It’s my 14th anniversary of being a blogger! Happy Blog-i-versary to me!
As I set out to write this annual post, I had to pause for a moment. Fourteen years of blogging? How did THAT happen?
I started my blog (originally on the Blogger platform) when my son was three years old. He’s now seventeen and heading to college in the Fall! We’ve both come a long way…
Every year in my anniversary post, I talk about the goals I had set for the blog the previous year and I create new ones for the next twelve months. When I opened WordPress to start this blog post, I took a look at how many posts I had written from November 2022-October 2023. I was surprised to see that it was only three.
Three blog posts? That’s it? Really? I could swear I had written more than that this past year.
Sheesh.
To be honest, I did have a lot going on personally this past year–major life cycle events for both of my kids that I had to put my time and energy into but, really–only three blog posts? *Sigh*
My blog goals for 2022-2023 were:
• Create a second Ted Talk blog post
• Continue to create downloadable printables for my popular blog posts
• Only have two goals for my blog this year.
Yes, that third goal was an actual goal. In the past, I have created too many goals for my blog to keep up with so I made a goal to have fewer goals. #thatsagoodthing
Here’s the one goal I WAS able to accomplish…
A few years ago, I started creating downloadable printables to compliment some of my blog posts. The first one I designed was for a post called, Organizing Quick Tip: Make a Decision. The printable is a one-page sheet with the words ‘Keep,’ Toss,’ and ‘Donate’ on it. Each word can be cut out, attached to a bin/wall/chair, and used during the decluttering process to define a space for a category of items.
This year, I decided to embark on a printable project of a larger scale. This newest one is eight pages long! It is a printable to support my book, The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook. In the back of my book, I provide the reader with lined pages to write and track their gift-giver’s names, addresses, and gifts given. Although it’s a handy place to keep all that information, I thought that some readers might not find it easy to use and would benefit from a larger space to write.
In reviewing past Anniversary posts, I discovered that I have repeatedly set a goal to create a “Ted Talk Two” blog post–more times than I’d like to admit. And, it didn’t happen. Again.
Why?
I got quiet with myself and thought about it. My first Ted Talk blog post was very popular–especially on Pinterest. Why couldn’t I get my act together to create a second one?
After giving it some thought, I had to laugh. I discovered that much of the issue had to do with my treadmill.
My treadmill?
From 2016-2019, I had an exercise habit of walking on my treadmill a few mornings a week. I found that Ted Talks were the perfect compliment to my treadmill use. Each video was approximately eighteen minutes long and my workout was about twenty minutes. A perfect match!
Then came the pandemic in March of 2020. By then, our treadmill was fourteen years old and had barely survived our home renovation five years previous. Now, it wasn’t just me walking on it–it was my husband and two sons using it as well. Due to old age, the treadmill could not withstand the extra weight and usage and was pronounced dead at the end of April. I started walking outside and listening to podcasts (which I am now totally hooked on) or exercising to YouTube videos when the weather was inclement. There went most of my Ted Talk watching time.
But, I did not give up hope on writing “Ted Talk Two.”
I created a home (a ‘new note’ in Evernote) for all Ted Talks that I wanted to review for the blog post. If I saw a Ted Talk video in my Facebook newsfeed, in a Google search, or recommended by a colleague and I thought it might be appropriate for “Ted Talk Two,” I copied and pasted its URL into that note in Evernote.
I did this for a few months and one day, I set aside time in my calendar to view the videos. After watching five or six, I decided that none of them were as “Ted Talk Two-worthy” as the ones I had chosen for my first Ted Talk post. I also think that perhaps due to the pandemic, not as many Ted Talks were filmed. It was a challenge to find many new ones on the topic of organizing produced in the past few years.
Then I got busy again. Listened to more podcasts. I can’t remember the last time I watched a whole Ted Talk.
My blog goals for 2023-2024:
I’ve got a good feeling about that “Ted Talk Two” video. You see, my husband and I are considering replacing our treadmill. We’ve started doing research and we’re looking to buy one this winter. Once I’m back on a treadmill, I’ll be back to watching Ted Talks with more regularity. And, when that happens, I’ll be keeping my eyes open for Ted Talks that would be perfect for the blog post I’ve been thinking about writing for years.
I’m calling it right now: Ted Talk Two in 2024. That’s my ONE goal for the next twelve months. And who knows, I just may trim my waistline in the process!
It takes time as well as brain power to consider options, weigh pros and cons, and collect information. Decision-making can be stressful–you’re responsible for the outcome and your decision often affects more than just you.
It’s easier to not make a decision. But that doesn’t work in real life–especially when it comes to getting organized. If you want your home to be an organized space, it’s vital to start exercising your decision-making muscles!
Barbara Hemphill, a pioneer in the field of Professional Organizing says…
“Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.”
If you take a moment to think about that statement, it makes total sense.
Picture your kitchen countertops, your dining room table, your clothing closet and other areas of your home that may be cluttered. Bills, kid toys, old socks–have you been making decisions on those items or avoiding them in the hope that you’ll wake up one morning and the necessary decisions will have been made for you?
Maybe you’re putting off making decisions on items in your home because…
– you need more information or guidance before deciding.
– you need to ask another person for permission first.
– your decision may hurt someone’s feelings.
– you’re busy, you don’t have time, or it’s too emotionally taxing to think about it clearly.
By not making decisions, your belongings stay where you’ve placed them and will become clutter. They’ll keep your home cluttered and keep you stuck. Making a decision will ‘unstick’ you and move you forward.
The easiest way make a decision about physical items that are cluttering up your home is to make those decisions as easy as possible to make. Keep it simple–especially in the beginning.
How to start simply and easily? Use three words: Keep, Toss, Donate. Pick a category–shoes, books, toiletries, donation requests (or whatever is causing clutter in your home) and apply those three words to making decisions on items in that category.
Don’t think about decluttering a category or a space in your home any more deeply than that at this moment. Don’t think about where an item will live or where it should be donated to. Don’t think about how you’ll get it to the thrift shop or whether or not it will fit in your cabinet, drawer, or closet. Just look at the item you need to make a decision on and ask Keep? Toss? or Donate? Start there.
That’s your first decision–Keep, Toss, or Donate. Making that basic decision is the first step to clearing your clutter and moving you and your home in a less cluttered and more positive direction.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your clutter, take a deep breath and repeat out loud, “Keep, Toss, or Donate.” That’s the only decision you have to make right now–Keep, Toss, or Donate. If it helps, make it your organizing mantra! Write it on a post-it. Make it your laptop’s screen saver–whatever works for you.
To help you visualize those decisions while decluttering and keep your decluttering process organized, I’ve created a free downloadable ‘Keep-Toss-Donate’ printable for you to use. Designate three spaces (or bins/bags/boxes) in the area you’re working in–one will be for the ‘Keep’ items, one for the ‘Donate’ items and one for the ‘Toss’ items. Use the printable ‘Keep’ ‘Toss’ and ‘Donate’ tags to clearly designate your spaces and decisions. You don’t want to accidentally donate your trash or trash your donations!
Start with the easy stuff–junk mail, pens that may/may not work, old clothes and shoes. As you practice using your decision-making muscles, move onto magazines, sheets and towels, and seasonal clothes. Use “Keep, Toss, or Donate” as the first step toward making space in your home for items that you want, use, and love.
If there’s one thing I hear over and over from my clients and others, it’s that one of the most challenging parts of getting organized is starting. Many people don’t know where or how to start. And we all know what happens when you don’t know where or how to start. You.Don’t.Start. (Insert sad face here)
I want you to start! And I want you to succeed. But there are a few steps you’ll need to take before you can even begin to contemplate setting an organizing project in motion. Don’t toss anything in the trash. Refrain from buying cute bins and baskets. Read on.
In order for you to get organized and stay organized, it’s necessary to ask yourself two important questions.
What is my WHAT?
and
What is my WHY?
Yup. Ask yourself those two questions. And grab either your phone or paper and pen to help you remember your answers. Let’s start with ‘your WHAT.’
Your WHAT = What do I want to get organized?
Is it…
-your clothing closet filled with multiple sizes?
-your basement filled with thirty years of accumulation?
-your overstuffed file cabinets?
-your overstuffed kitchen cabinets?
Coming up with answers to ‘What is my WHAT?’ is the easier of the two questions to answer. Your WHAT is the part that is usually easy to determine because you come in contact with it all the time in your home. You see your WHAT on a daily or weekly basis so it’s easy to name. Write it down.
Next, consider your WHY.
Your WHY = WHY do I want it to be organized?
also know as…
WHY do I want to get my ‘WHAT’ organized?
This is the more challenging of the two questions. Asking yourself WHYrequires that you dig deep for answers. The answers may not be simple ones and may require the examination of past habits and patterns as well as the reflection of past decisions and choices. Pay attention to your feelings and take time to understand them. I know–easier said than done. But, being honest with yourself and your struggle to get organized will benefit you short-term and in the long run.
Let’s get back to figuring out your WHY…
WHY do YOU want to get organized? You might say…
“I’m tired of running late because I can’t find the clothes in my closet that fit me. I want to organize my closet in order to be able to get dressed in less than ten minutes. I want to look good and feel good and not start my day off stressed out anymore.”
or…
“I’ve been spending a lot of money in credit card late fees. I want to create an organized bill paying system so I can pay my bills on time, stop wasting money, and eventually raise my low credit score. I can’t save for a down payment on a house if I’m letting money slip through my fingers. I’ll never be able to buy a home if my credit score prevents me from getting a mortgage.”
or…
“I’m exhausted from always running to the supermarket at the end of my work day. I want to organize my kitchen cabinets for meal planning. I don’t want to do the ‘5 o’clock scramble’ anymore! Knowing in advance what my family and I are eating for dinner will save me time and money and may even help me eat more healthily and lose weight.”
Whatever your WHYis, write it on a post-it and hang it somewhere you’ll see it often. Make it your screen saver or your phone’s wallpaper. Keep it on a card in your wallet. Don’t lose sight of it. During the organizing process, you might feel stuck, frustrated, or overwhelmed. Go back and look at your WHY.
Your WHY will focus you and keep you on track to complete your organizing tasks.
Your WHY is there to remind you WHY you’re working hard to get organized.
Your WHY will motivate you to move forward towards your personal organizing finish line.
Just by knowing your WHAT and your WHY, you’re ready to take the next step on your path to a more organized life.
What is your WHAT and what is your WHY?
Click the image below to print a *free* worksheet to help you think about more than just your WHAT and your WHY!
Shortly after it’s publication, I came across a quote that I now believe to be true: “If you thought writing a book was hard, try marketing it!”
It has been a challenge getting the word out about The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook, especially because it does not have much in common with my day-to-day home and virtual organizing business. I’m a Professional Organizer–not a Wedding Professional. With this book, I straddle the fields of organizing and weddings–marketing it has been quite a learning experience.
I’ve let the world know about my book via social media, Facebook Ads, giveaways, guest blogging, being included in ‘wedding product roundup’ articles, (and a little bit of begging–I’m not proud) and recently decided to give video a try. Articles on book marketing point to video as the way to go in marketing today. They say a book trailer is an important piece of an author’s media kit. I’ve done a few Facebook Live videos and I’m slowly growing my YouTube channel so I thought I’d give it a try. I had never used iMovie before but I thought, “If my twelve year old can use it, so, can I!”
It took about a week of learning from articles and YouTube videos and a few brainstorming sessions in solitude but I did it! I created my first book trailer using Canva, iMovie, and some loyalty-free music from YouTube.
Presenting…the book trailer for The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook.
Thanks for watching! If you know a bride with a house full of wedding gifts who could use some writing tips and help with their wedding thank you note wording, please share The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook book trailer with them. For more information, go to the Organized Artistry website or Amazon.com.
Download Our Gift Tracker Printables!
Track your engagement gifts, bridal shower gifts, and wedding gifts with our *free* Gift Tracker printables! Click the image below to download and print three gift trackers and valuable tips for keeping your addresses and gift lists organized.
Your thank you note tracking is about to get so much easier…
In 2000, my husband and I got married and merged two households. Between all the stuff we came with and the beautiful wedding gifts we had received, our home was overflowing with three of this, four of that and too much of a whole lotta stuff. So, we decided to sort through what we owned, purge out what we didn’t need and have a garage sale.
I wish I had pictures to show you but our driveway and lawn were filled with our belongings. People thought we were downsizing and moving! I overheard one woman on her cell phone yelling to a friend, “You gotta come over here–there’s so much great stuff!”
Two days and almost $1000 later, we had done a good job of clearing space in our home. We used the funds to buy a patio set which we still own. At the end of day two, I turned to my husband and said “I never want to have enough stuff in our home to do a garage sale again…”
It’s now 2013. We’ve had two children and our house was feeling full. My husband swore our attic floor would soon buckle and bins of stuff would crash to the floor below. In the Spring we began, Operation ‘Get It Out of the House.’ Big ticket items like our crib and two exersaucers found new homes. Bags upon bags of baby clothing found their way to three different expectant mothers. My husband says he could hear the attic exhale for the first time in years.
Multiply this times three and that’s how many bags of 0-12m baby clothing I gave away!
I kept purging–kiddie toys to the preschool, old pillows to the trash and then it happened…My neighbor tells me our town is having it’s first town-wide garage sale.
I pass the great news about the town-wide garage sale on to my husband. He’s as excited as I am.
I continue purging. I started to collect boxes and plastic bags, and began pricing. I even dug up the Word file for the garage sale sign I had created in 2000 (Hubby says that didn’t surprise him one bit…).
My cousin Dale gave me the ‘Fill a bag for $1’ idea. Brilliant!
After pricing, I sorted our items by category–Baby, Kid Toys, Housewares, Books, etc. counting down the days when I could finally reclaim my garage space again.
We had about a tenth of the stuff we put out in 2000. Our friend gave us some of her things to put in the garage sale so she could purge her house, too. We had two beautiful sunny days and although foot traffic was light, enough customers made purchases to say it was successful.
My neighbors across the street set up a few tables and my nine year old neighbor decided to try his hand at selling some toys he and his brother didn’t play with anymore. I advised him to lay them out on towels grouping ‘like’ with ‘like’–dinosaurs with other dinos and all vehicles together, too. He sold a few items (including one of the bikes in the background) but at least half of them went to my son’s preschool or to my own kids!
The wares of a budding entrepreneur…
A few shoppers commented on how organized my labeled pricing system was. I smiled and said, ‘Thanks.’ Oh, if they only knew…
Two days later, we made less than a tenth of the money we had made in the 2000 garage sale but that’s OK. We weren’t doing it for the money–we were getting rid of the ‘old’ to make room for the ‘new.’
Some funny/unexpected things that happened:
• My neighbors bought some of my stuff!
• A shopper thought a painting marked $3.00 was actually $300. We all had a good chuckle…
• A grandma about six inches shorter than me bought and then picked up a Little Tikes picnic table and walked back to her house with it.
• I sold a NJ Devils giveaway towel to my seven year old for $ .25. I thought it would be a good math lesson…
He said, “Mommy, I can’t believe you were going to sell this!”
Some great things that happened:
• I had fun hanging out with my neighbors and celebrating our selling successes.
• My kids acquired some cool toys and baseball mitts from our neighbors across the street.
• I got to read two magazines during selling ‘downtime.’ Any mom of small kids know that this is quite a feat!
• We made a little extra spending money.
• We purged our home of things we no longer needed.
At the end of the town-wide garage sale, I packed up all unsold goods and split them into three categories. Give to Preschool, Give to Thrift Shop, Bring Back in the Garage. The ‘Give to Thrift Shop’ bags and boxes went from my driveway to my car to a local donation center. My ‘Preschool’ items are enjoying a new home in my son’s classroom and the one (!) bin marked ‘Bring Back in the Garage’ is being dealt with this week.
So, if your town is declaring a town-wide garage sale soon, or you’re looking to make some room in your home and some money for your wallet, it’s time to plan ahead! Click here or click the image below for my *free* download: 5 Tips for a Successful Garage Sale.
OK–Who is ready to have a garage sale?
About This Blog
A blog by Professional Organizer Stacey Agin Murray bursting with cool products, 'gotta-tell-a-friend' ideas, and a whole lotta organizing know-how. Learn more...
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About Stacey
When you grow up in a 5’x12′ bedroom, you learn to organize pretty quickly! I chose to take that knowledge and turn it into a business helping people find what they need when they need it. I’m also the author of The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook–a book that offers wedding thank you note-related organizing tips and how-to’s plus 101 unique sample thank you notes (what bride can’t use that?).
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