We are a minimalist family and yet we have some stuff. But minimalism is more about habits than stuff. I consider our family minimalist, but I've been told I'm not a real minimalist. I guess I missed the memo on who can join the club. And while the "average American home has over 300,000 items,” we do not. So that's a good place to start. Of course, there's no checklist that works for everyone. But as I studied our home, there are things we do intentionally that make a difference. You will find these habits helpful as you declutter and simplify. Trash Throw away trash immediately. I’m not talking about messy stuff. I mean annoying stuff that accumulates like receipts, wrappers, mail, and packaging. We pick stuff up off the floor, immediately. I recycle as much as possible including junk mail, toner cartridges, and plastic bags. Trash will clutter a flat surface quickly. Guard your flat surfaces because clutter attracts more clutter! Don't forget about the …
3 Habits To Combat My Struggle with Screen Time
1 house, 3 people and 17 devicesI have three devices. Eight more screen-like devices, belonging to my husband and son, are available for my use. And let’s not forget three TVs, two gaming systems and an Apple TV.Seriously?Thankfully, our desire to simplify encourages conversations about what we really need. (I use that term loosely). Because each device has a cost long after their initial purchase including subscription services, protective cases, chargers, accessories, data plans, replacement, and maintenance...just to name a few.5 years ago, we cut the cable cord. Initially, it encouraged us to be intentional about TV watching. And with so many streaming services and advertisements for new shows, our streaming costs could exceed the former cable bill if we didn't follow a budget. When was the last time, you checked in on your subscriptions?Thankfully, I'm not much of a TV person. My best guys, on the other hand, can binge-watch like it's their job. But I have my own issues with …
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5 Easy Technology Solutions to Go Paperless
Paper clutter challenges families every day. Junk mail, kid's art, catalogs, and more. Having established a Paper Filing System for our family, I can safely say that we live 90% paperless leveraging technology to support this goal. If you get control of the paper, the paperless part became a reality. Sign up to receive my FREE Paper Filing System Technology options are overwhelming and it's hard to know how to choose the right one. But it's more important to establish your routine and less about the tool itself. Here are my 5 "go-to" tools to help you get started on the road to Paperless Living. 1. Evernote I started using Evernote over 10 years ago. I love that the information syncs to all devices. My Evernote tab stays open all the time. The addition of the Web Clipper on my web browser allows me to clip webpages and save them to relevant notebooks such as Business, Recipes, Family, etc. Eventually, it's easy to see which Notebooks really work …
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How to Create a Clutter-Free Home Office
I'm going to guess that your home office might be the family dumping ground. And it has piles of paper everywhere. Also, the space is overwhelming because every flat surface is covered and you don't know where to begin. Plus the filing cabinet is filled with who knows what. And all this clutter robs you of productivity and focus. Does this describe your home office space? It is so uninviting you rarely work in it The bookshelves are cluttered and looming over you You sit at the dining room table with your laptop instead Well, today is the day to change all of that. In this post, I've written a step-by-step plan with 7 steps to declutter and organize your home office. Because a clutter-free space is a productive space and you can do this. Just take it one step at a time. Your Dream Home Office Before you dive in, take some time to dream about how you’d like your office to look and function. Search online for ideas and inspiration. I pinned some …
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3 Easy Ways to Recycle Old Trophies
Kids collect trophies, ribbons, plaques, medals and paper plate awards by the buckets! My young son’s collection is manageable but we are less scheduled than your average family. Fewer activities definitely means fewer items to display and store.Inevitably, empty nesters and their adult children will find themselves digging through boxes of ribbons and trophies wondering what to do with old trophies. And what I usually hear is that no one wants the stuff. Especially the children who actually earned the awards. As an organizer and minimalist, I encounter this often with my clients. And it tends to be more difficult for the parents to part with the items. If you find yourself struggling to let go of these items and with adult children who just want you to throw it all out, take a breathe. I encourage you to respect their decision and give them the items to handle as they see fit. And yes, that may be the trash can.Sentimental ItemsWhen it comes to all sentimental stuff, like trophies, I …
Empty Nesters: 10 Simple Tips to Help You Declutter and Downsize
Almost Empty Nesters We'll be empty nesters next year. As our son enters his final year of high school, I realize how quickly this is becoming a reality. And now that he's driving and doing things on his own, I often joke that we're practicing being empty nesters. With this experience, I feel even more connected to my clients who are already empty nesters. And to those who, like me, can see that their kids won't be living under their roof much longer. I think I always knew that the "days would be long and the years would be short." But I guess I just didn't realize how very short they are. I have sincerely loved every phase of raising a family and building a career, two careers actually. But I firmly believe that living a life with less stuff and more contentment made it all the better. So as we embark on our third act of life, I plan to declutter and downsize even more. And help as many empty nesters and working women as I can along the way. Decluttering …
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