Hi Friend! Regardless of how organized you might be with your closet, kitchen or garage, the one area that most folks find hard to keep up with are photos. If you’ve been around me for a minute you know that I always talk about “the ease of retrieval” when it comes to organizing, and photos are a prime example of where people waste hours of time looking for those precious memories! Between boxes and bins of “old school” photos that you’ve collected over the decades, VHS tapes and CDs with who-knows what on it, to the tens of thousands of digital photos on our phones, computers and social media-it can seem next to impossible to create a system to keep it all organized. My guest today is Darla DeMorrow, a certified photo organizer, author, and owner of HeartWorkOrganizing where she helps her clients gather, preserve, organize and maintain a system to easily find and enjoy the important moments in their lives. During our conversation we talked about: - The 2 universes of photo storage - 3 places not to store photos - Her favorite tool for separating photos (hint: you can get it at the dollar store!) Listen to the entire episode for more of Darla’s tips and strategies! Happy Organizing! Laurie P.S. Have you checked out our NEW Enneagram & Clutter Workbook? Grab it here: https://simplyborganized.podia.com/enneagram-workbook/buy LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Connect with Darla:HeartWorkorg.com Darla’s Book Recommendations: The E-Myth Revisited:https://amzn.to/3UqCsHw All the Light We Cannot See: https://amzn.to/3wbhTET Going through a Divorce? Connect up with my friends at the exExperts: http://www.exexperts.com/newsletter

Hi Friends! One of the most popular questions I get asked as a Professional Organizer is “Is it Worth it to Sell My Stuff?” On today’s Tip of the Week I’m going to walk you through the process I go through with my clients to help them determine the right answer for them. We talk about some general guidelines I like to follow including: - What types of items typically hold their value - When to consult an expert - When to donate vs sell If your goal is to simplify your life, and your stuff is holding you back, you’re going to want to listen to this episode. Happy Organizing! Laurie 🧐 Curious about your relationship with clutter?Dive into our brand-new Enneagram & Clutter workbook! It's the perfect tool to bridge the gap between understanding the Enneagram and applying it in your daily life. → Grab it here: https://simplyborganized.podia.com/enneagram-workbook

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

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

Hi Friends, In today's episode, we're diving into downsizing, staging, and moving. Linda and Betsy have mastered the art of decluttering and staging homes over the past six years, especially during the pandemic real estate boom. Their approach starts early, two months before moving, allowing ample time for decluttering and organizing. They're all about creative storage solutions within the home, making the moving process smoother. Their color-coded labeling system and precise packing techniques save time and hassle. But it's not just about stuff—it's about stories. Linda and Betsy take the time to listen to their clients' tales, uncovering fascinating treasures like an invitation to JFK's inauguration. Having a support system during decluttering is crucial, keeping distractions at bay and maintaining focus. Linda and Betsy encourage staying in one space and surrounding yourself with supportive friends. To connect with Linda and Betsy, find them on Instagram as @CuratedSpacesOrganizing or visit their website at curatedspaces.art. Thanks for joining us today! Don't forget to share this episode and leave a review. Tune in next week for more adventures on This Organized Life! 🌟 Links Mentioned in this Episode: http://www.exexperts.com/newsletter

Hey Friend! I don’t know about you, but It’s been a crazy month-not necessarily bad crazy (thank goodness) but lots going on! I am actually writing this from ☀️ Florida where I’m speaking at the 10th annual PodFest Conference all about Creating a Content Calendar. But I digress…. Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at not one, but TWO career day fairs about life as a Professional Organizer and a Podcaster. One was for our HS students, and the other was for our elementary students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. If you’ve ever sat down with kids 8-10 years old, you know that they speak their minds-and boy did these kids not hold back! Check out this quick 10 min episode that talks about their different takeaways, and why it was a great reminder that you can say the same thing 4 different times and get 4 different responses. We often take for granted that when we say something, that everyone hears the same thing, but as the Enneagram has taught me, that’s so NOT the case! If are a parent, partner, or professional organizer, I’d love for you to join me Friday Feb 2nd, at 1 p.m. EST for our Applying the Enneagram Webinar! Register here: https://simplyborganized.com/webinar

​​Joining me today is my dear friend Amy Revell, host of popular podcast The Art of Decluttering, leads the largest Professional Organizing company in Australia, and is the author of the book Simply Organised (yes, that organised with an S-remember, she’s from Australia!) Amy is happily married to her husband Cal and together they have 2 sons Jesse and Elijah. Back in the summer when we released our series on adult ADHD, Amy reached out and we spoke about her own ADHD adult diagnosis, and how it affects her life as a wife, mom and entrepreneur. I said, “wait” we need to share this with our TOL community! And she graciously obliged🙂. During our conversation we talked about: - Her ADHD superpower - What parts of her life she outsources - How her dad has found a new found role in her family after retirement - Navigating Mom-Guilt, Mental Load and all the “things” that keep us up at night - Reframing the role of service, jobs and value within your family You’re going to love this conversation! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Your Color Guru https://yourcolorguru.com/aff/10/ https://yourcolorguru.com/aff/10/ - https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/110 https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/110 - https://simplyborganized.com/webinar https://simplyborganized.com/webinar - https://www.youtube.com/thisorganizedlifepodcast https://www.youtube.com/thisorganizedlifepodcast Connect with Amy: http://www.theartofdecluttering.com.au Fair Play with Eve Rodsky https://simplyborganized.com/2022/09/08/ep-300-fair-play-life-with-eve-rodksy/

Hi friends, Today we’re discussing strategies for better communication around clutter. When we feel overwhelmed by physical things, mental load, or calendar clutter it can often trigger a Clutter Spiral. The 5 phases of the Clutter Spiral include: Anxiety, Frustration, Anger, Resentment, and Shame. The first step in reducing (or ultimately removing) the Clutter Spirals from happening is to write down how clutter makes you feel and what you want your home to feel and look like. To get started you can grab our https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/144t to help you identify how clutter makes you feel. I encourage you to name the desired feeling then work backwards to identify action steps to align reality with your ideal vision. This self-reflection exercise can provide clarity and motivation for decluttering. Clutter is more emotional than physical, so self-knowledge is critical for lasting change. Happy Organizing! XO Laurie Links Mentioned in this episode: https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/144 https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/144 https://www.greenchef.com/60organizedlife: use code https://www.greenchef.com/60organizedlife for 60% off your first order and 20% off your next two months https://www.greenchef.com/60organizedlife https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/110 https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/110 https://simplyborganized.com/webinar https://simplyborganized.com/webinar https://www.youtube.com/thisorganizedlifepodcast

On today’s show I am joined by my friend and fellow professional organizer, Martha Carol Stewart of https://www.chaosorganizing.com/ in Baton Rouge. You may remember MC from https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-091-back-to-school-organizing-strategies-with-special-guest-martha-carol-stewart--51842538 where we talked about https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-091-back-to-school-organizing-strategies-with-special-guest-martha-carol-stewart--51842538, or https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-156-holiday-organizing-storage-ideas-with-martha-carol-stewart--51842442 where we talked about https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-156-holiday-organizing-storage-ideas-with-martha-carol-stewart--51842442, or most recently, https://www.spreaker.com/episode/unpacking-after-a-move-with-martha-carol-stewart-ep-346--56187277 during our series on https://www.spreaker.com/episode/unpacking-after-a-move-with-martha-carol-stewart-ep-346--56187277. Today we’re talking about 10 of the most common clutter traps and how to avoid them. - Laundry - Mail - Dishes - Toys - Clothes - Kitchen Gadgets - Books - Papers - Beauty Product - Your car We walk through each area and give some simple and practical solutions, so if you find yourself struggling in any of these areas, this episode is for you! I’m also super pumped for the release of MC’s debut book https://www.organizingsouthernchaos.com/shop which is filled with beautiful images and showcases many of the nuanced spaces that are unique to the Southern Home. Grab your copy https://www.organizingsouthernchaos.com/shop Links Mentioned in This Episode - Green Chef: use code https://www.greenchef.com/60organizedlife for 60% off your first order and 20% off your next two months: https://www.greenchef.com/60organizedlife - Sign up for our Applying the Enneagram Webinar: https://simplyborganized.com/webinar/ - Connect with Martha Carol: https://www.chaosorganizing.com/ Other Resources - Join our email community & stay in the know! https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/110 - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThisORGANIZEDLifePodcast - Grab our Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692921621?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzlauriepa-20&creativeASIN=0692921621&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.NSVKPZV410PR&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin - Looking for some of our go-to organizing products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/simplyborganized

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