We’ve all been there: it’s a few minutes before you’re supposed to head out the door for the day, but you’re scrambling to find your keys or a book to be returned to the school library, someone is whining about a missing sock, and the dog still needs to be fed. Or worse, you’re already halfway to work or school and realize that in the middle of the chaos you ended up leaving your laptop or lunch at home.

Mornings can be stressful and chaotic for a lot of people, and nobody likes to start their day feeling all kinds of frazzled. My last post about back-to-school organization got me thinking about just how important a solid morning routine is, and luckily this is a great time of year to make some adjustments. Read on for some of my favorite How To tips for a more streamlined and organized morning routine!

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Well, I blinked and it’s mid-August, which means it’s time for all things Back To School! I love the start of a new school year, both for the promise of fall just around the corner and because school supply lists have always brought me some serious, inexplicable joy. Whether your kiddos have been back in the swing of things for a few weeks already or don’t head back until after Labor Day, here are a few tips to help make this year’s transition a bit smoother:

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• “I feel like I’m drowning in stuff - where did this all come from?!”

• “It just seems too overwhelming.”

• “I don’t even know where to start.'“

Sound familiar? You’re definitely not alone - according to a recent study done by Decluttr and NAPO, 54% of Americans feel overwhelmed by their clutter, but 78% have no idea what to do with it or find it too complicated to deal with. Making the decision to take action towards clutter and disorganization is one thing, but it’s often getting started that can be the hardest part. Read on for a few of my favorite tips for when you’re feeling stuck!

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While it’s technically still spring for another few weeks, summer break is in full swing here in my little corner of Columbus. For me, the next six weeks or so will be a much welcomed chance to reset. It’s been a crazy busy few months and The Joyful Sort is growing in ways that I could have never imagined. I’m incredibly thankful and so very excited for what’s to come…but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t also a tiny bit overwhelmed and in need of a breather. I’ve been thinking a lot about how important it is to be intentional about this time so that I can make the absolute most of it, both personally and professionally, so in that spirit I thought it would be helpful to share some of my favorite tips to help simplify and organize your summer.

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Let’s talk PAPER. My girl Beyonce says it’s the best revenge (major points if you understood that obscure reference and also we just became best friends so, yay!), but paper clutter is one of the most common organizational woes out there. Uncertainty about what documents are actually necessary to keep and for how long, paired with the all-too-common “just in case” trap can make tackling paper clutter seem like an incredibly overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be - let’s get it done!

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It’s been a busy few months, with a lot of time spent in the car trekking to and from sessions and donation drop-offs (#grateful), and I’ve relied heavily on podcasts as a great way to pass the time. Granted, not all of them have been home or organization-related (I’m still not totally over the craziness of The Dropout), but those tend to be my go-tos for obvious reasons. Im always looking for new podcast recommendations, so thought that it would be fun to share a few of my favorites, in no particular order:

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I recently asked my lovely Instagram followers to fill me in on which areas of their home they would most like some organizing help with and one of the most common responses was, “ALL THE TOYS, SO MANY TOYS, DROWNING IN TOYS”. It’s no surprise, considering that a recent study shows that children in the U.S. represent only 3.1% of the world population, but 40% of the toy market. Read on for my top tips for keeping the toys from taking over!

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One of the most daunting parts of the decluttering process can be getting started. Whenever I’m working with a new client and they’re feeling especially stuck, I have them ease into things with simple wins that will help build confidence and motivation to keep them moving forward. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that trash is a great starting point - it requires almost zero decision-making and can provide some quick visual encouragement - but in the hopes of keeping the ball rolling beyond that, here’s a list of a few more no-brainer items to which you can easily feel good about saying goodbye.

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