What happens if you keep buying books faster than you can read them?

Houston Clutter Coaching March 2012 Meetup

Thursday, March 29, 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

Serious readers often collect books much faster than they can read them. Books are enchanting, and they never seem to lose their value. But buying more books than you can ever read is no different from accumulating any other kind of clutter.

For those who are drowning in books and magazines, our March meeting will talk about bringing the buying impulse into line with how much you actually read, and we’ll explore what to do after you’ve read those literary gems!

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]

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]

PowerPoint Presentation on SlideShare

Download the presentation as a PDF (8 MB).

Bead Circle Webinar Handout

Program notes: Organize Your Art Space for a Creative Explosion!

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]

How do you get started organizing when you feel completely overwhelmed? One step at a time sounds logical, but it doesn’t answer the question, “Which step do I take first—and why?” Truly, when the task is big, any step is the right one. A start is what’s needed. So let’s talk about some quick and dirty ways to get unstuck and to begin the task of digging your way out of your project. Pretty soon, you’ll be sweeping up after the project is done.

1. Pick a five-minute task first—organize your sock drawer, or one kitchen cabinet, maybe the spice shelves, or the pots and pans.
2. Organize your purse—it’s a microcosm of your house! Empty it completely, throw out the trash, reduce the number of items you carry. Use zipper bags to collect similar items such as makeup or coupons.
3. Use a ticking timer as a way to keep you focused. Set it for short amounts of time (15 or 30 minutes), work until the timer goes off, then do the happy dance. Repeat as often as you’re willing, even if it’s only once a day.
4. Start by moving things back to the right rooms. Call it the first pass. Things are already messy, so moving things from room to room won’t hurt anything. Just pick up anything that’s not in the room where it belongs, and move it to the right one. Don’t worry if you have to make a space! There are sure to be things in that room that need to come out anyway, and that next move will free up space.
5. Pick a room, any room. Now pick a drawer, or shelf, or table top. Focus on clearing that one space. Don’t forget your timer! Throw out trash, relocate things to their appropriate places, straighten up and contain what needs to stay.
6. Here’s an easy one! Clean out the medicine cabinet. Get rid of all the expired drugs. Mix them into coffee grounds or cat litter and bag them tightly for the trash. (Don’t flush them down the toilet!) You can also drop them off at some pharmacies that will dispose of them properly.
7. Pick the worst closet—the one you can’t walk into. Set your timer, and just clear the floor. Throw out trash, make decisions about what to keep and what can be donated. Make your goal to clear the floor completely. If it means you have to pull something off the shelves to make room for something on the floor, then go ahead and make room. Either way, you’ll be pulling out donations and making it easier to walk into the closet next time without tripping.
8. Try the 27-pieces game! Take two bags and walk around the house. Pick up pieces of trash for one bag, pick up things to donate for the other bag. Keep going until you add 27 things to each bag. You don’t have to clean anything this way, you’re just hunting. Eventually you’ll get to 27, and you’re done. It’s a great way to start when you can’t decide on a place to sort yet.
9. Linen closets are easy! There are many big items and lots to donate. Sort the sheets and towels and take the leftovers to a veterinarian—they can use them, and you need the space. 

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]

PROGRAM NOTES

Your bathroom is a very private place. Besides using it for the obvious reasons, you start every day there, getting showered, shaved, and coifed for the day. Later, you go back to get ready for bed. You spend a lot of time there, but most visitors to your home don’t. They use the other bathroom—the public one, or the one the kids use. That means your bathroom is your very own place to treat as you wish.

Here’s the problem: if a space in your house isn’t seen by the public, then it tends to get neglected. I’m always surprised that we’re motivated to clean a room when others will see it, but we have no energy for the spaces we use the most often. And we’re the ones who have to live with the mess every day, not our guests!

Bathrooms collect a certain kind of junk. More than any other room in the house, there’s a class of products that belong uniquely to this space. Body washes and hair gels, medications and first‑aid products—they collect under the sink and in the cabinets, and before you know it you’re drowning in bottles and jars. We buy way more products than we need because they smell good, and what’s one more bottle under the sink? But we can only use those products so fast, and if you’re buying faster than you’re using, you end up with exploding cabinets in the bathroom.

Bath products lure you to buy with the promise of peace and tranquility in a relaxing bath. But all those bottles and jars falling out of the cabinet certainly don’t deliver that experience. Instead, let’s thin out the contents and clean up the bathroom. Then you can really have a peaceful sanctuary each day.

Here are some ideas for reclaiming your bathroom:

Organize the bathroom as quickly as you can say, “Calgon, take me away!”

1. Acknowledge your product habit! Bath products are a cheap and easy indulgence. But it would take years to use the products you have right now! So stop buying bath products just because they’re a good deal. See how long it takes you to use up what you have. I bought eight Bath & Body Works products on sale 2½ years ago. I’m down to three now. That’s a bottle every six months. How many years’ worth of products are in your cabinet right now?
2. Time to thin the herd. You’ve tried tons of products that you didn’t like, but they’re still in the cabinet. Time to pass those on to someone else or throw them out. If the product is very old, it may no longer be safe to use.
3. All medicine cabinets need help. First, you’ve kept those meds way too long. Anything expired needs to go. Second, those little shelves can barely hold anything. Trying to stand everything up on those shelves guarantees it will all fall on your head. Find some narrow open containers to sit on the shelf to hold all the little doodads and tiny bottles that belong there.
4. Linen cabinets hold more than linens. Use the same container strategies in the linen cabinet that you use elsewhere in the house. Stacking boxes and slide-out drawers and trays will help control the contents you decide to keep. This is a great place for a lazy susan product, too. A two-tier lazy susan holds a lot of aspirin and cold medicine bottles.