by kathilipp | Feb 29, 2016 | Blog, Clutter Free |
WE are a nation obsessed with storage.
We love to have systems, solutions, tricks and tips on how to keep ALL. THE. THINGS.
So before you do any of the suggestions below, my first reminder is that you can’t organize clutter.
Yes, you can go to the Container Store (I mean, why wouldn’t you? Their store is a little bit of heaven here on earth…) and buy all the bins, sorters, holders and hampers. But if you are using those to contain clutter, they will all just blow up in your face at some point.
So get your bedroom down to those things that you
And once you’ve culled your room of clutter, now it’s time to make that space work as hard as you do!
Dresser
- Baskets or small containers to hold misc. similar things (When I had longer hair, I had a basket with ponytail holders, barrettes, etc.)
- Lazy Susan for makeup, brushes, etc.
- Small tray to put bottles, etc. on. (Makes cleaning easier, just remove the tray)
- Drawers – Organizers
- Can be small boxes, etc.
Back of door hangers
- With plastic pockets for small items (makeup, jewelry, scarves, socks, slippers, etc.)
- Hooks for clothes you wear routinely (use these for PJ’s, robe, etc.)
Under the bed
- Storage boxes – plastic, cardboard. I prefer plastic see-through (great for out of season clothes, linens, etc.)
- Under bed drawers
- Extra linens
Closet
- Shelves above clothes
- Shelves below clothes for shoes
- Two poles for two levels of clothes (not smart if you want to store shoes underneath clothes or if you have animals that will rub against the clothes on the bottom – learned from experience.)
- Hanging organizers that have a cubicle for each day of the week. (Get organized on your prep day with all the extra’s for each day of the week, including shoes, jewelry, scarves, socks or nylons, slips, etc.)
Misc.
- Baskets
- Large for Dirty clothes
- Square for books, magazines or various reading material.
- Various sizes for miscellaneous items ( I know they probably have a home somewhere, but putting them in a basket and unloading when full is better than tossing on the floor or over a chair)
- Bed Buddy – cloth organizer that hangs along the side of your bed between the mattress and springs or frame.
- Perfect for keeping phone, flashlight or booklight, a small book, kindle, pens and paper (for those big ideas you get in middle of night) lotions, etc.
- Add a square ottoman that is hollow for storage. Use it to sit on when putting on socks or buckle shoes.) Keep an extra blanket inside, or other essential you may need within easy reach. Kids can keep video games, remote, in their rooms.
If you’ve been waiting to get Praying God’s Word for Your Husband, the ebook version is only $.99 through March 5. You can get it on your Kindle, Nook, etc. Get it on Amazon here http://ow.ly/EbeVd.
What People Think
“Thank you Kathi Lipp for writing what women think and feel. Before this book I thought I was praying for my husband but I wasn’t. Praying the Word of God is the best and only way to truly pray. There is nothing like inserting my husband’s name and my name in those verses. Thank you! thank! you thank you!”
– Chance Perard, Amazon Reviewer
by kathilipp | Feb 26, 2016 | Blog, Clutter Free |
by kathilipp | Feb 25, 2016 | Blog, Clutter Free |
Today God slapped me upside the head and then gave me a kiss on the cheek as only He can do…
I was “grumbling and complaining” because the list of household stuff that I need to get done is just huge and there is nothing I hate more than stripping sheets and remaking the bed, and the WHOLE thing needed to be done. Down to the dust ruffle.
So there I was, “grumbling and complaining” when He started giving me pictures of the ministry that happens in this place:
It’s where God provides rest for me more nights than not.
It’s where I fall asleep on the shoulder of the man He has given me to demonstrate His love in a tangible way.
It’s where I’ve loved my kids, read His word, and recovered when I was sick.
This is going to sound silly, but I am now taking time to “dress” the bed.
Hanging the comforter to dry in the sun so it smells like only sun-dried cloth can. Fluffing the pillows, spraying the linens (and let’s be clear, by linens I’m talking Home Good specials, nothing fancy, but comfy), folding the quilts and making it as comfy as possible for me and my husband.
I ended up grateful to God for providing so richly, and valuing rest and connection so deeply.
And I prayed that when you laid your head down tonight, you would feel restored and cherished by the love of God.
A great way to keep each room in the house Clutter Free is with our 3 bag system. Get yours over at the Kathi Lipp store and declutter for a better night’s sleep.
by kathilipp | Feb 18, 2016 | Blog, Clutter Free |
1. Get your bedroom clutter free
You knew I was going to say this, right?
You want to train your brain to associate your bedroom with rest, relaxation, and sleep – not work or household chores.
So not only do I want you to get rid of clutter in your room, but also the day to day chores that tend to pile up in there.
Put the laundry away. Take the work you brought home from the office back downstairs. Get the unpaid bills out of there. Clear out anything that has been stashed-and-dashed
Gather your decluttering supplies:
• 3 totes or boxes
• 2 bags (one for garbage, one for recycling)
• A timer
• (Optional) A chair or stool so you can work comfortably and reach what you need without moving.
Once you have your supplies, go through the Clutter Free steps:
Step One: Set up three boxes, a garbage bag and a recycle bag, and a timer. (You can use the one on your cell phone or your oven.) Mark one box as “Other Rooms” one as “Give Away” and one as “Put Back”. (Feel free to mark the bags, too!)
Step Two: Time Box by giving yourself 15 minutes on the timer.
Step Three: Space Box by picking one spot to clear out: a shelf, a drawer, a section of the counter. No more than you can realisticially pull out and put back in 15 minutes.
Step Four: Go through the area one item at a time, and use the three boxes to sort the contents.
Step Five: After 15 minutes, take 5 minutes to process your 3 boxes and 2 bags: take Other Room items to the other rooms, put Give Away items in the car for your next trip to the Goodwill, Put Back everything where it actually belongs in your bedroom, and stick the trash and recycling in their respective bins.
2. Calm Your Mind
We’ve all had nights where sleep is just a dream since our minds are pinging like a 1970’s pinball machine. Maybe you’re thinking of all you have to do – or all that you didn’t get done. Or maybe there is one special situation (usually one of the big four: Money, Marriage, Job or Kids) that is keeping you from getting the res that you need.
”A revved-up mind remains in a mild state of alertness even while you sleep, making you susceptible to nighttime awakenings,” says Michael Breus, PhD, author of Good Night: The Sleep Doctor’s 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health.
Find the time at night that is best for you to begin to calm your thoughts and:
• Read something light (non-electronic).
• Do some light stretching or go for a stroll.
• Write in your gratitude journal.
3. Avoid Bedtime Procrastination
Most of us are going to bed later than we want to (or our body needs to.) Maybe you get easily distracted by things that keep you from going to bed, or you are rushing to get those last few things done.
Researchers call this “bedtime procrastination.” Proactive ways to avoid it include:
• Setting a timer that turns off your electronics.
• Reminding yourself how doing one more thing can lead to another and derail you getting to sleep.
• Creating a before bed routine that takes exactly X number of minutes. Be sure to start it early enough so you have a little cushion.
4. Reduce Electronics
Cell phones and tablets are becoming more popular in the bedroom than television.
Dr. Breus cautions, “the light from electronic screens can trick your body into thinking it’s daytime and stop it from producing melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep. News articles and games can also keep your mind very active, making it difficult to relax and fall asleep.”
To get a healthy night of sleep, instead of just “junk sleep”
• Experiment one or more evenings with no technology related electronics in your room and see if you sleep better.
• Turn off all TV’s, tablets and electronics one hour before bedtime.
• If you keep your phone in your room, move it away from your bed and place it facedown so it won’t light up your room.
5. Reflect on the trustworthiness of God
Do you find your mind becomes anxious when you think that you have to be in control of a situation? Has that ever kept you awake at night?
You can remind yourself that you God is trustworthy. Remind yourself that He is ultimately in control, not you.
• Put reminders on your phone throughout the day to remind you that you can trust God.
• If you find yourself awake during the night, you can remind yourself this by saying or thinking “God is trustworthy.
• Memorize and meditate on a Bible verse that reminds you that you can trust God. A few to start with:
Sleep doesn’t need to be the enemy. Learn to love sleep again by being intentional about respecting your mind and your body.
Want to learn more about living Clutter Free to not only sleep better but to live better? Check out Kathi’s Finally Clutter Free event calendar and get a ticket to an upcoming event. Or book one for your area. We have everything you need to create a great event that will bless the socks off the women in your community.
Learn More…
by kathilipp | Feb 16, 2016 | Clutter Free, Podcast |
GOOD sleep. Sometimes it can seem like a unicorn… you’ve heard that it exists but you’re pretty sure it’s all a fantasy. Getting a good night’s sleep is so important for your physical, emotional, mental and yes, even spiritual well being.
Kathi and Roger (yay, Roger is on the podcast for this episode!) were newly weds 10 years ago and had to learn how to sleep together. If you are married you know this can be an ongoing “room for improvement” area of a relationship. In this episode, they share their 5 best tips in getting a good night’s sleep based on scientific research, experience and experimentation.
Listen in, try out the tips and check back in with a comment on what tip worked best for you.
FREE DOWNLOAD
Start sleeping better by decluttering your room. The attached has several ideas specific to your bedroom that you can get rid of today to help you get started. Download here.
by kathilipp | Feb 11, 2016 | Blog, Clutter Free, Marriage, Me, Relationships |
Warning: February 14th can be a hard day for any woman not living inside the pages of a fiction novel or in an Anne Hathaway romcom.
We spend so much time here at Clutter Free talking about how to declutter your home, but we all know the truth:
Decluttering starts with our hearts and minds. When we can be focused and intentional about what emotions and thoughts we let in (and which ones we keep from taking up a chair and sitting down for a cup of coffee) it goes a long way to practicing peace.
And yes – emotions are at a high when bad things happen – a death, illness, financial trouble.
But I find that when the world tells us Valentine’s is “supposed” to be a great day — filled with flowers, poems, secret admirers, and declarations of undying love, well—that can set us up for disappointment in a way no crisis can.
This has been a struggle for me in the past.
- The friend who got 2 dozen roses delivered to work and my total haul was a card I got from a coworker.
- When I was going through my divorce and wondered if I would ever have someone to love me again.
- The time the guy I was dating broke up with me on February 13th. (True story.)
Following are five suggestions to help you begin de-cluttering your heart before Cupid’s arrow hits you between the eyes this Valentine’s Day.
1. Avoid the Comparison Trap – It’s easy to fall into the idea that Valentines’ Day “should” be a certain way. The best way to stop comparison is to disengage from social media, at least for this day. That way, you won’t be tempted to compare your situation with someone else.
2. Take the Air Out of the Holiday
Want a perfect recipe for disaster?
- Try to get a reservation on Valentine’s Day
- Pay a babysitter on Valentine’s Day
- Expect flowers on Valentine’s Day
Why not celebrate your love on a different day?
First, it lowers crazy expectations.
Second, it’s easier to find someone to help you take care of the kiddos.
Finally, you can actually get a reservation somewhere if you want to go to dinner. (Or do like we do, try a great, but cheap ethnic food place for Adventure Dining. All the romance, but my guy doesn’t have to wear a tie!)
Go for fun instead of tradition and make the holiday your own.
3. Practice Peace – Valentine’s Day can be fun, romantic, and yummy (if there’s chocolate involved), but it can also be stressful. Did I get the right card? What time is dinner again? Too many things to juggle and your joy can get zapped. Practice being mindful that God is peace. And since He lives in you, you have peace.
4. Celebrate Life Everyday – We can hype the idea that we are celebrating the day of love. But really? Are we? Showing loved ones love does not have to be on Valentine’s Day. You can show love and appreciation everyday. Celebrate the beauty of everyday joy and love.
And on this Valentine’s, instead of waiting for others to show their love, go out and create some. Bring some candy to the janitor at your kid’s school, take a balloon to your next door neighbor who lives alone, and spend some extra time snuggling your dog.
Don’t wait to be adored. Go out and create loving moments.
5. Practice Being Happy for Others – Someone else is going to have a nicer dress, a cooler card, and the bigger flower arrangement. Be happy for them. This may be exactly what they needed after a really rough time in their marriage or in their life. Practice having an inner attitude of positive feelings and thoughts about others.
If this a holiday that can be hurtful, don’t be hard on yourself. It is for a lot of women I speak to. But, don’t let bitterness ruin your day. Think on these verses that can put your day in perspective.
If you need a boost and a confidence builder for your Clutter Free lifestyle, Kickstart to Clutter Free is the 
perfect way to get started. In just 14 days, Kathi gives you simple steps in getting rid of 500 things. We’ve been hearing from people all over the country that are having great success with the Kickstart eCourse. Find out more here.
