Posts by Jill Annis | Simply Organized
It’s okay to donate your nice things
I’ve heard my clients say this more than once…….”Jill, this is too nice to give away!” My response is, “yes, that’s a nice __________, but here’s the thing, thrift stores LOVE nice things.” Clients often believe they should sell their items rather than donate them because it feels wasteful and they want to recoup some…
Read MoreOur tree topper has had a good run
This star has topped our tree for 24 years. This year of all years the star refused to light up, go figure. Our $10 star had a good run. I remember shopping for this star with my mom after she saw our star-less tree. A tree without a topper was unacceptable to my mom. She…
Read MoreNifty Gifty Ideas for any Holiday
I stink at choosing gifts because I agonize over each gift, buy it, return it and cross my fingers they like it. Then I wised up and decided to stop buying stuff for the sake of buying stuff. It didn’t feel aligned with who I am (the Queen of decluttering). If you want to be…
Read MoreFollow my system to organize your home
Since I started painting as a hobby in 2020, I notice that the organizing and painting processes have some similarities. It starts with a goal. In my mind, I’ll have an image of the completed painting I’m aiming for. Just like an image of the uncluttered space you have in mind. Getting started can be…
Read MoreIt’s a waste of time to wait until you’re READY
Are you waiting until you feel READY to start organizing, decluttering, and letting go? That day may never come, so let’s do it anyway. You might as well start before you think you are ready otherwise nothing will improve. Let me tell you about my sister Chris. She’s retired, lives in Florida, and has ADD.…
Read MoreGet organized with virtual support from a professional
My virtual client transformed the top of her dresser! Isn’t this wild? (photos were shared with client’s permission) And no, she did not shuffle the piles elsewhere, instead, she found homes for everything. It’s now a gorgeous dresser with sorted-out drawers. Clothing that was on its surface found a new home. The boxes of odds…
Read MoreIt feels great to be prepared and organized for your death
Most of us like to avoid thinking about leaving this earth. One of the best gifts you can give the loved ones is to tell them your end-of-life wishes and to have your important papers organized and easy to find. The box in the photo is what my dad referred to as his “death box,”…
Read MoreDownsizing when it gets emotional
Downsizing is emotional for humans. You might feel bad about letting things go but your stuff doesn’t care whether you keep them around, toss, recycle or donate them to the nearest thrift store. Acknowledging this might make the downsizing process a bit easier. We have to feel the feelings, deal with them, and heal our…
Read MoreYou are capable of doing hard stuff
This is hard! That’s what my client repeatedly stated as she sorted out a bin. I’m not going to deny this. Making decisions and dealing with stuff is hard. She didn’t quit though. I held space for her and oozed support. I listened without interrupting. Bit by bit, the decisions were made and she…
Read MoreI wanted to give up.
I barely made it to our destination on this hike. A cirque on a Colorado mountainside. Did you spot me in the lower righthand corner of the photo surrounded by expansive mountains? It felt incredible to get to this spot, sit down, breathe normally, refuel and take some time to enjoy nature while scanning the…
Read MoreYou don’t have to live like this
The boxes haven’t been unpacked even though you moved a million years ago. Or, you moved last month, and the remaining boxes feel so hard. This I understand; you’re overwhelmed.? ? It’s easy to avoid unpacking boxes, especially when you’re able to hide them in the basement, garage, or closet. But they are still there……taking…
Read MoreIs it just me who needs more space?
You aren’t the only one with too much stuff and too little space. Here’s a solution to regaining control. If you can’t shut the closet or cabinet door, then remove some items until it all fits and the door closes. Look for things you don’t use or don’t like. Do the same when a drawer…
Read MoreSHOULD isn’t a good reason for keeping things
Let’s talk about NOT “shoulding” on yourself. I’ll share some examples. * I should keep this because I spent $$ on it. This is a sunk cost. We buy things to use and enjoy and then pass them along if they no longer serve us. * I should save this awful piece of art my…
Read MoreAre you hanging onto things because you don’t want to get rid of them?
Common Reasons We Hang On To Things I don’t want to let it go! I can’t just give it away. It’s worth something. Who would want it? This is hard! Are you hanging onto things because you’re telling yourself that you CAN’T give them up? There’s no shame in this. It’s emotional. No one likes…
Read MoreThis shovel was more than a shovel
My husband decided to re-organize our garage. An area I like to think of as my husband’s responsibility. He is the main user of the stuff as well as a SAVER with a capital “S.” Me, I’m a tosser. For example, I don’t save short bits of rope, just in case. Nor do I…
Read MoreMy client’s bed wasn’t sleeping in her bed
Her bed was completely buried beneath clutter. My client was dealing with physical and emotional challenges besides an overwhelming amount of bedroom clutter. She couldn’t sleep in her bedroom because clutter had completely taken over the room (I’ve seen this situation countless times; I couldn’t wait to help). It had become an area to stash…
Read MoreWho 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 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.…
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