This Organized Life

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 files Password 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

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.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5712378/advertisement

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

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! Kitchens ClosetsGarages & 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 ke

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

 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 items

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

Hi Friends!We are continuing with our Room-By-Room series with a little twist today…What happens when best friends, moms, neighbors and former healthcare workers, decide to start a business together during the pandemic?Our guests today did just that. Mary Beth Bartlett and Megan McDowell took their love of organizing and passion for helping others to start Rooms to Breathe, an Alabama based organizing business.They are particularly passionate about supporting women as they make the life changing transition into motherhood, so I asked them if they would come on our show to talk about an area that we have never discussed on This ORGANIZED Life…Baby Prep and Nursery Organization.During our conversation we talked about:Specific practical ways to help new mothers with touches like stocking the fridge with grab-and-go items like granola bars, cheese sticks, and fresh fruitIncorporating turntables in the fridge and pantry to make accessing items a breeze.Having hydration stations available to keep mom going througho

Joining me today is Leigh Achenbach, founder of Suddenly Simple Organizing in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I invited Leigh on TOL to talk about storage spaces-specifically Garages, Attics and/or Basements. For folks living in a house, you probably have at least one of these areas that requires ongoing maintenance to keep from becoming a cluttered mess. If you live in an apartment you may have a storage space somewhere in your building where you keep seasonal or large items. During our conversation Leigh shares some practical and SIMPLE strategies to keep these spaces functional and organized. Some things we talked about:The many uses for garages, attics, and/or basementsHow many people are unable to park cars inside their garageWhy these larger spaces are so overwhelming to declutter and get organizedCommon pain points on why folks struggle to keep organized long termWhy she likes to work in “macro-categories”So many people fall into the trap of forgetting where they put something, or if they even have it. Leigh

Hi Friends,Today we are continuing with our Room-By-Room series, and talking about one of the biggest pain points for many of you-CLOSETS.From linen closets to primary closets, we tend to never have enough space, or if we do have ample space, utilizing it in a way that serves our needs is often a struggle.Joining me today is Heather Bifulco, founder of Tidy Style. Heather is based in Boise, Idaho and along with her team of professionals, helps her clients live a more organized life.During our conversation we talked about:The biggest issue she sees with her clients (hint: it has to do with volume, not space)How to identify and maximize Prime Real EstateHanging vs Folding (is there a right way?)She is also a mom of littles, so we talk about what to do with “hand-me-downs" and “grow clothes.” Whether you live in an apartment, an estate or somewhere in between, there’s something in this episode for everyone.Make sure to check out the links below to our closet checklist and all things mentioned in this episode.XOX

Hi Friends!Today we are kicking off a new series here at This ORGANIZED Life, called Organizing Room by Room. With January leading the charge for decluttering and getting organized, we thought it would be helpful to bring on a bunch of experts who specialize in certain spaces to talk about some of the struggles they see people facing, and share some solutions to help you in your organizing/decluttering journey.To start us off, I invited one of my friends, and one of your favorites, Organizational Designer Lisa Eckerle, to join me in talking about one of my favorite rooms in the house-The Kitchen.You might remember Lisa from Episode 268, where she shared her story of starting her Professional Organizing business on the weekends while working a full-time job and mothering 2 littles. Once folks got wind of her incredible eye for design and her on-point organizing skills, her business took off and she was able to leave her full time job and run Sort Support, full time. She specializes in ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN, a

Hi Friends,Today we are talking about one of the core parts to living an organized life…Calendars.Joining me today is the creator and founder of Artful Agenda, Katy Allen. Katy is wife to American Idol champion Kris Allen and a mom of 3 kiddos. After a life-long love affair with paper planners, Katy was looking for a solution to blend the convenience of a digital planner with the customization and style of a paper planner. I invited Katy on the show to share what makes Artful Agenda different from other traditional calendars like Google Cal or iCal.During our conversation we talked about:Her inspiration for Artful AgendaTime Blocking & PrioritiesBeing diagnosed with ADHD as an adult How she designed the app to help her (and others) be more productive Since recording our interview, I personally downloaded Artful Agenda on my laptop and iphone and have been using it everyday. I absolutely love how it seamlessly integrates with my existing calendars, and has the added functionality of allowing me to create

Hi Friends,To start off 2023 I am joined by none other than NY Times Best Selling Author Jen Hatmaker. If you don’t know Jen, she’s written about a bajillion books including For the Love, Of Mess and Moxie, and Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire. Her latest book Feed These People is her debut cookbook that is filled with simple recipes for the whole family. She hosts the popular For the Love Podcast and Jen Hatmaker Book Club. Her online community has millions of women who relate to her witty, honest, and vulnerable approach to life. I invited Jen on the show to kick off 2023 to talk about mindset, goal planning and of course, the Enneagram!During our conversation we talked about:The importance of mindset when it comes to setting goalsNavigating the messy seasons of life What she’s learned about herself as an Enneagram 3 (aka the Achiever)We talked about the 3 types of clutter: Physical, Emotional and Calendar; Jen shares her dominant type of clutter-can you guess what it is? The start of a new year is almost a

Hi Friends,Each year we release our “Best Of”, and if you are new to our show, it’s a great way to binge the highlight episodes from other listeners. We include links to each episode we talked about, making it super simple to listen and share. Last week Kimberly and I shared some of our favorite episodes, and today we are sharing the top 10 listener episodes. It’s always fun for me to sit down and look at the topics and guests that resonated with you most. If you listened to last week, you will hear some overlap with our favorites and yours, but there were definitely some differences that surprised us!As 2022 comes to a close, I want to thank you for being part of my community. As we wrap up our 6th year, I am so grateful for the opportunity to sit down and have meaningful conversations with people who provide perspective and solutions for simplifying your life. On behalf of myself and our team at SBO/TOL-we wish you and your family a safe and happy New Year.Cheers to 2023!XOXO-LaurieTOP 10 Episodes of 2022Ep

Hi Friends,We’re in the homestretch of 2022…what a year it’s been! Every year we take the last 2 weeks of December to look back on the 50 episodes we released this year.This week, my producer Kimberly and I shared some of our favorite episodes, and next week we’ll look at the most popular episodes from all of you! (make sure you tune in to that!)It goes without saying that we love, admire and appreciate all of our guests, these just happen to be a few of our stand-out episodes.We included links to each episode, making it super simple to listen and share. Enjoy!Kimberly’s Faves:Ep 269: Creating a Legacy List with Matt PaxtonEp 284:Raising Simple with Zoe KimEp 275: Small Business Financial Organization with Melissa LeonEp 265: Health and Habits with Mel RobbinsLaurie’s Faves:Ep 306: Becoming Minimalist with Joshua BeckerEp 289: Summer of Enneagram with Enneagram 4 Leann DearingEp 300: Fair Play with Eve RodskyEp 309: Chasing the Brightside with Jess EkstromEp 305: Ask Me Anything with Josh & Laurie Palau

Hi Friends,Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa it’s crunch time! With only days to go for each of these major holidays, navigating clutter pitfalls is no easy task.The physical clutter of presents and wrapping supplies that are overtaking your closet, Christmas cookies and assorted treats that are covering your counters…To the calendar clutter of finding time to shop, wrap, bake, and attend holiday parties in addition to your “normal” schedule…Let’s not forget the emotional clutter of trying to keep everyone’s gift count “balanced”, and trying to create the “perfect” holiday for your family…It’s no wonder that we stress eat, get rundown, and dream of spending countless uninterrupted hours of laying on the couch binge watching Dead To Me.So as someone guilty of all of the above, I’m taking a page out of my personal playbook to share how I keep it all together during the most stressful time of the year.From Holiday Gift Trackers, to enlisting elves to help with some of the simpler, yet time c