Meetings are a dependable way for family members to proactively check in with each other to not only make sure that there is fairness in the workload but to also prepare for each week in an organized way.

To get started with your family meeting, check out my free printable family meeting agenda worksheet.

‘When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Go Shopping’

There are so many funny quotes about shopping but that one is a throwback to my childhood. Recently I read that the moment right before you buy something is when you are happiest with your purchase. I’m not sure if that theory can be proven to be true, but I find it to be a fascinating idea. I suppose it is why so many people find enjoyment with the act of shopping.

In order to best organize your home, you have to remove things that no longer serve you. And, to keep it organized, you have to limit the number of things that you bring into the house. This can be just as challenging as decluttering. When shopping, keep this happiness theory in mind to help understand your motivation for buying things. It may not apply for practical items, but it certainly applies for wants or the items we buy because we think they are “cute.” 

Giving yourself an extra minute or two to really think about the purchase will help you determine if the decision to buy the item is the best choice at that moment. I’ve compiled a list of questions to ask yourself before you purchase. Pick the ones that most resonate with you and what you are about to buy. If you are comfortable with the answers you give to yourself then go ahead and purchase the item. 

Click here: 10 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Buy

Pro tip: Add the questions that you like the most to a note on your phone and review that note before you buy something that is not on your shopping list.

Temporary Chaos

We just added a dog to our family and the house is a bit out of control. My countertops are full of dog things that need to find a home. We’ve been shifting around furniture and shoes until we can trust him in the house. All of our schedules have changed because we are now adding in walks, play time and training. Right now I am what you would call “situationally disorganized.” 

I am working through the situation by removing tasks from my life. If the task is not important and doesn’t have to get done right now, it can wait for a few more days until I have things back under control. I am also making lists like crazy. I can’t keep ideas straight in my head but I can keep them straight on paper. I am relying on my time blocking system which I use to schedule priority tasks with myself. And, I’ve been asking for more help from my sons and getting them to assist with things that I would just automatically do for them. 

Situational disorganization is very common and it can be very hard to get back on track. What happens in a lot of homes is those non-important tasks that we put off because we can’t deal with them in the moment can really build up. And, over time, if these things are not dealt with for one reason or another then they become a big overwhelming problem. 

As an organizer I work with people all the time to help them sort through those big overwhelming problems. Thankfully, with the arrival of the new dog, I am only dealing with one difficult situation. This is not the case for many of my clients. Some of them might be blessings like a new dog, home or baby, but others are not so fun like handling a loss in the family, an injury or other medical conditions. No matter how many situations you are in, there is always a way out. The chaos does not have to last forever.

I am ever so grateful for everyone that is brave enough to reach out to me and ask for assistance when they are feeling overwhelmed. Whether the situation happened a long time ago or is happening right now, I am here to help you work through it.

How A Professional Organizer Packs For A Trip

Your vacation is a short time away, so you open the suitcases and start adding the things you think you might need. Does this sound familiar to you?

What if I said there was a much better way. And that way starts with a list. Stay with me here, don’t let that list word scare you away. Let me explain why making a list is so much easier than opening the suitcase and throwing things in.

A list allows you to plan out exactly what you need. You can start it well in advance of your vacation so you have time to really think about what you will use on the trip. By planning earlier you have more time to remember things that you might otherwise have forgotten. 

By using a list you can start the vacation preparation without actually taking up space. This is especially useful if you are short on space or if you have animals in the house. I know that sometimes seeing suitcases will put your furry friends in panic mode so this will help alleviate the extra stress on them as well. And of course it helps keep those kitties out of the suitcase because that seems to be their favorite place to snuggle up in, am I right? 

You can continually add to the list and know everything that you want to pack instead of packing things randomly as you think of them and then forgetting that you packed them. Plus if traveling with others, you and whoever you live with can add to the list so you aren’t repeating yourself and annoying your companion by asking if they packed this or that.

Another benefit is that you could potentially use the same list year after year if you take similar vacations or go to similar destinations.

In addition to the packing list you can make a “Things To Do Before We Leave” list as well. Items might include: reset the thermostat, stop the mail, unplug appliances that don’t need to be on when you are gone, water the plants, fill your prescriptions, etc.

So, before you start stuffing your suitcase with everything but the kitchen sink, remember the power of a good list. Happy travels, and may your suitcase always close on the first try! And of course, don’t forget the snacks!

This Post Is Brought To You By the Letter ‘R’

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Most of us are familiar with the three Rs that help minimize waste. But we can do so much more to help us protect the environment and get the added benefit of having a more organized home. In honor of Earth month, I’ve expanded the list to 10 Rs that can make a big difference in the spaces that we live in and benefit our precious planet.

A great way to start is by reducing your purchases from the very beginning. Before hitting that buy button, pause and ask yourself: Do I really need this? Could I borrow or rent instead? Could I use something I already own that would give me a similar result. By giving it a second thought, we can dodge unnecessary clutter and waste. Use a wait period of at least 24 hours before purchasing, especially if it is something that you were not intentionally looking for. Another way to reduce is to select items made with less packaging or no packaging at all.

You can also rethink your initial reaction to buy something and think more about the entire lifecycle of the product. To do that you can ask yourself the following questions: What materials is it made of and are those sustainable materials? Is this just a mass produced/fast fashion item that is only good for one season or a short amount of time? Who made it and were they treated and paid fairly? What happens to the product when I don’t need it anymore?

Resist the urge to stock up on supplies. Especially if you don’t have the space for all the extras or don’t know if you can use the extras in a timely manner. Sometimes the discount on bulk purchasing is not worth the stress of having a cluttered closet, drawer, pantry, kitchen, bathroom, etc.

Reuse and see if you can find the item used on eBay, Facebook marketplace, or your local charity/thrift store before purchasing new.

Refuse items. Say "no" to those little extras like print receipts (use email or text) and free samples/giveaways. Also, when you don't need that shopping bag, politely decline. It's a small step that adds up to less waste.

Repurpose and get creative and up-cycle those jars and boxes into handy storage solutions!

If you can, try repairing an item before getting a new one. This is hard to apply to everything but duct tape and super glue fix a lot of things and there is a world of DIY tutorials on YouTube just waiting to guide you through fixing just about anything.

Select products that you can refill. This works especially well for household cleaners. You could use the bulk bins at grocery stores to refill many food staples. There are also companies online that refill body products such as shampoo and soap.

Rot those food scraps and coffee grounds. It is amazing how many food scraps are created in a single week. If you’ve got a yard, composting is pretty easy. With enough rain water the breakdown goes quickly. If you are worried about smells, try storing compost in the freezer/refrigerator to keep things fresh and odor-free.

And of course, recycle. Re-read your recycling company’s information and only put items fit for recycling in the bin.

By weaving these Rs into your daily routine, you're not just decluttering your home — you're also making a big impact on our planet. So let's keep that Earth Month energy alive year-round and commit to being conscious consumers every day. 🌍💚

Subterranean Clutter: Out Of Sight Doesn’t Always Mean Out of Mind

Have you ever found yourself wondering why the stuff in the forgotten corners of the house still seem to nag at you? You know, those attics, basements, garages, and storage units where we stashed away items to clear our living spaces. It's curious, isn't it? We thought out of sight would mean out of mind, but somehow, the clutter lingers in our thoughts.

Many of us label these collections as clutter because they're not exactly adding sparkle to our lives anymore. They're just... there. Kept for "just in case" moments, maybe to preserve a memory or to hedge against some imagined future need.

It's like a vault of subconscious thoughts. To put it another way, it's a bit like procrastinating on dealing with emotional baggage. And, the length of time that it has been stored away can tell you how long you have been putting off not dealing with what is symbolically buried in the stuff. 

So, how do you finally clear your minds from this clutter? Well, you can start by sifting through and rescuing the items that still bring you joy. Then you can ponder on the rest with fresh eyes and a new perspective and ask yourself the following questions:

• What are you saving it for?

• What is your attachment to it? 

• Is it bringing up memories, scarcity issues, fear, guilt, shame? What do you need to do to work through those attachments?

• Have you used it in the past year? 

• Do you have a plan to use it in the next year? 

• If you don’t do anything with it now, will it still be here in the same place 10-plus years from now. 

• Could the conditions in the space such as pests, mold, or mildew be wreaking havoc on your possessions? Is it already too late for some of them?

I understand tackling these spaces can be daunting. But remember, you're not alone in this journey. If you need a hand, know that I'm here, ready to assist you every step of the way.