During the past months, I have had the opportunity to help several individuals uncover very deep emotional trauma that was causing a LOT of clutter in their lives. I want to share some of these experiences and what we did to start healing them. Hopefully, it helps you in your journey.

The real reason you have clutter

If you’re still believing (like I used to!) that your home will suddenly become neater when you just upgrade to that 2 bedroom condo, or maybe even a single-family detached home, then you’ve got some disappointment coming your way.

Think about it for a second.

If your approach to organization is to just keep jamming things into your storage closet until opening the door is an inherently risky operation… then a bigger closet is just putting a longer fuse on that clutter bomb.

If your paper filing system is to make teetering stacks of it on your desk, leaving just enough space for your laptop and your coffee mug… then a bigger desk just means you’ll build that paper pyramid so high it becomes a legitimate class-2 avalanche concern.

The real reason your home isn’t clean

The real reason that your home isn’t clean, is not because it’s too small for the amount of stuff that you have.

Throughout your life, as you went from bunking with your big brother or sister, to sharing an apartment with roommates, to having your own home, the clutter has always followed you into these bigger spaces, hasn’t it?

So, if a bigger home doesn’t mean you’ll have a cleaner home, maybe there’s a better approach to clutter (one that doesn’t require spending $$$ on a bigger home).

A better approach to clutter

An approach that…

… gives you more time for daily joy, instead of daily stress

… lets you get on with the important things in life

… lets you start a new way of life, letting go of the past

The truth is…

There are thousands of people who live this reality each and every day.

But they didn’t get there by dreaming of bigger closets and buying 4,000 sq. ft. homes.

They got there by FIRST adopting the approach that the clutter is tied to themselves, not their space… and then learning the techniques and mindset shifts that opened the gates to more productivity and mental clearness.

They didn’t rely on organizational gimmicks. But the powerful step-by-step process that helped them find the roots of why their clutter had become an issue in their life.

“Great. I get it. But I never learned how to deal with my clutter growing up. Life has always looked like this.” Read about the real reason our client Kim kept resisting a better approach..

The misperception that is holding you back

That’s a topic for our next blog post. This misperception that you should just naturally, instinctively know these things, and if you don’t, well you’d better feel embarrassed asking anyone else how to learn them!

If you have a smaller home or space, rejoice! When you have a clear, organizational system, a smaller space will always be easier to keep tidy and clean than a 4,000 sq. ft. house.

Dealing with emotional attachment to stuff doesn’t have to suck.

Dealing with emotional attachment to stuff is a very common challenge for people journeying through the process of getting organized. Whether you’re feeling stuck, downsizing, moving, or just needing a change in your space – you are not alone. In fact, we’ve explored the topic of why we form attachments in the first place.

Is having emotional attachment to stuff bad?

I hesitate to say a firm no, that having emotional attachment to stuff isn’t bad. However, if you find yourself having an emotional attachment to every object you encounter, I would challenge to ask you if you have a strong understanding of who the real you is?

It is completely normal to have emotional attachment to non-living things. Just look how children form relationships with their favourite toy growing up, playing make believe, having crisis moments when that toy disappears, etcetera. Adults are no different in their ability to create relationships with their belongings – though tantrums are lesser as we age, right?

How can I declutter if I have emotional attachment to stuff?

Set yourself up with the right expectations and go easy on yourself. If you have experienced difficulty with attachment for most of your life, change is not going to happen over night. The good news is that by understanding what you want to achieve, where you want to go, and allowing yourself realistic time to process getting organized, you will.

3 Ways to help declutter through emotional attachment

ONE: Develop the right mindset

Success often lies in understanding the potential outcomes to undertaking your goal to declutter. Now is the time to think about all the positive outcomes that could occur if you get organized. For example, easier to tidy up every day, a bit of revenue gained from selling unwanted items, etc.

In order to avoid major upsets along the way you must also imagine all the challenges that you could face getting organized. For example, dealing with buried grief attached to an inherited item, accepting that money was wasted on impulse purchases, etc.

TWO: Honour your feelings

If you are feeling something when you look at or hold an item, it’s a valid feeling. Make sure you respect yourself during the process of letting go. Nothing is silly, nothing is shameful. Psychologists still don’t fully understand how the mind forms all attachments, so denying your feelings has no place in this process.

However, you are capable of changing the story you always tell yourself around the owning of an object. If you feel guilt looking at a jacket you never wear, but it was a gift from a friend – do you want to continue holding that guilt or are you ready to make room to feel something better?

THREE: Get the right help

You decided what is truly helpful during your decluttering process. Help can come in the form of a friend, time, a professional organizer, meditation, a dumpster bin, a donation centre, an online marketplace, a 30-day challenge, an online course, etcetera.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for processing emotional attachment to stuff. There is beauty in believing that your decluttering process looks different from mine; that Joe’s looks different from Tammy’s. If you are here reading this post – you are already on your journey. Congratulations.

Your stuff doesn’t define who you are

Dealing with emotional attachment to stuff can feel painfully slow and confusing. Remember you ask yourself, why are you getting organized? It’s important to understand your why because it holds the power behind your motivation. The most successful people who get organized and stay organized are fuelled by a why that promotes internal motivation. You have to want to change and do something different, otherwise you are going to remain in that old story. Try our mini-crash course if you would like a deeper explanation in how to get started.

Organizing is a skill that you could learn if you are interested in making self-improvements. If you have ever looked around at others: friends, family, people who have clean, organized homes and thought “wow, they make it look so easy and effortless, it must be so nice to have that come naturally” then you’re doing yourself a disservice.

I wish I learnt this sooner

I wish I had learned this sooner myself, instead of just assuming that I didn’t have the knack for organizing, and I had to accept that my home would always be messy and disorganized. If you believe that some people just have the knack for organizing, and some people–like you–just don’t… then no wonder your sporadic cleaning efforts have never lasted. 

Because the real reason that some people make it look easy, is that… Being organized is a skill.

And skills are something that anyone can learn! Those people who just easily, breezily keep a tidy, uncluttered home, are just flexing those organizational skills that you can learn from our How to Declutter & Organizing Any Space course.

Organizing is a skill you can learn right now

If we can agree that being organized is a skill, then we can realize that… it’s okay not to be an expert right away. No piano player dives right into Chopin, you start with Chopsticks. There is a path you can follow towards mastery. And different people will be at different levels.

Some people were lucky

Their parents taught them these skills at a young age, and they internalized them so that it didn’t even feel like something they ever had to learn. Not all parents and families pass these skills along, but you can still learn these skills later in life.

And I can hear you saying, “Alright, I can learn these skills, but I actually like some of my stuff. I don’t want to have to get rid of my entire wardrobe when I don my minimalist robe.” Well, you don’t have to be a fanatical minimalist to learn a couple of things from the “own less stuff” movement.

Emilio and I both developed our organizing skills through our parents and numerous life experiences. For example, did you know that before the age of 26 I had been employed as a housekeeper, a provincial park maintenance worker, a bartender, a server, a sheep farmer, a kitchen manager, a tour guide, a nanny, an ice cream attendant, a landscaper, a University student, a varsity rugby captain, and the list goes on and on. All of these job opportunities helped me develop my organizing skills across the span of my life. Organizing is a skill and we want you to help you strengthen it with some simple exercises.

3 easy exercises to improve your organizing skills

Discover your organizing style – it’s true, there is an organizing style that probably speaks to you. Even if you don’t consider yourself an organized person – that’s a style of its own! Once you discover the organizing style that feels right for you, you will be more confident in your ability to stay organized. Because here’s the secret, there is no one way to be organized. It’s about finding out what works for you and your family and owning it!

Write in one place – we are personally big fans of Bullet Journaling, but no matter what system you use to write down your ideas, lists, or thoughts; keeping everything in one place is the key for keeping your thoughts organized. I used to use scrap pieces of paper to make my to-do lists and things to remember, but in the end I just had missing pieces of paper everywhere. When I switched to one journal over 5 years ago I stopped losing things, I could reference my ideas better, and generally I was a lot less stressed.

Use a calendar – you can use analog or digital, but start inputting your commitments. You will find yourself becoming better aware of how to manage your time, which is an excellent organizing skill. This is especially beneficial if you find yourself over committing, showing up late or missing appointments.

You’re never too old, or young, to improve your skills

We’re a bit biased when it comes to how important we think organization can be for quality of life. Our personal experiences have demonstrated time and time again that strengthening our organization skills helps us stay resilient to change and ready for opportunities. We believe that you can do it too and we are here to support you on your journey. Come join our private facebook group for support.

Best videos for inspiring hope by Green Renaissance

In an online world where it has become increasingly difficult to see uplifting and hopeful stories, Green Renaissance from South Africa is filling this gap in a big way. Maybe you have already been suggested to watch one of their beautifully filmed short stories. I felt strongly that our audience would not only enjoy these videos, but they would also feel full and content after watching them.

Green Renaissance in their own words is “passionate filmmakers, living off-grid and dedicating our time to making films that we hope will inspire and share positivity out into the world.” Not only are these videos made consistently, but they are being produced now and reflect the times we are currently living in, yet the messages are timeless. The videos focus on simplicity, lifestyle choices, family, relationships, and environment.

Green Renaissance’s videos help with letting go of stuff

No word of a lie, but I was doing some annual decluttering in my bedroom and closet, while I sorted through belongings I had Green Renaissance on the playlist. I couldn’t tell you how many times I felt joy, overwhelming emotion, and validation with the stories they told. Listening to the videos about living simply really helped me make the choice to keep or let go way easier.

Watch the first that caught my eye Being Simply Beautiful which they describe as “stuff everywhere! Bags, clothes, cars, iPads. We love our stuff. And over time, we’ve come to believe that this ‘stuff’ is what defines who we are. But our possessions will never fully satisfy the inmost desires of our soul. They never have. And they are not about to start. In fact, most of the time, it distracts us from the very things that bring meaning to our lives.”

Green Renaissance’s validation for moving slower

From decluttering my belongings to moving into truly appreciating the simple joys of life – their videos kept sending me these overwhelming messages of calmness, contentment, and belongings. You see the videos that are created by Green Renaissance confirm that there are more (many more) of us humans out there who don’t require stuff to feel happy. The stories being shared are coming from real people across a diverse field who share and say the things I hear in myself almost daily.

I was forwarded this wonderful video by my good friend Mandy called Grounded in Realness. They describe the video as “All too often life can feel like a competition to see who is the busiest. Our lives are filled with rushing, stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. Being overworked has become a marker of success, and it’s difficult to resist getting caught up in the wave. We’re less in tune with our bodies and minds and there’s little time left over to simply ‘be’.”

My favourite watches from Green Renaissance

• Do What You Love – Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. And above all, do what you love.
• Unplugged – Something is amiss and we can’t quite put our finger on what. It seems that the further our society progresses, the more disenfranchised we feel. And although the digital world is compelling and absorbing, having a conversation without a phone in our hand, a headphone in our ear, or a screen in the background is the real art of being human.
• Soul Animals – There is something magical about horses. If you spend any amount of time with them this becomes quickly apparent. But what sets them apart? How are they so intuitive? Why do they touch our hearts so deeply? It’s a feeling that is often difficult to put into words.
• How Much Is Enough? – We’re encouraged to seek out success, wealth, and material possessions, against which we measure our status, self-worth, and happiness. We continually strive to achieve these things, but when we get them, we feel only a fleeting sense of happiness before setting our sights on the next thing. And this pursuit of ‘stuff’ often comes at the sacrifice of our physical, mental, and emotional health. 

Time well spent filling your cup

It feels good to watch something that leaves you with hope in your belly. I cannot thank Green Renaissance enough for sharing their passion for positive storytelling. I hope you find value in watching their videos and please share widely. The world could all use more love and kindness.

Recently, Samantha was invited by CTV News to share KW Professional Organizers’ tips on spring cleaning and decluttering. With the spring season right around the corner many may be looking to kick start their spring cleaning and decluttering, but sometimes figuring out where to start can be overwhelming. Here’s the truth: there is no one-size-fits-all answer here.

Our rule for choosing a place to start is tackle the space that BUGS you the most. However, there are common mistakes we all make while getting ready for decluttering so here’s how you can avoid them.

Avoid these 4 common mistakes

1. Ignoring your frustrations – try to avoid investing all that time in spring cleaning and decluttering without getting rid of the stuff that really bugs you. Like the pieces of paper always falling off the fridge or the pile of shoes that trip you every time you come in the door. If it helps try to visualize that if you could snap your finger what would be the one place that you would like to eliminate all your frustrations? Is it the kitchen? The closet? The spot might be as simple as a drawer or the entire garage.
   
   
2. Not thinking it through – the easiest way to fix this common mistake is to answer some questions: What’s the ideal outcome? What would you like for this space? What activities do you want to do there? How do you want to feel in that space?
   
   
3. Comparanoia – let go of comparing yourself and your spaces to others. You can avoid this habit by minimizing scrolling on social media. Remember, the best results are going to come from your true desires – not your neighbours.
   
   
4. Shopping – there is no need to buy until you’ve completed your spring cleaning and decluttering. When you have completed your decluttering – then it is maybe time to look for a product if one is missing. We can’t tell you how many clients we have that are shocked by how little they needed to feel well in their tidy home.
   
   

Basic decluttering rules to keep in mind

Time. If you are like most of us and before we started organizing in 2012 we used to be a little over-optimistic when it came to scheduling enough time to spring clean and decluttering. It’s a real thing called planning fallacy. A good rule of thumb is to always add 2 hours to whatever you estimate.

Activities. Design your spaces to suit what you’re going to be doing in that space. For example, if you’re a painter and all your stuff is always tucked up on the top shelf of a closet the likelihood of you being able to use it is pretty low. Whereas if you can set up your space with some art supplies in a nice space where you have access to it you’re more likely going to enjoy and partake in that activity more often.

What’s the secret of keeping things from getting cluttered?

Know that this process always looks worse before it gets better. Make sure you offer yourself permission to really ask, “are all the things in our space bringing us value? do we really need all of these things?”

When you know everything in your space has value then you can create permanent homes for those items. It’s having a permanent home that makes tidy-up time so quick and easy. For example, the keys hang here, the books go on this shelf and fit, the clothes all fit in the drawers, and the extra toilet paper is stored here, etc.

Kindergarten classrooms are the best example of how items have permanent homes. This method is demonstrated every day when the children know exactly where to return their toys. Art supplies are in this corner, books are in the reading zone, and building blocks go in this box, etcetera.

Having permanent homes doesn’t mean that there will be no mess. Let’s be serious – sometimes it looks like a hurricane has gone through the room, but having designated spots to return everything is the secret to keeping things from getting cluttered.

Where’s one place in your home that is tidy?

Remember, no matter how big or how small, everyone has the ability to be organized. So enjoy this spring cleaning and give yourself time to declutter the spaces that are really irritating you – the results will be better than you could have imagined 😊

It’s not uncommon to wake up, look around and say to yourself, “I can’t do this. I just want to stay in bed.” There is no shame in feeling like your home or life is or has become cluttered. You are not alone. Heck, if you were alone in this struggle there wouldn’t be national associations of professional organizers all over the world. From Canada to the US, the United Kingdom to Korea, Japan to Brazil, these associations only exist because people just like you also can get themselves into a cluttered mess and need help to regain balance.

We have written previously about how understanding your basic needs can help lead you to calm the chaos that a cluttered life can bring. However, the following is a practical way for helping to focus your energy on keeping things simple.

First, identify where the cluttered feelings come from

Like any good problem solver, we first need to identify what area is causing the most frustration. It could be an obvious answer to physical clutter throughout the home or it could be mental clutter caused by scheduling, people in your life, or work demands. Feeling cluttered can appear in many areas of your life, not just physical stuff. If you need convincing evidence, you can watch our video on the effects of having a decluttering and organize space.

Try this exercise. If you could snap your fingers and change one thing in your life magically, what would it be?

Examples:

All the items in my home have a permanent storage place and everything looks tidy.

My email inbox is at zero.

All the meals for the week are prepped and ready to serve with minimal effort.

How to prepare yourself to fix feeling cluttered

After completing the exercise above you now have an area where you need to place your focus. Keep in mind though that you are more likely to be successful when you are feeling well yourself. Some may say that it’s a “chicken before the egg” situation, but when in doubt – always fill your cup up before taking on a big project or life change.

Love yourself some more – you’ll find more success

1. Sleep – are you getting enough, good quality sleep? If the answer is no, try making some changes such as starting a bedtime routine, eliminating screen time before bed, feeling comfortable where you sleep, trying a sleep aid like an eye-mask, sound machine, or earplugs.

    

2. Breath – sounds crazy right? Of course, you’re breathing. However, there is a big difference between breathing unconsciously and mindfully exercising your lung muscles. There are many guided meditations or breathing practices that you can follow along to for 5 minutes a day which can really help you get into a relaxed state. All of this in turn can help you tackle more challenging projects.

3. Food – it’s not about what or how much you eat, but we believe it’s important for you to enjoy your food. So no matter what you consume, are feeling well? If no, consider making a change here. And we highly recommend removing any stress associated with food, if you’re challenged with this suggestion make sure to read our resources around meal planning.

4. Time – has your calendar drastically changed since the impact of Covic-19? Potentially you are facing more or less free time, more or less isolation, more or less work. We mention time because our time really affects how we set our expectations. Now is the time to recognize the power you have over decided where you spend your time. For a great exercise on this try designing your ideal week. 

You can do this!

Take your time and recognize that change will happen in small, intentional steps. Leave us a comment below about how feeling cluttered affects your life – we’re here to help.

Since the onslaught of COVID-19, we have been asked repeatedly how to best create your home office and ideal workspace. You may very well be reading this post from your own desk at home right now. And, we want to help you get set up for success by sharing the idea of what having a minimalist desk is all about.

Minimalist Desk Examples:

A minimalist desk can look like this:

But a minimalist desk can also look like this:

Does this seem confusing? Don’t worry, many people often misunderstand that minimalism doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to own anything. But in fact, minimalism is about removing what is no longer important in your life to reveal what is truly important for you to function the way you love. Read more about defining minimalism. And if you would prefer, listen to Emilio’s audio version.

So in the first photo, you can see that Emilio’s desk is simple and fun, not a lot to his murphy-style minimalist desk. And in the second photo, there are a lot of items in and around the desk, but all of them are again necessary for creativity.

How do I create my own minimalist desk?

We’re glad you asked. By following the steps we’ve outlined below you can create your own minimalist desk in a matter of minutes or hours, depending on what activities you’re doing in your workspace. Meaning that if you’re a laptop user and coffee drinker your desk will be easier to create than the woodcarver who has hundreds of necessary tools.

4 Steps to a Minimalist Desk

1. Decide – you can do this in your mind or on paper, but create a list of activities that you are going to do while at your desk (this helps you understand what physical items you might need or how much clear space you require)

2. Eliminate – find the table, desk, or area that you are going to use as your minimalist desk and take everything off of that space. You are going to set these items aside and decide one-by-one what will go back (remember to use the list you just created if you get stuck on tough items)

3. Store – now’s the time to find the right homes for the items your keeping. Often times you will never need to buy products, you probably have what you need around the home, so get creative.

4. Keep Tidy – maintenance is the most neglected strategy for having a great workspace. Try integrating a daily tidy-up of 5 minutes either morning or evening that every item returns to its proper home and used mugs go back to the kitchen sink. 

By using the D.E.S.K. acronym you can create a workspace that works for you and the work you do. Your minimalist desk is waiting to be discovered and only you know what will work best. And remember that you can always change and pivot as your needs change with the times.

Working from home can be a real blessing when you feel inspired by the place that you camp out, so take some time and create your minimalist desk. Love minimalism, but your workspace is fine? Find more inspiration in our minimalist solutions post. We look forward to seeing what you create. Leave us a comment below and we’ll be sure to answer quickly.

Let’s solve your daily frustrations with minimalist solutions that don’t cost money.

Big changes can occur with simple ideas. 

We recently presented a workshop on the topic of Minimalist Solutions to Every Day Frustrations. We broke the ideas down based on the 7 Ingredients for an Extraordinary Life (if you haven’t read our book, you can buy it here). Those 7 ingredients are Body, Mind, Work, Social, Family, Stuff, and Giving Back. Those headings are to help guide us in discovering our frustrations. 

So, take 3 deep breaths and shake some part of your body.

Now, think about your daily life, your routine or lack of routine. Do you have any frustrations that come to mind?

Example: Not having enough motivation to exercise, impulsive shopping, too many activities and feeling overwhelmed, poor relations with family members, etcetera.

The acknowledgment of these frustrations is not meant to make you feel bad. Once you can identify a frustration you are then more able to take steps to eliminate them. And if you can’t think of any frustrations that’s okay too. Smile and be proud that you’re in a good place.

Scroll to the area that matches your frustration.

BODY 

In order to feel well each one of us will need different amounts of sleep, food, and exercise. If one of those areas are being neglected it can leave us feeling frustrated with our Body. The following are 3 minimalist solutions to help get you back on track.

MIND 

It’s a power centre and requires attention to stay healthy. Some of us need more stimulation and others require a pull at the emergency breaks. 

STUFF 

If you want to take steps to evaluate your belongings please start by reading our post on decluttering.  

FAMILY 

The best minimalist suggestion we have for you is to communicate. If face-to-face visits are challenging or physically impossible then we recommend writing letters, making phone calls, or a digital version of both. Also, preserving memories can be a very healing and happy experience.

SOCIAL 

Take a moment right now and ask yourself, “Do I need more social activities or less social activities?” There is no magic number, everyone needs different amounts of social engagement. The following suggestions will help you be accountable and have some fun. 

WORK 

A vast majority of us will spend a good chunk of our time on work. Whether you work 9 to 5, shift work, or are seeking a new position our suggestion remains the same.

GIVING BACK 

The final area. An area of your life that should come when you feel you are ready to give your energy away. We don’t recommend jumping into this when you aren’t feeling able to look after yourself. Avoid burn-out or compassion fatigue by making sure your cup is full before Giving Back.

We believe that this can be one of the most rewarding areas of your life. The easiest way to be able to do it often and with intention is by looking after yourself and trying to stay away from frustrations in your own life. Also, giving back is a great way to gain perspective, maybe even feel a bit more gratitude. 

If you’re currently not in a position to give back consider accepting help from someone around you. Accepting help can be a great way to catapult yourself into feeling well again, which will then put you in a better position to give back to others. Do you see? It’s a beautiful ripple effect. So the only minimalist solution for this area of your life is to look after yourself so that you’re then able to look after others. 

Advice for Helping Someone Who Has Clutter.

We get asked a lot, “How can I help someone who has clutter?”

Finally, I compiled our top 6 pieces of advice. And like with all advice, take the pieces that speak to you and leave the rest. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions when it comes to clutter. Relationships can also vary greatly which might alter your approach. For example, our advice for someone you live with is much different than for someone you work with.

And if you do know someone with clutter the best behaviours you can have towards them are: being empathetic & showing concern, setting clear limits, and using a great deal of patience.

The most problematic behaviours you can have towards them are: being frustrated, supporting the disorder, making excuses for a loved one, and associating relationship dissatisfaction.

Either way, here are some tips. 

1. Acknowledge Who Has the Problem

The truth is that often times the issue with things is really your own. So first we want to make sure everyone is on the same page about how we define clutter and next, what levels are considered to be a safety issue. Compare some spaces visually using The Clutter Image Rating Scale — anything that compares to a 5 or higher on the scale is an indicator that clutter could be a problem.

If you share the spaces with this person, but it turns out they’re not too high on the clutter image rating scale, then maybe you need to relax your expectations. Setting boundaries for your own space will also help everyone maintain spaces that they can enjoy. Remember, it’s not a crime to be messy or have piles… some people, in fact, enjoy “crowded” spaces, but it’s Okay to ask that your areas are not affected. 

2. Use Inspiration to Create Change

One of the most difficult steps in the process of clearing clutter is actually letting it go. Often times the person with clutter knows they want to change, but still find it challenging to get started (or even talk about it). We’ve found that starting with motivational stories and videos can sometimes be a great tool for starting a conversation. Here are 4 Ted Talks that really get the juices flowing.

3. Can They See Their Clutter?

Clutter blindness is a real condition. Over time we get used to our environment and become “blind” the potential issues that affect others, but not ourselves… well, at least we think it doesn’t affect us. One exercise we use with our clients to help them see their clutter is this: We meet at a neutral location, like a cafe, and show them a photograph of their space. Often times they’re shocked at what they see, which wasn’t obvious to them when they were actually in their space. Here are 3 signs that a person could have clutter blindness.

4. Their Stuff is Important

We absolutely have to stress the importance of you understanding what it’s like to be in their shoes. It is very important that you don’t minimize their attachment to their belongings. Remember the old adage, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” You may not fully understand the reasons why they keep what they do, but it’s important to recognize they at one time or another valued it. Here is a great video for learning about why we keep stuff we don’t need.

When you come from a place of respect for their belongings trust can be established. Establishing trust is very important for helping them move forward with deciding what stays and what goes. And from there, they are more likely able to agree to boundaries and find homes for the items they truly use and love.

5. Help Them See the Costs of Clutter

We don’t know many people who enjoy losing money, time, or energy. Helping a person find ways to eliminate frustrations and save more money, time, and energy could be your gateway into helping them deal with their clutter. Here are some great tools to help you with that.

6. Promote Their Passion

The number one reason we have found success with clients overcoming their clutter is because they see the potential to pursue their passions. When the clutter is gone, there is more time and space to do the things they love. So help them remember the things that make them happy. Here is a great tool to get started. When people start doing things they love, somehow harder tasks (like letting go of clutter) become easier to accomplish because there is light at the end of the tunnel.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions for clutter. However, hopefully, you have found some starting points that can assist you in your journey. If you enjoy listening to advice here is a video of Emilio sharing an experience he had at a workshop.  

Intentional living in a 7-Day Challenge

Your life is busy… and life can sometimes feel overwhelming. We want to help you shed those feelings and spring forward with the season. That’s why Kitchener Public Library asked us to come up with the 7-day challenge to help you get started.

Since 2012, we have been partnering with Kitchener Public Library, generously leading free workshops to share education about everything and anything to do with organizing, minimalism, and self care. We want to empower you to feel and be your best. If you’re not looking for videos, but trying to live more in the present moment we suggest you read our other posts.

Are you ready? Try some or all of these:

About the Video Tutorials

We all learn in different ways. Some of us are better learners with visuals, some of us with written instructions. We created video tutorials to go along with each of the challenges to help you get a bit more instruction if you’d like it.

Want more help? Watch the videos below.

Day 1 SOCIAL  

Day 2 FAMILY   

Day 3 STUFF   

Day 4 GIVING BACK   

Day 5 BODY   

Day 6 MIND   

Day 7 WORK

You define your family.

Make a phone call today to someone you want to catch up with.

Watch the video below to get further details and explanations.

Think of three things you’re grateful for.

Afterward, go out of your way to do something selfless. Big or small, you decide.

Watch the video below to get further details and explanations.

You can meditate.

Protect 5 minutes for this practice sometime throughout your day.

Watch the video below to get further details and explanations.

Why We Love Our Library:

Our library not only encouraged us to create the 7-day challenge, but staff also participated in the challenge.

At Kitchener Public Library, they are committed to great customer service.

Here is their customer service promise:

People are at the centre of all they do. Everyone is welcome and each person is valued. They listen carefully, anticipate and quickly respond to needs, and always do their best to put “Yes” before “No”. Their goal is outstanding customer service.

This means:

• They work together as a team and look forward to trying new things.
• They’re committed to updating their knowledge and skills in order to deliver service that surprises, enriches, and delights.
• They design for the experience of customers in every new initiative they take on.

Being lazy doesn’t mean you can’t be organized.

There are days, even weeks, where even the smallest effort is difficult to achieve.

And for this reason, I asked my friends and family for their go-to lazy ways to stay organized. I knew that with the upcoming change in our lifestyle, having a baby, I would need all the help I could get with staying organized when sleep and time seemed to disappear.

You define what being organized means, but here are some lazy tips to get you there.

They are in no particular order. Find something that speaks to your organizing style and apply it.

Take on Less.  

Keep things simple and clear that calendar. When was the last time you really took an audit of where you spend your time? It’s a lot more exciting when you look at the day ahead and get excited, rather than dreading the things you have planned. Remember, if you’re not intentional with your time, someone else will determine how you spend it.

Own Less.

The less you own, the less work and maintenance you will be responsible for. It’s easier to clean up when there isn’t so much in your way. It’s faster to get going when you don’t require as many things to bring with you. There is always more time when you’re not shopping for the next and best things. It’s easier to be lazy when you own less.

Do Things in the Moment.

Don’t let the work pile up. If you can get it done in less than 5 minutes DO IT NOW. And consider whether you need to be saying “yes” all the time. Flex that “No” muscle and buy yourself some time to consider whether you’re giving too much of yourself to other people’s agendas.

Hire Help.

Are you fortunate enough to afford some help? Sometimes we don’t even consider this option because who would want to be my virtual assistant? Who would want to clean up my home? Trust us, there is someone out there willing and happy to do that work for you. And sometimes they just what you need to be able to carve out some much needed time for you.

Clean Up After Yourself.

Put that book back where it belongs. Wipe off that knife and cutting board right away. It’s all those small little tasks that can be done quickly that often are the jobs that, if left unfinished, pile up into clutter and hours of work. 

Don’t Procrastinate the Small Stuff.

Make that phone call. Pay that bill. Plan your meals for the week. Those tasks that take the smallest of efforts save your future self enormous amounts of time. Try it, your lazy self will thank you.

Write Things Down.

This can’t be any clearer. Our only suggestion is that you use one place to do it. Whether it be your phone, a whiteboard, a bullet journal, or your hand — write down what you want to get done. It will help protect your brain from mental clutter when you forget what you wanted to do.

Share Your Calendar.

Going digital isn’t easy for everyone, but if you can get on board with a digital calendar you’ll save yourself a lot of frustrations. Less time being late, fewer apologies for missing an event, and more aware of where your spending your time.

Maybe you’re already applying most of these suggestions or you have better suggestions, please share them in the comments below. Again, I felt I wanted to share what was given to me by my inner circle because they’re definitely all amazing people, doing amazing things. I had to laugh when one of my friends made the suggestion “Don’t Have Children!” It rings true because they are a new parent themselves, but I have to say they certainly get a lot accomplished with their newest family member — something I believe can only happen when you have a bit of organization on your side. 

Some might think that the word lazy is a negative one, but I actually think we could all use a lazy revolution. Time to slow down and prioritize what is really important. Let go of the things we don’t really need to be doing and focus on what is important to us. For some, myself included, it might be a well-deserved nap, a session of starring at the wall, or putting that project off just a little while longer until you feel ready.

Happy organizing!

Time to Parent By Julie Morgenstern

I would like to share a great resource that I discovered a month ago. It’s Julie Morgenstern’s new book Time to Parent. Samantha saw it on the library shelf and I read it right away.

In this book, Julie helps us organize our lives to bring out the best in our children and in ourselves. Such good timing because we just had our first baby girl 2 weeks ago! 

I LOVED this book so much and I did learn a LOT of new strategies that I will certainly use in my personal life, and will include them in my tool kit to use while helping others.

One of the main challenges that all parents are facing is time management. Having a child is very demanding (I just discovered that 2 weeks ago 🙂 ) and finding time to get it all done could be very overwhelming (but possible…).

On top of this chaos, we all know that we “should” include time for self care to recharge our own batteries. Self… what? Give me a break! I don’t have time for that! (if that’s your brain reacting… keep reading and you will find a few great ideas to make it possible).

Well, that’s what Julie has done in this book. She has created an instruction manual to manage yourself and your kids efficiently. She has created a very clear and practical job description for parenting.

If you are not a reader, Julie has also created a wonderful podcast that you can enjoy on the go. I have included all the episodes below for your convenience 🙂

Julie has created a very practical blueprint where she divides the time into two main categories:

1. Raising a Human Being
2. Being a Human Being

Raising a Human Being

These are the four core responsibilities you need to allocate your time across to be an efficient parent:

• Provide (basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, safety, education, money)
• Arrange (schedules, transportation, paperwork, activities, social life)
• Relate (listening, soothing, reflecting, talking, enjoying, playing)
• Teach (values, life skills, self-control, social skills)

Everything you do as a parent falls into one of these buckets.

Being a Human Being

There are four essentials of self care required to make sure that you are taking care of yourself, so that you can be the best parent for your child.

• Sleep (enough rest to rejuvenate your body, mind, and energy)
• Exercise (physical activity is essential for body and mind)
• Love (romance, friends, adult time, and extended family)
• Fun (hobbies, passions, things you care about)

You may not be able to spend as much time on each of these as you did before kids, but you must find your own recipe that includes the things that you need to feel better and be the best parent you can be. 

We wrote a hardcover book to help you find your own recipe to live an extraordinary life. Combining our method with Julie’s approach, you can find the time and the strategies to make it happen. Learn more about our book “A Recipe for an Extraordinary Life” here.

Julie has done a lot of research and has invited a lot of professionals into the podcast, so that you get their opinions and what the experts say.

Conclusion

If you want to be a better parent and manage your time better, you can benefit from reading the Time to Parent book. Even if you are not a parent, you can still learn a lot of strategies that will help you improve your life.

The free Podcast is a great addition, Julie talks about every part of the book and then she invites people into the show, they share their specific challenge(s), and Julie helps them find a solution (I have included all the episodes below).

It was very inspiring to me, so I am sure that you may find a lot of value in this resource.

Enjoy and please let us know how it goes!

Time to Parent Podcast Episodes

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo – Full Review plus recommendations for better videos of the The Konmari Method

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo Netflix Trailer

You will either love or hate the Netflix production of “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”, where you get to see the Konmari method in action with 8 different families. This is the official trailer:

In every episode (under 45 min/each) you will get to see Marie Kondo demonstrating her Konmari method explained in her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up“.

• Episode 1: Tidying with Toddlers
• Episode 2: Empty Nesters
• Episode 3: The Downsizers
• Episode 4: Sparking Joy After a Loss
• Episode 5: From Students to Improvements
• Episode 6: Breaking Free from a Mountain of Stuff
• Episode 7: Making Room for Baby
• Episode 8: When 2 (messes) Become One

After hearing and reading SO MUCH about this, we decided to watch all the episodes and take notes 🙂 We are always excited to explore resources and new ideas.

I (Emilio) did write a very in-depth article about her book, the Konmari method, and how it compares with the method that we follow. Read the full article here.

Anything that creates a reaction is good!

Since Marie Kondo´s book became a best-seller, she has sold over 6 million of books around the world in many different countries. This proves that tidying and getting organized is a worldwide interest.

We totally agree with this. Why? Because since we published our first online course “How to Declutter and Organize Any Space” back in 2016, we have had a consistent amount of students enrolling every week. Right now there are 3346 students enrolled in our courses from 113 countries! Clutter is a worldwide problem. If you have clutter, you are not alone.

Marie Kondo has done a wonderful job of bringing awareness to the industry of Professional Organizing.

Many people love the Konmari method, and many others don’t like some of her ways of doing things. We believe that anything that creates a reaction is worth exploring 🙂

If you are curious about the topic of this show, we strongly recommend that you watch the 8 episodes (available on Netflix). You will learn a LOT for sure. Most likely there will be things that you don’t agree with, but if you keep an open mind and only take the stuff and ideas that can help you, most people can benefit from it.

If you have no problem with clutter, you feel great in your home, and you don’t need someone else to tell you how you can tidy your stuff, maybe this show is not for you. But… if you are reading this far, I bet you that you are at least curious about this… am I right? 🙂

A professional organizers’ opinion 

I (Emilio) want to share with you what we (as professional organizers) think about these episodes, the main takeaways, and the things that we thought were missing.

This is just our opinion, and we recommend you to watch the show with an open mind.

The first episode was our least favorite. To be honest, we almost gave up on watching the rest of the episodes. We were disappointed with the episode because it didn’t show the main steps of the process (as defined in her book) and it skipped important parts like paperwork (one of the most time-consuming parts of the decluttering process).

We decided to watch all the episodes doesn’t matter how we felt, and it was a good idea. The show got better after every episode and after watching the 8 episodes, we were able to see how the Konmari method was implemented in different environments, with different family situations, and different life events that we can all face during our lives.

These are some notes we took while watching the episodes:

Episode 1: Tidying with Toddlers

• Introducing herself to the house. This is something that you will see in every episode. Marie has a ceremony where she takes a few minutes to introduce herself to the house by kneeling on the floor. Sometimes she does it alone and sometimes she invites others to join her. Some people may think that this is weird. I like to see it as a ceremony that helps her get ready for the session, set her intention, and get into the right mindset.

• Spark Joy. This is the most known from Marie’s method. When she asks this question, she just wants to make sure that the items you keep will be relevant for your life moving forward. She doesn’t want to force you to let go, she just wants to make sure that you question everything in your home. 

• Saying thank you to items before letting them go. This practice could be also seen as weird. From my perspective, she is just practicing gratitude. There are so many studies out there that prove how powerful practicing gratitude can be. So when doing this process of deciding, I think that being grateful can help you to feel better and more confident. I also think that it’s an opportunity for closure. Because many items trigger emotions, saying thank you is a way for you to give yourself the permission that you need to let that item go. It can also be an opportunity for you to understand why you are having difficulties, and become aware.

• Giving unwanted items a new life. Most of the episodes don’t really talk about how to deal with unwanted items. And a lot of times people say “throw that away”, or “garbage” when referring to things that are still in good condition. In a video that I have included below, you will see that she mentions the importance of selling and donating your unwanted items, and not disposing of things that are still usable.

Episode 2: Empty Nesters

• One of the things that we loved most from this episode was to see the husband’s transformation. At the beginning of the process, you could tell from his body language and attitude that he wasn’t interested in this process, that he was doing it only for his wife. Happy wife, happy life. But after a few sessions, it was pretty amazing to see how he changed, and how much he valued the process at the end. 

• I loved when Marie Kondo introduced herself to the house and the entire family knelt on the ground together.  Having the entire family closing their eyes and setting the intention together is very powerful!

• When facing the clothes pile, she had a LOT of work to do! From our experience, many people cannot find the time, strength, and focus to do such a big task on their own. We felt that Marie Kondo gave them a quick lesson, but then she left all the mess behind for her to tackle on her own. If it’s an emotional process, having help is very helpful.

Episode 3: The Downsizers

• We really liked this episode. It’s such a nice family of 4. Parents are very young and all the members are involved in the process of making the most of their new small apartment.

• Great to see how family dynamics can influence how everybody participates. In this case, all the organizing and household chores fell on the mom, because she was the only one who knew where everything was. It’s very liberating for her to be able to create systems that everybody understands and can participate in.

• This episode also shows how important it is to respect each other’s treasures.

Episode 4: Sparking Joy After a Loss 

• This episode starts with a clear definition of the “why” (why she is doing this process) and the lifestyle that she wants to live. This is such an important step that needs to happen before getting started with the tidying process. 

• It’s all about keeping what you love, not being forced to let go.

• She defined this process as therapeutic. When you are dealing with your belongings, you are also facing your life, your emotions, the decisions you made… physical items can trigger a lot of emotions, and you need the time, space, and support to cope with them.

• There were a couple of things that we did notice from this episode. She was having a hard time dealing with her husband’s clothes, and we sensed that she didn’t get enough emotional help. We also sensed her being ready to tackle her husband’s clothes, but she was “forced” to follow the order and do books instead of emotional items. In this case, we would have changed the order for sure.

Episode 5: From Students to Improvements

• We loved this couple so much! They were very sweet, loving, and supportive of each other.

• This episode also does a really good job of finding “why” they are doing this, and having them both on the same page.

• In this episode, you can see how much one person relates to clothes, and how much the other relates to books. Deciding what stays and what goes is more difficult with the things that you value most. This is why Marie insists on doing sentimental items last.

Episode 6: Breaking Free from a Mountain of Stuff 

• This episode shows how much tension can be created due to clutter and disorganization. Once family dynamics have formed and stayed for a long time, being able to find a way to change them can be very difficult. Having an external person acting as a mediator is essential to be able to move forward. That’s one of the biggest reasons why people hire professional organizers.

• It’s not magic! She was asking Marie to do her magic, and her response was that there is no magic, you need to be ready for change and you have to do the hard work.

• She is having a very hard time with her clothes. She doesn’t want to let go of clothes that don’t fit her. She is concerned that she will need to spend money in the future to replace them. That she may need them. This wasn’t addressed in the episode, but we sensed that she was “hoping” to fit in those clothes again. Most likely she was feeling a lot of pressure when going through her clothes because they were reminding her of her current size. If she can get back in shape, she may be able to fit again in them! In this case, we always recommend not to let them go, but not to keep them in the space that you use every day. Maybe storing them somewhere else, using labels, and dating them can be a good step. You can go back and revisit those clothes in the future and you will be aware of how much time has passed. This way, they are not taking important space in your closet.

• As we were watching the episode, especially when doing the garage, it was very clear to us that more communication between the couple was needed. There was too much tension, and there wasn’t a clear common vision. She was referring to “This place is going to get in shape”, but “in shape” can mean something very different to each of them.

• It’s so important to involve children in the process, especially when going through toys.

• This process is not about letting go of things. It’s about keeping only what sparks joy. It also mentions the importance of the balance between space and stuff. The end goal is to keep what you like and need and to make sure that you can have easy access to these things.

• This process has brought them closer together.  She says: “there is some mental space that has been cleared out during this process”. This shows the strong connection that exists between physical and mental clutter.

Episode 7: Making Room for Baby

• This episode shows great communication between the couple. They both define a very clear vision. Very inspiring!

• You are facing your past and all the emotions that you experienced while going through your belongings. That’s why this process can be so draining emotionally and mentally speaking.

• In this episode, we both felt that he wasn’t relating to the “spark joy” question. This moment is when he finds the old mailbox of the house. They have a new one, but he was keeping this one, and he was having a hard time deciding. When Marie asked him “does this spark joy” you could see that he wasn’t relating to the question. He then explained why this mailbox meant so much to him, then Marie asked him “Does this item belong in your life moving forward?”, and that was a way better question that he could understand, and finally permit himself to let it go because he has a new one that serves the purpose. This is a great example of how items can trigger past emotions, and how important, and therapeutic, it is allowing for some time and closure.

• Another great moment was when he faced all his shoes (over 160 pairs). We all knew that sneakers would be a very difficult and sentimental category to face. He admitted that he had over $10.000 in credit card debt. He admitted that most of those shoes were still brand new. He always admired Athletes so much. By buying sneakers he felt better. There is always a deep reason why we do what we do. When facing difficult items (like sneakers for him), we are facing a LOT of emotions that we need to deal with. You may need time and space. He wasn’t ready at the beginning to deal with them, but after doing the process in other areas of his house, he then felt more confident and strong to face his sneakers and all the emotions that came with them. Great job!

• By the end of the episode, they were both saying how this process made them stronger and how much more free time they now have! Bravo!

Episode 8: When 2 (messes) Become One

• This lovely couple is on the same page. They moved together into the same home and they want to start a new chapter of their lives together and organized.

• It’s very important to understand how you use your space now, what you like, and what you don’t like. This will help you understand what to improve and how.

• This episode shows the importance of creating your own space, especially when sharing a space with a person that organizes differently than you. They say: “Everything got a lot better when we designated our own spaces. It promoted our individuality.” “We gained a deeper respect for each other’s belongings”.

• Clothes are a very emotional category to one of them. When diving deeper into the feelings, we discover that she was very close to her grandmother, she loved clothes, and clothes remind her of her grandma. That’s why she is so attached to clothes.

• They defined this process as therapeutic. “It was therapeutic and allowed us to know each other better. It’s a lifestyle change!”

Something better than the Netflix Show

I have done a little research online and I found these 2 episodes that Marie Kondo did in New York City.

Honestly, I think that they did a way better job of showing the actual process. I find these videos more natural and real. They also do a way better job of explaining the different steps of the process.

Tidy Up with KonMari – Episode 1 in New York City with Gina Kruger (28 min)

Tidy Up with KonMari – Episode 2 in New York City with Emily Newhouse (28 min)

We all have different motivations in life, but we all need to have a home, a home that facilitates the lifestyle that we want to live. When our home is not serving us due to clutter, disorganization, chaos… this will impact our lives profoundly. 

Shows like this one are great tools to help you question what you have, why you have it, and how you can make your home better.

It’s great to see so many people motivated to watch these episodes, read her books, and comment about her method. Like any other resource, you will find good stuff and stuff that you don’t like. Take what you can use and let go of the rest 🙂

From our professional perspective, this is a great tool to use with any individual or family who may feel inspired to get started with the tidying process. It doesn’t matter how you get there, or what tools you use. What matters is that you reach your desired destination.

Please let us know what you think about this blog and let us know how your tidying process go.

And remember that we are here if you need help. 

P.S. Did you know that we created an 8 part mini-series called Judie’s Story? You will see us helping Judie declutter and organize her entire apartment. Then, we have included 4 bonus episodes where we dive into time management, personal finances, and the maintenance piece that comes after this process. You can watch the trailer below.

Judie’s Story

Watch for Free!  On our Academy  /   Watch on Youtube

Decision Fatigue is Real, Make Life Simple

That’s right. Your decision making muscle gets tired too!

I’m not good at choosing what to wear in the morning. In fact, when I lived out of a backpack and only carried a few clothing items getting dressed seemed easier. When I discovered #Project333 by Courtney Carver I was intrigued that she had discovered ways to still look great while owning very few pieces of clothing. 

I realize now that the reason why I love having fewer clothes is that I don’t have as many decisions to make when getting dressed every day. I reflected on this yesterday as I read Ryder Carroll’s new book The Bullet Journal Method. Carroll writes that because of decision fatigue “… we often feel stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed.” 

Also, when we are constantly feeling strained due to decision fatigue we start trying to avoid making decisions altogether. I can personally testify that since Emilio and I started our business we have found that so many decisions need to be made on daily basis with our work that we actually can argue over who has to make the decisions.

5 Good Ways to Treat Decision Fatigue

Often when we’re experiencing decision fatigue we will lean towards poorer choices or whatever is most convenient just to avoid having to make one more decision. Hence why fast-food, binge behaviour, shopping, traveling, etcetera is often the negative results associated with decision fatigue. 

But don’t fret… you’re allowed to indulge and “shut-off,” but here are some suggestions that can help prevent you from reaching decision fatigue as often.

1. Meal Planning

Every day you have to consume food to survive. By mapping out your week and your meals in advance you can eliminate up to 21 decisions or more. Get started with meal planning with our best suggestions no matter what you like to eat.

2. Capsule Wardrobes

I seek the advice of a friend to help me partner clothes that seem to match with everything. If you don’t have that friend try searching “capsule wardrobes” in Google Images. You’ll get lots of visual examples that you can replicate easily. Watch our Tips for Decluttering Your Closet.

3. Make a Rough Plan

If you take 10 minutes to think about the day before it begins or sometimes the night before you can help reduce your decision making by over half. Even if your days always seem to be “crazy busy” this pre-planning solidifies your intentions. If you don’t decide how to spend your time, someone else will.

If you feel like this task is daunting, try a fast morning ritual to warm up to this idea. I’ve been doing it for 2 years and it’s made huge positive impacts on my life.

4. Make a Budget

Don’t worry I’m not saying you can’t spend your money! But you should know how you spend it and where. You can decide on how much or how little you use — that’s the biggest secret I learned about budgets. Full disclosure, Emilio taught me how to leverage this amazing strategy. And guess what? Yep. It makes decision making really easy. You always know if you can or cannot afford to do something, which translates into confident decision making.

Check out our interview podcast with Stephen Wharley entitled Simplify Your Life By Organizing It. 

5. Get to Know Your Why

We both cannot stress enough the importance of understanding what you want and why you want it. The concept is simple: understand yourself and you will be able to live a life you love. However, it is a challenging exercise to ask yourself big questions like: do you love your work? do you feel engaged by the people around you? are you honest and authentic?

You can answer these questions on your own. Or if you do better with guidance try reading a copy of our book A Recipe For An Extraordinary Life. Organization | Minimalism | Self Care. It’s a step-by-step method for designing a life you love.

What is Wabi-Sabi?

Wabi-Sabi is a wise Japanese tradition for achieving a balanced lifestyle.

According to author, Richard R. Powell, “Wabi-sabi is a way of life that appreciates and accepts complexity while at the same time values simplicity.” I discovered the term by attending a workshop at The Kitchener Public Library entitled Curating an Imperfect Home by Lemontree Interiors & Co. 

I was immediately fascinated by the meaning of Wabi-Sabi. After the workshop had finished I checked out the three books available on the topic and dived into the research.

Some examples of Wabi-Sabi are:

• cozy and intimate spaces
• a small collection of personal mementos
• one-of-a-kind art pieces (a child’s drawing or original sculpture)
• worn or rough stone or wood
• wrinkles on cloth napkins
• clean, but well-loved furniture

and are not:

• sleek high-tech office chairs
• solid steel fences
• an overstuffed closet
• unopened storage boxes
• things that spark envy in us

Wabi-Sabi and your home

It is advised that you think about how you want your home / room / space to feel when you’re using it. Lemontree Interiors said that when we decorate and design our homes based around what we use, love, and who we are; we no longer “feel” the need to redecorate every two years. We also stop comparing our homes to others and we no longer feel the need to continually accumulate.

I’m not sharing this tradition and belief with the intent to shame you. It is merely to bring an awareness for you to have a deep look around your home and ask yourself: does your space only have what you use, love and what represents who you are?

What is important is how you answer that question. You define what Wabi-Sabi is in your own terms. Everyone will have a different answer, a different perspective. If you answer this question blindly and without truly looking around — only you and anyone else who shares that space will feel unsatisfied with it.

Below are some photo examples of our home and how we apply wabi-sabi.

5 Simple Tips to Decrease Feeling Overwhelmed

The fact that you are here proves you’re moving in the right direction.

There are so many things you want to do. And so many things you feel you HAVE to do.

Countless people every day feel stressed because they are just doing too much and feel like they are not themselves.Getting back to the basics and bringing simplicity into your life could be the difference you are looking for.

Do you ever get to the end of the day and don’t know what happened?

Maybe life changes like life, kids, money, health, moving homes have made you feel like you have lost some control and are beginning to miss steps. That’s NORMAL.

And sometimes your only quiet moments or escape happens at 11:00 pm for a few minutes before you go to bed exhausted and start all over again in a few hours.

We get many emails from new clients late at night asking for help.

Perhaps you are dealing with one of these situations:

• Selling your home and setting up a new one
• You are trying to make a fresh start
• Got divorced
• Landed a new job or lost one
• Changes in health
• A family member passed away
• Recently moved in with your partner/spouse
• Your responsibilities with your family have changed
• Had a baby
• You are feeling cluttered and claustrophobic with all the “stuff” going on
• You are looking to make healthy changes
• You have pets and want help managing all the creatures you love
• And so many more…

Whether these changes in your life are good or bad, change is hard. Having support through change can make it easier.

Without the right habits and processes, most people will continue to struggle and juggle their lives. Wasting time and energy constantly living a life they don’t like.

We want to help you.

Try one or all of these simple tips to see if it helps decrease your feelings of overwhelm:

• 3 Deep Breaths – this can be done at any part during your day, but we want to challenge you. Can you breath in for 5 counts, hold your breath for 5 counts, and then release your breath for 5 counts.
  This challenge is more difficult than it sounds and is a great way to reset your internal balance. Don’t worry if you can do the challenge right away, it may need a little practice.
• Plan One Meal – pick the busiest night of your week coming up. Make an intentional choice to plan what you’re going to eat that day (even if it’s just you or it’s your whole family). By planning your meal in advanced you’re going to reduce the mental strain you may have by making it up on the fly. You will also be more likely to eat well instead of skipping a meal or making an impulse choice.
• Avoid All Screens – sometimes the tv, computer, or smart device is the one thing that let’s us turn off at the end of the day. We want you to try something completely different to decompress. Is there a creative outlet you’ve been putting off? Maybe a conversation you’ve been wanting to make, but never found the time?
  Try saying ‘No’ to Netflix or Facebook and do something disconnected from the digital world. This could be the most challenging of all the tips.
• Write a Letter – That’s right. Get out a blank piece of paper or empty card and start pouring out anything that comes to your mind. You can write this letter to yourself and seal it to be opened for a future date OR you can mail it to someone who you know would love to receive some snail mail.
• Sing a Song – we know you can sing, even if you don’t want to admit it. Challenge yourself to pick a tune and sing the whole thing from start to finish. If you don’t know the lyrics, look them up and follow along. This exercise is even better if you’re able to sing in front of someone else.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. I know it’s not easy to face making changes when you’re constantly operating in survival mode, but know that simple, small actions will make a BIG difference in your life. 

The Power Of Coaching!

Laura’s story is a real example of how coaching, mentoring, and support can help you overcome your challenges and create the life that you want to live.

Laura was struggling with physical clutter, mental clutter, too many activities and her mental health was a reflection of all this chaos.

Before: “I feel in such darkness, trapped in the lifestyle that can’t move”

After: ” I feel alive, lighter, freer, happier, fresher. Every piece of my life has a reason now”

She enrolled in our coaching program and since then she has been able to make DRAMATIC improvements in her life. She wants to share her story to inspire others to take action.

You have the power to change your life. Yes, YOU!

If you are not feeling well, and you are unable to find a solution on your own, please don’t stop searching for the right help. Sometimes it’s a family member, sometimes a good friend, sometimes a therapist, sometimes a coach, a mentor, a professional organizer…

If you don’t like your current situation and are ready for a change, make sure you keep your eyes open for opportunity. And never give up!

We try our best to create content and resources to help you.

This is the power of coaching!

Any questions for us? Let us know what your struggles are and we will create content just for you!