This Organized Life

Hi Friends!Joining me today is Emmy-winning filmmaker and photographer, Kate Schermerhorn. Kate recently completed her third feature length documentary, 'Do I Need This?' about consumerism, excess, and the stuff from which happiness is truly made. The documentary is already getting critical acclaim. In the documentary, Kate turns the camera on her own family and chronicles how her parents, brother and kids each navigate the decluttering process.I invited Kate on the show to talk about what drew her to the topic of environmental consumption and how it’s impacted how she looks at “stuff”.During our conversation we talked about:The role of emotional clutter and how it often shows up as shameFinding the middle ground between hoarding and minimalismDefining the legacy you want to leave behind   Kate opened up about her own struggles with letting go, and shares how she wants folks to walk away thinking more consciously about what makes us happy-because often it’s not the “thing” rather the memories we make.Make sur

Hi Friends!Today we are wrapping up our Enneagram & Clutter summer series with my good friend, Gail Waterman. Gail is no stranger to TOL, you may remember her talking about her experience caring for aging parents, and most recently on episode 231, during our “behind the scenes” series. Today Gail graciously agreed to open up about her life as an Enneagram 9, otherwise known as the Peacemaker.During our conversation, we talked about:The role of self doubt in ninesThe importance of clear deadlinesWhy procrastination is a constant struggleGail shares how she was first introduced to the Enneagram, how she figured out her type, and the clarity that has come from understanding why she responds to situations the way she does.In the second half of the show we talked about the relationship between fives and nines and how clutter shows up in her home. I always love chatting with my IRL friends, especially when they are in-studio with me!I hope you have enjoyed this series as much as I have. If you want to learn

For the lashttps://www.instagram.com/themrshermann/t 2 episodes in this series we are bringing the guests in-house with 2 of my team members. Joining me today is Enneagram 8, Kimberly Hermann. Kimberly is a wife, mom of 3 girls and the backbone of all things related to SBO.As an Enneagram 8 myself, I love talking with other eights to see the similarities in how we deal with people, situations, and of course, clutter.During our conversation, Kimberly talks aboutGrowing up with a mom who is a hoarderTaking ChargeWe also talked about the strong intuition of Eights and how emotional clutter really isn’t a thing for us.Make sure to check out the links below for all things mentioned during this episode.We will be back next week, wrapping up our Enneagram Types, with my good friend, Gail who is an Enneagram 9-you won’t want to miss it!Connect with Kimberly 

Join me next Wednesday for a FREE webinar! 5 Ways to Make Money as a Professional Organizer. This webinar is for anyone who is interested in starting or scaling a business in the professional organizing world. You can register here: https://simplyborganized.com/julywebinar/Today I am talking with Jackie Brewster. Jackie is a certified Enneagram coach and author who has been married for over 20 years and has 4 beautiful children. She graciously took time from her vacation to chat with me about life as an Enneagram 7, otherwise known as the Enthusiast.During our conversation we talked about:The importance of margin for SevensWhich type of clutter she struggles with most (physical, emotional or calendar)The role of the 5 clutter pitfalls in her life (procrastination, indecision, guilt, overwhelm & time)I loved learning from Jackie how clutter and organization show up in her life, both personally and professionally.Connect with Jackie:WEBSITE INSTAGRAM

Hi Friends!Have you ever thought to yourself “What if I need this someday?”What if your initial response to most things were rooted in fear? I’m talking about the worst-case scenario thinkers. You know, the folks who are mentally preparing for the apocalypse.If that’s you, then you are in the right place.My guest today is Enneagram 6, Angee Robertson. I invited Angee on the show to shed some light into the world of the Enneagram 6, otherwise known as the Loyalist.During our conversation we talk about:When Sixes seek outside authority for adviceHow Sixes can easily become overwhelmed with decision fatigueWhy Sixes tend to ask a lot of questionsWEBSITE https://angeerobertson.comINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/6ish_andiknowit/OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:ANGEE’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION The Road Back to You 

Joining me today is Enneagram 5, Kellyn Swift. Kellyn is the founder of unabridged freedom, and facilitates the popular IG page: @5ish_andiknowit.Known as the Investigator, fives have a desire to acquire knowledge to appear capable and competent. I often describe them as questioners, gathering as much information as possible. Knowing this, It makes sense that our analytical Fives are the first type in the head triad.During our conversation Keilly and I discuss:How the scarcity mindset of the Five can impact physical, emotional or calendar clutterThe importance of understanding the difference between rhythms & rigidityWhat her childhood looked like as the oldest of six children and how that impacts her life now We will be back next week talking to Enneagram 6, Angee Robertson.CONNECT WITH KELLYN:WEBSITE https://www.unabridgedfreedom.com/INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/5ish_andiknowit/KELLYN’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The Body Keeps Score & Take Care of Your Type

We are continuing with our Summer of Enneagram series and I have to admit that I was definitely fan- girling over today’s guest.Joining me today is Enneagram four Leeann Dearing who you may know from her viral videos on the Enneagram with her partner in crime, Michelle. Together they run the YouTube & Instagram Top Knot Comedy.Leeann graciously opened up about her journey into the Enneagram and specifically how she views clutter and organization from the lens of her type.During our conversation we talked aboutWhy she craves “white space” in any roomHow she learned to separate feelings from factsThe importance of discipline and why she views it as a gift  We will be back next week with our Enneagram 5 guest, so if this is your first time tuning in, make sure you click the subscribe button! CONNECT WITH LEEANN:WEBSITE https://www.dearingstudio.com/INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/topknotcomedy/YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM_E3ChvErVRVPTFcrLApnA

We are back with part 2 of my conversation with the dynamic duo from Pro Organizer Studio-Jen Kilbourne and Melissa Klug. If you haven’t listened/watched last week's episode, I suggest you hit the pause button and go check it out.Today Melissa & Jen dig deeper into each of their types. Melissa talks about the importance of protecting your time as a Two, and Jen opens up about the value of physical organization for the mental well-being of Threes.Although both types are in the heart triad (meaning that they are feeling dominant), there are some distinct differences in how they see the world, and how they relate and respond to clutter.WEBSITE INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK 

Today we are continuing with our summer series on Clutter & The Enneagram and boy you are in for a treat! Joining me today are my good friends Melissa Klug (Enneagram 2)  & Jen Kilbourne (Enneagram 3), aka: the dynamic duo from Pro Organizer Studio. During our conversation we talk about: the struggle to say “no,”setting healthy boundaries, and how clutter makes them feel (and what to do about it)CONNECT WITH MELISSA & JEN:WEBSITE: www.proorganizerstudio.comINSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/proorganizerstudioFACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/proorganizerstudio

Today we are kicking off our summer series on Clutter & The Enneagram!  Each week for the next 9 weeks, I chat with different guests who each have a different Enneagram type and talk about the role that clutter plays in their lives.Does clutter stress them out?  Are they clutter-blind? What strategies have they used to help keep them organized and clutter free?To start our series, I am joined by Enneagram 1, Andrew Lang. ​​Andrew is an educator in Tacoma, Washington, an Enneagram scholar and student of Richard Rohr’s Living School for Action and Contemplation.  During the episode we talk about Andrew’s journey into the Enneagram, what life is like as an Enneagram 1 and what he calls “the should monster”Regardless of your Enneagram type, this series gives you a front row seat to how clutter shows up differently in each of our lives. If you are new to our show, make sure to click the subscribe button-new episodes drop each Thursday.CONNECT WITH ANDREW:WEBSITE: https://www.andrewglang.com/ INSTAGRAM: https:/

We are back with another Partner Spotlight Episode, and today I’m joined by my good friend, Kelly Beutler. Kelly is the Owner of The Joyful Sort in Columbus, OH.  Kelly is a boy mom, lover of donuts, and passionate about helping people sort through their clutter to get to the good stuff in life. During our conversation we talked about juggling motherhood and growing a business, what she loves about organizing and her 4 step process on decluttering before a move. And in true This ORGANIZED Life form we also touch on the Enneagram!Check out the links below for everything we discussed on today’s episode.CONNECT WITH KELLYhttps://www.thejoyfulsort.com/https://www.facebook.com/thejoyfulsort/https://www.instagram.com/thejoyfulsort/OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION: https://idesignlivesimply.com/SBO PARTNER PROGRAM:  https://simplyborganized.com/sbo-partner-program/P.S. Next week we kick off our Summer of Enneagram Series where we’re talking about all things clutter & organizing throug

Joining me today is the creator of the community Raising Simple, and author of the book Minimalism for Families, Zoë Kim. During our conversation we talked about how she defines minimalism, the importance of writing down your “why”,  and the tactical and emotional process she went through in her own journey.I love how she compares simplifying your life to peeling back layers of an onion–As you get closer to the center it’s ok to cry.This is a great conversation that takes a holistic approach to minimalism and I can’t wait to hear what you think!Make sure to check out the links below everything we talked about on the show.Check out these links below:https://www.raisingsimple.com/https://www.instagram.com/raisingsimple/https://yourcolorguru.com/aff/10/

Hi Friends!Joining me today is Kait Hilton, founder of Harmonie Organizing in the DC/ MD area.  Kait is also one of our SBO Partners, and I invited her on the show today to talk about her newest venture, My Token Chart-a family communication tool that she created to help empower your kids through positive parenting.As a single mom of 2 kids, Kait knows first hand how challenging it can be to run a business, a household and the majority of parenting responsibilities too.During our conversation Kait talks about:Her journey to becoming a professional organizer from a career in social workWhy she felt the need to create My Token Chart and why it’s different from a traditional “chore chart”The positive impact on her kids critical thinking and decision making skills since incorporating the system into her householdI am so proud of all my SBO partners, for not only serving their local communities with their organizing services, but for thinking outside the box on ways to expand their businesses, whether through coac

Hi Friends,Today I’m talking with Cara Harvey about her new book, The 15 Minute Formula.  Some of you might recall my conversation with Cara on episode 222, when we spoke about why she started her podcast, A Purpose Driven Mom. and how she helps thousands of women each week through her online community.During this conversation, Cara shares her 3 step method: LEARN, PLAN, DO and how you can apply it in both personal and professional situations.We also talk about GUILT, the elephant in the room for many of us, and why it’s important to incorporate rest and fun into our hectic schedules.We talk about the power of community, why mentors are important, and how to re-frame routines from boring and mundane (insert eye roll!) to a path to freedom and joy.Make sure to check out the links below for everything we discussed in this episode.XOXO-LaurieCONNECT WITH CARA:WEBSITE: https://apurposedrivenmom.com/FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/findyourawesome/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/apurposedrivenm

Hi Friends!Joining me today is Mary Cornetta. Mary and I met several years ago when I was starting the SBO Partner Program. At that time, she was launching her company, Sort and Sweet Inc, a professional organizing service based on Long Island, NY as a one-woman-show. Since then, Mary has grown her business to include a team of talented and skilled organizers who are all passionate about helping folks declutter and get organized. .The past couple of years have brought a lot of change in Mary’s life both personally and professionally. During our conversation we talked about:Moving from New York to Savannah, GAHow she pivoted and expanded her business during the PandemicWhat it’ like being an Enneagram 7We spoke about her childhood and how clutter and organization impacted her development, relationships and future careerHer own personal clutter roadblocks and how she naviages clutter that she can’t see.  I loved this conversation and hope you do too!If you are a professional organizer (or thinking about becomi

Hi Friends!Today’s topic is one that is widely discussed as a source of tension in relationships: Clutter & Stress between Couples. It typically results when one person carries the majority of physical and mental load and is left feeling resentful, frustrated, and depleted both physically and emotionally.Joining me today to discuss this topic is one of the leading and most trusted relationship teachers, Elizabeth Earshaw.  Liz is a Gottman trained Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and one of the founders of Ours, where she works to make couple's counseling mainstream and accessible. She also owns A Better Life Therapy in Pennsylvania and New Jersey supporting a team of clinicians working with couples to strengthen their relationships.Some of you may be familiar with her Instagram @lizlistens where she works to normalize the stigma surrounding couples therapy. She is an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and works with both married and unmarried couples.Her debut book,  I WANT THIS TO WORK, released in No

Hi Friends!  Joining me today is Kim Worrell, founder of KBW Coaching.  Kim is a lifelong athlete and has been a competitive rower for over 15 years.  She has spent almost 2 decades coaching middle and high school student-athletes and is a mom of “bigs” like me!Kim’s passion is mentoring teen girls, and has taken her experience as an athletic coach, and combined that with her expertise in coaching teen girls on some of life’s complex issues. We hear about adults hiring life coaches and career coaches, but what about our young adults who need some direction and guidance?Kim shares some data about teen emotional wellness and dispels the myth and stigma that you need to be in crisis to warrant some outside support.During our conversation we talk about the following:The difference between a therapist and a life coach.Signs to look for that might indicate your teen could use this type of supportHow to broach the subject with your teen without putting them on the defensiveHow working with a coach like Kim relates t

Happy April everyone!Technically, Spring is here (although in the North East it doesn’t quite feel like it) and you know what that means….time for some Spring Cleaning Tips.On today’s episode I walk you through my Spring Organizing Checklist for both inside and outside the house. Some of these you may want to outsource to a professional, others you can tackle alone or with the help of your family. Do a little at a time or block a whole weekend. The purpose of this is to help give you a roadmap to follow.Download a copy HERE Spring is a great time to reset routines & reorganize rooms. I hope this episode gives you the motivation you need to get going!Happy Organizing!XoxoLaurie

Hi Friends!We’re back today with another Partner Spotlight Episode! We started this series back in January, and I hope you’re loving it as much as I am. Each month I sit down with a different professional organizer to get a “behind the scenes” look at their lives. From growing up, to learning about what they did prior to starting their professional organizing journey, we’re giving you a glimpse into their worlds and learning a few organizing tips along the way!Joining me today is Kristy Potgieter, founder of KLP Organizing. Kristy has been part of our SBO partner program for over 2 years and one of my favorite people!About a year ago, during one of our mentor calls, Kristy came to me with an idea she had for developing an online tool to help streamline and simplify the design & layout process for spaces like pantries, drawers, and cabinets.I thought it was an incredible idea,and something that could be a huge time saver for both homeowners & professional organizers. So Kristy, along with her husband,

Joining me today is Krista Lockwood, founder of the blog and podcast Motherhood Simplified where she teaches decluttering for moms who don’t want to be a full-blown minimalist. As a mom of 5, she knows how overwhelming life can be. Between “stuff” and schedules, Krista has built a business helping moms find the sweet spot of simplicity by recognizing the distraction that comes from clutter.During our conversation we talked about:The adventure of a cross-country move from Alaska to Florida with only one suitcase for her and husbandRe-framing decluttering to “what to keep” vs “what to donate”How to be more intentional with connecting with our kids from toddler to teens One thing that Krista kept coming back to was delegation and empowering her kids to have ownership of household responsibilities.Quick side note: If you head on over to YouTube to watch our conversation, you will likely get a glimpse of some of her littles in the background who are too cute!xoxoLaurie