Jolie Medina Jolie Medina

6 Brain Hacks to Kickstart Your Organizing Project

Anyone who has ever lived in a cluttered home and then finally gotten it organized will tell you what a difference it has made to their well-being. A clutter-free environment reduces stress and anxiety while promoting productivity. Remember, home clutter can have a direct impact on mental clutter; when your space is messy, your brain has trouble focusing, thinking clearly, and feeling at ease! An organized home also eliminates the dreaded “I’ll get to it later.” piles that collect dust (making allergies worse), while making cleaning a faster, easier task. Let’s not forget, having an organized space saves you money, too!

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Organizing, Productivity Rachel Fontaine Organizing, Productivity Rachel Fontaine

Your Kitchen: Decluttering and Organizing for Efficiency

The kitchen can be a challenging space to organize and keep clutter-free. It’s often a hub of activity, contains hundreds of small items, and its abundant flat surfaces tend to collect debris. A decluttered kitchen will save you time, reduce your stress load, and make cooking a joy (or at least less of a chore). As professional organizers, we’ve transformed countless kitchens into functional spaces. Here, we’ll share some tips to help you declutter yours for maximum functionality.

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Rachel Fontaine Rachel Fontaine

School Year, Sorted: How to Organize Your Home for Academic Success

Back-to-school season is here, and it’s time to trade the chaos of summer for the chaos of new schedules, new supplies, and new organization requirements. Even though it probably feels like a hassle and you don’t think you have the time, by carving out an hour or two to get things in order and spruce up your kids’ spaces now, you can set them up for a successful school year. Here’s how to get started.

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Organizing Jolie Medina Organizing Jolie Medina

Resetting Your Space

When I set up the room, I had assigned drawers and baskets for specific items, but I realized some spots weren’t working, especially in the cabinet, and I was trying to fit too many different things on one shelf. I pulled everything out, reorganized, and found two bags worth of things I could donate, which gave me more room to actually see what I have and use it! 

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Finances Rachel Fontaine Finances Rachel Fontaine

Streamlining Your Budget for Clarity and Savings

An organized budget gives you control over your money and peace of mind. When I get stressed about things outside of my control, I review and adjust my budget because it’s something that’s under my complete control, and it gives me a sense of power over the outcome. It’s like decluttering a chaotic room—every choice you make can lead to a calmer result. Whether you’re tackling credit card debt, student loans, or saving for the future, a streamlined budget is the first step to achieve your goals. Get started today and enjoy the clarity that comes with a clutter-free budget.

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Finances, Organizing, Productivity Rachel Fontaine Finances, Organizing, Productivity Rachel Fontaine

Taming Your Financial Clutter

Financial clutter can be just as overwhelming as an overflowing closet. Unfortunately, because discussing finances is often seen as taboo, many people were never taught how to manage their finances in an organized and clutter-free way. Having clear financial systems is important because it empowers individuals to take control of their money.

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Organizing, Productivity Rachel Fontaine Organizing, Productivity Rachel Fontaine

The Spring Seasonal Wardrobe Switch

Start your seasonal switch with a clear plan. Set aside a dedicated day or two to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Be careful not to get started too early in the season; April is too early, even if there are a few warm days. Mid to late May is best. Begin by emptying your closet and drawers completely—this gives you a blank slate to assess your wardrobe. Sort items into four piles: keep, donate, trash, and pack away.

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Rachel Fontaine Rachel Fontaine

Organizing Challenges of Old New England Homes

From tiny, odd-shaped closets to damp and moldy basements, the challenges of these spaces require creative solutions to make the best use of the storage without compromising the home’s charm.

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Organizing Rachel Fontaine Organizing Rachel Fontaine

The Illusion of Cleanliness: What Visitors Really See

So, what are my guests actually seeing? It’s the openness: the bare countertops, the spacious shelves, the floors that hold furniture and nothing else. They notice that the living room is a living room, not a storage unit or makeshift office. The kitchen is for cooking, not a dumping ground for mail and half-dead plants. This functional use of space creates a look that reads as “clean,” even if a close inspection might reveal some shepherd dust or drool.

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Julie Wolfert Julie Wolfert

Make the Most of Waiting Time: 4 Ways to Organize Your Tech

We’ve all been there: you’re waiting in line, at the doctor’s office, repair shop, or in the carpool pickup lane.  Instead of mindlessly scrolling social media or getting frustrated by the wait, why not seize the moment to declutter your technology? Here are four simple tasks you can tackle on your smartphone or tablet during those idle minutes—plus five potential benefits you’ll reap from organizing while you wait.

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Rachel Fontaine Rachel Fontaine

Get More Done With A Done List

It's a lot more satisfying at the end of the day to look at all of the many tasks I did get done, instead of only looking at how much more there is to do. Surprisingly, I've found that I get a significant amount more done each day because as the done list grows, so does my motivation to make it even longer.

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Julie Wolfert Julie Wolfert

9 Favorite Pieces of Advice From 2024

In 2024, we focused a lot on individuals' ability to take control of the stuff that fills their lives. We believe that no matter how bad clutter and disorganization are, people have the power to change. With that in mind, here are some reminders of the strength and power you can choose to bring forward into 2025, so you’ll have a great year of clearing clutter and getting your stuff in order.

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Rachel Fontaine Rachel Fontaine

Decluttering For The Holidays

You might be tempted to start stuffing items in closets and under beds. You may even be considering giving up and canceling the visits altogether. Before you take drastic measures, give my 4 step plan a try.

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Rachel Fontaine Rachel Fontaine

Create Decluttering Rules So Friends And Family Can Help

Do you have a huge, overwhelming decluttering project? Are you convinced that you need to do it all yourself because you have to be the one who decides everything? It doesn't have to be that way! There are ways to involve family and/or friends so that they make the same decisions you would have made.

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Rachel Fontaine Rachel Fontaine

Guidelines For Organizing: Where to Store Items

Every space is different and often professional organizers have to be creative in our solutions to disorganization, but there are often guidelines we use to make the storage and use of items easier for clients. If you're finding yourself stuck on figuring out where to create homes for your items, try following the guidelines the professionals use.

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Rachel Fontaine Rachel Fontaine

No, You Don't Have to Get Rid of Things

For some people, a major roadblock to seeking out an organizer is the fear that s/he will "make me get rid of everything". Let me set your mind at ease. It's not an organizer's job to "make" you do anything. We offer advice based on our expertise, but ultimately the decision about your stuff is yours alone.

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