Retired hobbies leave behind a trail of clutter.

Houston Clutter Coaching February 2012 Meetup

Thursday, February 23, 2012
7:00–8:30 p.m.
FREE

Gayle Goddard facilitates the monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

All good things must come to an end. Whether we like it or not, we lose interest in recreational pursuits, or we lose the capacity to pursue them. When the thrill is gone, what was once essential equipment becomes nothing but clutter. It takes up valuable space, and living with it can make us feel as if we’ve failed or been defeated.

At our February meeting, we’ll turn our attention to the trail of hobbies, crafts, and sports we’ve left behind us. We’ll talk about how to accept these changes, evaluate our collections, and let go of the old to clear space for newer passions.

We’ll have refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Unchecked, the style compulsion inevitably leads to cluttered closets and overflowing drawers.

Houston Clutter Coaching January 2012 Meetup

Wednesday, January 25, 2012
7:00–8:30 p.m.
FREE

Gayle Goddard facilitates the monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

If you’re a fashionista, your closets are probably bursting at the seams. The ever-changing definition of style constantly compels its devotees to buy the latest and greatest, and yesterday’s fashions get pushed aside. Unchecked, the compulsion inevitably leads to cluttered closets and overflowing drawers.

At the January meetup, we’ll talk about how to take control without giving up your personal style. We’ll introduce strategies to find the right fashion fit for your space, budget, and lifestyle.

Please note that due to scheduling conflicts at the Nature Discovery Center, we’re meeting on Wednesday this month instead of our usual Thursday.

We’ll have refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Don’t let holiday clutter steal the magic of the season.

Houston Clutter Coaching Holiday 2011 Meetup

Thursday, December 8, 2011
7:00–8:30 p.m.
FREE

Gayle Goddard facilitates the monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

Sometimes we go a little nuts for the holidays. We want to make the season magical—for the children, out of family tradition, or because the holidays give us our inner compulsive shopper permission to come out and play. We try to recapture the sense of wonder we had as kids, but the cost is a to-do list that drains the peace and joy out of the season.

One big source of holiday stress is the impulse to decorate—and the tendency to accumulate decorations. In this meetup, we’ll talk about how to enhance the magic of the season by reducing your workload and your seasonal clutter. Spend the holidays in a spirit of family and celebration, not overwhelmed by the stuff that doesn’t matter.

This meetup will be the Houston Clutter Coaching holiday celebration! We’ll have refreshments, and we encourage you to bring a holiday treat to share if you wish. (But keep it simple—you have plenty of other things to do!)

[See the Program Notes for this meetup.]

And don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Passionate pursuit of the “complete” collection can become a monster.

Houston Clutter Coaching July 2011 Meetup

Thursday, July 28, 2011
7:00–8:30 p.m.
FREE

Gayle Goddard facilitates the monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

For many people, collecting is a fun and satisfying hobby. But the passionate pursuit of the “complete” collection can become a monster, gobbling up more time, money, and space than we can afford. And collecting behavior extends beyond so-called “collectibles” into accumulations of other kinds—office supplies, hair-care products, tools, etc.

We’ll talk about where the impulse to collect comes from and how to get that beast under control.

As usual, we’ll also open the floor to your questions, success stories, and tales of trouble spots.

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Get help out of the cycle of depression and clutter

Houston Clutter Coaching June 2011 Meetup

Thursday, June 23, 2011
7:00–8:30 p.m.
FREE

Gayle Goddard facilitates the monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

Many people who report being overwhelmed by clutter also say they feel depressed about the state of their space. Which comes first, though—the depression or the clutter? We’ll talk about depression and its impact on cluttering…and vice versa. We’ll discuss ways to break the cycle and where to turn for help.

As usual, we’ll also open the floor to your questions, success stories, and tales of trouble spots.

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Thursday, May 26, 2011
7:00–8:30 p.m.
FREE

Gayle Goddard facilitates the monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

How clear is the boundary between you and your stuff?

The Clutter Fairy team had a great discussion recently about how stuff becomes an extension of our self-image. Our things become a part of us, just like our experiences and actions. When things are part of our self-image, it’s hard to let go of them.

At the May meetup, we’ll talk about how the lines between you and your stuff get blurred in the first place, and how to start seeing the boundaries clearly again.

As usual, we’ll also open the floor to your questions, success stories, and tales of trouble spots.

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Thursday, March 24, 2011
7:00–8:30 p.m.

Gayle Goddard facilitates the monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

How do you stay motivated to keep moving?

You’ve pushed yourself to get started and spent a whole afternoon digging out a space that was in terrible shape. Then you look up, and it seems nothing is different. What a discouraging feeling!

How do you stay motivated to keep going when you can’t see tons of progress right away? At the March Meetup we’ll talk about tricks to help you keep plugging away until you finish the project.

As usual, we’ll also open the floor to your questions, success stories, and tales of trouble spots.

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Thursday, February 24, 2011
7:00–8:30 p.m.

Gayle Goddard facilitates the February monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

Five simple techniques can help you get unstuck.

Our January meetup discussed the psychological roots of clutter. Armed with new insights about why we clutter, the logical next step is to get moving! But if you’re completely stuck and overwhelmed, getting started can seem impossible. For February, we’ll introduce five simple techniques to help you get unstuck and start reclaiming your space.

[See the Program Notes for this meetup.]

As usual, we’ll also open the floor to your questions, success stories, and tales of trouble spots.

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Gayle Goddard facilitates the January monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group: The Psychology of Clutter: A Therapist’s Point of View.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

How do we clear the clutter from our minds, bodies, and spirits?

At the January meetup, our topic will be “The Psychology of Clutter: A Therapist’s Point of View.” Our guest speaker, Liz Kampf, LMSW-ACP, LMFT, is a psychotherapist and life coach who has been helping people for more than 20 years. Liz will discuss how our cluttered homes and offices may be mirrors reflecting the chaos and stress in our lives. She’ll talk about clearing the clutter from our minds, bodies, and spirits.

As usual, we’ll also open the floor to your questions, success stories, and tales of trouble spots.

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Gayle Goddard facilitates the December monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group: Clutter Review and Resolutions: Learning Lessons and Setting Goals.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

Celebrate your successes, look for lessons in setbacks.

At the December meetup, we’ll check in on the project we introduced in October: “’Tis the Season to be…Decluttering!” Come tell the group about your progress and we’ll share hints about how to keep moving forward.

We’ll also introduce our new topic: “Clutter Review and Resolutions: Learning Lessons and Setting Goals.” We’ve spent 2010 working our way through all the rooms of the house. Now the year is winding down, so it’s time to take a look back. What have you learned about yourself and your clutter this year? We’ll celebrate our successes and look for lessons in our setbacks as we choose some new goals for 2011.

As usual, we’ll also open the floor to your questions, success stories, and tales of trouble spots.

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Gayle Goddard facilitates the November monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group: ’Tis the Season to be…Decluttering!.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

Let go of the old to make room for the new.

At the November meetup, we’ll check in on the project we introduced in October: “Making Room for Holiday Guests.” Come tell the group about your progress and we’ll share hints about how to keep moving forward.

We’ll also introduce our focus for December: “’Tis the Season to be…Decluttering!” Christmas and Hanukkah are on the way, and they come bearing gifts! So December is a crucial time to clear space. Teach your children a timely organizing lesson by encouraging them to recycle unwanted toys and games to benefit the less fortunate. And children of all ages can get into the spirit of the season—you and your spouse can also let go of the old to make room for the new

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Gayle Goddard facilitates the October monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group: Making Room for Holiday Guests.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

Create an inviting space for your guests.

At the October meetup, we’ll check in on the project we introduced in September: “Oh Joy, It’s Holiday Decorating Time Again.” Come tell the group about your progress and we’ll share hints about how to keep moving forward.

We’ll also introduce our focus for November: “Making Room for Holiday Guests.” Holiday visitors will be on the way soon. Now is the time to get into that multipurpose room that’s part craft space, part office, and part junk room—your guest room. Clear out a year’s worth of accumulated stuff and create an inviting space for your guests, with room to hang up clothes and a place to store the luggage.

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Gayle Goddard facilitates the September monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group: Oh Joy, It’s Holiday Decorating Time Again.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

The holiday decoration season is upon us.

At the September meetup, we’ll check in on the project we introduced in August: “Deep Storage—Forgotten Is Not the Same as Gone.” Come tell the group about your progress and we’ll share hints about how to keep moving forward.

We’ll also introduce our focus for October: “Oh Joy, It’s Holiday Decorating Time Again.” Halloween is around the corner, the kickoff to two months of festivities, fun, and household chaos. Every holiday comes with its own set of decorations to put up and take down. Since you’re getting them out anyway, why not sort, purge, and store them together? Getting organized can put the joy back in your seasonal preparations.

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Gayle Goddard facilitates the August monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group: Deep Storage—Forgotten Is Not the Same as Gone.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

Deep storage isn’t a real solution to your clutter problem, and it comes at a cost.

At the August meetup, we’ll check in on the project we introduced in July: “Blenders and Peelers and Whisks, Oh My! Decluttering the Kitchen.” Come tell the group about your progress and we’ll share hints about how to keep moving forward.

We’ll also introduce our focus for September: “Deep Storage—Forgotten Is Not the Same as Gone.” We’ll talk about the resourceful places that people hide their excess stuff—storage units, parents’ houses, second homes, backyard sheds, attics, basements, and so on. These stashes aren’t a real solution to your clutter problem, and they come at a cost: the time, money, and effort of warehousing a big heap of deferred decisions. We’ll unpack ways to get the deep-storage monkey off your back.

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]

Gayle Goddard facilitates the July monthly meeting of the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group: Blenders and Peelers and Whisks, Oh My! Decluttering the Kitchen.

Henshaw House (Nature Discovery Center)
Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle St.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713-667-6550

Is your kitchen so full of gadgets that there’s no space left for cooking?

At the July meetup, we’ll check in on the project we introduced in June: “Squeaky Clean Organizing Strategies for Your Bathroom.” Come tell the group about your progress and we’ll share hints about how to keep rolling.

We’ll also introduce our focus for August: “Blenders and Peelers and Whisks, Oh My! Decluttering the Kitchen.” It’s the heart of the house, the traditional family meeting space, and the most popular room at every party: the kitchen. But too often, it’s so packed full of “must-have“ gadgets, stained Tupperware, and antique ingredients that there’s no space left for cooking. We’ll delve into the notion of “usefulness” and define a more honest standard for deciding what belongs in your perfect kitchen.

[See the Program Notes for this meetup.]As usual, we’ll also open the floor to your questions, success stories, and tales of trouble spots.

We’ll provide refreshments, and don’t forget the drawing for a door prize or two! (You must be present to win.)

FREE and open to the public.

RSVP by visiting the Meetup page or by sending us e‑mail.

The Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group is a community of people who want to conquer their clutter and make more room in their lives for the things they love. Come learn tools and tips from an expert, and share your success stories and “ah‑hah!” moments…[READ MORE]