Decluttering Tips and Support

Dear Reader,

Often when my clients contact me, it's because the organizing system they had in place "failed" and stuff has exploded everywhere.
​
And as we go through their home like an archaeological dig, it is revealed that they had good intentions by purchasing tools to help them contain the chaos - bins, organizers, and containers galore.

​
But the truth is that they haven't failed - and their system hasn't necessarily failed either. It's that they started with the wrong phase of decluttering.

On the Podcast

​In Episode 224 I outline the three phases of decluttering. Most people start in Phase 3 (creating systems) before they tackle Phases 1 and 2. Let's break them down:
​
​Phase 1: Turn Off the Tap. Imagine that your kids are young and taking a bath. You step out for a second and hear them yelling for you. There is water all over the floor. You grab towel after towel, trying to clean up the mess, but nothing is helping.
​
What did you forget to check?
​
​That the tap was turned off.
​​
Turning off the tap when it comes to our home means being ruthlessly selective and intentional with what we bring in. It may look like a 30 day shopping ban on non-essential items, and having firm conversations with "generous" relatives who keep gifting things to you and your kids.
​
Once you stop the inflow of unneeded stuff, you can move to phase two.
​
​Phase 2: Decluttering Using the TRANSFORM Method. This is where you actually start to declutter because you have a sense of the volume of each category. My TRANSFORM method is designed to help you step-by-step to remove the "low-hanging fruit" of trash, anything you know you want to donate, and anything that doesn't belong in the space that you're currently working in.
​
You then decide on boundaries based upon your capacity and how much time and energy you want to spend managing that particular category of stuff.
​
Learn about my TRANSFORM method in depth here.
​
​Phase 3: Maintain with Sustainable Systems and Habits. Once we have removed the excess, we can develop maintenance systems that work for us and our families. Here it's helpful to map out your day and pick 2-3 systems you wanted to prioritize and spell them out step-by-step. Ask yourself:
​
What’s working?
What’s not working?
Who is involved?
​
Then as you're going through your day, notice where the friction, frustration, and falling behind are happening. If coats, shoes, and backpacks end up on the floor when the kids come home from school, recognize whether the friction is that they have no open space to put their shoes or hang their coats and backpacks.
​
To learn more, listen to Episode 224 on your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube!

​

Things I'm Loving Right Now

✨ My decluttering/organizing tool of the week is over-the-door organizing solutions. If you need a vertical solution to a pain point (like papers all over the kitchen counter) but your wall space is limited, consider an over-the-door option like this one. Over-the-door options also work for shoes, pantries, and more!

✨ My decluttering/organizing resource of the week is the Discover Your Organizing Style quiz from Clutterbug. Knowing whether you (and your other family members) prefer things to be out vs. hidden and macro vs. micro organized is incredibly important! Hit reply and let me know which Clutterbug you are! (I'm a Cricket which should come as no surprise).

✨ My favorite recipe of the week is Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta - my favorite kinds of crockpot recipes are the "dump and go" ones and this did not disappoint.
​
What are some things you're loving right now? Hit reply and let me know.

On the journey with you,

Emily

P.S. Skipped to the end? No problem! This week I spoke about the 3 Phases of Decluttering and why it's SO important that you follow them in order!

​*Note- affiliate links may be included, which means I get a small commission if you use my link - thanks!​