Decluttering Tips and Support

Dear Reader,

It's almost October, which means that a special season is upon us.

No, not Halloween (although my kids LOVE it and we have a skeleton hanging in our basement full-time!)

No, not Christmas (please send the message to Costco that it's NOT EVEN OCTOBER YET!)
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It's...planner season! 🥳

For those of you who get excited about shiny new paper planners, it's about the time to start doing your research for your "perfect pick" for 2026.

But if you're realizing that your 2025 planner is covered in dust...🫢

Or you downloaded YET another productivity app you never use...🫢

Take heart, because a planner is NOT the solution to your time management woes.

On the Podcast

It's totally normal to buy a shiny new planner or download the latest app when we feel completely overwhelmed. However, according to Anna Dearmon Kornick — time management coach, author of Time Management Essentials, and host of the It’s About Time podcast - that's starting in the wrong place.

Instead of quick fixes, Anna encourages us to begin with our purpose, made up of our vision (what we want for the future) and our values (what matters most right now). Without this clarity, it’s easy to feel like we’re floundering - no planner or hack can fix that.

Why Time Blocking Works

One of Anna’s favorite tools is time blocking, which she calls part of her “Swiss army knife” of time management strategies. Unlike a to-do list, time blocking puts specific tasks on your calendar with a start and end time. This approach helps combat three common productivity pitfalls:

• Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to fill the time we give it.
• The Planning Fallacy: We almost always underestimate how long things will take.
• Context Switching: Every time we shift tasks, it can take 23 minutes to fully regain focus.

When you block time for important tasks, you set limits, protect your attention, and stop projects from dragging on indefinitely.

Designing Your Ideal Week

Instead of striving for a “perfect day,” Anna recommends creating an Ideal Week — a visual template of how you’d love to spend your time. Start by placing your “boulders” on the calendar: sleep, self-care, family time, spiritual practices, and other non-negotiables that fill your cup. Then add in the rest.

An Ideal Week serves as a compass, helping you compare your actual schedule with the life you want to create.

Anna also encourages five essential routines that bring rhythm and order to each week:

1. Morning routine
2. Evening routine
3. Workday start-up routine
4. Workday shut-down routine
5. Weekly planning session

Simple Weekly Planning (Even in Overwhelm)

Weekly planning doesn’t need to be complicated. Anna suggests starting with a simple “reset” by looking back at the previous week:

• When did you feel frustrated?
• Where did you experience friction?
• What felt harder than it should have?

These answers reveal opportunities to make small but powerful changes. From there, look at the week ahead, identify tough spots, coordinate with your partner or family, and prepare for challenges in advance. Even something as practical as checking the weather and setting out your kids’ clothes can smooth the week.

To hear the full conversation, listen to Episode 209 on your favorite podcast app or watch on YouTube!

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Things I'm Loving Right Now

✨ One of my favorite tools to keep me organized is my simplified weekly planning session I do on Sunday evenings. This has changed over the years, but as of right now includes:
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- reviewing next week's schedule with my husband to confirm logistics
- meal planning based upon evening activities (i.e. soccer practices)
- checking any upcoming time-sensitive events over the next several weeks that may require an action item now (for example, I'm going on a weekend trip to Mexico soon and need to buy a few items in advance)
- blocking any additional time on my Google calendar as needed

✨ My decluttering/organizing resource of the week is the FREE From Paycheck to Prosperity Summit, hosted by former podcast guest and financial coach Brittany Flammer and coming up October 7-9.
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You’ll hear about everything from how to avoid overspending, improve your credit score, earn extra money, reach financial independence, talk to your kids about money, and more. Each session is designed to help you and encourage you to simplify and improve your finances and teach your kids to do the same.

You can reserve your spot here!

✨ My favorite recipe of the week is this chia seed pudding recipe from Thinlicious - a great option for breakfast!

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 to time management expert Anna Dearmon Kornick about how to manage your time with purpose.

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