Hi friends, yay to getting to Friday! Lately I’ve been thinking about organizing challenges. I used to run them years ago before they became all the rage. Participants would share their very messy and cluttered before pictures and then as well their newly organized afters. It was very inspiring, these ladies were so courageous to share their real lives and real homes for all the world to see. Then Pinterest came around and changed everything. Then it became more about picture perfect shots and making already organized homes just a little more organized. There is nothing wrong with that at all but it’s just not so much of a challenge then. It worried me that women (and men) who were really struggling with organization would feel defeated somehow if their home didn’t look a certain way and I just didn’t want to contribute to that. So in case anyone was wondering, that is why I no longer run them like I use to but maybe there is another way. I don’t know the answer but it’s just been something I’ve been thinking about it. Let me know if you have any suggestions 🙂
I’m not sure if you saw the picture I shared earlier this week but I was a purging machine last year. So while I call myself an organizing junkie, I think it’s clear that I love the power of the toss as well. That’s what I hope all my readers experience as well. Decluttering is power, it’s freedom from the chaos and stress in your life. It’s such a beautiful thing really. Please remember decluttering isn’t something you only do once a year.
I’ve got some great links to share with you this week to help you not only get organized but stay organized as well. I hope you like them!
My Weekly Favorite Organizing Links:
Speaking of decluttering, do you think it’s possible to declutter your home in 7 hours? Ashley at Simply Designing seems to think so. Free printable too!
And another one –> How to Declutter & Organize Any Space ~ @ Clean & Scentsible
How to Make the Most of Your Mornings by Creating a Plan ~ @ Townsend House
How to Stay Organized: Finding Your Organizing Style ~ @ Simplify 101
An awesome kitchen command center ~ @ Delightful Order
Closet organizing tips galore! ~ a Professional Organizers Blog Carnival @ Organized Assistant
Have a happy organized weekend y’all!!
Muriel says
I agree with you about Pinterest. Sometimes it’s hard to see the difference between the before and after pictures. 🙂
Forgetfulone says
I used to take part in your organizing challenges. I miss them!
Robin says
I didn’t organize a closet this past week, and after I was done I wished I had taken a before picture *sigh*.
Instead I did the bathroom cupboard which was a disaster! I couldn’t find my hair ties or barrettes more often than not when I REALLY needed one. Heck, I could barely find the cleaning products!
A friend bought me a freestanding over the toilet shelving unit and put it together for me. Two weekends ago she finally put it together and I went to town on that teeny cupboard and medicine cabinet and cleared out stuff we never use, expired products and stuff which was just no longer useable. It looked better already but I wasn’t satisfied so yesterday I went out and bought 5 bins from the Dollar And More Store.
What a difference! I can now find all those extra toothbrushes and toothpaste, ALL my hair ties and barrettes, my spray on hair conditioner, the cleaning products AND the extra soap and shampoo!
Thanks for the inspiration to actually get it done!
Oh, there wasn’t anything to send to consignment or resale stores, but there was a medium sized bag for the garbage bin outside!
Linda S says
I’ve missed your organizing challenges, but I understand what you are saying in this post. And I agree. BUT – the spaces I took on during your challenges really and truly were transformed, and pieces of myself were transformed along with them. Thank you so much for all you’ve shared over these years – I keep coming back, re-reading all those old posts and collecting bits of inspiration still. Your voice is fresh and different and important. OrgJunkie (along with A Slob Comes Clean) have been the most helpful to me in my war on my ‘messy’ tendencies.
I’ll continue to stop by, and will work through past challenges, and using your PROCESS method (which is amazing!)
Any good ideas that come along for handling challenges, I’ll be sure to pass them on to you. Blessings!
Laura Wittmann says
Linda you are so sweet to leave such a nice comment, thank you!! And I’m so happy you have found the challenges so helpful in the past and it’s really why I did them. Not just for transformed spaces but transformed lives as well, that made me happiest of all!!
Linda S says
Making you happy makes me happy 🙂 Truly, you have been a great blessing to me, and to many.
Heather says
Thank you so much for featuring my post on making the most from your mornings! It is something that has helped me immensely as the mama of three little ones, and a recovering non-morning person 🙂