In Nova Scotia, we have just spent the last four months or so hunkering down and for some of us that means we collect stuff. After all, it’s only natural to squirrel away our belongings during the long winter months. But now it’s Spring and I’m not sure about you, but I’m feeling the urge … Read more
Have you ever had that feeling that some rooms you enter just don’t ‘feel right’? That is usually due to energy being out of balance. There should be a perfect balance of light and dark, known as Yin and Yang. Read more about it . . . I would like you to think about the … Read more
In the winter do you normally hunker down and wait for spring before you tackle any major decluttering projects? I wonder if you drag yourself up off the sofa and take a look around the house for some of those ‘clutter hotspots’ and work to banish them once and for all. Before you do that … Read more
It suddenly occurred to me as I was putting away a few things in my own home that not everyone is a fan of putting stuff away. I mean, really, why put something away if you are just going to use it again? How do you know whether to put something away or leave it … Read more
As we enter our third month of dealing with COVID-19 and we try to process the horrific events of the April 19th weekend in Nova Scotia, I am sure, like me, you are all struggling with staying positive and feeling hopeful for a better future. Now, more than ever, perhaps you need to escape from … Read more
Over the last week or so I have been talking to quite a few people about what a great time this is to tackle some downsizing and decluttering projects and the challenge of what to do with items we want to give away. I suggest setting up a “green zone” for donations. Create a Green … Read more
I hope this post finds you all safe and healthy during this challenging time. I know that many of you are home following the guidelines set by our government and health experts as we all work to overcome this virus together. I am willing to guess that some of you may be feeling stressed and … Read more
I recently came across an article I saved from 2013 about clutter and how it affects your brain. I have most certainly written about this topic before but some of the research cited by the author of the piece, Mikael Cho, is quite fascinating. He discovered, as I and many of my clients have, that reducing … Read more
I think there is life-changing magic in the most basic of organizing principles. It’s known as “a place for everything.” Since I started working as a professional organizer in 2003, I have shared this phrase as one of the keys to successfully organizing our homes, offices – and lives. We “professionals” tend to glibly throw out … Read more
I’m wondering…if I was to take a peek in your garage, basement, storage room, or even your closets, would I see stuff strewn all over the floor? I’m willing to bet in many cases I would. It’s like the stuff exploded and then grew as it lay there seemingly without you doing anything. I know, it’s kinda freaky. Well, … Read more
Do you find that some days your stuff weighs you down? When I have the chance to work with clients for a significant amount of time, whether that’s several days in a row or spread out over a number of months, it does feel as though their home gets lighter. During these decluttering projects we may … Read more
To garage sale or not. That is the question. Many professional organizers, myself included, are not big fans of hosting a garage sale. The reason is the huge amount of preparation work involved, and there is often very little financial gain. However, if you have the time, go for it! If nothing else, it’s a … Read more
Summer is all about relaxing your regular routine just a little. Later bedtimes and easy mornings. BBQing, camping, swimming, boating. Just being outdoors. While some welcome the routines of the late summer with the return to work and school, others find the end of summer daunting at best. As summer draws to a close, the following tips may ease … Read more
How can it possibly be difficult to organize a large home? Turns out it’s really quite a challenge. When I first met these clients they lived in a modest home of probably under 2000 square feet with their three children. They now live in a substantially larger home, I’m guessing well over 4000 square feet, yet chaos … Read more
As I spend more of my time talking to clients about letting go of excess and taking control of their life and their stuff, I become more fascinated by what we can do if we have less. I think we can actually do more. Here are a few examples: Healthy Eating I helped a client get rid … Read more
“If you think unruly and unfocused committees in your company or your community can be a frustrating waste of time, try the one in your head.” ~ David Allen According to statistics, busy professionals have an average of 200 hours of uncompleted work at any one time. Wow. Add to that all of the commitments we … Read more
I came across a blog post recently that was all about how we sabotage our own happiness. For instance, something that makes me happy right now is that it’s summer. Yippee! I know one thing right off the bat that might sabotage that happiness – a complaint that it’s too hot. I implore you, don’t do it. Enjoy the … Read more
I read the first of two books written by Japanese organizer Marie Kondo. The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. A few of my clients have read it, and many of their friends have been talking about it. People everywhere are asking themselves if their clothes “spark joy” as she suggests. I think it must be the … Read more
“Organized people are just too lazy to look for things.” – Bertrand Russell Have you ever set up an organizing system only to abandon it because it doesn’t work well, and then try to set up a different system? And then another system and so on and so on. Many of my clients struggle with finding … Read more
Have you ever had disagreements with your partner about the level of organization (or lack thereof) in your household? I’m guessing you have. We all have different expectations for how tidy our home should be. These expectations can be a result of the environment in which we were raised – was it cluttered or tidy? And a result … Read more