 We all want our homes to be filled with items we love. But what about items we don't love that someone we DO love gifted us? Or items that hold sentimental value but we have too many of them. These can be emotionally difficult to part with. As Professional Home Organizers, we aren't in the business of just getting rid of everything. We know everyone has sentimental items and that certain material possessions carry memories. However, we also know the weight physical objects can carry, especially when they take up space in our homes. Accumulation of Family Heirlooms and Sentimental Items.It's easy to accumulate stuff and it may be easy to get rid of particular things - like old mail, clothes with stains, or toys that no longer work. Those are relatively easy decisions because there is no longer a purpose or need for them. But what about family heirlooms or items that hold a special memory? Many people get stuck in their decluttering journey when they encounter things they love or did love. When we come across sentimental items, whether a dress you wore to prom, your kid's favorite toy as a baby, or your Grandmother's China collection, things begin to feel confusing. We can easily tie up emotions with logical thinking and avoid decluttering those items altogether. That's why so many family heirlooms and sentimental items end up in boxes in garages and attics. However, where else do these items end up? The truth is they end up at estate sales, yard sales, or just being passed on to sit in someone else's storage space.  If You Love it, Let it Go. If you love something, it's best to honor it. And if you love the person who gave you something, honor them by honoring the item. That doesn't mean you need to hold onto it. In fact, it may be the most freeing thing to let it go. If you find yourself rationalizing why you're holding onto it, and all of the reasons are because someone gave it to you, because you might use it someday, or because you feel your kids may want it eventually, you may want to pause and reevaluate. Are you keeping it out of guilt? Do you want your children to be burdened with things out of guilt? Can you break the cycle now? These are all critical questions that can bring clarity.  Honor Your Loved Ones Without Keeping All Their Stuff.There are a few ways to honor your loved ones or memories without keeping all of your stuff. Here are some of the ways that we practice and have worked wonders for our clients:
 Is This Item a Past Version of You Or Something You Want to Carry Forward?Just think about how good it will feel to give your items that chance to be loved by someone else! If you have stuff just sitting around, collecting dust, and preventing you from living a stress-free life, it's time to let them go. What good is something doing if it's just sitting in a box or pushed into the corner of your closet? Perhaps you're holding onto pre-baby clothing or from another era of your life. Ask yourself, is it who you are and want to be now/going forward, or are you holding onto something that's really a past version of you that you no longer want to be? When we have surrounded ourselves with items that remind us of our past, it's easy to get stuck there. In order to move forward and progress, we have to purge our home of stuff that no longer serves us; which includes letting go of the guilt that surrounds it.  We know this can be a daunting process, but you don't have to do it all at once or even alone. We are here to help guide you throughout the process, take your donations away, and be that unbiased voice of reason when it's hard to make a decision. Starting slow, with a solid plan, and having an end goal in mind is the best way to go about the process of letting go of sentimental items.
Are you ready to honor yourself and your loved ones? Download our organizing guide to get a good idea of how we'll help you let go of clutter and the guilt attached to those items.
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 Did you know that moving is considered one of the most stressful life situations we go through? If you've ever moved before, you know there's truth in that. After figuring out the where, when, and how of moving from home to home, there's still the daunting part that haunts many homeowners…packing! Then after packing up an entire home full of your family's possessions, and moving, when you finally arrive at your new home, there still remains the task of unpacking. We've all been there - exhausted from moving and wishing we could snap our fingers and magically have all the scattered moving boxes unpacked and organized. If you've hired movers, they get the job halfway done by moving stuff from one location to the next. Some even say they can pack and unpack for you, but we are here to humbly brag and tell you why we are even better than moving companies for packing and unpacking your home. And why the next time you move, you need the Hello Simplified team of professional organizers! 1. We pack systematically and label boxes clearly.Moving companies that pack for you may go into a room, pack what's there in boxes, and label it broadly as the current space it's in. For instance, if you have a ton of books in the bedroom of your current home, they will pack those and label them "bedroom" - even if those books will be in the den in your new home. The random kids' toys under your living room sofa? They'll be tossed into the living room box! Then when you get to your new home, you're starting with mixed boxes of stuff that doesn't actually belong where it's placed. The last thing anyone wants to do after an exhausting move is unpack, sort and haul items around to different rooms. That's where we come in! We start your move off on the right foot. Our professional organizers will systematically pack your home, categorizing boxes and labeling them specifically and clearly (kitchen: everyday dishes, upstairs bathroom: kids' towels, vs. just kitchen, bathroom). We label boxes based on what room they'll go in in your NEW home. So movers know exactly where to place items, making for easy unpacking. With clearly labeled boxes you'll know what to prioritize when unpacking and you can easily find what you're searching for.  2. We help you declutter, take donations, and would NEVER pack trash or expired items.When you hire movers, they are there to do one thing - move. It's not uncommon for them to pack trash, expired food, and even broken items. Why pay to move things you will only toss on the other end of the process? That's why we also encourage decluttering before your move. We can help you go through your household items and ensure you're only packing what you want and need to pack. We even take care of hauling away your donations!  3. We don't just unpack boxes and leave; we organize and set up your home.While some movers will "unpack" by emptying the contents of boxes, they don't put things away. This leaves you, the new homeowner, with a mess to clean up. With school and work schedules and the sheer volume of boxes, setting up and organizing a new home can take weeks or even months. It's overwhelming, so you quickly throw items into kitchen cabinets without much thought, thinking you'll figure it out and move items later. But next thing you know, 5 years have gone by and items are still where you originally put them. However, with us, we unpack, put away, and organize for you quickly and efficiently in a thought-out manner using all our best practices and professional organizing knowledge. We can even make a custom product list for your space, do all the shopping, implementation of products and returns, so everything is 100% organized from start to finish.  4. We take the stress out of moving in and start you on the best foot possible.Can you picture how nice it would be to move into a new home without stressing about finding your kitchen utensils, clothing, or sifting through boxes? Instead, everything will be exactly where it needs to be, organized and ready for you to start enjoying your new space. It sounds like magic, right? But it's just what we do! We love to simplify life for our clients at Hello Simplified. Our goal is to lift the stress from your life. Our packing & unpacking services are one way we can help. Moves are often rushed and stressful, and there are a million and one things to figure out. Moving companies move your items in and then you're on your own. The last thing you want to consider is where to put those kitchen dishes - yet it's essential for your daily functionality. As professional organizers, we do this every day, and we'd be delighted to set up your home for you, so you’re organized and in love with your new home from the start. Ready to book your phone consultation with one of our expert organizers? Spots are filling up quickly. Contact us today to get on our schedule for your next move.   How often have you told yourself, I just need to get organized, but ended up getting overwhelmed, ran out of time, or found that the same clutter just kept showing back up? That’s where a professional organizer can save the day! At Hello Simplified, we not only love organizing homes but also seeing the positive effect it has on our clients' lives. An organized home is just the stepping stone to a less stressful and simplified daily life, which we think is a pretty good reason to hire a pro! Let’s take a look at the top five reasons that our clients hire us at Hello Simplified: 1. They're Going Through a Big Life Change.Change is very stressful. Your sense of security is off balance and being disorganized only adds to that weight on your shoulders. Having professional organizers help during these overwhelming times can be a life saver. Our specialty is working with our clients through moments of change to start their new chapter with less stress and more joy. Here are the most common big life changes we help clients through:
 2. They Feel Stuck and Stressed Out in Their Space.Do you feel like it’s finally time to declutter and get organized, but the overwhelming thought of where to begin prevents you from diving in? You’re not alone there. That’s one of the top reasons people don’t start - or finish - home organizing projects. Sifting through all the items in your house can lead to decision fatigue and frustration, but that’s where we step in to help; as professional home organizers, we help you get unstuck and simplify the process. By decluttering and organizing your home, you’re making your daily life easier and creating a sense of calm and relaxation in your space.  3. They Don't Know What to Keep and What to Let Go of.Chances are, you’ve decided it’s time to declutter - but you’re unsure what should be kept and what should go. We promise that it’s actually quite simple! Our professional home organizers will coach you through the process of letting items go without guilt and show you how to keep sentimental items without cluttering up your home. Sometimes all it takes is a neutral third party to help you see what is important and what is just taking up space! Once we show you how to make these decisions, decluttering will get easier and easier. You might even find yourself excited to keep the ball rolling and want to tackle all areas of your home! PS - We'll even take all those donations you've decluttered away for you and provide you with a donation slip.  4. They Have a Very Full Schedule.Imagine how much time you’d save if you knew where everything belonged in your home. [No more searching for those earrings before work or your passport before a big trip]. It’s no secret either that time equals money. When you can’t find something you need in your home, it’s more likely you’ll just buy another one instead of wasting hours searching. We’ve seen that this holds especially true for food and bath items. However, a well-organized system lets you clearly see everything you own and know exactly where it is - so no more searching for everyday items - or that specific thing you swear you bought but can’t locate. The time and money you can save after implementing an organization system are invaluable and will have you wishing you got organized years ago!  5. They're Moving and Want to Start on the Right Foot.There is nothing like a fresh start in a new home! We know packing, moving, and unpacking can be incredibly stressful and daunting, which is why we offer moving services. Before packing your home, we can help you declutter so that you’re only packing the items you actually want to move with. We also offer packing services! We’ll pack your belongings for a move in an organized way - meaning everything is clearly labeled for the movers, so your items are properly placed in your new home. No more finding a random shoe or kids' toys in your boxes labeled "kitchen." Needless to say, this makes the unpacking process smooth and straightforward! Then, once you’re in your new space, we can bring in a team to unpack and organize your whole home in just a few days with new systems, so you're ready to go - imagine your new journey starting off stress-free and organized! Read about how organizers are better than movers for packing and unpacking here.  As professional organizers, we get you on the right path for an organized home and life and help you develop habits and routines with maintainable systems, so you can keep the peace going long after we’re finished. Organizing your home is fun and transformative, but learning the skills and moving forward with an eye for organizing is always our goal! We want to set you up for success. If you're looking to bring some orderliness and structure to your daily routine, we can help!
Download our organizing guide to get a good idea of how we'll help you let go of clutter, organize your belongings, or start fresh in your new home.  If you’re anything like us, you probably think, how is it already the holidays? Every year this season sneaks up on us, and though it can be the most magical time, the holidays can also bring stress. Perhaps you’ve already started thinking about presents, decor, and holiday party planning - or maybe you are someone who inevitably waits until the last minute. Either way, don’t fret! We at Hello Simplified have compiled a list of organization tips we use with our clients to help your holidays go off without a hitch. You may think that worrying about how you’ll store your decor is something to think about after this season wraps, but we are here to tell you to reverse that mindset. Why? Because storing your decor in a well-organized, thoroughly-labeled, and preserving way can take off loads of stress when it’s time to deck the halls. So read ahead for our simplified tips! Take Photos Of Your Decorations In UseIf you feel overwhelmed every year with what to do with your twinkle lights and garland, we have a hack for you. We suggest taking photos of all of your decor in use and storing them in a labeled phone album that you can reference year after year. This means simply snapping a photo of your front porch, the mantel, the dining table centerpiece, etc after you’ve decorated. The idea is that if you can see how you decorated last season, you can mimic it easily and efficiently.  Label, Label, LabelIt’s no surprise that as professional home organizers, we love labels - but we have a good reason. They save time, and at the holidays, you know there is never enough time! To keep items safe and stackable, we often encourage storing items in bins; clear bins can be the easiest to use so you can see what's inside without taking everything out. If you have minimal decor items, storing them by type, such as all ornaments in one bin, candles in the other, etc., may work for you. (Did you know there are bins and bin inserts specifically designed for storing ornaments? Game changer!) However, storing items by room/area could better benefit you if you have a larger home with many decorations. This method also works for those who like to use the same decor in the same area annually. Either way, labeling your decor in their respective bin is a lifesaver for holiday decorating. (Imagine no more searching countless boxes trying to find that one beloved nutcracker!)  Wrapping SuppliesHave you ever bought a few rolls of wrapping paper and tape, only to discover when you start digging through your closet that you already owned a ton of wrapping supplies? If you answered yes, we can help you eliminate the unnecessary clutter and spending with just one simple trick - organizing your wrapping supplies. Plenty of products on the market help organize your gift-wrapping supplies, but it can be pretty simple too! First, round up all tape, ribbons, gift tags, bags, and wrapping paper. Discard anything broken or empty, and place all the items in one convenient location. You can use something as simple as an under-bed bin or our favorite small-space hack, a clear garment bag. Like pictured above, a garment bag is perfect for clearly seeing all your wrapping paper - and can hang right in the closet. No more wondering if you have wrapping paper or tape because when you need it, you’ll know exactly where to find it.  Helpful HacksThere isn’t a one size fits all method when organizing holiday decor because every household has different needs and storage space availability. However, we have tips to help you get the most out of your decor.
 Before Storing Holiday Decor...Declutter! If you have strings of lights you never got around to repairing, a wreath that has seen better days, or outdated holiday decor that you haven’t used in years, it’s a great time to donate, sell, or recycle it. The more streamlined your decor game is, the more joy you’ll find every year when it comes time to decorate for the holidays (and take it all down)! Do you love this idea but want someone to do it for you? |
About UsAt Hello Simplified, we specialize in helping clients going through big life changes. We offer home organizing services and packing & unpacking services. Read through for tips on how we help our clients feel less overwhelmed and more in control of their busy lives and homes. Archives
November 2023
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