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The Chicken or The Egg of Organizing

April 8, 2019 Leave a Comment

Joy Loving Home (2)We’ve all heard the age old question…

Which came first? The Chicken or The Egg?

In Organizing the question is…

Which comes first? Catching Up or Keeping Up?

There are two different philosophies surrounding this question. Let’s look at the pros and cons to each. Then I will share where I stand on this question.

Keeping Up

The idea of Keeping Up before you can catch up is valid. Your house didn’t get to its current state overnight and you can’t expect it to change overnight either. Starting with the discipline of systems and routines makes sense. It allows you to slowly see progress overtime by developing lasting habits that will help you dig out of your current state of disorganization and clutter.

If you like the sound of this method, you might consider reading The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. He outlines steps to take each morning that will set you up for success. While they are not directly related to decluttering and organizing, they create a framework of …

3 Questions To Ask When Managing Sentimental Clutter

March 6, 2019 Leave a Comment

I have a bookcase at the end of my upstairs hallway. On that one bookcase, I have several items you could call sentimental “clutter,” but they make me smile everyday as I walk past. I don’t feel any sadness, obligation, or guilt when I see them. And to me, the bookcase is not even cluttered, it is homey!

The reason that this space is a “spark joy” kind of place for me, is because each piece was carefully selected. Each piece on this bookcase represents a "yes" answer, to three questions, I want you to ask yourself, if you are ever faced with tackling sentimental items.

In the picture above, you will see a representation of several happy memories that I hold dear. I have had the blessing of having wonderful people in my life! I doesn’t remind me of having lost them, only of the privilege of journeying through life with them for as long as I was able.

First, the horse head lamp, represents my father who went to heaven six months ago. He carved this lamp himself when he was a young man. As his horse-crazy daughter, it became my lamp in my childhood bedroom. Time went on and I grew up and moved out. …

5 Steps to Finally Taking ACTION on Organizing Your Home in 2019

February 4, 2019 2 Comments

The new year is on the horizon and one of your resolutions is to finally get your home organized! It is a great resolution! Being organized has a ripple effect that can positively impact your time, money, and health goals as well! If this has been a goal of yours for several years, but you just can’t seem to get started or stick with it, then these tips are for you!

Knowing how to organize is one thing. There are a lot of different approaches but they all boil down to sorting, purging, and assigning homes to what you want to keep. That isn’t the hard part. The hard part, especially for procrastinators, is taking ACTION! The tips below will help you push yourself to finally take ACTION on your organizing resolution this year!

1. A – ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDY – get a friend and set a date. Share your organizing plans with a friend, preferably one that also has organizing goals of her own. Help hold each other accountable. Agree that each Monday, for instance, you will each text a before picture of your space to be organized. Then agree to send pictures at certain intervals of the progress, followed by the after picture. Knowing you have someone that you have to follow up with will help motivate you to get moving!

2. C - CHOOSE A ROOM OF REQUIREMENT– Harry Potter fans know exactly what I mean here. Decide on an overflow …

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