It’s a fairly common refrain, and one that I and countless professional organizers hear quite often. It ranks right up there with ‘I don’t know where to begin.’

The internet abounds with tips on how to pack, ideas for donating or selling unwanted items, how to choose a moving company, and so much more. Until it is all organized into a useful plan, it is a jumble of information adding to an already stress-laden event.

More and more, it is becoming a well-known fact that a disorganized and cluttered home is a direct link to stress. Women unfortunately suffer the stigma of this more than men.

The garage does seem like a logical place to store some items. Without a shed, yard and gardening tools likely call the garage home, as do bicycles and other outdoor toys or equipment. But it also becomes the drop zone for things to be dealt with later, or not at all.

Decluttering, and making that decision to let go sometimes is the easy part. It can be challenging to decide whether to donate outright or sell certain belongings. The question of whether to sell becomes the juggernaut.

Perhaps the time has come for your parents or other aging family members to move to a smaller home or senior living community. Years of raising a family, inherited heirlooms, hobbies, careers, and the treasures of life are evident in every room of the house. Move forward with compassion and respect.

When you hear the word clutter, what thoughts come to mind? Piles of paper? Overstuffed closets? S-t-u-f-f e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e?

As I was cleaning and putting away the last of the holiday table linens in my dining room, a rush of memories and emotions hit me. The 2020 holidays were to put it mildly, unique, and I like thousands of others marked those occasions for the first time, without a precious loved one.

In normal times, and by normal, I mean anything at all that happened pre-pandemic, this is the time for families to gather and celebrate the holidays. For many, it is the annual trip home. It is the once-a-year in-person visit. And it is a time to see for yourself, especially in the case of visiting with older or aging parents and other loved ones, just how much has changed since the last visit.

Planning to do a little online shopping this holiday season? Perhaps you have been doing a little (or a lot) online shopping for the past several months. If your holiday gift-giving includes shipping, there are several companies and delivery options to choose from. When it comes to holiday deliveries, they have one piece of advice for consumers – don’t wait.