This Organized Life

Hi Friends, on this week’s tip of the week, we'll be diving into the difference between clutter and disorganization and how to effectively address each one. We discuss:-What is clutter?-What is Disorganization?-How to Identify the differences between themPlus learn tips for tackling your clutter and disorganization in different areas of your life. Don't forget to tune in to our next episode, where we'll be discussing work-life harmony with Tina Wells!

Hi Friends, If you are feeling overwhelmed, want to feel healthier, look better, but may not have a lot of time or money, I encourage you to listen to this episode! Joining me today is Kate Cherichello, host of Be the Good with Kate-a weekly podcast where guests share their journey to finding their passion and helping others along the way. In addition to her podcast, Kate is a NYC performer and certified fitness professional where she trains and coaches individuals in person and online. I invited her on our show to talk about incorporating fitness into a busy lifestyle.During our conversation, Kate and I discuss:The power of consistencyThe impact of removing the word “only” from your vocabularyHow our relationship with fitness evolves and changes over timeI vividly remember being a busy mom with younger kids trying to navigate motherhood, career and a household. During those years, the first thing that I abandoned was working out. Looking back now, I wish I had a different perspective on what fitness looked l

My tip of the week for you is to go through the important people in your life and just add their birthdays into their contact information.Adding birthdays is a great way to automate part of your busy life, you can then set a reminder to send a happy birthday on their special day!If you liked this episode share with a friend!

Hey Friends,Today I’m joined by our Rhode Island SBO Partner, and fellow Professional Organizer Kate Bosch. Some of you may remember Kate from Episode 298 where she shared her journey to becoming a Professional Organizer. I invited her back on the show to talk about a topic that we have been working on behind the scenes. It’s something that is meaningful to most of us, but that we don’t often take the time to articulate–our CORE VALUES.“Your core values are the drivers that shape what’s most important to you.”During our conversation, Kate shares her core values, what she calls her 5C’s, and how she applies each of these to the physical stuff you have in your home and how you spend your time.ConnectionCreativityCompetenceConfidenceContentmentWe talked about the process she used to come up with her list, and the steps you can take to create your own list of core values.I always say that your home should reflect who you are, and what’s most important to you. If you’re feeling a disconnect between what your space

Hi FriendsLaundry is an essential chore that we all have to do, yet it can quickly pile up and become overwhelming. Establishing a laundry routine can help make this chore less daunting and ensure that you always have clean clothes to wear.Having a laundry routine means that you can plan ahead and avoid a last-minute scramble to find something clean to wear. This can save time and energy in the long run, as you won't have to spend hours sorting through piles of laundry to find what you need.Regular washing and proper care can help extend the life of your clothes. By establishing a laundry routine, you can ensure that your clothes are washed and dried properly, preventing damage and wear and tear.A laundry routine can also help keep your home clutter-free. By washing and putting away clothes on a regular schedule, you can avoid piles of dirty laundry taking over your living space.Tips for Establishing a Laundry RoutineSet a regular day and time for doing laundrySort clothes by color and fabric type before wash

Hi Friends!In honor of Earth Day, today’s episode is all about responsible recycling.We’re looking across 10 of the most popular areas and sharing the do’s and don'ts while sharing some resources of places for you to take your unwanted goods without adding to your carbon footprint.Tech & ElectronicsClothingFoodPaperStuffed Animals & ToysMedicineBatteriesPaintBuilding MaterialsFurnitureThis episode is chock full of insight into both WHY we often struggle letting go, as well as the practical side to decluttering your home.Make sure to check out the links below for the resources we mentioned in the episode, and if you prefer to read the transcript, click here. Happy Spring!XOXO-LLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEStaples Recycling ProgramBoston University Article on Clothing Consumption Vox Article on Food Waste Reducing Paper Usage Stuffed Animals for EmergenciesTerra Cycle for Toy DonationProperly Disposing of Unused MedicineDrug Take Back Days Article from EPA on How and Where to Dispose of Batterieshttps

Today we’re talking about homework. Giving your kids a "Homework Hub" a designated area where your child does his/her homework on a regular basis. It can be anywhere from a desk in their room, a home office, or the kitchen table.For us, it made the most sense to use our breakfast bar in our kitchen as the girls' hub. There is plenty of room for them to spread out to do their work, they have a designated area to store their supplies and best of all I am literally 5 feet away. It enabled me to easily prepare dinner, check email, while allowing them to ask me questions about their homework or engage in a conversation about their day.Most importantly, it created a routine. They quickly learned where to go when they came home, and what to do. They had everything they needed within reach so that they could work independently.Let me know if you try it! Happy Organizing!Xo Laurie!Links Mentioned ROLLING CARTCheck us out on FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |

Hi Friends,Joining me today is Jennifer Ford Berry, best-selling author of the Organize Now! Series, national speaker, creator of the Created Order Neighborhood and host of the podcast, The Make Room Show (check out my recent convo on her show HERE).I invited Jennifer on the show to talk about her latest book: Make Room: take control of your space, time, energy & money to live on purpose.During our conversation we talked about:The evolution of the professional organizing industry (since Jennifer is an OG like me!)How we know if we are being held back, or weighed down by our possessionsWhat we lose every time we bring new “stuff” into our homesThe impact on our TIME, ENERGY and FINANCES and how that affects our livesNavigating emotional and calendar clutter throughout the different seasons of lifeJennifer also shares how her life has evolved as her kids have grown, and gives some words of wisdom for younger moms as you look to discover your purpose.Make sure to check out the links below for everything we t

Today’s tip of the week is the 2 minute rule: If you can do something in 2 minutes or less, do it rather than procrastinating.Simple tasks like opening the mail, putting the dishes in the dishwasher, hanging up your coat, folding the blanket on the couch-are little wins that have a larger impact.We underestimate the negative impact on our mood or stress levels from neglecting to do these simple tasks.So the next time you are about to procrastinate on something-ask yourself “can I complete this in 2 minutes or less?” and if the answer is YES, then push yourself out of your comfort zone and as Nike says- JUST DO IT.If you have a tip that you’d like to submit for our Tip of the Week episodes, visit simplyborganized.com/questions and you might be featured in an upcoming episode!

Hi Friends,Back by popular demand is my good friend, Matt Paxton! I invited Matt on the show today to talk about a question that I get asked all the time .... “Am I a Hoarder”.Matt Paxton is one of the top cleaning, downsizing, decluttering, and hoarding experts in the country. He was a frequent regular on A&E’s Hoarders for 12 years and now hosts the Emmy-nominated PBS show Legacy List with Matt Paxton. You also might remember Matt from Episode 269 of This ORGANIZED Life, where he talked about Creating a Legacy List and his book Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff.During today's conversation we looked at:The psychological side of hoarding and how it differs from general clutterThe difference between hoarding and collectingThe role of trauma, specifically, divorce, death, and abuse as it relates to hoardingIs hoarding permanent or can you be “cured”?How to help someone who you might suspect is struggling with a hoarding disorderWhat NOT to do, that can actually cause more harm than goodMatt shares some pers

Hi Friends, We’re kicking off our new series today with Tip of the week! It’s a new bonus episode of This Organized Life. If you only have a few minutes a week these are the episodes for you. Each week you can enjoy a few nuggets of wisdom or getting actionable advice to move you forward!Obviously, if you've been with us for a while, you know that we talk about three main types of clutter.The three main types of clutter are:Physical- the stuff that you seeEmotional-the guilt and fear that holds you back from getting rid of thingsCalendar-feeling or being overscheduled, not being able to say no to things.In addition to that, we have other types of clutter. We have digital clutter, financial clutter, and relational clutter.Today I wanted to start with something simple that I’ve been doing long before Simply B Organized and This Organized Life. Make Your Bed.Making your bed first thing in the morning allows you to have a little win right away and can help you feel a sense of accomplishment.I look at the making o

Hi Friends!We talk a lot about Physical Clutter, Emotional Clutter, and Calendar Clutter, but Digital Clutter is a very real type of clutter where many folks struggle. From photos to files, not to mention endless email-there is no shortage of information and content that floods our lives on a daily basis. Knowing what to do, or how to do it, can be overwhelming, but today’s guest is going to break it down for us. Joining me today is Kate Hufnagel (aka The Digital Wrangler.) After spending 2 decades working in the High Tech industry, Kate decided to join the entrepreneurial world and now helps individuals and businesses across the country clean up, secure, and streamline their digital lives.I invited her on the show to talk about things like:Easy retrieval of filesPassword Do's + Don’tsStorage tips for your phonesWe talked about generational differences with digital fluency, and discussed why incorporating a practice of digital hygiene is so important. From deleting your deleted, to reviewing your cloud storag

Exciting News! Starting Monday, April 3rd we'll be adding a bonus episode each week to our podcast feed called Tip of the Week!These episodes will be short and designed to give you a boost to start your week off on the right foot! This might be something that I'm doing in my personal life, or perhaps it's a tip that someone shared with me that I wanna pass along.If you're already subscribed to This Organized Life Podcast new episodes will automatically show up in your podcast feed each Monday and our Regular full episodes will continue to drop each and every Thursday.If you're not subscribed be sure to click the subscribe button and you'll receive both!Have questions? Let us know at simplyborganized.com/questions and be sure to follow us @thisorganizedlifepodcast @simplyborganized.

Hi Friends,One of the questions that I often get from listeners is “how do I avoid conflict as we blend our households?”Whether you are talking about physical stuff, which pots and pans should we keep?To deeper conversations surrounding the habits and routines you plan on implementing in your new life together. Between the overflow of physical items, to the practical side of chores, expectations, and family dynamics-blending families is more than just organizing the linen closet.Joining me today is one of our SBO Partners, Kim Snodgrass, founder of Rustic Home Organizing in Portland, OR. Kim is a mom to 3 girls and has first hand experience blending families-something she talks candidly about on the show. During our conversation Kim shares her story of marriage, divorce, moving across the country and the importance of communication.We talked about the countless variables that make each situation unique;The ages of kidsHow often the kids spend at each house (are they here every week or every other week, or jus

Hi Friends,Today we are talking about a specific method of decluttering called Swedish Death Cleaning. The concept was first introduced by Margareta Magnusson in her bookThe Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter and now practiced all over the world.She explains this as a process to "remove unnecessary things and make your home nice and orderly when you think the time is coming closer for you to leave the planet, “ so that your loved ones have the freedom to grieve without the added burden of decluttering your belongings. Joining me today is Kelly Brask, a Certified Professional Organizer in Chicago who specializes in the method of Swedish Death Cleaning.During our conversation we talked about how SDC differs from more conventional decluttering methods, specifically:Why this is seen as part of the journey and not something morbid or sadHow the process of SDC is often slower and completed over a series of monthsWhen to begin the process, and how to

Hi Friends,We just wrapped up a room by room organizing series, and if you haven’t had the chance to listen, I encourage you to go back and check each of these out! KitchensClosetsGarages & Storage SpacesNursery and New BabyPlayrooms & Kid SpacesSmall Space LivingHome OfficesAs I looked back through each episode, there was one central theme that kept popping up-SIMPLICITY.It isn’t the use of a magical bin or basket, sure those can help, but the throughline from each expert, in each space, starts with reducing the amount of stuff you own–(I call that volume), followed by the system you choose to maintain an organized space.The system might be a bin by the door to place your muddy boots, or a drawer that holds all of your knives and cutting tools.It could be adding a turntable in your refrigerator so you can easily see what’s in the back, or perhaps it’s adding cubbies that can double as storage and a nightstand.The combination of less stuff coupled with a simple system increases the likelihood of keepi

We are wrapping up our room by room series with arguably one of the most overwhelming areas to organize-HOME OFFICES. Joining me today is Stephanie Shalofsky, founder of the The Organizing Zone which she started 14 years ago as a means to provide organizing and productivity services to small companies and individuals in NYC. If we learned anything from the pandemic, it’s the importance of having a dedicated workspace in our homes. What once was considered a luxury has quickly turned into an essential part of the home. Whether you have a separate room or you’re working from the kitchen table, we all need systems to keep paperwork, files, and supplies organized.During our conversation we talked about common pitfalls she sees with her clients, and Stephanie offers some solutions for organizing your home office including:Adopting a mobile workspace. Keeping all of your essentials in one central location is key to staying organized. The benefits of having your workspace mobile is that you can work from anywhere in

 If you're struggling with clutter and want to simplify your life, you are in the right place. I'm Laurie Palau, founder of Simply Be Organized, author of the book Hot Mess, A Practical Guide to Getting Organized and Host of the Weekly Podcast, This Organized lLfe. After over a decade of working one-on-one with people in their homes, I've learned that for a lot of people, clutter is their dirty little secret, but it doesn't have to be.Let's face it. Life can be complicated, but getting organized shouldn't have to be. I started this podcast seven years ago as a place to offer ideas. Tips and strategies to help you simplify daily tasks so that you can live a more organized life. We not only talk about physical clutter, which is the stuff that you see, like piles of paper, overflowing closets and mountains of toys to emotional clutter, which is the guilt or fear that keeps you from letting things go to calendar clutter, which is the overwhelming need to say yes or overcommitting yourself, which is my personal pi

Hi Friends!Today we are talking about small space living-—the good, the bad and how to make the most of your space. Joining me is Dani Sticka, founder of Imperfectly Tidy and host of the Imperfectly Tidy Podcast. Dani is also one of our SBO Partners in Portland, OR where she lives in a 1100 square foot house with her husband and twin 14 year old girls.During our conversation we talked about both the pros and cons of small space living. From having less to clean and maintain, to getting creative with furniture that may have to serve multiple functions.Dani opens up about what it was like to move a lot as a kid, and why she and her husband choose to stay in their small home for the past 17 years, rather than “upgrade” to something larger.Dani shares some practical tips and advice for others who want to minimize clutter and maximize space when square footage is an issue.Reducing the amount of linens so that she has more space in smaller closetsAvoiding bulk shopping to minimize having to store back stock itemsUs

Hi Friends!Today we are talking about one of my favorite things-Kid Spaces and Playrooms. I’m super passionate about this topic because it involves teaching young ones the foundational skills that are necessary for living a balanced and organized life.Joining me today is Janelle Azar. our SBO partner in the Detroit Metro Area. She is the founder of A Meaningful Space (some of you might remember her from episode 255 when we talked about Travel Tips), but today we are diving into the world of toys, books, games, and how to keep playrooms and kid spaces organized.During our conversation we talked about:When to begin getting the kids involved in clean up and donations (it’s earlier than you think)How much is too much?The role of Emotional Clutter, for both parents and kidsHow to determine what is a keepsakeHow and what to hold onto for siblingsJanelle shares 3 common roadblocks that hold people back from getting started. Not knowing where to startParents think that their kids play with all the toys (or that they