Have you ever looked around and thought, “How did my life get so full of stuff?” And I mean not just the piles of things in your home, but the mental and emotional clutter too.
For years, I bought into the idea that living well meant doing and having it all. But that’s a recipe for overwhelm and exhaustion. I’ve been there, and I know firsthand that the secret to living well isn’t about more.
It’s about clarity of purpose and prioritizing what truly matters.
The “Having It All” Myth
For too long, I thought I had to be everything to everyone and excel at it all.
The truth? Trying to do it all left me frustrated and drained. I left myself out of the priorities.
Here’s the big mistake we all make. We think living well is about adding more.
But what I’ve learned is that it’s really about letting go of what doesn’t matter and focusing on what does.
Living well doesn’t mean perfection or having it all together. It means figuring out what’s important to you and giving yourself permission to let go of the rest. That’s how we create a life that supports us instead of one that exhausts us.
And that sets the stage for “finishing strong”.
Starting With Decluttering
Decluttering doesn’t mean tossing everything you own or becoming a minimalist if that’s not your thing. It’s about making choices. Ask yourself:
Does this item or task add value to my life?
Am I keeping this because I love it, or out of guilt or habit?
And remember, decluttering doesn’t have to be extreme. It’s about creating a space that feels good to you, not empty or sterile. Keep the things that bring you joy and serve a purpose. Then let go of the rest. Trust me, you’ll feel lighter.
Everything Needs a Home
Once you’ve decluttered, the next step is to get organized.
My golden rule? Everything must have a home. If it doesn’t, it’s just clutter waiting to happen. When you know where something belongs, you’ll save yourself time and frustration. And when you return it to its home, you’ll know exactly where to find it next time. It’s a little thing, but it makes a big difference.
And here’s another great organizing tip – the “one in, one out” rule. If you bring something new into your space, let go of something old. It’s a simple way to keep things from piling up again.
Build Habits That Work for You
Living well isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about the small, consistent habits that move the needle.
I’ll give you an example: in June 2022, I stopped drinking sweet tea and soda. It was hard at first, but tracking my progress helped me stick with it. Habit trackers are my secret weapon. They make it easy to see your progress and keep you motivated.
If you’ve got big goals, break them into smaller, manageable steps. Write them down, track your progress, and celebrate the wins along the way. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.
Time Management Isn’t Just About Schedules
We all wear a lot of hats—caregiver, professional, friend, homemaker. It’s easy to feel pulled in a million directions. That’s why managing your time is so important. Here are a few things that have worked for me:
Prioritize your tasks. Not everything is urgent or important, so focus on what really matters.
Time-block your day. Set aside specific times for work, family, and yes, self-care. You need to be on your own list. (I still have trouble making that a priority!)
Learn to say “no” without guilt. Every time you say yes to something unimportant, you’re saying no to something that matters.
Ask for Help (Trust Me on This One)
I used to think asking for help was a sign of weakness. I was wrong.
When I finally let go of that belief and started letting others help out, everything got easier. Whether it’s asking family for support, hiring a professional, or joining a community group, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t have to do it all alone.
Truthfully, allowing others to help you helps them. People love the feeling that comes from doing something to help someone they care about.
Progress, Not Perfection
Here’s the truth: living well and finishing strong isn’t about getting it all right. It’s about taking small, intentional steps that align with your values and bring you joy. Focus on progress, not perfection. Give yourself grace along the way.
Your Next Step
Ready to start? Here’s what I’d suggest: take a few minutes to reflect on what really matters to you. Then pick one small area—a drawer, a shelf, or even just your calendar—and take action.
Declutter, organize, or ask for help.
Small changes add up, and before you know it, you’ll feel lighter and more in control.
Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. This is your journey, and it’s okay to take it one step at a time. The life you want is closer than you think.
Disclosure: My blog posts sometimes contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, which is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, go to my website – https://HERLifehacks.com, and pick up my free copy of HER Heritage HOMEwork Checklist. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything during our July through September focus on LIFESTYLE!
Company coming to your home for Thanksgiving? Yes? Read on for my novel decluttering idea!
Decluttering can be a deeply rewarding process, especially when we know that the items we're letting go can find new life with someone else. If you’re like me, you may find it hard to discard items that you once used and loved, but no longer need or want. After all, I was raised with a “waste not, want not” mentality. Basically, we never threw away anything.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’m excited to share a how to lighten your load and make room for what truly matters, all while giving back to those closest to you: hosting your very own “Company Store.”
This idea came to me because I’m hosting my entire, extended family for Thanksgiving. So – why not use the opportunity to “share and pare”! I’ll “pare” down some of my stuff, and “share” with people who will give my stuff a good home. It also makes getting rid of stuff a fun (to the extent possible) and interactive experience.
Just think about it. Imagine setting up a mini-shop in your home for family members to “shop” for free from items you no longer want or need. This approach isn’t just a chance to clear clutter, but also a way to create meaningful connections by passing along cherished (or simply practical) items to family members who could use them.
Why Host a Family “Company Store”?
Hosting a family store for your gently used items can make decluttering feel less like a chore and more like a joyful gathering. It's a chance to:
Reduce Waste: Extend the life of items that are still in great condition, saving them from ending up in landfills.
Save Resources: Avoid unnecessary spending for your loved ones by allowing them to pick up things they may genuinely need.
Create Memories: Each item comes with its own story. Share those stories with your family members as they find new homes for these items.
How to Set Up Your “Company Store”
Here’s how to prepare for you store and make the setup fun and stress-free.
Curate Your Collection: As you declutter, set aside items in good condition that someone else may appreciate—a beautiful serving dish, hardly-worn clothes, kids' toys, or even small furniture pieces.
Organize and Display: Use a spare room, garage, or even an organized corner in a main living area to set up your “store.” Lay out items so they’re easy to browse, grouping similar items together and labeling as needed.
Add a Personal Touch: If you’re parting with sentimental pieces, consider adding a note about the item’s history or significance—it’s a great way to honor the item's past while welcoming it into a new chapter.
Enjoy the Process and Let Go Gracefully
Invite your family to explore, pick what they love, and even swap stories and ideas. It’s a relaxed way to ensure your things go to people who truly want or need them.
Giving items away to people who might genuinely appreciate them reduces the guilt often associated with discarding things.
While this idea is not in my plans, you could encourage family members to bring their own items they wish to give away, making it a collective decluttering effort.
Make a decision ahead of time to get rid of everything that doesn’t “sell” from your store. Once everyone has had a chance to shop, anything that remains can be easily boxed up and either donated or recycled.
Embrace the Benefits Beyond Decluttering
The Company Store approach brings unique benefits to both you and your family. It lets you:
Clear Clutter with Purpose: Knowing your items will be useful to loved ones can make the letting-go process much easier.
Organize for the Future: As you declutter, you’ll find it simpler to organize the items you choose to keep.
Preserve Your Legacy: Rather than holding onto objects, you’re able to pass along pieces that reflect family stories and shared experiences.
Why don’t you consider hosting a Company Store as a new holiday tradition that combines gratitude, generosity, and the joy of simplifying your life?
This Thanksgiving, give yourself the gift of a lighter, more organized home and the joy of sharing that with the people you care about most. Afterward, take a moment to appreciate how much you've decluttered and how many useful items have found new homes.
Happy decluttering!
Disclosure: My blog posts sometimes contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, which is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, go to my website – https://HERLifehacks.com, and pick up my free copy of HER Heritage HOMEwork Checklist. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything during our July through September focus on LIFESTYLE!
Decluttering and organizing is hard. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with decisions about what to keep, what to discard, and how to organize the things we keep.
Dana K White, author and decluttering expert, is the creator of this process – the Container Concept.
Understanding the Container Concept
The Container Concept is a simple but powerful principle that shifts the way we think about our belongings. I typically try to fit the most I can into a space. It doesn’t work. At least, not in the long run.
Instead, think about every space in your home as a container that has a limit.
Whether it’s a drawer, a shelf, or a whole room, each container is limited in the space it provides. In fact, your entire home is a container. It can only hold so much stuff.
The key is to recognize that the container is the decision-maker—it dictates how much we can keep. This is one of the most important principles that I had to understand and accept when decluttering and organizing my own home. Shifting the decision-making process to the container also removed my emotional involvement.
Working the Container Concept
Here’s how the Container Concept can transform your approach to decluttering and organizing:
Identify the Container
Start by identifying the space you’re working with. This could be a single drawer, a bookshelf, your entire closet, or even an entire room.
The physical boundaries of this space are the limits of the container.
Choose the stuff you want and need to keep
Sort like stuff together so you can see the quantity you own of each item and make decisions about what you want to keep and what to discard.
Next, go through your items and pick out the ones you want to keep or use regularly. Organize these in your container first.
Place like items together in a container.
Respect the Boundaries
Once the container is full, the hard part begins—everything that doesn’t fit must go. It’s all about recognizing that the container has done its job.
If you’ve chosen what you want and need and the container is full, then anything extra is excess and needs to be donated, discarded, or relocated.
Leave Space to Expand
If you fill a container until it’s completely full, you have nowhere to put additional like purchases.
Leaving extra space not only looks better, but it also gives you the option of adding items in the future.
If you don’t leave space for expansion, you may need to adopt the “one in – one out” rule. For every item you want to add to the space, an item needs to be removed to make room for it.
Apply It Everywhere
The genius of the Container Concept is its versatility.
It works everywhere in your home, from your pantry to your garage.
It even applies to less tangible “containers” like your schedule or your mental energy. They have limits too and recognizing that improves your chances of making good decisions in these areas.
By understanding and respecting the limits of your containers, you naturally begin to declutter and prioritize what’s most important to you.
Embracing the Effectiveness of the Container Concept
The Container Concept is effective because it removes the emotional burden of decision-making.
Instead of agonizing over what to keep and what to let go, the container’s physical boundaries guide your choices. Instead of trying to justify keeping items, your focus becomes making space for the things that add value to your life.
This mindset also helps prevent future clutter.
When you bring something new into your home, you’re more likely to consider where it will go and whether it will fit within your existing containers. If it doesn’t, you need to make a conscious choice about what to remove to make room for it.
By viewing your spaces as containers with fixed limits, you can simplify the decluttering and organizing process. It also reduces stress and helps you create a home that reflects what matters most to you.
The Container Concept is your ultimate decluttering and organizing decision-making tool!
Disclosure: My blog posts sometimes contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, which is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, go to my website (address below) and sign up for my newsletter. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything!
Do you have more stuff than the space to store it?
Which of these statements describes you and your relationship with your space?
I often find myself wasting time because I can’t find an item I need.
Sometimes, I come across things I didn’t even know I had.
I can’t bear to get rid of Grandmama’s china.
I have several boxes of memorabilia under the bed or in the attic.
I know I have to decide what to do with my mother’s and mother-in-law’s furniture, but I keep putting it off.
I have a storage facility that I pay for monthly because I can’t decide what to do with the contents. They hold fond memories for me.
I find expired food in the back of the pantry (or refrigerator) that I didn’t know I had.
I know I need to get rid of some stuff, but I’m like Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind” – “I’ll think about that tomorrow”.
Every time I start to declutter a space, I make such a big mess sorting and going through things. I dread even starting.
I’ve thought about starting a whole-home decluttering project, but the thought is so overwhelming that I simply put off thinking any more about it.
I just am not motivated to get my house in order by decluttering and organizing.
I don’t have the energy to tackle big decluttering and organizing projects.
I have enough closets and spare rooms to effectively “hide” all the extra stuff I don’t know what to do with.
I think I’ll just wait and let my children and grandchildren deal with all the stuff.
The thought of getting rid of things from my parents and grandparents is too depressing. How can I throw away precious memories?
I want to declutter and organize, but I just don’t know where to start.
Things may look a little cluttered, but I like having a lot of stuff around me.
When I was growing up, I was taught to take care of your stuff. You don’t throw away stuff that still functions. That is wasteful.
Every time I read about how to declutter and organize, it just doesn’t feel right for me. Is there really a right way to do it?
It makes me so sad when I realize that my children and grandchildren don’t want the stuff that I cherish.
Write down the number of any statement that reflects how you think or feel.
Instead of “where do I start?”, should the question be “what kind of mindset do I need to cultivate before starting a major decluttering and organizing project?”
Personally, I have struggled with many of these thoughts and feelings. After all, how do you think I came up with all of them?
When you consider whether you need to declutter and organize your space, what is holding you back? If you’re happy with everything in your home – the stuff you have and where you have it, then don’t let anyone tell you what you need to do.
However, if thinking about any of these statements makes you feel uncomfortable, what needs to change for you? Or what do you need to change? Your mind?
Disclosure: My blog posts sometimes contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, which is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, look for the Subscribe block (below right) and submit your contact information. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything!
We all have those days when motivation is nowhere to be found. If you're feeling stuck, here are some simple and effective tips to help you get back on track:
**Meditate**: Take a few minutes to calm your mind and reduce stress.
**Journal**: Write down your thoughts and feelings to process them better.
**Find Inspiration**: Read or listen to inspiring stories.
**Explore New Hobbies**: Try something new to spark your interest.
**Set Small Goals**: Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
**Establish a Routine**: A consistent schedule can create a sense of normalcy.
**Practice Gratitude**: List things you're thankful for to boost your mood.
**Get Moving**: Exercise to improve your mood and energy levels.
**Listen to Music**: Play your favorite tunes to uplift your spirits.
**Connect with Friends**: Spend time with loved ones for support.
**Surround Yourself with Positivity**: Be around motivated people.
**Prioritize Self-Care**: Take care of your physical and mental health.
**Limit Social Media**: Reduce time spent on social media to avoid comparison.
**Reflect on Achievements**: Remember past successes to build confidence.
**Take Breaks**: Short breaks can refresh your mind.
**Spend Time Outside**: Nature can have a calming and rejuvenating effect.
**Seek Help if Needed**: If you're struggling, don't hesitate to seek professional support.
These tips can help you find your motivation and enjoy life more. Remember, it’s okay to take it one step at a time. For more ideas and detailed advice, check out the original article on the [Calm blog] (https://www.calm.com/blog/i-dont-feel-like-doing-anything).
Disclosure: My blog posts sometimes contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, which is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, look for the Subscribe block (below right) and submit your contact information. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything!
