The Art of Decluttering

Are you self-conscious about your clutter, or are you self-aware of what's causing it?There's a big difference between feeling embarrassed about the state of your home and understanding the habits and behaviours that have contributed to it.When you're self-conscious, you might worry about what visitors think, feel overwhelmed by everything that needs doing, or blame your lack of storage, your family or your busy lifestyle. You might even feel ready to hire a skip and throw everything away!But self-awareness takes you somewhere different.Instead of focusing on how your home looks, you start asking why it looks that way. You recognise patterns of overbuying, holding onto things, accepting freebies or struggling to make decisions. You begin to understand that lasting change involves more than simply getting rid of clutter.You'll discover seven key differences between self-consciousness and self-awareness, including:- Why embarrassment doesn't always lead to action- The difference between blame and taking ownership- Why wanting to throw everything away doesn't mean you're ready to let go- How self-awareness helps you move beyond quick fixes- Why unfinished decluttering projects aren't necessarily failures- How to create a home that reflects your values rather than other people's expectationsBeing self-conscious isn't necessarily bad. Sometimes it's what motivates you to begin. But developing self-awareness can help you make more confident decisions, establish sustainable habits and create lasting change.You don't need more self-criticism to declutter successfully. You need more curiosity about yourself.You may also like to listen to these episodes:House BurpingLingeringWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/Skai0QDRlyIJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ve kept the baby clothes, the hospital bracelets, the artwork, the trophies and the childhood toys. But how much of your kids’ sentimental stuff do you really need to hold on to?When you’re decluttering sentimental items, it’s easy to get caught up in the memories attached to every little thing. You remember your tiny baby wearing that outfit, the first scribble on a piece of paper and the special moments behind every certificate. But keeping everything doesn’t necessarily mean you’re honouring those memories.As your children grow up, you might discover that the things you’ve carefully stored for decades aren’t things they actually want to keep. So how do you decide what stays and what goes?You’ll explore practical ways to manage kids’ sentimental stuff, from baby clothes and hospital keepsakes to artwork, schoolwork, childhood toys, books, trophies and special occasion outfits. Discover how taking photos, creating photo books and framing meaningful artwork can help you preserve the memories without keeping every physical item.You’ll also consider how to create a dedicated sentimental box, why its size matters, and how making your memories accessible means you can actually enjoy them rather than leaving them forgotten in the back of a cupboard.Most importantly, you’ll be encouraged to involve your children in decisions about their belongings and think about what happens to these items in the long term. Are you keeping something because it genuinely matters to you, or because you feel guilty about letting it go?You can honour your family’s memories without filling your home with things you never look at. Sometimes, a photograph captures the magic far better than the object itself.It’s time to make room for the memories that matter and enjoy a little more freedom from clutter.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Winnie's Pile of PillowsReducing VolumeWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/3HFvHxTOAEsJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you're surrounded by your own belongings, it's easy to assume the solution is more storage, a bigger wardrobe, a new bookshelf or even a home renovation. But what if the seemingly obvious answer is the one you've been overlooking?As you declutter and organise your home, learn to step back and look at your situation with fresh eyes. Are you trying to fit too much into your drawers? Do you really need more space, or do you have more belongings than you need? Could slimline hangers solve your wardrobe problem, or could decluttering your books save you hundreds of dollars on new shelving?You'll discover how asking simple questions can help you find creative, practical solutions that save you money, reduce the time you spend tidying and make your home easier to maintain. We also explore how reducing the number of toys your children have can mean less mess, quicker pack-ups and more time together.You'll be challenged to consider whether you already have enough stuff, how much excess you might have, and what happens when new things come into your home.Just because you own something doesn't mean you need to keep it.Next time you're stuck, pause and ask: What's the seemingly obvious thing I'm missing? You might find the simplest solution is the one that makes the biggest difference.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Because. Really. AndFresh EyesWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/mbPzv4YuoQwJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever bought another set of drawers, bookshelf or storage unit because you thought it would solve your clutter problem? You’re not alone! But what if the furniture you’re adding to your home is actually making things worse?You might think you need more storage, but sometimes the real problem is that you have too much stuff. And when you have furniture to fill, you naturally find things to put in it.You’ll discover how I fell into this trap myself, collecting free furniture from the nature strip and filling every available space with drawers, bookshelves and storage. My home was organised, but it was also full of furniture I didn’t really need.When every corner, hallway and spare wall becomes an opportunity for more storage, your home can start to feel smaller, heavier and more cluttered. You lose that precious breathing room where light, space and your eyes can rest.So, how do you break the cycle?Start by looking at your home with fresh eyes. Count the freestanding furniture in one room and ask yourself whether each piece genuinely adds value. Could you remove a coffee table, relocate a bookshelf or rethink that bulky storage unit near your front door?You might even find it easier to remove a piece of furniture before decluttering what’s inside it. Without somewhere to store everything, you may realise you don’t need to keep it all after all.You don’t need to live in a minimalist home. You just need to be more intentional about the furniture you own and the space you want to reclaim.Choose one piece of furniture to remove and see how much better your space feels. You might be surprised by the freedom you find!You may also like to listen to these episodes:Tidy DadLingeringWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/eosJ4wUt2UQJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When someone you love dies, sorting through their belongings can feel overwhelming. You’re navigating grief, family expectations, conflicting opinions and a lifetime of possessions, all while trying to work out what to keep and what to let go.Give yourself and your family grace as you work through the process, recognising that everyone will approach it differently.Start by identifying important documents, valuables and sentimental items that need to be set aside. Then use colour-coded stickers, sticky notes or a shared spreadsheet to help family members identify the things they’d like to keep. You don’t need to resolve disagreements immediately. Take the time to listen to the stories and memories behind each item, because those conversations can become an important part of healing.Rather than deciding what to get rid of first, you’ve already protected the things people want to keep. What remains can be sorted into donations and rubbish, with help from a professional organiser if needed.Most importantly, don’t let guilt, family traditions or the pressure to make every decision perfectly leave you overwhelmed or stuck.You can honour someone’s memory without keeping everything they owned. And if the process feels too big, professional organising support can help you navigate the practical work while making space for grief, memories and healing.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Swedish Death CleaningAfter DivorceWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/bXFz_dkVegoJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if minimalism wasn’t about having less, but about having more of what actually matters to you?When you choose minimalism in a way that aligns with your values, you can experience a surprising kind of wealth. You might have more financial freedom because you’re not constantly spending money on more stuff. You might have more freedom in your work because you don’t need to chase the highest-paying job simply to keep up with your lifestyle.You can create more space for your health, whether that means having time to exercise, see health professionals or simply invest in yourself. You can have more time for relationships because you’re not constantly shopping, scrolling, tidying and managing your stuff.Minimalism can also give you greater freedom to live according to your values and pursue the things you’re passionate about. That might mean saying no to something that doesn’t align with you, taking a trip, spending time with someone you love or simply sitting down to do a jigsaw puzzle.And there can be a deeper wealth in minimalism too. When your home, finances and time aren’t completely consumed by stuff, you may find yourself with more space to think about purpose, faith, spirituality and the bigger questions of life.You don’t have to become a “perfect minimalist”. You can simply start taking away the hold that stuff has on your life and notice what becomes possible when you do.Minimalist and Faith BooksUncluttered Faith by Joshua BeckerChristian Minimalism by Becca McCraryThe Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark ComerYou may also like to listen to these episodes:Minimalism Wellbeing and the EnvironmentConsumerismWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/VmfODyZUiTYJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the real cost of clutter isn’t the money you spend on it, or even the space it takes up, but the time it steals from you?After a scammer tried to use Amy’s debit card, she realised that although they didn’t manage to steal any money, they did steal two hours of her time dealing with the bank. That experience got her thinking about the many ways clutter does exactly the same thing.Your stuff takes time to buy, bring home, find a place for, clean, store, organise and eventually get rid of. It can turn your evenings and weekends into a never-ending list of things you should be doing instead of relaxing, connecting with your family, being creative or simply enjoying your time.Clutter can also steal the moments you actually want to remember. A toy bought at the aquarium gift shop can become what your child remembers instead of the incredible fish they saw. Christmas can become about presents rather than stories, connection and time together. Holidays can become about getting the perfect photo or buying souvenirs instead of being present for the experience.You can earn money back, but you can’t earn yesterday back.So what would change if you started seeing clutter as a thief of your time? Maybe you don’t need another thing to remember the occasion. Maybe you just need to experience it, tell the story and make the memory.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Anti GoalsConsumerismWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/FzvpJHqtuK4Join my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Decluttering isn’t always about whether something is useful. Sometimes the hardest decisions are tied to your heart, your memories and your sense of identity.As you work through your belongings, ask yourself whether you’re keeping something because you genuinely want it, or because you feel guilty about letting it go. You can love someone without keeping the gift they gave you, and you can honour a memory without keeping every physical reminder of it.Consider whether a photo, a story or a single representative item could preserve the memory while allowing you to let go of the quantity. You can also ask what you’re actually afraid will happen if you get rid of something, and whether that fear is a good enough reason to keep it.Then look at what your possessions say about who you are. Are you keeping things because they represent who you used to be, or because of who you hope to become? Old hobbies, clothes that no longer fit, teaching resources from a previous career and things bought for an imagined future can all take up space in your home.You can also ask whether you would choose to own something if you were seeing it for the first time today, whether anyone would actually want it after you die, and perhaps the most exciting question of all: what are you making room for by getting rid of this?Sometimes decluttering isn’t about losing something. It’s about creating space for the life you want now.Dive into our 3 week mini series about 33 Decluttering QuestionsWeek one is about your homeWeek two is about your mindsetWeek three is about your heartUse the questions when you're decluttering as a tool for decision making!Download the 33 QuestionsYou may also like to listen to these episodes:33 Questions: Priority and Usefulness33 Questions: Future and RegretNeat vs TidyReducing VolumeWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/tt9C_JxWzvIJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you’re decluttering, it’s easy to get stuck on the things you might need, the money you’ve already spent, or the regret attached to a purchase. But your decisions become much clearer when you start looking at the reality of your life today.In week two of the 33 Decluttering Questions, you’ll explore two categories that can make letting go particularly difficult: the future, and money and regret.You’ll consider whether you have a realistic plan to use something in the future, or whether you’re keeping it for a hypothetical version of your life. You’ll also ask whether an item could easily be borrowed, rented or replaced if you ever did need it.Sometimes the thing keeping you stuck is what you’re waiting for: downsizing, the kids moving out, or even getting permission from someone who can no longer give it to you. You’ll also look at what you could gain by letting something go, whether that’s physical space, easier routines or the opportunity to use a room differently.Then there’s the money. You’ll unpack the very common tendency to keep something simply because you spent a lot of money on it, or because letting it go means admitting you regret the purchase.The money is already spent. What matters now is the decision you make based on the reality in front of you.These questions can help you move away from fear, guilt and hypothetical futures, and towards more intentional decisions about what belongs in your home today.Join the Get Organized HQ Conference - tickets are FREEOver the next 3 weeks we're doing a mini series going through 33 questions you can ask yourself to help you decide what to keep and what to declutter.Week one is about your homeWeek two is about your mindsetWeek three is about your heartUse the questions when you're decluttering as a tool for decision making!Download the 33 QuestionsYou may also like to listen to these episodes:33 Questions: Priority and UsefulnessNeat vs TidyReducing VolumeWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/dHqLAFvsbP4Join my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the Get Organized HQ Conference - tickets are FREEOver the next 3 weeks we're doing a mini series going through 33 questions you can ask yourself to help you decide what to keep and what to declutter. Week one is about your homeWeek two is about your mindsetWeek three is about your heartUse the questions when you're decluttering as a tool for decision making!Download the 33 QuestionsYou may also like to listen to these episodes:Neat vs TidyReducing VolumeWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/Slp37Og7J_0Join my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.