Are you feeling overwhelmed by the physical clutter in your home?
Do you dream of reclaiming your space and living in a more organized environment?
As a professional organizer, I understand the challenges that come with tackling clutter, but I'm here to tell you that it's possible to make a change, one small step at a time.
When faced with a cluttered home, it's easy to feel like the task of decluttering is insurmountable. However, I'm here to encourage you to start small. Instead of trying to tackle the entire house in one go, focus on decluttering just a little bit each day. By breaking the task into manageable chunks, you can make progress without feeling overwhelmed.
Here are a few reasons why starting to declutter a little each day can make a big difference:
1) Reduce Overwhelm: Instead of facing the daunting task of decluttering the entire house at once, focusing on a small area each day can help to reduce feelings of overwhelm.
2) Build Momentum: Taking small steps each day helps to build momentum. As you see progress in small areas of your home, you'll feel motivated to continue decluttering.
3) Create Consistent Habits: By incorporating decluttering into your daily routine, you can establish consistent habits that will gradually transform your home.
So, where should you start?
We have an exciting opportunity that leads you through 30 days of decluttering your home. Each day there is a task to be completed in just 5 minutes. You'd be amazed how much you can accomplish in 5 minutes when you are focused and ready!
Here's how you can follow the Spring Declutter Challenge:
* Connect on our Social Media pages linked below. We'll be posting each daily challenge on Facebook and Instagram. * Sign up to receive weekly emails using the link below. * You'll also receive a FREE 30 day calendar you can download to follow along during the challenge.
We'll be starting the Challenge on April 22, 2024, but you can start any day you choose!
As you make progress, you'll start to see the impact of your efforts, which can be incredibly motivating. By taking it one step at a time, you can create a home that feels more spacious, organized, and welcoming.
Here's to reclaiming your space and living a life you love, one decluttering day at a time!
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If you're tired of feeling buried under a mountain of endless paperwork,
I've got your back!
As a mom, I struggled with creating a system that worked for my family and kept us on track with bills, deadlines, invitations, and other commitments. Once I found a system that worked, it made all the difference!
Now, I help other families create a system that works for their home and is easy to follow and keep maintained!
Below are 6 tricks that create the most impact in staying on top of paperwork:
#1: Claim Your Space: First things first, carve out a specific spot in your home for all things paperwork. It could be a desk, a filing cabinet, or even just a dedicated drawer. Having a designated area will stop those pesky papers from taking over every nook and cranny. #2: Tackle Incoming Mail: Create a system for dealing with incoming mail. Sort through it as soon as it arrives, ditch the junk, and deal with the important stuff right away. #3: Schedule time: Set aside regular time slots to tackle your paperwork pile. Whether it's once a week or once a month, having a regular schedule will stop things from spiraling out of control. #4: Shred Away: Invest in a good shredder and say goodbye to unnecessary paper clutter. Shred anything you don't need to keep your personal info safe and your space clutter-free. #5: Go Digital: Embrace the digital age by scanning important documents and storing them safely on your computer. Not only does this clear up physical space, but it also gives you a backup in case something goes awry. #6: Create a filing system that's easy to stick to. Sort your documents into categories like bills, medical stuff, insurance, and personal files. Label your folders clearly so you can find what you need in a flash.
If you're ready to conquer paperwork and setup a system that works for you, check out this new FREE guide:
So there you have it - 6 tricks to whip your paperwork into shape and reclaim your sanity! And a FREE guide that will walk you thru the 4 parts to setting up your own paperwork system that works for you!
Remember, staying on top of paperwork is all about finding a framework that works for you and sticking to it! You've got this!!
Tax season is the worst, right? It's not just about dealing with our hard-earned money and figuring out what we get to keep, but also the hassle of gathering all those documents. It can really bring on some serious anxiety and dread, making us realize we need a better system for managing all this paperwork. (hint – more on that topic coming soon...)
Over the years, I’ve used several different systems when preparing for tax season. Now, after 30+ years of doing this, I have a system that seems to work well that I am sharing with you today. This system includes 6 easy steps and a checklist to guide the documents you need to gather.
Step 1: Schedule work session
Our biggest hurdle is to START. So right now, find 1-2 hours on your calendar in the next 5 days that you can devote to the task of gathering your tax documents. Then block your calendar for that hour. Keep it sacred, do not reschedule or forget. Step 2: Designate an area to work Gathering your documents may take room to spread out papers, so find yourself a clear surface that you will use in your scheduled time from Step 1. I have a folding table that I bring into our home office space to temporarily sort papers for tax season. When I’m done, it’s folded up and put away! Step 3: Create a filing system
Step 4: Label tabs in filing system
Step 5: Checklist of Documents Needed
Step 6: Keep working to completion
You can do this!
You have a system and a checklist to guide your work. Take it one step at a time, and one category at a time and you'll get there!
Remember, your steps are:
Step 1: Schedule work session Step 2: Designate an Area to work Step 3: Create a filing system. Step 4: Label tabs in filing system Step 5: Checklist of Documents Needed Step 6: Keep working to completion
Don’t forget to download your free guide here:
Leave a comment to share what you like about this post!
*This details provided here are for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult his or her own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this post.
7 steps to start the year right!
Another year, another resolution. This year let's make it happen!
Follow these 7 steps and you'll be off to a great start!
1) Know your “why”
With any new habit or change you want to make in your life, it is important to understand why you want to make the change. I know it sounds simple, but many times we give up on what we are striving for because we forget why we wanted it in the first place. So, take a moment and think to yourself, why do I want to get organized this year? Maybe you want your home to be less stressful and more calm? Or perhaps you want to set a better example for your children? It could be as a simple as you sick & tired of wasting time trying to find things? Whatever it is, define your "why". Then say it to yourself, "I will get organized this year because… " Write it down, stick it to your mirror or refrigerator. Make it visible. Get fired up about it. Make it your goal that you will continue to strive for everyday! Then repeat it. Every time you see the visual, pause and say your why to yourself or even outloud! When you hit a point where you don’t want to put in the work, remind yourself of your why. Staying motivated is important to keep working when you want to give up. 2) Put away new gifts or purchases The first step to organizing is getting rid of what you don’t want or need. Given the holiday season has just passed, you and your family likely have several new items (clothes, toys, electronics, or even kitchen gadgets), take time to put away these items where they belong. As you are finding a place for the new items, select one item for each new item to be donated. One new toy means one old toy needs to be donated. One new pair of shoes means one old pair must go. If you really need to declutter, take away 2 or 3 items for each new item. Also, it's ok if the new gift is something you don't want to keep either. Add it to the donate pile! 3) Implement a shopping pause for non-essentials With all the new items in the house, it should be easy put yourself on shopping pause for a few weeks to start your resolution off right! If you need to make a purchase (emphasize NEED), first take the time to look around your house to make sure you don’t already have this item or a good substitute. Use what you have before you buy more. 4) Tackle the Hot Spots of your home. You likely have a few areas of your home where things collect. Kitchen countertop, area by front or back door, kitchen table, chair or the beloved treadmill. Make a new habit that each day you will clear these areas and put items that have collected in their correct place. Here are the most common items and suggestion for handling them.
5) Laundry. If you are behind on laundry, start a habit of completing at least one load per day until you are caught up. In doing so, your goal is to wash, dry, fold and put away all items in the load. As you are folding items, examine them to see if they should be donated or tossed if completely worn out. 6) Get the family to help. This is a big one, but you must have everyone in the family working together toward an organized home. Otherwise all your efforts will be destroyed within minutes! 7) Do small tasks every day. Even with 5 minutes a day, you can make a difference. Use this quick guide to help know what to tackle!
If you would like a free download of this checklist, you can submit your request here:
Keep working a little everyday and you WILL achieve your goal to
Get Organized this year! You've got this!
Hi Friends! Now that you have been working on developing and maintaining your Daily, Weekly and Monthly routines, I feel confident that you are starting to feeling some impact of your consistent effort. Have you noticed you have a little time at the end of each day to relax? Maybe your family has noticed your work and commented or even praised your efforts! Have your children started to follow the routines as well? Even if they haven't, take a few moments now and reflect. Pat yourself on the back! You will get there and they will notice.
Keep going! Stay the course! YOU CAN DO THIS!!
For reference, you can locate Part 1 - Daily Routines here, Part 2 - Weekly Routines here, and Part 3 - Monthly Routines here.
Let's continue getting more done in less time by
focusing on Yearly Routines!
Step #1: Download the Yearly Planner Worksheet below.
Step #2: Refer to your TASK LIST from Part 1.
Step #3: Identify tasks flagged as QUARTERLY, YEARLY or OTHER. Assign tasks to a particular month of the year. - Some tasks are dependent on others (Taxes, Kids' School Holidays) - Most you will be able to decide which month to complete. - Make a note on how long the task typically takes you to complete. - Distribute the tasks throughout the year for months that work best with your schedule and other commitments. Tip! When scheduling your quarterly tasks, try to schedule every 3 months in the year. If there is flexibility in due dates, balance Quarterly and Other tasks with Yearly across months as Yearly may be less flexible.
Step #4: As you setup your calendar each month, add these tasks into the Monthly & Weekly schedules.
Step #5: Keep working on your routines. Continue to make adjustments to the Yearly Planner for this year and future years!
Let me know how your routines are coming along!! Leave comment below!
Hi Friends! Congratulations on developing and mmainting Daily and Weekly routines! I'm sure that you are feeling some impact of your work so take a moment now to reflect. Do you feel like you are more efficient in your tasks? Carving out a few minutes here and there? Are you starting to feel like you are more in control of your schedule? Keep up the great work and fine-tune where you see areas for improvement.
For reference, you can locate Part 1 - Daily Routines here, and Part 2 - Weekly Routines here.
Let's get started on Monthly Routines!
Step #1: Refer to your TASK LIST from Part 1 and review items you marked as MONTHLY.
Step #2: Download the Monthly Routine Worksheet below. (hint - there is a sample calendar included!) Step #3: Assign monthly tasks to a particular weeks of the month. - Some tasks are dependent on the days (Bank Reconciliation, Meetings or Social gatherings) - Most you will be able to decide which week to complete. - Make a note on how long the task typically takes you to complete. - Distribute the tasks throughout the month for weeks that work best with your schedule and other commitments.
Tip! Try to schedule your monthly tasks during the week so that you leave time during the weekend for fun and family!
Step #4: Keep track for several months. Check off every time you have completed monthly tasks.
Step #5: Keep working on your routines for the next several months. You should start to notice that you are doing the tasks without having to refer to the checklist.
Let me know how your routines are coming along!! Leave comment below!
Welcome Back!!
This post is a continuation from last week, so before you read any further, make sure you've read Part 1 here!
Now that you have your Tasks List started and have been working to practice your Daily Routines for a week or two, you are ready to add to your plan.
Let's get started!
Step #1: Refer to your TASK LIST from Part 1 and review items you marked as WEEKLY. Step #2: Download the Weekly Routine Worksheet below. (hint - there is a sample weekly list included!) Step #3: Assign weekly tasks to a particular day of the week. - Some tasks are decided for you, like trash/recycling pickup - Others you decide (Errand day, Cleaning day, Grocery shop day). The key is to distribute the tasks throughout the week on a day that works best with your schedule.
Tip! Try to schedule your weekly tasks during the week so you have weekend time for fun & family time!
Step #4: Keep track for 1 month. Check off every time you have completed the task for each day of the week.
Step #5: Keep working on your daily and weekly routines for the next several weeks. You should start to notice that you are doing the tasks without having to refer to the checklist.
Let me know how your routines are coming along!! Leave comment below!
It's Saturday morning. You are about to start doing a few chores. Then the phone rings, the kids need help, the animals need to be let out. Before you know it over 30 minutes are gone and you didn’t even have enough time to get out the vacuum! How is it that everyone gets the same 24 hours, but I can’t seem to get anything done?
Is there a way to STOP wasting time and energy making tasks harder than they need to be? How do I STOP re-creating the wheel every week?
The answer is to START building routines.
I get it! You hear the word routine, you think boring or restrictive. But don’t poo-poo this concept so quickly. Keep reading!
Definition of routine: a regular way of doing things in a particular order. And yes, that does sound a little boring, but there is power in routines. As you build and practice your routines, you are programming your mind and body to do things in a particular order over & over to the point they become automatic. When your mind and body do things automatically, you are saving energy that you were using to think about doing these tasks. With that saved energy you start to become more efficient doing the tasks, which saves you precious time! With that time & energy you are saving by building routines, you may also start to notice other benefits like:
Are you on board and ready to start building your routines? Yes!!
START by setting aside 30 min to 1 hour of uninterrupted time to work on this exercise to outline your daily habits.
Step #1 – List out all the tasks you need to do regularly. Don’t just limit to think weekly daily, but also, monthly, yearly. I mean EVERY TASK. (You can download a template for this above!) Step #2 – Go thru the list and note how frequent task needs to be completed D = Daily W = Weekly M = Monthly Y = Yearly O = Other Step #3 – Think of your day in blocks of time that are minimum an hour. Designating a block of time to doing tasks allows for more tasks bundled together (or a routine!). Start with 3-4 blocks of time for routines
Step #4 – Use the Task List above and specifically the tasks identifed as DAILY and designate these tasks to be completed in one of the 4 routine blocks. Decide which time block works best for you and that task depending on the brain power or level of physical effort needed. (You can download a template below to help you get started)
When you assign a task to a time block, also assign a rough amount of time needed to complete the task. Step #5 – Keep track for 1 week.
You should start to notice that you are doing the tasks without having to refer to the checklist. As you are working to build routines it is a good idea to be CONSISTENT in your wake and sleep times every day of the week. This creates repetition and gets those routines to "stick" faster than if you have different schedules on your off days.
I'd love to hear about your thoughts, tricks and ideas of building your daily routines! Share below!!
Why am I the only one that cleans up after themselves?
I bet that if you are reading this, at some point you have asked yourself that question. Do you feel like you are fighting a battle when it comes to getting your family on-board with organization? Or maybe you get spirts of commitment but they are all to short lived. Maybe your spouse or partner is is the biggest challenge?
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
As a wife of almost 25 years that works full-time and has 2 "almost out of the nest" kids, I have tried LOTS of different tricks and tools over the years to keeping our house straight and clean (notice I did not write perfect or sanitized...). What I have found is that if you follow these 5 tips, give yourself and your family a little grace, then YOU can get more help from your family around the house!
#1: Be honest
Before you lay down the law of how everyone "must start helping more!" I suggest you take a different approach. Gather the family for either a family meeting or just in casual conversation at the dinner table. Be honest with them and speak on their level. "I need your help." Say these words, don't scream them. Look at them in the eye when you say it. I know using this tone and these words will get their attention. You see, we don't realize it, but our families see us as super-beings. We can do it all. It literally never even crosses their mind that you are struggling unless you tell them. It is important as a parent to show honesty and vulnerability. This tells our kids its ok not to be perfect and it's ok to say, "I need help." The next words are important. "We are ALL responsible for taking care of our home." When you don't do your part, it is more on me. When NO one does their part, it is ALL on me and I cannot keep doing everything. Now, I'll stop here to say, if your spouse/partner is the main culprit, then have this heart-to-heart discussion with them first. Once they are on board and supportive, you both talk with the family. Show a united front so the kids know they can't parent shop their way out of doing their part.
#2: Make it easy
We may think every member of our family is brilliant and can figure out any problem, right? Well, it's amazing to me how these brilliant minds become completely helpless when given a task if the steps aren't clear. "Well, you didn't tell me I had to actually use window cleaner on the bathroom mirror, you just told me to clean the mirrors" (and they used the dirty towel that just wiped down their countertop! Urgh!) For their sake and yours, make it easy. Everything has a place. If child of any age knows where the toys go back, it's easy to do that task. If there is no organization or assigned place for things, then there is confusion. Now, don't panic if you're house isn't setup with all the great cubbies, baskets, and bins online. Keep it simple. Example: Clothes are put in drawers or in the closet. They do NOT stay in the basket once they are laundered. Laundry baskets are also great to corral toys; and it's easy for a kid to put away toys in a large basket! It doesn't matter where things go as long as they have a designated spot. Don't overcomplicate. Creating a checklist of 50 tasks is overwhelming for anyone. Think of a few tasks to be done that give you the most "bang for the buck". Break tasks up in blocks of time during the day: Before School, After School and Before Bed. You can download checklist below to help you get started! Teach them how. Again, don't assume everyone just knows how to do things. Take the time to train them. Show them how, have them do it and then correct as needed.
#3: Make it fun!
You know your family. What will inspire them to help?
#4: Make it rewarding
Create a system of rewarding each person for good behavior. It doesn't have to be money, but it can be. A reward system is key to keeping the family motivated and on track to help around the house. Please don't overcomplicate this system (which I have done).
#5: Make it a habit
There is no end to 'helping around the house'. It is a constant need, a continous cycle. As you setup your chores and checklists for family, sort them into repeatable tasks that need to be done daily (like the checklist above), Weekly or Monthly tasks. As the habits form over a few weeks, you can adjust the prizes for the reward system for completing tasks without being told!
To wrap up, the 5 tips are:
#1: Be honest #2: Make it easy #3: Make it fun #4: Make it rewarding #5: Make it a habit I'd love to hear your ideas for getting family to help more around the house! Leave a comment below to share!
You’ve set a goal for this year to get organized! You’ve decluttered a few key areas in your home! That’s great progress and definitely moving in the right direction!
But, are you starting to think, it’s one thing to GET organized, and another to STAY organized? Are you starting to worry if all the effort you are spending to GET organized is going to be a waste? How do you maintain a constant level of organized?? It’s actually pretty simple. Just 1 good habit. Once you develop this habit and consistenly apply it, you will keep clutter under control FOR GOOD!
Ok, so one habit does sound easy, but habits are so hard!
Merriam-Webster definition of Habit as a usual way of behaving; something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way Habits are things we do without really thinking about them. They are routine and have become almost automatic in our subconcious mind. When a habit is formed, it helps us operate more efficiently and use less energy because we have trained our minds to just do the thing. As you set new goals for yourself, you need to take time and examine your habits to see if they are aligned with your goals. If habits align with goals, then you are SET! It’s just a matter of time to meet those goals. However, if you have habits that are not aligned with your goals, then you’ll feel like there are barriers you’re fighting against that make achieving the goal harder. Getting organized starts with first developing habits of getting rid of things you don’t need (or clutter), then stop bringing new things into your home that become clutter.
The ONE HABIT is: ALWAYS BE DECLUTTERING.
Consistently get rid of things you don’t use or need. Make this a daily practice; especially if you are still working through decluttering your home.
Your turn. So, let’s take a few minutes to really examine your current habits. Make a list of no more than 3 habits you do regularly that are NOT aligned with your goal of getting and staying organized. Download a free worksheet below to get started.
Shopping. Was that on your list? How about accepting things from others that you MIGHT use one day? Did that make the list? Both of these examples are habits that bring more clutter into the home and are are NOT aligned with your goal of getting and staying organized.
Now that we've identifed a few habits that need to be aligned, how do you CHANGE a habit?
Habits start with a trigger or cue. Something happens that automatically causes your mind to take action. To change a habit, you must identify the trigger that starts the reaction in your mind. Then, purposefully CHANGE the reaction to the trigger. As you continue to purposefully change the reaction to the trigger, a new habit will form.
For example, you shop because you want some “me” time, or just get out of the house! What is the true trigger? Are you bored, tired, or frustrated? Get below the surface and really identify the trigger here. Now, think of responses or actions other than shopping that are aligned with your goals.
Your turn! Look back to your list of habits. Take a few minutes to really dig deep to identify the triggers of the habits on your list. Then brainstorm a few options for response like the examples above.
From here, you put the new response into practice.
Keep track of yourself over the next few weeks. How many times did you experience the trigger or cue? Were you successful in changing the response? YES?? Then make a note of this success! You are one step closer to your goal!!
If you want faster adoption of the habit, then think of adding a negative consequence when old response happens. For my clients that are in heavy declutter mode; I ask them to adopt this rule in their home:
For every ONE item that comes in the house, TWO must go!
So, if you slip and buy that new top at the store, then TWO tops in your closet must go! this helps put a value on everything you bring in the home. Is that one new top worth losing two? Stay true to this rule by immediately placing 2 items in the Donate box the minute you get home.
I’d love to hear the ideas you brainstormed and how successful you have been at changing your response to trigger! Leave a comment!
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