Many of us opt to declutter every year after the holidays as a once-in-a-year occasion. Decluttering an entire house can look like an impossible chore, especially when there are a lot of large spaces you don't know what to do with. However, it's much easier once you break it into smaller, more manageable chunks and employ clever Decluttering solutions. Here are the best tips and strategies for large spaces that we have thought of.

1 Take before and after decluttering photos

One of the essential things about decluttering in large spaces with lots of stuff is motivation. A lack of impetus for clearing your area can be disheartening and overwhelming, especially if you're decluttering before renovations, a move, or another stressful situation. And your clutter situation will likely become worse before it gets better. That's where a before and after photo comes into play. You will be amazed at your progress if you take before and after shots. In turn, inspiration for more decluttering will come.

2 Strategize and stick to a schedule

It's essential to have a strategy in place before you begin. You'll be less frustrated and encounter fewer hurdles when you start with defined goals in mind, regardless of how much mess you are going through. Give each area a rating based on the degree of chaos to assist you in setting priorities. Cluttered rooms and closets can be graded from one to three, with three being the most chaotic. Decide on realistic completion dates and timelines for each stage of your cleanup. Making decluttering feel more like a fun exercise will help you stay motivated and avoid getting discouraged. Moreover, when decluttering a space that will take more than a few hours, such as the basement or garage, schedule time to work on it in two-hour increments. Make sure to stretch first and hydrate.

3 Organize by room

Even when not downsizing, decluttering a whole house is a significant undertaking that requires time and effort. Focusing on one room, one area, or even one zone inside a room (like your kitchen cabinets) and finishing the work before moving on to another space is an excellent method for decluttering easier. Another thing that could help is to get some of your items out of the house while you declutter. If you want to protect your pieces, renting storage in Los Angeles or Orange County can be the correct option. It will help with picturing the place as you want it to be. And as you progress, your confidence will grow as you see the results of your hard work. This is one of the decluttering tips for large spaces that will change your perspective – not just your home.

4 Evaluate your possessions

Decluttering is the perfect moment to look through your stuff and analyze what you want in your home. Pick and choose what you will keep in your space, where it belongs, and whether you will gift it or donate it after going through your clutter piles. Don't be harsh with yourself in parting with things, even when it comes to furniture. Be honest about what you still use, and use The Clutter Remedy© Clear and Concise Critera: Ask yourself "What do I use, what serves a purpose, is sentimental, and loved?" It is natural to gather many items over time, especially in large spaces, but retaining it all can lead to an overcrowded, cluttered home with things challenging to find. Overstuffed cabinets and corners are difficult to maintain and can eventually make your daily life more difficult. In her book "The Clutter Remedy: A Guide to Getting Organized for Those Who Love Their Stuff," Marla Stone, a former psychotherapist and current owner of I-Deal-Lifestyle Inc. professional organizer services, demonstrates how to declutter effectively and how this process can help you live a more balanced lifestyle.

5 Start small, then go big is one of the best decluttering tips for large spaces

When you first start decluttering in large spaces, don't make big decisions. Just go for the easy stuff. Fill numerous bags and boxes with items that can be swiftly and simply disposed of. At this point, you're seeking quick and straightforward decisions to make the more extensive task easier. Make a mental note of the obsolete things already in your line of sight. And after you do that, go for the stuff in the garage, drawers, cabinets, and closets! Empty each area and categorize what you own. Clear every space, categorize, go through your stuff, make good decisions about what to keep, and then fine-tune what you keep. Fine-tuning can be tedious, and yet it is the most critical step. Seeing all the new space you created will provide you with the motivation necessary for decluttering. As long as you see your progress, you'll be inspired to continue.

6 Keep the clutter away permanently

Instead of merely tossing things away, decluttering involves finding ways to better organize and store what you wish to preserve. A good question to ask yourself is, "Have I utilized the storage in my home?" Consider using previously underutilized spaces, such as the garage. Underneath your bed is NOT an option. Always keep the area around your bed clear. Whatever you decide to do with your space, stock up on innovative storage solutions to prevent the mess from taking over your home again. Contain everything you own, and do not put things back directly onto shelves. You can organize in subject groupings (out-of-season clothing, for example) and clearly label or put items in see-through boxes for rapid identification. Stackable boxes, baskets, and bins keep things by category and easy to access. Furniture with a lift-up lid, such as an ottoman, benches with storage, and armoires help save space. Also, keep in mind that bin tops or covers are better at protecting your items from dust and grime than open storage areas.

7 Get help

Decluttering your home might be a difficult chore to take on alone. You could rely on the help of close family members and friends to support you in your endeavor, only if they will be supportive and don't take particular interest in your belongings. Having helping hands when you're decluttering large spaces to make room for a growing family can be a bonding experience. It will also be easier to let go of some of your possessions when you enlist the support of friends. They don't have the same emotional ties to your stuff as you do. This can help you get closer to having a clutter-free home faster. When family and friends are not an option, professional organizers in your area can be found at OrganizersNow. And after you finish with your decluttering spree, why not take some time to enjoy it? Order some good food, buy some refreshments, and marvel at a job well-done.

Final words

We hope our guide has provided you with all the necessary decluttering tips for large spaces. Even when it feels overwhelming at first, it will be worthwhile when you have a clean, open room in your home. Happy decluttering, and don't forget why this task is essential!

If you belong to that small group of people who has the luxury of giving their home keys to a contractor and walking away until everything is finished, consider yourself fortunate. However, most of us do not belong to that group. There is a good reason for that - renovating your home all by yourself is considerably cheaper, and hiring a few good contractors too. Yet, what makes this process difficult is not the task itself - it is all the mess you will be moving around to get everything out of the way. So, decluttering before renovating will save you a ton of time and energy, making the whole process a lot more enjoyable. We have prepared seven different reasons to declutter before renovating your home.


1 Make the Renovation Easier 
Some reasons to renovate can be that your house is a wreck, or you want to make changes to make room for your growing family. Or you simply want to freshen up the place. One of the main reasons people renovate is to open up space and create more storage. Organizing and decluttering your area before remodeling is essential. Purging out what doesn't serve a purpose, things that you don't use any longer, items that you don't love, and stuff that isn't sentimental will help you configure the space for what you will keep. Also, clearing your place to get ready for renovation allows you to categorize everything you own, making decision-making easy. 


Also, it will be easier to picture exactly what you want to do within your home. Just think about it - if you were to renovate a room filled with stuff from top to bottom, would you be able to do it? I don't think so. You would make a bigger mess, or even worse, damage your furniture or hurt yourself. So, do yourself a favor and declutter before renovating your home.


1 Make the Renovation Faster 
Renovations are a lot faster when they are done in an organized and clutter-free area. Mess scattered everywhere will prolong whatever you want to create. You will spend hours upon hours moving everything around and around. Or, you will spend hours and hours looking for a tool you placed somewhere in that mess. This will cost you time and energy! Keep your emotions at bay and approach the decluttering process with strategy. If you think it will be difficult to achieve or tend to procrastinate, read 'The Clutter Remedy: A Guide to Getting Organized for Those Who Love Their Stuff' - a book that will inspire motivation and know-how.


2 Help Your Builders Help You and Declutter Before Renovating Your Home
When your home is undergoing a significant transformation, hire licensed contractors. You will want to interview carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc. When those people step into your cluttered home, they will charge you to declutter it themselves or walk away if they think it would be too dangerous. Either way, you will not get what your heart desires. So, make sure your home is clutter-free, and get that project started. Also, decluttering will speed up, and the contractors will be quick to finish their job, and you will be able to resume other renovations in no time. 


If you have plenty of unique and valuable items on your property that you want to protect, it would be wise to get some help moving things to a safe place. Don't take risks piling stuff into your garage, where it can get broken. Sign up with and don't hesitate to look for white glove moving services in LA or Orange County. Getting help with expensive items will alleviate a lot of stress, as you won't have to think about scratching or damaging the most precious things you own. 


3 You Will, Be Able to Live in Your Home While Renovating 
As previously mentioned, many of us don't have the luxury of moving out and hiring a general contractor. We will work with builders, contractors, family members, and tools in most cases while stepping over our own clutter at the same time. Living like this, even for a short period, will be overwhelming. To avoid this, you could find a Professional Organizer to help you find storage space for your precious belongings while renovating if you cannot hire movers or pay for outside storage. A garage, attic, basement, and an empty room in your home with proper space planning will help protect your belongings. Yet going through a Decluttering process is more straightforward than wasting time moving things that no longer meet your criteria or fit nicely in your space. Making sound decisions about what to keep in your life will save you space and help you plan how many cabinets to build and how to recreate the rooms and closets you are dreaming about.


4 You, Will, Get Rid of Pests 
It is estimated that every fifth household in the USA is infected with pests. In some cases, those pests are rodents - in others, they are insects. So, if the reason for your renovation is to get rid of pest problems in your home, be sure that you go through your whole home first. Pests thrive in paper boxes where all your family photos are stored. Rats can live on cluttered garage shelves or cabinets, soiling precious stuff, messy closets, and furniture pieces could have droppings in them. Rates, spiders, mites, termites, and crickets can live on floors and walls hidden behind sizeable family heirlooms you haven't moved in a long time. Getting into your garage where pests and insects could be hiding before renovation will speed things up. 


5 Envision Your New Space
If you are having difficulties envisioning how your new home will look after renovation, rest assured that it is because of all the clutter getting in the way of knowing what you want to do. All those furniture pieces, household knick-knacks, and books and papers block your vision! Even the most experienced and talented designer will not envision clearly your new home with all that clutter. 


Moreover, the same applies to moving in with someone you love. Of course, you can envision your life with your new partner, yet can you imagine how your space will look, especially when you combine all your stuff together in one place. Also, consider if you want to renovate your home together; going through your own things before planning a design is a great idea.


6 Save Yourself and Your Furniture 
One of the most important reasons to declutter before renovating your home is the ability to save yourself and your furniture from potential accidents. Clutter injuries are more than typical - broken bones, cuts, sprained ankles, smashed toes, and fingers. Moreover, while tripping over clutter, you can damage walls, floors, and furniture, especially while renovating. You can avoid all of this by clearing the floor and anything blocking your way to your ideal renovation project. Either donate, sell, or throw away the things you are ready to part ways with.  





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Deciding to expand your family is one of the most exciting times of people's lives. Whether you are choosing to have children of your own or adopt, you will want to make some adjustments to your life to best accommodate your family's growth. Keep reading to learn more about how you will easily make room for your growing family.
Decide Where to Live
When deciding to grow your family, you will want to first figure out where you would like to live. If your current home is too small, you will want to explore new housing options that have more space for you and your family. Before deciding to move, you will want to ask yourself, “how expensive of a house can I afford?” Factors such as your current debt, monthly bills, and your debt to income ratio all come into play when figuring out how much house you’re able to buy. Seeking out tools like a mortgage calculator will also give you a better idea of what your monthly payments will look like.

Once you’ve decided on a price that is comfortable for your budget, you will then want to research where you would like to purchase a home. When choosing a location to move to, there are many factors to consider. Look into areas that are in a great school district, are safe for your kids, as well as close to other amenities for your family to enjoy.
Declutter
Once you have decided on where you will live, start the decluttering process. It is important to do this before you start packing to move so that you are not bringing a bunch of belongings with you that you no longer have any use for. If you’re looking for a good starting point, “The Clutter Remedy: A Guide to Getting Organized for Those Who Love Their Stuff” by author and decluttering expert Marla Stone of www.I-deal-lifestyle.com will offer you mindful advice on what to keep and what to donate, gift or sell during this process.

Decluttering your home can be overwhelming, so make sure that you start small, allowing yourself a little bit of time here and there to get used to the process. Once you are more comfortable with Marla Stone’s clutter Remedy strategies for making good decisions about what to keep, you can dive into larger projects like an attic or basement. Remember to think as objectively as possible so that you are not keeping things that you no longer use, that are not serving a purpose, and that are not sentimental or loved.

While decluttering, consider donating your belongings or having a yard sale to earn extra cash for your new home. Explore online options such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to sell some of your more gently used items. Whichever way you choose to declutter your home, remember that you will now have more room in your new home for your growing family.

Upgrade Your Vehicle
As your family grows, realize that you now want a more family-friendly vehicle that will be able to fit everyone inside. When looking for a new vehicle, there are several things that you will want to keep in mind while making your decision. The first and most important is safety. Whether you are choosing a sedan, SUV, or minivan, make sure that the vehicle has a high safety rating. Check out these highest safety-rated vehicles for some inspiration to help you make your decision.

Take into consideration gas mileage when purchasing a new vehicle. With gas prices as high as they are, finding a fuel-efficient vehicle is on every parent's criteria list. Depending on the miles per gallon your new car gets, you will save thousands of dollars a year, which can be used in an infinite number of ways for a growing family.

Growing your family is one of the most fulfilling experiences one can have during their lifetime. This process can be overwhelming, yet when you take the time to plan ahead and make the appropriate changes it makes life more ideal. By upgrading your living situation as well as decluttering and organizing, you will be able to spend more time with your expanding family for years to come.

Beyond Cleaning: Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
People who put their homes on the market are often surprised by how much work it takes to get everything in order and to get their home ready to show. Proper staging is essential for making a positive impression on potential buyers; however, it’s very detailed work and will lead you to reassess your home’s condition. It’s easy to assume that everything’s in acceptable condition, only to find out that your realtor believes otherwise.
Houses absorb a lot of wear and tear over the years, and much of it is very noticeable to a discerning home buyer, and that’s the problem. Even things that seem minor to you can leave a buyer with a negative impression. Remember that perception is the reality: A leaky faucet may cause someone to assume that the rest of your home is in poor shape. I-Deal-LIfestyle™ Professional Organizer offers some tips and strategies you can use as you determine what you want to get done before letting a potential buyer into your home. 

Know Your Worth
Before you start making any big staging moves, be sure you know what’s worth investing in based on your home’s value. It probably doesn’t make sense to spend $2,000 repainting your entire home or freshening up your landscaping if you won’t recoup these costs in the profit from your sale, but consider spending money and hiring a team to repair things like replacing window glass or tackling any roofing work. 
Before you enlist the help of a real estate agent, you can get a ballpark idea of what houses in your area are going for by downloading apps from Redfin, Trulia, or Zillow, to name a few. These apps allow you to check out listings in your area, which can give you a rough estimate of what you can expect when your home finally hits the market.

​Good Flow and Energy With Lots of Space
A house with plenty of flow, good energy and open space is more likely to stand out with buyers who will easily imagine how they might transform it. That means clearing out all the clutter and removing any outdated or excessively large and bulky furniture. Go room by room and organize everything in such a way that you know what’s being thrown away, donated, or placed in storage. Remember that clutter means more than loose piles of papers strewn about or shoes and toys that somehow never get picked up. Extra bookcases, televisions, dressers, cabinets, and loveseats will be better stored or disposed of to ensure that nothing distracts a potential buyer. Want help with decluttering? I-Deal-LIfestyle™ Professional Organizer Marla Stone, MSW wrote a book on decluttering responsibly and without drama and confusion. The book is in all the libraries across the US, on amazon, and in Barnes and Noble stores everywhere. The book will help you create order and discard the accumulation of belongings that will weigh you down. 

Deep Clean and Depersonalize
It’s hard to keep a home clean when it may be on the market for months, and keeping it clean is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consider hiring a cleaning company to make your home look pristine and ready to sell. Continue to keep it clean during the selling process. Opting for freshly-cleaned carpeting will make a home look brand new and get rid of lingering odors. Don’t forget those dark, musty spots that haven’t been cleaned in years, which buyers will surely sniff out. Believe it or not, there are house cleaning apps (Tody, Home Routines, etc.) that help you when it’s time to scrub.
Depersonalizing is a crucially important part of staging. It’s how you’ll deemphasize your presence and allow buyers to see themselves as the owners. Many agents advise that your walls should be almost bare, with nothing more than a smattering of generic and non-threatening artwork (i.e. natural landscapes). 

The Right Paint
Choosing the right color for your interior walls is an important step in creating a space that’s conducive to prospective buyers. Neutral colors are widely considered the best way to go because they won’t distract visitors the way a rich, luxuriant red or shades of lavender will. Remember, the home you want others to see is better not to be a house dominated by your personal tastes; instead, one the buyer can envision as their own. Beige, tan, or shades of gray are considered the best choices by real estate agents. By the same token, slapping on a couple of coats of white paint can be noticeable because if it is too bland. A nice mid-range shade is optimal. If you want help, This Old House has a list of apps, including ColorSmart and Paint My Place, that can help when it comes time to select and match the right paint for your home. The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff is also a great resource for home decorating tips.

Drawing Them In
Giving your property curb appeal is essential for getting people to stop by or make inquiries. You can improve your curb appeal by tidying up your landscaping, planting flowers in a pot by the front door, and making sure the lawn is clear of weeds. Above all, make certain that your house is easily seen from the street as people drive by, particularly if you have a lot of trees and/or bushes in the front yard. Want some landscaping ideas? Apps such as Houzz and iScape provide you with some inspiration to make your own yard look great.

Most people expect a lot of cleaning and minor fixes when getting ready to place their homes on the market. But there’s a lot more to staging than vacuuming and dusting. Think of it as transforming your space into someone else’s. With the correct approach and a little help from a handful of apps, you will make your home a hot commodity that stands out.


When you’re ready to clear out the clutter for good and to bring organization into your life, look to I-Deal-Lifestyle™ Professional Organizer to connect with. The owner Marla Stone gives a free 30 minute assessment by calling 949-709-7000 To ensure you make this transformation a lifestyle change, pick up the The Clutter Remedy: A Guide to Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff book today! 

With rising prices and living costs, people are less likely to donate to charities. With services diminishing, and criteria changing for who is mentally ill or solely delusional or simply homeless, people with severe mental health challenges are falling through the crevices and cracks.

Many years back, when someone was hallucinating, whether auditory, olfactory, or visual, the goal was to get them on psychiatric medications and stabilized. Now the new model is to let them be the way they are. This philosophy or mode would be like saying if a child wants to wander out the front door and cross a road, they should have the free will to do that. With this new way of handling intense mental health, psychoses, and our most vulnerable elderly, many wandering souls are taking over our streets, uncared for and often left dying in a park, under a bridge, or on a sidewalk.

People with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, PTSD, OCD, and schizoaffective disorder absolutely should have free will yet be allowed to get stabilized. Sometimes though, when people are fully psychotic, they will not choose to get the help they deserve and for what we all pay taxes for to help them. What do we do then, let them roam around barefoot in the winter without a coat or shoes? Digging up some warm clothes and donating to shelters will be a good deed for 2022.

The homeless population is primarily people with mental health challenges, drug addiction (which is a mental health challenge,) and sometimes people with a low IQ who do not know how to care for themselves on their own. What is our responsibility as tax-paying citizens? It is to make sure our government agencies are responsible for our hard-earned money. The tax dollars earmarked for mental health services are significant when we make sure they find their way to the most vulnerable and at-risk people. Moreover, we want the money to go towards worthwhile programs that create long-term solutions and ends homelessness, abuse while increasing tolerance and acceptance for taking care of our most high risk human beings.

Many great leaders have suffered from mental health challenges, or a family member or friend they know has suffered. If a loved ones find their way to a nice neighborhood in a tent, with very little food and water, would the more fortunate amongst us think that is okay? When the low down, locked down, and thrown out folks, the millions of strangers remain unknown by us, is it okay?

No one wants these folks in their palatial neighborhoods; that is understandable. However, where should these wandering souls end up?
Will each taxpayer, individual or corporation make their dollars count towards the care of mental health in this country? Will the dollars get to the mental health services that provide care that will end the madness, the wayward lives lingering in front of all of us? What kind of housing solutions do we have long-term before all of our sidewalks and even a home's driveway become the resting place for the people that never rest?

Figuring out the best place to donate money is a grand New Years' resolution. It is also important to consider calling the congressperson in the area. Ask them to explain how the money winds up helping those that deserve to be cared for by all of us.
​www.i-deal-lifestyle.com

As more people work from home, apartments and households get more crowded. Living spaces often become more cramped, and you can become more depressed and, despondent. Decluttering the home is therefore now more important than ever. Fortunately, with creative space planning, storage space for all the dislodged items can be found in many places around the home and beyond it, even for residents of small apartments. 
Clutter takes many forms, from kids toys and magazines to all the clothes you bought which didn’t quite fit in the wardrobe. Then there is the paperwork that you want to sensibly get organized. Most papers can be tossed or shredded, yet for important papers you want to find the correct spot for easy access. Marla Stone, CEO of I-Deal-Lifestyle and author of The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff, will certainly get you uber organized. Stone will find places to store all the that are important so you will manage your life and live in harmony with the others in your household. This can be easier in some places crowded spaces that others, and access to storage space at home varies across the country. Although, solutions are available, and a nearby self storage unit can be rented to act as a helpful garage or storage space a meaningful and successful decluttering process is important to see what is actually important enough to store.
Living Space in US Homes Have Become More Cramped
The pandemic sent employees home to telework from their bedrooms, and many of them would like to keep working that way. And then, with college kids no longer able to live in their dorms and seniors sometimes preferring to receive care from relatives, multigenerational living is now increasingly seen. All those family members take up space, with many households increasing in size and living space becoming more cramped. The other issue is that everyone has moved out, and yet they have left behind their belongings in your precious space. In addition, homes haven’t necessarily become bigger over the years to accommodate larger households. Certainly builders are creating smaller cabinets with tiny shelves, instead of deeper shelves, smaller pantries, and not enough place to stash things away.
New apartments were built with less space between 2010 and 2019, losing 90 square feet — equal to the size of a small bedroom — and ending at an average of 1,156 square feet. Also, with increasing accommodation costs, many Americans are not able to move to larger homes, so they want to be more cognizant of how they will keep their living spaces free from clutter.


Utilize All Your House’s Storage Solutions
If you have a house with a basement or an attic, there is potential storage space. Be aware that conditions there may not be ideal in terms of temperature extremes and humidity, which can damage paperwork, clothes and wooden furniture. A garage or a garden shed are also tempting places to use as storage rooms, but they are even more exposed to the elements, so are only suitable for tools, tires and those windsurfing boards.  
Regions are not equally equipped with storage options for house owners. Basements are often built beneath houses where the frost line necessitates deep foundations. Therefore, cold-winter cities like Milwaukee, Boston and Pittsburgh, and New York feature basements in around 90% of houses, while Texans and Floridians rarely see them. Garages are more fairly distributed, but this time metros in the West and Southwest fare better, with around 90% of houses having them. 


Your Apartment Building May Have Storage Options
Apartment dwellers are obviously more squeezed for space. But their buildings increasingly provide storage options, perhaps lockable units in the basement or more informal partitioned spaces. Other buildings have outside lockers where tenants can keep bicycles and maybe other outdoor items. These options are more common in the West and Southwest, with over half of the multifamily buildings in the California, Phoenix, AZ, Dallas, TZ, and Portland, OR, metros having them. 
Other storage options for apartment dwellers are parking garages on their block, friend’s houses or storage units, though this tends to be in the more high-end buildings. These are more common in the metropolitan areas of the spacious West, but even the metros centered on Dallas, TX, Kansas, MO, Milwaukee, WI, and Denver, CO, only offer the facility in 16%-18% of their multifamily buildings. As well as keeping your car there, some landlords allow items such as bicycles to be stored.


Get Clever Finding Extra Storage Space
When your home doesn’t provide storage space outside the living area and your cupboards and shelves are fully utilized you want simple and economical solutions. Corner storage cabinets, spaces above doors, shelving, ceilings and corridor wall units are places in the home that can be used for additional storage. Ottomans are types of furniture that increase your storage options. And restyling your home to add new levels and even storage rooms are good ideas. 
Renting storage may also be a good solution for you. For example, the average street rate for a standard 10’x10’ storage unit is $128/month, and that will hold all the contents of a small apartment. Also, when revamping your home for added storage, you will be able to keep your prized furniture and other items out of the way. Self storage is much cheaper than residential space, and with the rapid expansion of the industry, you will find a facility near your home. 


Decluttering is certainly a feature of many Americans’ lives right now, especially when they are coping with increasingly cramped living space. Fortunately, there are some effective storage solutions to cope with space challenges. Residents of multifamily buildings can maximize their options. Happy decluttering!
Call 949-709-7000 for a free 30 minute assessment and ideas to create space for the things that are important to you!
www.i-deal-lifestyle.com

In my #organizingbusinessinorangecounty, I recently noticed a lack of motivation to put things away, even after everything is categorized, fine-tuned, and contained. I believe it is one thing to get uber-organized and another to keep it up. The best of systems will not last unless #clutterremedy strategies are in place and utilized.

There are many reasons for having decreased motivation: lack of clear vision about goals and dreams, negative life challenges, mood challenges, mainly anxiety and depression, an overly busy schedule. Also what puts a damper on keeping up your space is not enough help or support, and a misunderstanding about how to keep a house or workspace clear of clutter, regularly.

Another thing I've noticed is a trend in time-saving tips that do not actually  save you time. One of the tips I've seen turning up is about not Turning clothes inside out before hanging them. One of my recent clients shared a tip going around that you can save time by taking things out of the washer or dryer and hanging them up as they come out, even if they are inside out. The biggest problem is that it does not save time at all. Eventually, you will want to wear an article of clothing from your closet, and guess what you will put in the time you think you saved by turning it right side out. Also, the bigger problem is you will not see if there are stains or tears on the right side of the clothing until you've put it on and are admiring yourself in the mirror. Now you will be late for work or your morning meeting.

Another client shared that instead of having somewhere to hang her delicate clothes, a tip was to hang the wet clothes all over her apartment, without hangers, over furniture, countertops, shower doors, and anywhere they can be placed. While this works to get the clothing dry, running around scattering wet clothing is comical and time-consuming. There are so many over-the-door hanging apparatuses and easy-to-use drying racks that fold up when you're finished. Why wouldn't you employ some tools that will save you time, steps and protect you from walking into a home full of strewn clothes? The fewer steps and processes to laundry, the better, obviously, but let's be practical.

Daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly manual labor is always involved in maintaining a well-organized and clutter-free space. We all make daily messes, yet putting things back where they belong regularly consists of willing yourself to pick up and put away things that have been scattered about. There is no mystery why beautiful, valuable shoes, clothes, toys, papers, receipts, and stuff pile up and turn into a cluttered mess. You're not keeping up with the putting away part.

Here are 8 simple #organizingtips to remain #perpetuallyorganized:

1. Categorize every single thing you own into broad categories.
2. Fine-tune all categories into sub-categories to help you find things more accessible.
3. Contain every sub-category separately. Do not lump things together in drawers, or on cabinet, or closets shelves without a container of some sort.  Drawer inserts and bins or baskets help keep like items from schmooshing together with non-like items.
4. Have a home for every sub-category based on how often you use the items and where you will use them.
5. Will yourself put things away when you take them out of their home, and when you are finished using them.
6. When new items come into your space, figure out immediately where they will be placed. 
7. For new items coming into your space, such as purchases, mail, gifts, or packages, open them immediately, discard the boxes, envelopes, and bags they come in, and figure out where they will go. If you are a big return person, keep a bin  for the return material.
8. Always put things back where they belong, and when you don't have time, have empty space or baskets to put them into in the meantime until you have time to distribute out-of-place items.

Also, read or listen to The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff by Marla Stone. Stone, a former social worker, and psychotherapist will help you declutter your emotional self first and has revolutionized organizing any space possible with clear and concise criteria for keeping what you value most in your life and rooms.
​www.i-deal-lifestyle.com

​Jealousy, the wild riptide emotion that tears you up inside and snarls apart once fun and loving relationships, is one of the most devastating and harmful of all emotional tirades one can experience. Jealousy causes irrational and wobbly impulse schemes, blaming shenanigans, and histrionic waves of distrust, disregard, and damage control. These often delusional and unruly behaviors will shut doors in faces, click-off phones, and block social activity similarly to all socially unacceptable life responses, such as intrusion, racism, antisocial and violent acts. Yet, unlike the latter, jealousy with a scoop of intellect and pound of understanding will ideally be met with a more caring and accepting approach. If you cannot see past someone's blind bashed feelings, are you also part of the problem?

Jealousy is a deep pocket sewn into the most fragile part of the emotional body. It triggers tail-chasing instability laced with threads of desertion, neglect, and betrayal. The button sign that says unwelcome or sayonara is often met with reels of rejection, flames of furry, and a backlash flight or fight tizzy going out of control. Then coming in like a tidal wave is unwanted rage and devastating longing for what once was inclusion. 
It's like a kick to the jaw and a boot to the heart 
all at the same time. 

Whether the stranding or jilting is done with fair or unfair treatment, the tsunami swells, bubbling up torrid resentment strewn towards all involved, and toppling and swirling everyone everywhere. 

So, what creates zealous jealously in some and not others. The key is, the jealous person feels massively unloved and then sordid, stubborn, and angry about it. Feeling unloveable is the primary, more profound, and darker feeling of jealousy. The scathed and abandoned part of someone stems from unresolved childhood issues, having nothing to do with the victim of the possessive, grasping, glomming hands from the distraught loser of victory, friendship, love, or award.

A jealous person is the ultimate loser of everything from relationships to careers to life experiences. Jealousy is a sheath for disappointment, loss, grief, and painstaking confusion. It twinges with psychotic pain like that from losing a loved one when you're not ready to lose, and it sneaks up beside you, shaming you down.

Unlike envy which is light and green with admiration, devotion, and revere, jealousy seethes into the sleeves of despair, despondency and turns up a downtrodden disappointment in the coating of one's life.

So, how do you want to handle someone who has come off the handle, so off-keel, that they would kneel before you with regret one minute and spit you away from the next? 

Remember whether the outright dismissal is for good or bad reasons. Do you want to make the person disappear, or in a sense, die from your life altogether? Do you want to kick them further to the edge when they walk the narrow path on the wrong side of the road? Do we up our arms and walk away without a care? Well, I guess that depends on whether that person was worthy of your friendship from the beginning!

My suggestion is to bring people into your life with the art of discrimination. That way, when people in your life misbehave, you will make good decisions about who to keep around and who to eliminate. People, unlike objects, can't be tossed, thrown, or donated. That is why you want to be discriminating in choosing friends. Like friends, shells on a beach are not all going to be picked up and brought home with you. Figure out 30 things you want in ideal friends and partners. Write a list and go big, fairy God-Mother big. That way, when someone acts out and gets ugly, it is so much easier to lend a hand or lock the door. Whatever you choose, please do it with cups of love and tinctures of compassion!

Marla Stone is the author of The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff and owner of www.i-deal-lifestyle.com

Whether it is a glam room, a board room, or any space in your office or home, www.i-deal-lifestyle.com organizes anything that can be organized. Marla Stone, MSW, Professional Organizer and Author of The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff, is a world-renowned, consummate organizer/designer who has traveled the world helping people not only get organized but stay organized, permanently. ​

Marla started as a social worker/psychotherapist and then reinvented herself in 2010 into a home and business organizer. Her team of organizers loves organizing businesses, residential properties, and lives. "Coaching people to overall wellness, inside and out is the goal," Stone exclaims enthusiastically. 
Bringing Stone's mental health background has bridged perpetual internal disorganization to outer chaos. It is no mystery why people get disorganized and drown in clutter when there are unresolved disappointments and grief issues buried in the unconscious process of people's lives.

Stone's favorite jobs are corporate settings and creating space that is not only safe with covid restrictions but also aesthetically pleasing. Setting up cubicles or having people out on the open floor exposed with no privacy is not the solution for increased productivity. It takes a Feng Shui perspective to set up corporate space, with space planning finesse. 

The newest product Stone is selling is an alive and online education program based on her book The Clutter Remedy. The corporate training program "Declutter Your Strategy." The training program not only helps with a cluttered work environment. The goal of Declutter Your Strategy is to educate and elevate productivity, sales, and relationships. The program supports C-Suite Executives, Realtors, and Brokers in understanding their inner emotional clutter and how to help their customers by understanding them better. It is a quick and easy seven-module program that teaches primary mental health diagnoses, coping strategies, and improved communication skills, all geared towards improved productivity. Stone says, "There is not enough education about mental health, and it's keeping people blocked up from reaching their loftiest goals."

To find out more about I-Deal-Lifestyle Inc. services, email info@i-deal-lifestyle.com.​

We serve all of Orange County and anywhere outside of Orange County. We are an Irvine-based business. We offer Re-designed office space, decluttering any room in your home, even your garage or storage unit. We organize the house and act as a personal organizer. We are the best professional organizer in Orange County and make getting decluttered straightforward with no drama. To get organized, procure help, hoard help, or organize services in Orange County, don't hesitate to contact us through our website at www.i-deal-lifestyle.com. For training and development, public speaking, or a successful event, don't hesitate to contact Marla Stone directly at marla@i-deal-lifestyle.com. For a house organizer, desk organization, clearing space, or designer services in orange county, contact us at info@i-deal-lifestyle.com