Organizing and Decluttering

5 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Books and Read More

January 6, 2025 by Amy Slenker-Smith 7 Comments

Over the years, getting rid of books generates the most passionate discussions. I wonder if people fear they might lose the knowledge gained from a book if they give it away? There is a strong sentimental attachment to books, especially the ones we get lost in. I have no idea what happened during the days I read Water for Elephants. I felt this way about The Great Alone, Small Great Things, The Nightingale, Half-Broke Horses, Educated, Refugee, The Harry Potter Series and so many more! Reading is good. Owning is the problem. There was a time when I read less and bought more. But I renewed my interest in reading when I purged nearly all of them. I felt a weight lifted. And was free to read new titles. I even joined a book club and set an annual reading goal in Goodreads. At any given time, I am reading 4 books. One non-fiction, one devotional, one personal development and one on audible. The best part...I take them everywhere on my Kindle, Kindle …

Unlock Your Home’s Potential with the Magic of Margin

November 18, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 3 Comments

Did you know that being organized isn’t really about stuff? It’s about the empty space between the stuff called margin. The magic of margin comes from the white space, breathing room, and buffer. No matter the name, margin allows our possessions to move in and out of a space freely and stay organized too. When I design organizational systems in a closet or cabinet, I spend a lot of time planning how the items will be stored in the space. But I also consider how often they are used. I strive to create margin every time. No matter what space you’re working on, the key is to declutter first and organize second. It’s the margin in these spaces that has the most impact, especially when it comes to staying organized. Because when you reduce the volume, spaces have a way of organizing themselves. Margin not only allows spaces to function better but also makes it more attractive. Did you know the margin on a piece of written work is approximately 37% of the page? …

Why I Stopped Organizing Legos

September 22, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 11 Comments

When my son was young, a fellow mom asked how I organized his Legos? I paused and said, "I don't." Being clutter-free does not mean perfection. Toys were not neatly stowed every night, certainly not Legos. I learned pretty quickly that organizing Legos was unnecessary. In our house, we love Legos. The benefits far outweighed the clutter and our loose organization system worked well. The LEGO Group The LEGO Group makes a high quality, fair trade product. My son would request a special set for Christmas or his birthday from his grandparents. Legos are what I call a "work-horse" toy because they stand the test of time. They also encourage friends and siblings to play together. But I learned that the more toys my son had to clean up, the less he played. And the fewer toys he had, the more he would play. With Legos, he was creative and content. He played with mini-figures from Marvel and Harry Potter at the same time. Sometimes all in one body. We did not stress …

7 Easy Ways to Get Organized for Back-to-School

August 9, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 15 Comments

Summer is coming to an end and many kids are already back to school. Articles fill your feed with items to buy for back-to-school." But what if you handled it differently this year and saved money? Families want to start the year off right. Organizing your school supplies can be a great way to signal the transition from summer to school. Just keep a few things in mind before you shop. Advertising Works Advertising works because billions of marketing dollars make it happen! Ads lure you into buying 64 brand new crayons and all those cute IKEA desks you had to have during the pandemic. Let's be real for a minute. June-scissors work in August, right? Crayons and pencils might be scattered but still create art, correct? Kids are productive in different spaces, so do NOT force them into a desk. (I learned this from a homework expert years ago.) Before the ads convince you to buy, take an inventory of your supplies and consider what you really …

7 Proven Strategies to Declutter Your Home

July 10, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

I'm passionate about owning less because it saves me time and money. So, I've established daily strategies to control clutter and create order. Adopt these habits and reclaim hours in your day with less stress and more time to do what you love. Check out my 7 proven strategies to organize your home. 7 Strategies to Organize Your Home 1. Stop Shopping With love in my heart, I really mean stop shopping. Question every purchase before you make it. Wait 24 hours before you click "order." Turn off one-click and avoid stores where impulse buys occur. Consider a shopping moratorium. I resolved to go 6-months without clothes shopping and found it easy to extend to 8. I still remember the first item I bought and I didn't love it. A few months later, I donated it. 2. Borrow, Repurpose, Reuse, or Do Without Save time and borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbor. Or maybe a power washer or crockpot? I love to build community through borrowing. Several of my …

Why You Need A Landing Spot Right Now

July 1, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

Perhaps you attempted to leave the house today, but couldn't find your keys. And then ran back inside for your phone. Finally, you were set to drive away and remembered a package to mail or an item to return. At last!! You're in the school kiss-n-ride line but your son isn't wearing shoes. :) Sound familiar? If so, you need a landing spot, right now. Did you know in your lifetime, you will spend a total of 3,680 hours (153 days) searching for misplaced items? And on average, you lose up to 9 items every day—or 198,743 in a lifetime. (The Daily Mail) Let's stop the madness. Before decluttering, I was late for everything and struggled to get out of the door. Times have changed since I got the volume under control and set up a landing spot. This simple habit helps me feel more organized and starts the day off right! So, let's add some hours back to your life too. Exit Strategy Identify which door you use to exit the house. Is it the front door or through …

« Previous Page

Organizing and Decluttering

Footer