The newest installment (v15) of the “What’s Interesting?” feature is here with my latest discoveries that inform, educate, and relate to organizing and life balance. I’ve included unique and inspiring clutter-related finds, which reflect this month’s blog theme.

You are a wonderfully engaged group. I look forward to your participation and additions to the collection I’ve sourced for you. What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? . . .

1. Interesting Read – Mind Decluttering

As many of you may know, I’ve been delving more deeply into the mindfulness arena and thinking about the relationship between mindfulness and organizing. One of the books I recently read was Mindfulness for Beginners – Reclaiming the Present Moment – And Your Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn, author and developer of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR.) While mindfulness meditation isn’t about clearing our mind of all thought, it does help to declutter the thoughts we are having along with improve our focus and appreciation of the present moment. Jon Kabat-Zin defines mindfulness as “awareness, cultivated by paying attention in a sustained and particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” There is both formal and informal mindfulness practice. He describes how to engage in these complementary practices. He says, “Mindfulness reminds us that it is possible to shift from a doing mode to a being mode through the application of attention and awareness.”

2. Interesting Product – Essentials Decluttering

Do you frequently misplace your keys or wallet? Part of the clutter management process is establishing a “home” for everything. This is especially important when it comes to creating a place for our essentials like our cell phones, keys, or glasses. This cleanly designed Grab N’ Go has designated compartments to house essentials in addition to cut-outs for charger cords, and a space to hold pens and a notepad.

3. Interesting Resource – Things Decluttering

Bravo that you’ve decluttered your clothing and household items! However, now the items you’re ready to let go of are creating more clutter and piles. The Give Back Box is an easy, painless, and free way to ship your donations by UPS or the US Post office to a an array of charity partners that sell the items to generate revenue to fund community-based programs like job training and placement services and support financial education and transportation. Declutter while doing good for others!

4. Interesting Tech  – Cord Decluttering

The loose cords we use for our digital devices can create clutter in even organized spaces. With these easy to use and fun-looking leather “cord tacos” from This Is Ground, you’ll easily be able to store and transport your cords.

5. Interesting Thought – Life Decluttering

Clutter and the chaos that it can bring is part of life. Clutter also presents us with an opportunity to discover, learn, decide, reimagine, and transform it into something simpler and less overwhelming.

What are your interesting finds? Which of these resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

One of the things I love about working with my organizing clients is joining them on the journey as they transform their spaces, habits, and thoughts about clutter, organizing, and life. I’m most often called to help when they are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, at a crossroads, or in the midst of a life transition. The common thread is that they deeply desire change. They might be unclear about how to get there or the steps needed for change to occur, but they want a shift. They want something different.

Clients often begin with a certain level of clutter overwhelm paired with a desire to make their environment feel positive and supportive. Clients tell me that clutter overload paralyzes their decision making abilities. When they see clutter, they shut down. One client explained that the clutter, especially surface clutter, becomes one giant pile of undistinguishable items that feel impossible to sort, edit or organize. The cluttered areas negate the peaceful, “happy place” feeling she’d like.

To help her transform the bedroom to that “happy place,” we focused on one surface at a time. We broke down the undistinguishable pile on the dresser top, removed all the items, and sorted them onto the bed into smaller categories, grouping like with like. Grouped piles make it easier to visually see and decide for example about those ten mascaras, five bottles of lotion or fifty hair ties. In addition to reducing decision fatigue and overwhelm, organizing the big pile into small groups allowed us to pair up missing items, determine how much was enough, remove things that belonged elsewhere, and let go of possessions that had served their purpose, but were no longer useful or appreciated.

We reviewed each category and item, one at a time. Each decision resulted in routing objects to one of these categories: discard, donate, recycle, give to a specific person, move elsewhere, or keep in the bedroom. Once the dresser surface was cleared, edited and organized, we addressed a few other surfaces. The edited piles were then moved to their destinations.

By the time we finished, the clutter was gone, her “happy place” was restored, and we were ready to tackle the next room.

How do you handle the cluttered areas in your life? I’d love to know your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

The greening of spring is magnificent this year. The abundance of rain we’ve experienced in the past month has created the incredibly beautiful, lush blooms. I’ve been feeling a strong pull to spend more time outside so that I can drink in the changing landscape. Each day nature offers up new gifts, just waiting to be noticed.

Just yesterday, our first white iris opened. As I walked down the front path, I crouched down so that I could better see the bloom and take in its sweet candy-like scent. Time stood still. There were no lists, to dos, or clutter racing around my head. All doing was suspended for a few brief moments as I delighted in experiencing this new flower.

It was a quiet, mindful moment.

Throughout the remainder of the day, between the doing and getting things done, I kept returning to the iris. I visited it again and again, appreciating its scent and lovely paper-thin petals. It kept me grounded in the present. It allowed me to let go of my mind clutter and focus on what was right in front of me.

Perhaps you’re experiencing challenges with overwhelm, clutter, or lack of time. If so, you’re not alone. Change is possible. Pause for mindful moments. They might just be a surprising antidote to your clutter and overwhelm challenges. Incorporating more mindful moments into your day will shift your perspective and help you navigate the changing landscape.

What have you been noticing this spring? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

I just returned from the NAPO 2016 organizing conference in Atlanta. About 550 professional organizers from around the world gathered to learn about building organizing businesses, learn new skills, think about current and future trends, and discover the latest products and services to help our clients.

There was a lot of note-taking, conversing, laughing, photographing, tweeting, listening, and observing. I loved seeing old friends and making new ones.

Some conference highlights included:

• Attending the IFPOA (International Federation of Professional Organizing Associations) meeting with the leaders from Japan, Canada, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom and the United States

Photo by NAPO President, Ellen Faye taken at IFPOA Meeting

• Going to the President's Black & White Reception with dancing and karaoke

• Talking with current and potential ICD subscribers at the ICD Booth during the NAPO Expo

• Discussing the influence of future trends on the organizing industry, including aging, downsizing, coaching, and technology

• Learning new ways to combine video with social media from Mindy Rodenburg

• Hanging out and talking with Denslow Brown

• Learning about Judith Kolberg's unique "to-do" list, digital estate planning, and her dance break during her session

• Seeing hundreds of old friends and making new ones

The days were packed from morning until late night. Everywhere I turned, there were new people to meet and old friends to greet. I loved that part. In between conversations, I attended sessions to learn about new trends, ideas, and concepts. During the sessions, I took notes and tweeted some highlights. Mealtimes gave us further opportunities to talk, connect and share ideas. Are you getting the picture? It was wonderful. At the same time, there was a lot to take in and process. And guess what? My heart was filled with connecting with all the amazing people, but so was my head. By Sunday morning, my mind felt full and cluttered.

Fortunately, I scheduled a later flight on Sunday. This gave me time to visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden to see the beautiful gardens and Chihuly exhibit. If you live in Atlanta or ever have the opportunity to see Dale Chihuly’s art, definitely go!

Dale Chihuly - Atlanta Botanical GardenIt turns out that one of the best cures for my cluttered mind was to spend several hours being outside in the sun, exploring nature, the gardens, seeing and photographing Chihuly’s vibrantly colored and organically shaped glass sculptures, taking in the wonderfully fragrant scents, hearing the sounds of water and birds, feeling the breeze, and walking along the winding paths.

Returning home, I gave myself time to sit by the river to collect my thoughts and review my notes. There are still many people to follow-up with and ideas to simmer and implement. However, by giving myself the time with nature and art, my cluttered mind has settled.

I’m excited about the possibilities, and calm about the pacing. My heart is full and happy. My mind is calm.

What helps you when your mind gets cluttered? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!