This Organized Life

Hi Friends!One of the most popular questions I get asked as a Professional Organizer is “Is it Worth it to Sell My Stuff?”On today’s Tip of the Week I’m going to walk you through the process I go through with my clients to help them determine the right answer for them. We talk about some general guidelines I like to follow including:What types of items typically hold their value When to consult an expertWhen to donate vs sellIf your goal is to simplify your life, and your stuff is holding you back, you’re going to want to listen to this episode.Happy Organizing!Laurie

Hey Friend,If you’ve ever been through any type of renovation you know that budget can be a sticky subject.On today’s episode I’m sharing with you: the different factors that contribute to renovation costsWays you can save money on your projectThe importance of getting a breakdown of product and laborHow to determine how much to spend on a projectIf you are thinking about doing any home reno projects OR if you are a professional organizer wanting to learn how to have the budget conversation with your client-this is the episode for you!Curious about your relationship with clutter? Dive into our brand-new Enneagram & Clutter workbook! It's the perfect tool to bridge the gap between understanding the Enneagram and applying it in your daily life. Let's declutter your space and your mind together! Get it here →Enneagram & Clutter Workbook https://simplyborganized.podia.com/enneagram-workbook

Hey Friend!For today’s tip we’re talking about High Impact Areas. What do I mean by a High Impact Area?I’m referring to making time for any room or obligation that has a direct impact on your life currently.Many people make the mistake of focusing on what’s loudest, messiest, or right in front of them, but that approach often comes at the expense of the things that are most important.During the episode you’ll learn:When to determine something as a High Impact AreaHow to create Action Steps for following throughWhy I constantly comparing my time to a closetIf you are in a season (or entering one) that has you feeling overwhelmed, this is the episode for you!Curious about your relationship with clutter? Dive into our brand-new Enneagram & Clutter workbook! It's the perfect tool to bridge the gap between understanding the Enneagram and applying it in your daily life. Let's declutter your space and your mind together!Get it here →Enneagram & Clutter Workbook https://simplyborganized.podia.com/enneagram-wo

Hi Friends, In today's episode, we're diving into downsizing, staging, and moving. Linda and Betsy have mastered the art of decluttering and staging homes over the past six years, especially during the pandemic real estate boom. Their approach starts early, two months before moving, allowing ample time for decluttering and organizing.They're all about creative storage solutions within the home, making the moving process smoother. Their color-coded labeling system and precise packing techniques save time and hassle.But it's not just about stuff—it's about stories. Linda and Betsy take the time to listen to their clients' tales, uncovering fascinating treasures like an invitation to JFK's inauguration.Having a support system during decluttering is crucial, keeping distractions at bay and maintaining focus. Linda and Betsy encourage staying in one space and surrounding yourself with supportive friends.To connect with Linda and Betsy, find them on Instagram as @CuratedSpacesOrganizing or visit their website at cu

Hey Friend!I don’t know about you, but It’s been a crazy month-not necessarily bad crazy (thank goodness) but lots going on! I am actually writing this from ☀️ Florida where I’m speaking at the 10th annual PodFest Conference all about Creating a Content Calendar.But I digress….Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at not one, but TWO career day fairs about life as a Professional Organizer and a Podcaster. One was for our HS students, and the other was for our elementary students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade.If you’ve ever sat down with kids 8-10 years old, you know that they speak their minds-and boy did these kids not hold back!Check out this quick 10 min episode that talks about their different takeaways, and why it was a great reminder that you can say the same thing 4 different times and get 4 different responses.We often take for granted that when we say something, that everyone hears the same thing, but as the Enneagram has taught me, that’s so NOT the case! If are a parent, partner, or professional org

​​Joining me today is my dear friend Amy Revell, host of popular podcast The Art of Decluttering, leads the largest Professional Organizing company in Australia, and is the author of the book Simply Organised (yes, that organised with an S-remember, she’s from Australia!) Amy is happily married to her husband Cal and together they have 2 sons Jesse and Elijah. Back in the summer when we released our series on adult ADHD, Amy reached out and we spoke about her own ADHD adult diagnosis, and how it affects her life as a wife, mom and entrepreneur.I said, “wait” we need to share this with our TOL community! And she graciously obliged

Hi friends, Today we’re discussing strategies for better communication around clutter. When we feel overwhelmed by physical things, mental load, or calendar clutter it can often trigger a Clutter Spiral. The 5 phases of the Clutter Spiral include: Anxiety, Frustration, Anger, Resentment, and Shame.The first step in reducing (or ultimately removing) the Clutter Spirals from happening is to write down how clutter makes you feel and what you want your home to feel and look like. To get started you can grab our free worksheet to help you identify how clutter makes you feel. I encourage you to name the desired feeling then work backwards to identify action steps to align reality with your ideal vision.This self-reflection exercise can provide clarity and motivation for decluttering. Clutter is more emotional than physical, so self-knowledge is critical for lasting change.Happy Organizing!XO LaurieLinks Mentioned in this episode: FREE WORKSHEET: Clutter Spiralling & Communication Starters https://simplyborganiz

On today’s show I am joined by my friend and fellow professional organizer, Martha Carol Stewart of Chaos Organizing in Baton Rouge. You may remember MC from episode 91 where we talked about Back to School Organizing Strategies, or episode 156 where we talked about Holiday Organizing and Storage, or most recently, episode 346 during our series on Unpacking After a Move.Today we’re talking about 10 of the most common clutter traps and how to avoid them. LaundryMailDishesToysClothesKitchen GadgetsBooksPapersBeauty ProductYour carWe walk through each area and give some simple and practical solutions, so if you find yourself struggling in any of these areas, this episode is for you!I’m also super pumped for the release of MC’s debut book Southern Chaos which is filled with beautiful images and showcases many of the nuanced spaces that are unique to the Southern Home. Grab your copy here!Links Mentioned in This EpisodeGreen Chef: use code 60organizedlife for 60% off your first order and 20% off your next two month

Does your clutter start to blend into the background of your home? After a while do you become desensitized to the piles of paper, cluttered counters, or messy closet?If so, you are not alone. This is common with roommates where one person has a higher threshold for what messy or disorganized is. This is where communication is so important. Because one person's definition of organized is different from someone else's.ResourcesJOIN THE COMMUNITY https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/110APPLYING THE ENNEAGRAM WEBINAR https://simplyborganized.com/webinarYOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/thisorganizedlifepodcast

Hi Friends!If getting fit is on your list for 2024, this is the episode for you! I’m joined by online fitness expert, Megan Dahlman. You may know Megan from her popular YouTube Channel VigeoFit, and podcast Self-Care Simplified.During our conversation we talked about:How to create a realistic fitness routine that works for you!Debunking the harmful myth that you have to “go all in” to get results3 most common mistakes people make when making health and fitness goalsThe simple daily actions you need to create huge momentum and eliminate the need for perfectionThe ideal amount of time to work out per weekWith the start of a New Year, this episode couldn’t come at a more perfect time! I loved Megan’s approach to health and fitness and our conversation was filled with so many great nuggets of wisdom, you’re definitely going to want to check it out for yourself.XOXO-LaurieLinks Mentioned in this Episode:Connect with Megan: https://www.vigeofit.com/Jumpstart Tips - Free 5-day guide to help jumpstart your healthy ha

Hi Friends,Today we’re talking about 5 ways to make your home less stressful, from intentional purchase to creating margin, so you can have a restful and relaxing space. Asking for help is a powerful way to reduce clutter and change your space. Start small - little changes lead to big results.Avoid Impulse BuysGive other people jobs (ask for help)Build in MarginPut stuff back where it belongsEdit anything you haven’t touched in a yearLinks mentioned in this episodeEmail opt-in https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/110Applying the Enneagram with Clients Workshop! https://simplyborganized.com/webinarSubscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/thisorganizedlifepodcast

Happy New Year Friends!Joining me today to kick off 2024 is award winning journalist, Paula Faris. You might know her as host of Good Morning America or the View, but what you might not know is that she is founder of CARRY Media™, an organization that advocates for moms in the workforce.She is also a best-selling author of the book "You Don’t Have To CARRY It All: Ditch The Mom Guilt and Find a Better Way Forward” -and host of the podcast The Paula Faris Show. I invited her on the show to talk about life transition, something we all face at one time or another.During our conversation we talked about:Cultural differences when it comes to Mom GuiltRedefining Working MomsCreating CommunityMy biggest take away from this episode is to give yourself permission to lean in or lean out depending on your season of life. I’d love to know your thoughts, feel free to shoot us an email or leave us a comment!XOXO-LaurieLinks Mentioned in This EpisodeWebsite: https://carrymedia.com/You Don’t Have to Carry it All Book https:/

We’re kicking off 2024 talking about one of my favorite topics: Habit Stacking. James Clear talks about Habit Stacking in his best selling book, Atomic Habits. Essentially you take something you are already doing, and add the new desired habit on top of the existing habit. The correlation between time and/or location alerts your brain to trigger the new habit. For example: “Each time I go upstairs, I bring up whatever is in the basket” or “every night after dinner I run the dishwasher.”By building on an existing habit or routine, allows your brain to adopt the new habit easier than if you were to try to create the habit from scratch.If you’re looking to create some healthy habits in 2024 ,I’ve outlined 5 different places for you to use as a jumping off point: Remember to start small and be specific. The key to successful habit stacking is incremental change. 2024 we’re here for ya!XOXO-LaurieLinks Mentioned in this EpisodeAtomic HabitsJoin our Community

Hey Friends!I hope everyone had a great Christmas-and if you don’t celebrate, I hope you had a nice and relaxing day!This is our last episode of 2023 and for this episode, I looked to you, our loyal listeners, to tell us which episodes were your favorite! Back again for round 2 is my friend and podcast producer, Kimberly Hermann in the co-host seat. If you’re new to our show, this is a great place to start!This list was based on which episodes had the most downloads so for everyone who shared our show-a tremendous thank you!Ep 319: Kitchen Organizing with Lisa EckerleEp 330: Am I a Hoarder with Matt PaxtonEp 317: 2023 Goals with Jen HatmakerEp 329 Digital Hygiene with Kate HufnagelEp 349: Slowing Down with Stephanie O’DeaTip of the Week: Clutter vs. DisorganizationTip of the Week: Two Minute RuleTip of the Week: Prioritizing your HealthTip of the Week: Selective MinimalismTip of the Week: Eating an ElephantI loved that this list was made up of both our long episodes and our quick tips-showing that there is

Hi Friends,Today's episode drops on Christmas Morning-so a very Merry Christmas to all of those who celebrate! And for those who do not, I hope you’re able to spend time with your loved ones.I’ve been fortunate that I’ve always been able to take the week between Christmas and New Years as a time to relax, reset, and recharge.It’s a time for me to loosen the reins of routines, and for me that looks like chilling in my pjs, drinking the extra cup of coffee, going for a long meandering walk, or watching a movie during the day.I have a tendency to move into goal setting and planning so it requires a level of intentionality and giving myself permission to take my foot off the gas. and simply be present.My tip for you today is to join me in being present this week. There’s plenty of time to think about what lies ahead for 2024, but for today and the remaining week of 2023, let’s focus on remembering the true meaning of Christmas.Xoxo-LaurieP.S. we want to hear from you! Visit https://simplyborganized.com/contact-u

Hey Friends!We’re in the home stretch of 2023 and for our remaining 2 weeks, we’re sharing OUR fav episodes, and YOUR favorite episodes.Joining me is my friend and podcast producer, Kimberly Hermann (since she knows our show better than anyone-even me!) During today’s episode we take turns sharing our favorite episodes from the past year.From relatable topics and down-to-earth guests to specific series that provided helpful strategies to navigate some of life's challenges.If you’re new to our show, we encourage you to check out these episodes if you missed them the first time around.Next week we’ll be back with our listener top 10-don’t miss it!xoxo-LaurieFind your best colors with Color Guru! ​​https://yourcolorguru.com/affiliate/10/Kimberly’s Fav EpisodesEpisode 336 Why I Take On So Much with Rebekah Anne discussed the tendency to take on too many responsibilities and the importance of knowing when to say no. https://simplyborganized.com/2023/05/18/ep-336-why-i-take-on-so-much-with-rebekah-anne/Episode 322

When it comes to wrapping gifts, I find there are 2 types of people: The ones who totally get into it, and the ones who can’t be bothered. I fall into the first category. I am all about gift presentation, but I also like to keep things simple and uncomplicated. With lots of gifts to wrap I needed to develop a system to help me stay organized. Over the years, I’ve tweaked and refined my process, and today I’m sharing some of my best tips with you.Listen today to grab all the tips!XOXO-LaurieP.s. It’s not too late to download our holiday gift tracker! Click here to grab yours!

Hi Friends!Today we’re joined by Chef Marcela Valladolid, host of popular Food Network shows like The Kitchen and Mexican Made Easy, and the author of several successful cookbooks. With her expertise in the kitchen, Chef Marcela has become an expert in cleaning and organizing as well!I invited her on the show to talk about staying organized during the holidays.During our conversation we talked about Why cleaning was a part of her Mexican upbringingHow having a clean home gives her peace of mindTips on keeping the kitchen organizedHoliday cooking tips to simplify your lifeMarcela also tells the story behind her new cookbook, Familia, which was inspired by the online cooking classes she hosted during the pandemic. If you want to host stress-free this holiday season, this is one episode you don't want to miss!xoxo-LaurieGet Early access to our podcastLinks Mentioned in this Episode Connect with MarcelaMarcela’s Book RecommendationThe Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Hi Friends,Today’s tip is how to simplify hostess gifts. The month of December is often filled with holiday gatherings and parties. Whether you are going to a Sunday afternoon cookie exchange, or holiday drinks at your neighbors, it’s always a good idea to have quick gifts on hand-especially for impromptu get-togethers! Below are 3 things that I keep on hand during the holiday season that make for easy hostess gifts:Bottles of Wine-let’s be honest, I usually have these on hand anyway, but especially during the holidays I like to have extra bottles of wine or prosecco on hand so that I am not walking into someone’s home empty handed. Candles-If your host/hostess is not a drinker, Candles make for an easy and inexpensive gift. I usually make a homegoods run and stock up on some festive scented candles in fun jars and they are always a huge hit! Desserts-I love bringing a tray of chocolate covered pretzels or truffles from our local chocolatier. Not only am I supporting a local business, but they are delicious!

Hi Friends,Today we are talking about the importance of sleep.I’m joined by Kali Patrick, an adult sleep coach and the bestselling author of the book Mastering Your Sleep Puzzle: Your 12-Week Guide to Sleeping Better. She helps stressed-out tired people reclaim their sleep, energy, & enthusiasm for life. It should come as no surprise that good night sleep is tied to our physical & mental health which includes being able to keep up with the daily demands within our home.During our conversation we talked about:Some of the leading causes of sleep disruptionThe cycles of sleep and stressHow technology impacts our brain's ability to relaxDifferent strategies to create healthy sleep habitsThere was so much great information during this interview, I had to go back and re-listen!Make sure to check out the links below for everything we mentioned in the episode.XOXO-LaurieP.S. Did you know that you can now listen to our show dynamic ad free? With a subscription to This ORGANIZED Life+ you’ll get early access to