I know how hard it is to declutter while moving houses. I’ve done it the wrong way several times! I don’t write a lot about moving strategies because I have lived in the same house since before I started my deslobification process.

I’m excited to share this reader story with you. I absolutely love hearing how the basic, game-changing decluttering strategies that have worked to declutter my home also make moving so much better!

Hi Dana (Nony),

I just wanted to send you a quick e-mail to say how happy I am that I found you when I needed you most!

I started listening to your podcasts while cleaning up and I always felt like “Yes! She gets it!” I think I must have read over 1,000 articles on cleaning/organizing but still felt like I needed to figure out a better way.  I have literally been looking for ways to be more organized for years. In fact, in a recent purge, I found an old Oprah magazine with the words “Cut Clutter Out Forever” splashed across the cover – that was about 5 years old. Obviously, it didn’t work for me. 🙂

I started implementing some of your methods and before I knew it, I was running my dishwasher every night and unloading it every morning, making beds and wiping sinks – my house was looking and feeling tidier! I also started doing more decluttering projects and was feeling great!

Then my hubby started interviewing for jobs out of state. I was a maniac about getting rid of things we didn’t need. The Goodwill people knew me by first name after 3 weeks of nearly daily donations. I also organized drawers and closets, and helped my husband to organize the garage so that we didn’t move a bunch of junk.

We just moved and had our boxes delivered last Friday.

Here is why I am so happy –  this move is not like any other I’ve had so far (this is move # 6 in 13 years, so I thought I was pretty good at it):

 As I’m unpacking, I’m putting things where they belong. Right now. NOT just stacking them on the counter and getting completely overwhelmed. Even if it means walking to another room because something got randomly packed.

I use ONE empty box next to the box I am unpacking to hold all the extra packing paper after unwrapping each item. When the packing paper box is full, I take it immediately to the garage. The newly empty box turns into my new packing paper box.  Container concept. Woot woo!

This is revolutionary! I’ve always felt so overwhelmed and out of control even during the best moves. This way, it feels way more manageable. I’m doing the same amount of work but because I’m using your methods on how not to make a bigger mess and am applying it to the unpacking, I feel happy and not like a crazed weasel. I’m sure I’m much nicer to be around during this move.

It is so awesome to see the boxes disappearing and things being where they belong instead of just piled in the room where they will languish (procrasticlutter).

I’m only on my first week of unpacking, but this already feels so much better than any other time I have moved.

I just had to let you know that this is WORKING and I’m thrilled! I already ordered your book so the timing could not be better – I should be done unpacking and I’ll be ready to improve my daily routines.

Thank you so much for sharing your heart with you and may God Bless you. I truly feel like this is your ministry!

Hugs,

A Reader in Transition

Organizing and decluttering are two different things. Really. While “getting organized” is on everyone’s To Do List, it often gets pushed to the bottom. When I look at a space that’s overflowing with who-knows-what, I get overwhelmed. Organizing is problem-solving. Decluttering is decision-making. Each is daunting. Together they can be too much. If my goal […]