Reflect, and Maybe Forget 2020

Dec 5

At the end of every year I enjoy reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned. This year provided many, but here are the top five biggest takeaways I’ve encountered in 2020.

Redefine home

Our homes became everything this year — shelter, work, school, gym, play etc. It was intense, but it put a spotlight on our priorities and the importance of our homes. Understanding how influential this space can be to our mental and physical state is the first step to simplifying our lives. We can’t control everything, but we can make authentic changes to control clutter and open up space for what really matters.

Create boundaries

Regardless of the size of your home, we realized how versatile these spaces need to be & how difficult it is to create order when we’re suffocated by our possessions. The energy is stagnant and confines us in more ways than one. Living with less allows you to implement a key principle in life — adaptability. It helps minimize frustration when you have to maximize space to serve multiple functions.

Be vigilant

Accumulation can feel like it happens overnight. Stay intentional to keep material possessions within manageable levels. Consistently maintaining organization requires a personalized system that works with you. My role is to bring objectivity, insight and awareness to the “why” you hold onto things, give you a jump start on the process and equip you with the right tools that will bring you continued success.

Begin anywhere

It doesn’t have to be picture perfect to create an impact. Decluttering is an ongoing process. Where you start is not important. Make realistic goals, set a timer, start small — but start somewhere, anywhere! Each small step you take will provide you with more energy to continue the process and remove the excess.

Remove fear

The fear that surrounds a pandemic is undeniable. It will forever leave a lasting impression on us all. Preparing for future emergencies is wise, but be realistic. Resist the urge to hoard. Life is too short to live in fear and be weighed down by “what if” purchases. Focus on creating safe, clear spaces that will aid in building resilience.

In these unprecedented times, it was beautiful to witness all the innovative ways that people stayed connected. I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you for supporting my purpose and giving yourself (or gifting others) with the gift of less. I truly believe it’s one of the highest forms of self-care and achievable for all. Thank you.

Organization Habits for Busy Professionals

It can be tough to stay organized for busy professionals but with some simple habits and routines, you can keep things in order at work and home. Here are some easy tips to help you stay organized.

Organizing Hacks for Apartment Dwellers

Living in an apartment can be a delightful experience, however, the challenge of limited space can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether you’re a seasoned renter or new to urban living, these creative solutions will help you maximize your space without making permanent changes.

Tips for Efficient Basement Organization

Basements often become catch-all zones—places where random items go to live when they don’t seem to fit anywhere else. But with a bit of creativity and a game plan, your basement can be more than just a storage cave. It can be a functional, inviting space that adds real value to your home.

Creating a Productive Home Office

A thoughtfully organized workspace can significantly boost your productivity, enhance your work-life balance, and create a more enjoyable work-from-home experience. Here are some key insights to help you create your own productive home office.

10 Expert Tips to Declutter Your Home

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the clutter in your home? Don't worry, you're not alone. Many of us struggle to keep our living spaces organized and free of excess stuff.

Surviving Summer Break: 3 Tips for Keeping Your Home Organized with Kids

Summer break is an exciting time for kids, but it can also be a challenging period for parents trying to keep their homes organized. With children home all day, every day, clutter and chaos can quickly take over.

Conquering Organization in Your Kitchen

For many, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It's where meals are prepared, shared, and memories are made. But a disorganized kitchen can quickly zap the joy out of cooking. Imagine fumbling for ingredients, wrestling with overflowing cabinets, or battling an avalanche of mismatched pot lids. Not exactly a recipe for inspiration!

The Ultimate Guide to a Stress-Free Move

Starting a fresh chapter in a new home is an exciting milestone, but the process of packing and moving can often be overwhelming and stressful. From coordinating logistics to sorting through belongings, there is a lot to consider when planning a move.

The Power of Letting Go: Decluttering and Detoxing Your Life for a Fresh Start

In our fast-paced lives, we often find ourselves surrounded by physical clutter and mental noise that can weigh us down. However, embracing the practice of letting go can pave the way for a fresh start and a renewed sense of clarity and purpose.

Organizing Your Hobbies

Whether you're a crafting enthusiast, a gamer, or an avid collector, this month, let’s walk through practical steps to bring order to the chaos and make your hobby spaces a source of inspiration.

A Simplified Guide to Organizing Your Finances

Since we are at the beginning of a fresh new year, we want to take some time to dive into a topic that might seem a bit daunting but is crucial for a stress-free life—organizing your finances.

Creating a Clutter-Free Environment: Setting Intentions for the Year Ahead

As we look toward the new year, many of us find ourselves looking for a fresh start, aiming to declutter our spaces and minds. Setting intentions for a clutter-free environment can be transformative, ushering in a sense of clarity, productivity, and well-being.

Keeping a Tidy Routine When Life Gets Busy

Life can get pretty hectic, am I right? Between being a spouse, a parent, a business owner, and a friend, there's not much time left for anything else. And when life gets crazy, our living spaces often bear the brunt of it. But guess what? Keeping things tidy isn't just good for your sanity; it can help you stay organized and focused when everything else is in chaos.

The Organized Traveler: Packing Hacks and Strategies for Stress-Free Trips

Who doesn't love the thrill of taking off on an adventure? Whether it's a weekend getaway or an international expedition, travel opens up a world of experiences. But before you can jet off to paradise or explore a new city, there's one not-so-small task to tackle: packing.

The Ultimate Guide to Seasonal Closet Organization

As the leaves turn vibrant hues and the temperature starts to dip, it's time to tackle seasonal closet organization! Keeping your wardrobe in sync with the fall weather can be a game-changer.

Sustainable Solutions for Decluttering and Going Green

Are you ready to embark on an organizing journey that not only brings order to your space but also helps the planet? If you're passionate about decluttering and sustainability, keep reading! This month we’re exploring three sustainable solutions to help you declutter your space while minimizing your impact on the environment.

Organizing Your Social Life: Summer in the City

Summer is here and living in a vibrant city like Chicago means there's never a dull moment when it comes to socializing. From trendy events and art shows to concerts and food festivals, the options seem endless. But how do you keep up with it all without feeling overwhelmed?

Where to start when your whole house needs some love

As professional organizers, we come in with a plan and take the time to really understand how to make an impact each and every time we work in a client’s home. If you are feeling overwhelmed and want to start this process on your own, here are some simple steps you can take.

Making the most of your mornings

You feel like you can conquer the world when you have a productive morning. But why is it so hard to actually get out of bed?

Bathroom Product Organization

We see a lot of products while organizing bathrooms. Just like our wardrobe, we tend to only use about 20% of the products we own.

How do I start the editing process on inherited items after a loved one passes?

We want to honor the people we have lost. I’m so sorry you are having to process a loss like this and then have the burden of all their items. This is tricky for some and often depends on how you and your family value items.

Kitchen Storage: Keeping all the Containers Contained

Kitchen storage containers (Tupperware, Pyrex, Rubbermaid: the options are never-ending!) are the worst when it comes to a neat and tidy space. You always need it. It’s always coming out of the dishwasher just to be used again. It’s everywhere and nowhere all the time. So what’s the solution? How can we make this pain point in our kitchens go away?

Navigating Emotional Clutter in a Relationship

Emotional clutter has the same weight of physical clutter. Even though it doesn't fill our homes, it does fIlls the most valuable space: our mind.

Getting the Kids Involved in Keeping Your Home Clutter-free

Let’s be honest: kids are hoarders. They love all their items and have no concept of why their parents want them to get rid of their stuff or declutter. What we can do as parents is edit and organize their space(s) and work to teach them the skills needed to make good decisions on what to keep and what to donate.

Deck the Halls: Storing Your Holiday Decor

This is supposed to be a joyous time of year but can be very time consuming and overwhelming for the person responsible for decorating. To make sure this task is as easy and enjoyable as possible, here are some suggestions.

3 Tips to Keeping a Tidy Routine When Life Gets Busy

Picture this: you have perfectly curated your home. Everything has a space and nothing is out of place. Life. Is. Good. But what happens when life gets busy?

Decluttering Your Work Life: When Work-From-Home Became Permanent

So many people find themselves in a situation where working from home has become a permanent option. While this certainly affords us many perks like avoiding a daily commute and living our 9 to 5 in comfy clothes, many of us struggle with balancing our home and work life in the same space.

Our guest room has become a catch-all: how do we make it guest ready again?

Just because your guest room is intended for guests, it doesn't have to sit empty and forgotten about except for the three weekends a year you host visitors. If your guest room is a holding zone for returns or “to do’s” - that’s ok! If, however, it has become a dumping ground for all the random things that don't have a proper place in your home, then that's a different story.

I'm overwhelmed by my partner's stuff. How can I communicate with them?

This is always a tricky subject but truly one of the most important things in a relationship and when you combine spaces. Start with communicating and asking the right questions.

Tackling Garage Clutter

A garage is a space to house your vehicles, bikes, tools, bulky seasonal decor, and gardening/lawn maintenance items. And a lot of the time, it becomes a dumping ground for outgrown kids stuff, old paint and random gems family members have off-loaded to us.

Organized

Sarah Parisi https://TheClutterCurator.com

Reflect, and Maybe Forget 2020

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Reflect, and Maybe Forget 2020

Decluttering Your Space in 15 Minutes

When Clutter Goes Too Far

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