Posts by Jill Annis | Simply Organized
Who hasn’t decluttered by accident?
Those moments of unplanned, spontaneous decluttering can be very productive. You had no intention of decluttering but there you are sorting and discarding by happenstance (I’ve always wanted to use that word). I’ve had this happen in my garden when I spot a weed while admiring a bloom. Thirty minutes later I’ll notice I…
Read MoreMy grief story. Tips for downsizing after a loss.
I felt anxious and apprehensive about picking up my dad’s cremains. Would I be sad and cry once they placed his container in my arms? Should I accept my husband’s offer to pick them up or have him accompany me? In the end, I decided I’d do it after a client appointment since she lived…
Read MoreRegain control with virtual organizing assistance
Before March 2020, I worked with 1:1 with clients in their homes. That’s not possible at the time of this post (spring 2020) BUT you can still get my nonjudgmental support and learn how to organize when you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get your paper piles in…
Read MoreTry this if you need to get rid of items quickly
Sometimes a move to a different home is planned, other times it’s due to a crisis. My parents experienced both situations and moved 3 times in the last 9 years. Each move required downsizing because of space constraints. Fortunately, they’d downsized for decades and didn’t hang onto things that no longer served them. They continued…
Read MoreMy dad’s wait is over
His 5-year wait ended. Ever since my mom passed, dad envisioned once again being with his bride of 64 years. That long-awaited day arrived for him on December 29, 2019, with his passing. His kids and grandkids drove and flew into Madison to love on him during his last days. • We held his…
Read MorePrepare for an exceptional morning–free checklist
I’m not a morning person. How about you? Do you start the day off feeling frazzled before your body is even vertical? I have my dad to thank for showing me the power of preparing for the next day by doing as much as possible the night before. He really hated mornings. His eyes were…
Read MoreAn essential checklist to prevent clutter and save money.
We all buy stuff, myself included, thinking….. That’s CUTE, I need it! I love her outfit, I want one just like it. It’s on sale, I gotta buy it now. I’m sad, worried, anxious so buying this thing will make me feel better. Oh my gosh, that gadget is just what I need. It’s the…
Read MoreTry this if you hate sorting papers, decluttering, and making decisions
I hate this! {declared my client} Excuse me? This is NOT something I want to hear while organizing with a client. I saw she was overwhelmed, annoyed and frustrated about the boxes of memorabilia, mostly papers, we discovered. It felt like an impossible feat for her to sort it all out. She wanted to…
Read MoreOrganizing is emotional
I noticed there was a change of plans when my client met me at her door with two outdoor seat cushions and a cup of coffee in her hand. She needed time to enjoy the beautiful morning and chat for a bit. I realized organizing was gonna have to wait. Doing nothing is a challenge for…
Read MoreBuying it, even when you like it, might not be the best decision
I was A F R A I D of this bike but I accepted my friend’s invitation to try it anyway. It’s not an ordinary bike, my friend owns an e-bike (electric). A bike with a throttle among other powerful features which scared me a bit. No one has ever called me a thrill-seeking daredevil.…
Read MoreAre you ready for overnight guests?
She had a sofa for a guest to sleep on but let’s just say the guest room was a bit neglected. Here’s the thing…. guests were due to arrive and she was paralyzed by overwhelm. She was feeling the external pressure to transform that space. I was thrilled she reached out for my help clearing…
Read MoreTime management: How to say “no” when you feel obligated to say “yes”
Are you saying yes when you really want to say no? It’s hard for most of us to say no, especially when a favor is asked and you don’t want to let someone down. What if you changed your perception from when you respond to a request with a “no” you are being callous and…
Read MoreHow to make decisions based on truth not fear
The decision-making process, or determining what to keep and what not to keep, is fundamental to the organizing process. Many things are kept because of good intentions but when the truth be told, it was kept knowing it would never be used, looked at again or even thought about. Do these situations sound familiar? You’ve…
Read MoreYour children are watching
RANSACKED, or at least turned upside down….that’s what I thought when I looked into our teenage daughter’s bedroom. My solution……..keep her door closed. I’m a PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER who helps clients declutter their homes. I know, it doesn’t make any sense. We wanted to give her some autonomy with her space. Here’s what I could control.…
Read MoreUse this checklist before you leave home on vacation
Vacations are much anticipated and often necessary to recharge and reboot. It can be stressful to prepare to leave, especially for adults with homes. There’s a lot to remember to do in order to ensure your home is ready to be unoccupied, yet appear occupied for a time period. Remove some of the pre-vacation stress…
Read MoreHow to declutter and decide to let go with confidence
Decisions are easy……said no one! As you declutter and downsize, you’ll be faced with lots of decisions. I’ve created a list for you to refer to when you’re undecided or you feel stuck. Use this list to guide you and help you let go of your excess things. Toss, recycle, donate or sell the item…
Read MoreSimple tips to declutter your overflowing email inbox
It’s not uncommon to have hundreds or even thousands of emails waiting for attention or action. My inbox comfort level tends to be about 15 emails. If you’re overwhelmed by hundreds or thousands of emails, use these simple strategies that I’ve found effective. Delete, delete, delete! Get rid of anything you don’t need. I check…
Read MoreHow to have an organized and clutter-free kitchen
Contrary to what you might think, your kitchen can be organized even though it’s a high traffic area and a drop zone. Clear countertops and tidy storage spaces might be a task you’ve put off and it will take an effort to maintain but it’s worth it. I find cooking is a bit more tolerable when…
Read MoreIdeas for organizing and storing artwork created by your children
What in the world do you do with the special art your children created? It piles up quickly, especially during their pre-school and elementary years. I’d like to offer you some options for saving artwork created by your kids or grandkids. First, be extremely selective by saving only the cream of the crop. Ask yourself, are all…
Read More3 vital organized habits you need to adopt to live a more organized life
Uncover the organized person within you. Believe it or not, we are all capable of living a more organized life. I’m going to reveal three vital organizing practices I teach my clients that may encourage you to embrace better habits. 1. Edit your possessions until they fit their intended space. When everything fits into your available…
Read MoreYou won’t believe what turns up while decluttering with clients
Has clutter concealed money in your home? You’ll find out once you start sorting through your papers, boxes, and piles. My clients have discovered thousands of dollars hidden among clutter in their homes. People are thrilled when we find sizable checks they thought were lost forever. We’ve also found loose change and bills. We once…
Read MorePractical tips for organizing your home maintenance records
If you own a home, you know that a home requires care and upkeep in the form of repairs, renovations and regular maintenance. There are systems you can put in place to organize home maintenance paperwork including receipts, service providers and projects. Your first consideration when organizing home maintenance items is to decide whether you…
Read MoreInstant decluttering tips for a cleaner home
This is the last my series of tips to help you start eliminating clutter and take you from overwhelmed to organized. Apply the “one-in, one-out” rule to your home. For every item you bring in, one should be donated or discarded. This may need to be modified to one-in, 10-out until your home feels comfortable. Give…
Read More7 winning organizing strategies
This week I’m sharing more of my top strategies to help you go from overwhelmed to organized. 1. Use containers while de-cluttering instead of creating piles. You’ll need these clearly labeled containers next to the area you are de-cluttering: donate, sell, trash, recycle, items to keep but go elsewhere and shred. 2. Find a home for…
Read More5 ways to start organizing when you’re overwhelmed
It’s not uncommon to dread the organizing process and feel paralyzed. I’m sharing my best tips to help you go from overwhelmed to organized in the next 3 blog posts. Start small. Choose a very tiny area to start, like one drawer, or commit to organizing for a short amount of time (15 minutes every week).…
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