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 storage3 places not to store photosHer 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!LaurieP.S. Have you checked out our NEW Enneagram & Clutter Workbook? Grab it here: https://simplyborganized.podia.com/enneagram-workbook/buyLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEConnect with Darla:HeartWorkorg.comDarla’s Book Recommendations:The E-Myth Revisited:https://amzn.to/3UqCsHwAll the Light We Cannot See: https://amzn.to/3wbhTETGoing 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 expertWhen to donate vs sellIf your goal is to simplify your life, and your stuff is holding you back, you’re going to want to listen to this episode.Happy Organizing!Laurie🧐 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 costsWays you can save money on your projectThe importance of getting a breakdown of product and laborHow to determine how much to spend on a projectIf you are thinking about doing any home reno projects OR if you are a professional organizer wanting to learn how to have the budget conversation with your client-this is the episode for you!Curious about your relationship with clutter? Dive into our brand-new Enneagram & Clutter workbook! It's the perfect tool to bridge the gap between understanding the Enneagram and applying it in your daily life. Let's declutter your space and your mind together! Get it here →Enneagram & Clutter Workbook https://simplyborganized.podia.com/enneagram-workbook

Hey Friend!For today’s tip we’re talking about High Impact Areas. What do I mean by a High Impact Area?I’m referring to making time for any room or obligation that has a direct impact on your life currently.Many people make the mistake of focusing on what’s loudest, messiest, or right in front of them, but that approach often comes at the expense of the things that are most important.During the episode you’ll learn:When to determine something as a High Impact AreaHow to create Action Steps for following throughWhy I constantly comparing my time to a closetIf you are in a season (or entering one) that has you feeling overwhelmed, this is the episode for you!Curious about your relationship with clutter? Dive into our brand-new Enneagram & Clutter workbook! It's the perfect tool to bridge the gap between understanding the Enneagram and applying it in your daily life. Let's declutter your space and your mind together!Get it here →Enneagram & Clutter Workbook https://simplyborganized.podia.com/enneagram-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 superpowerWhat parts of her life she outsourcesHow her dad has found a new found role in her family after retirementNavigating Mom-Guilt, Mental Load and all the “things” that keep us up at nightReframing the role of service, jobs and value within your familyYou’re going to love this conversation! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEYour Color Guru 10% OFF YOUR COLOR GURU WITH CODE “ORGANIZEDLIFE” https://yourcolorguru.com/aff/10/JOIN THE COMMUNITY https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/110APPLYING THE ENNEAGRAM WEBINAR https://simplyborganized.com/webinarYOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/thisorganizedlifepodcastConnect with Amy: www.theartofdecluttering.com.auFair 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 free worksheet to help you identify how clutter makes you feel. I encourage you to name the desired feeling then work backwards to identify action steps to align reality with your ideal vision.This self-reflection exercise can provide clarity and motivation for decluttering. Clutter is more emotional than physical, so self-knowledge is critical for lasting change.Happy Organizing!XO LaurieLinks Mentioned in this episode: FREE WORKSHEET: Clutter Spiralling & Communication Starters https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/144Green Chef: use code 60organizedlife for 60% off your first order and 20% off your next two months https://www.greenchef.com/60organizedlifeJOIN THE COMMUNITY https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/110APPLYING THE ENNEAGRAM WEBINAR https://simplyborganized.com/webinarYOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/thisorganizedlifepodcast

On today’s show I am joined by my friend and fellow professional organizer, Martha Carol Stewart of Chaos Organizing in Baton Rouge. You may remember MC from episode 91 where we talked about Back to School Organizing Strategies, or episode 156 where we talked about Holiday Organizing and Storage, or most recently, episode 346 during our series on Unpacking After a Move.Today we’re talking about 10 of the most common clutter traps and how to avoid them. LaundryMailDishesToysClothesKitchen GadgetsBooksPapersBeauty ProductYour carWe walk through each area and give some simple and practical solutions, so if you find yourself struggling in any of these areas, this episode is for you!I’m also super pumped for the release of MC’s debut book Southern Chaos which is filled with beautiful images and showcases many of the nuanced spaces that are unique to the Southern Home. Grab your copy here!Links Mentioned in This EpisodeGreen Chef: use code 60organizedlife for 60% off your first order and 20% off your next two 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 ResourcesJoin our email community &amp; stay in the know! https://simplyborganized.activehosted.com/f/110Subscribe to This ORGANIZED Life on YouTubeGrab our Book: Hot Mess A Practical Guide to Getting OrganizedLooking for some of our go-to organizing products: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/simplyborganized" target="_blank"...

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