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

Latest Episodes:

Tip of the Week- Modeling Behaviors Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Hey Friends,
Today's Tip of the Week-Modeling Behaviors
Back in the 70’s and 80’s when I was growing up there was a “do as I say, not as I do” mentality.From cursing to smoking our parents made it clear that we were to follow their words not their actions, but one of the most impactful learning tools comes from watching and learning from the behaviors from those closest to us.
When parents or partners come to me complaining about the disorganization of their cohabitors the first thing I ask is “Are you modeling the behavior that you want to see?”Pointing fingers at others and telling them what they should be doing is easy. Doing the work yourself requires discipline and intentionality.The next time you are feeling like you’re about to go from zero to 100, ask yourself this one question: Am I practicing what I preach?

If I want my kids to pick up after themselves, do I leave my stuff around?
Do I check my phone during dinner, but expect my kids to be device free?
Am I someone who procrastinates, but gets annoyed when others wait until the last minute?

Always start with the person in the mirror. Our actions and behaviors have a significant impact on those around us, whether it be our children, spouses, or colleagues. When we model positive behaviors we are creating an environment that fosters growth, development, and independence.
For more tips of the week, make sure to subscribe/follow This ORGANIZED Life on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Have a question or tip you would like to submit?Visit: https://simplyborganized.com/questions/
I am pumped to be one of the keynote speakers at this year’s Purpose Driven Mom Virtual Summit.The event takes place June 19th-23rd and it’s completely free-yep you heard me right!

How Different Personalities Stay Organized at Work with Josh Palau | Ep 339 Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

Hi Friends,
Today we are kicking off a new series on ADHD and Organization and who better to start us off than our very own laundry-loving Josh Palau.
During our conversation we talked about different strategies that Josh uses to try to keep organized. Some work, some not-so-much, like the “15 open email tab method.” ***Note to anyone reading, listening or watching, please do not try this at home!
We talked about his ability to be organized with physical stuff, but how that doesn’t necessarily translate into digital clutter, calendar clutter or productivity.
The good news is that despite struggling with ADHD and a touch of OCD, he has managed to have an extremely successful career and life.
If you are struggling with ADHD or live with someone who is, this series is one you’re going to want to listen to.
I always say that the best way to learn about something is to talk to someone who has lived it. We’ve got some great guests lined up for this series-stay tuned!
XOXO-
Laurie
P.S. I am pumped to be one of the keynote speakers at this year’s Purpose Driven Mom Virtual Summit. The event takes place June 19th-23rd and it’s completely free-yep you heard me right!
Check out the entire list of speakers and topics, and grab your ticket HERE
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Building Your Business with 1:1 Mentoring
Josh’s Book Recommendation: Remarkably Bright Creatures

Tip of the Week-Would I Rebuy This? Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

Hey Friends,
Today's Tip of the Week- Would I Rebuy This?
Do you need help with clutter and deciding what to keep or eliminate? We've all been there. For many people, decluttering brings up emotions like guilt or fear that can cloud your judgment when deciding whether an item is helpful in our lives.
We tend to hold onto things because of the memories they evoke, even if they no longer serve a practical purpose.
Asking yourself, "Would I rebuy this today if I had the option?" forces you to confront the practicality of the item and takes the focus away from the past, and helps you evaluate the item's true worth in the present.
I encourage you to apply this question to your own decluttering journey. It's a powerful tool for cutting through the emotional clutter and making practical decisions.
Remember, decluttering is not about getting rid of everything. It's about creating a space that supports and reflects your current lifestyle. By asking this question, you can ensure that your items are truly valuable and useful to you.
Key Takeaways:

When deciding whether to keep an item, ask yourself, "Would I rebuy this today if I had the option?"
Emotions like guilt or fear of missing out can cloud our judgment when it comes to decluttering
Sentimental items should be considered separately from practical items
Getting rid of items can be done by donating, selling, or giving away to friends and family

Redefining Routines with Kimberly Hermann | Ep 338 Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

Happy June!
On today’s episode we are talking all about redefining routines during the summer months. Joining me today is the founder of Raising Social (who also happens to be my operations manager) Kimberly Hermann. As a working mom to 3 girls ages 9, 11 and 13, I invited her to come on the show to talk about how her family navigates the shift that comes along with the end of the school year.
NOTE: If you’re not a parent, or a parent of school age children, there’s still lots of relevant info in this episode! I believe it’s important to reset expectations during each season.
During our conversation, Kimberly and I talked about things like:

Division of responsibilities around the house
Cooking and meal prep
How her work schedule adjusts to accommodate having the kids on a different schedule.

Summer is often a good time to help build the muscle of responsibility around the house which is why we created our 30 day kids challenge. Each day has a different task which allows you to gamify the process while helping to teach them important skills about living an organized life.
This free downloadable pdf is great for kids ages 5-15. Click HERE to grab your free copy!
XOXO-
Laurie
P.S. I am pumped to be one of the keynote speakers at this year’s Purpose Driven Mom Virtual Summit.The event takes place June 19th-23rd and it’s completely free-yep you heard me right!
Check out the entire list of speakers and topics, and grab your ticket HERE
OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Kait Hilton’s My Token Chart
Janelle Azar’s Simplifying and Organizing with Kids
CONNECT WITH KIMBERLY
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM

Tip of the Week: Social media Challenge May 29, 2023

Show notes

Hey Friends,
Today's Tip of the Week- take a break..from social media.
Before thoughts of FOMO set in, I’m not suggesting a permanent break, think of this more of a reset.
Freeing up even 30 minutes per day allows you to be intentional in other areas of your life. I suggest having a specific “thing” to replace your scrolling. Whether reading, going for a walk, going to the gym, or dare I say it…organizing a space.
A social media detox allows you to create space for personal growth and self-reflection. Switching the focus from looking at what others are doing, to what you are doing has lasting effects.
Key Takeaways:
• Social media can be a time-consuming distraction
• Screen reports provide insight into social media usage patterns
• Setting parameters for social media use can improve productivity and enhance the quality of life
• Mindful social media use can improve mental health and wellbeing
• Social media usage habits can be shaped and changed with discipline and intentionality
Exception: Using social media for business or activism is not the same as mindless scrolling

Buying Habits with Tracy McCubbin | Ep 337 May 25, 2023

Show notes

Hi Friends,
Joining me today is Tracy McCubbin, founder of dClutterfly. Not only has she been in the organizing space for almost 2 decades, she is also the author of several books, including her latest book "Make Space for Happiness. How to stop attracting clutter and start magnetizing the life you want." I invited Tracy on the show to discuss the correlation between clutter and our buying habits.
During our conversation Tracy walks us through 7 clutter magnets that make us unable to let go of possessions that we don’t want, use, or love in order to make real change.

True Connection - The human connection we get when shopping feels like it’s filling that void. While we may be engaging with others, the retail transaction isn’t a substitute for the true connections we all need.
Self-Confidence - Self-confidence is a muscle that we all have the capability to build, and it starts by believing that we all bring an individual spark to the world—a flavor that is uniquely us. When we need a boost of self-confidence, we need to focus on all the things we can do for ourselves.
Free Time - All the gadgets we purchase to ‘save time’ are actually standing in the way of what we really want to be doing.
Big Love - Everyone wants to feel loved. Yet for some people, it’s easier to attract piles of stand-ins than the feeling itself. DON’T COLLECT—CONNECT!
Self-Respect - The knowledge that we bring unique attributes into the room, even without any status symbols to telegraph them.
Real Purpose - Nothing gives us more sense of Real Purpose than being of service or sharing our knowledge, kindness, and time to make someone else’s life better. Magnetize this feeling instead of a closet full of office supplies.
Lasting Wisdom - We often feel the need to keep evidence of our beliefs in case they’re challenged. Newspapers, magazines, and books we’ve read can take up entire rooms because we feel if something is discarded, it could be forgotten.

My hope is that throughout this conversation you will begin to think about your own buying habits and how you can make lasting change in your life where you need it most.
BONUS ALERT! *We are also doing a giveaway for Tracy’s book!
To Enter: go to apple podcast, leave us a review then take a screenshot and tag @thisorganizedlifepodcast and @dclutterfly on IG. The first 3 entries will receive a copy of Tracy’s new book in the mail!
Special thanks to today’s sponsor DeniseAlbright: use code SIMPLY30 at checkout to receive 30% off your entire order!
CONNECT WITH TRACY: WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK
OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: MATT PAXTON EPISODE: “AM I A HOARDER?”
TRACY’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: THE TOOLS by Phil Stutz LOVE PAMELA, A MEMOIR OF PROSE, POETRY AND TRUTH

Tip of the Week- Eating An Elephant May 22, 2023

Show notes

Hey Friends,
Ever feel like your clutter is too overwhelming to manage all at once? Quick Tip: Tackle clutter in small steps. Write down clutter points and prioritize them based on the biggest pain point and the biggest impact. Start small to build momentum using the four pile method: keep, donate, recycle, relocate. Document your progress with pictures to inspire your further decluttering projects.
Key Takeaways:

Clutter accumulates over time and requires a process to declutter.
Write down clutter points and prioritize based on the biggest pain point and impact.
Start small with the four pile method to build momentum.
Document progress with pictures to maintain inspiration for further decluttering.

Share with a friend if you liked this episde! Don't Forget to Leave Us a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ REVIEW!

Why I Take On So Much With Rebekah Anne | Ep 336 May 18, 2023

Show notes

Hi Friends,
Joining me is Rebekah Anne Perkins. Rebekah is the host of Coffee, Conversation and Coaching Podcast. I had the pleasure of being a guest on her show, and we got to talking about why we feel the need to take on so much. Listen to our conversation here
I wanted to continue the conversation on TOL, which is exactly what we did! During our conversation we talked about:

Why people feel cluttered in their lives
How we use busy-ness as a form of avoidance
The role that People Pleasing, Self-Worth, and FOMO play into how we spend our time

Rebekah shares some strategies that you can use to begin to reimagine the life you want.Starting with asking yourself questions like:
“What does my ideal day look like?”
“What thoughts come to mind when I think about it?”
“What does Contentment look like?”
“What defines ENOUGH?”
Rebekah also shared the changes she has recently gone through getting married at 39 after living the majority of her adult life alone. How did merging households impact her own organizing standards and routines?
There was so much great content in this episode, make sure to share it with a friend!
Special thanks to our sponsors for today’s episode:
EveryPlate: visit https://get.everyplate.com/podcast use code TOL149 to get started for just $1.49 per meal
KiwiCo: get 50% your first order plus free shipping by visiting:https://www.kiwico.com/TOL
DeniseAlbright: use code SIMPLY30 at checkout to receive 30% off your entire order
CONNECT WITH REBEKAH ANNE
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM
REBEKAH’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION
REST: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less

Tip of The Week-Monthly Budgeting: Take Control of Your Finances May 15, 2023

Show notes

Today’s Quick tip is about creating a monthly budget and its importance in being intentional with finances. In this short episode, you will learn the benefits of budgeting: Taking control of your finances, making healthier decisions, and decluttering emotional buying. There are also some tips on being financially literate.

Work-Life Harmony with Tina Wells | Ep 335 May 11, 2023

Show notes

Hi Friends,
Joining me today is Tina Wells. I invited her on the show to talk about Her new book, The Elevation Approach; which she wrote after experiencing burnout. As you can see from Tina’s impressive accomplishments you can begin to understand why she needed to create a better sense of harmony in her life.
✅Named Essence’s 40 Under 40
✅Author of over 20 books
✅Academic Director for Wharton’s Leadership in the Business World Program at U of Penn
✅Founder of Buzz Marketing Group, an agency she founded at age 16 with clients like Dell, The Oprah Winfrey Network, Kroger, Apple, P+G, J & J, and American Eagle….to name a few.
During our conversation we talked about:

What burnout looks like in American culture.
How decluttering is one of the first principles she talks about in her book
Why burnout is not limited to the workplace
The impact of burnout on the “sandwich generation”
How to begin to re-think accomplishments and success

Tina walks us through her four-phase plan: Preparation, Inspiration, Recreation, and Transformation, and shares actionable strategies that apply universally regardless of the season of life you are in.
Special thanks to our sponsor for this weeks episode, Denise Albright who has a suite of products designed to help make organizing fun and functional! Visit denisealbright.com and enter code SIMPLY30 to receive 30% off your entire order!
XOXO-
Laurie
CONNECT WITH TINA
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM
TINA’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
GOOD TO GREAT
EVERYTHING IS FIGUREOUTABLE

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