104. Clutter and Organization Strategies For Adults and Kids with Laurie Palau - a podcast by Amber Hawley

Getting organized can be especially challenging for neurodiverse people. Sometimes it seems as if our environments fall in either one of two extremes—everything neatly in place or everything in total chaos. It’s like a battle of the OCD versus the ADD. 

But one woman’s clutter might be another woman’s “I’m okay with this!” We all have a unique pain point when it comes to organization and time management. Can’t we slide along the spectrum instead of living in the extremes? How do we create a functional environment for ourselves within all of our stuff—one that reduces stress and overwhelm, and fosters productivity? And can we teach our kids to do the same?

This week on the podcast, my guest is a fellow podcaster, author, and clutter expert Laurie Palau. With neurodiversity in her own family, Laurie has figured out a way to meet adults and kids where they are, by giving them strategies to tackle their unique issues with all types of clutter—both tangible and intangible. 

Clutter is really a symptom of something bigger, Laurie says. If we determine “the why of clutter,” we can take actionable steps to make our lives simpler and easier. Warning: You may have to dive deep into some emotions, like guilt and fear. But I know you can do it.

If just the idea of getting organized freaks you out, listen in to our conversation for practical, tactical advice on where to get started. And for ways to communicate with your kids to help them manage their clutter too. (You’ll never tell your kid to “go clean your room” the same way again!)

 

About Laurie Palau:

Laurie Palau is the author of the book HOT MESS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GETTING ORGANIZED; host of the popular weekly podcast This ORGANIZED Life; and founder of Simply B Organized, a lifestyle company helping people live simply and work smarter.

Her advice has been featured in national publications including Real Simple and The New York Times.

Laurie speaks on the topics of clutter, parenting, and entrepreneurship.

Her CLUTTER CLINIC™ is a nationwide workshop providing strategies to help your team, group, or organization feel more empowered to tackle the areas where they feel most overwhelmed. Her latest work connects the dots between personality type and clutter, through the lens of the Enneagram.

A self-described homebody and coffee lover, Laurie lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with her husband Josh, two (almost grown) daughters, and dog, Jeter.

Visit her website and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

 

Links and Resources:

• simplyborganized.com

Time Stamps:

[2:30] - Neurodiverse kids and adults need extra strategy and support to get organized

[3:21] - Organization takes Amber to her calm place

[5:58] - The why of clutter

[6:46] - Sustainable and lasting change is better than Instagram-worthy 

[10:35] - Clutter is a symptom of something bigger

[13:08] - Organization is a learned skill

[14:36] - Modeling behaviors that you want your kids to adopt

[18:36] - Being intentional and specific about what “clean” means

[20:35] - Amber’s husband’s body doubling strategy and distraction with music to help the kids clean their room

[25:01] - Laurie’s three main types of clutter

[24:59] - Emotional clutter stems from guilt or fear and causes decision fatigue

[26:46] - People with ADHD struggle with calendar clutter 

[29:54] - Resistance to wasting and the sunk cost fallacy 

[33:01] - How Laurie empowered a boy to let go of his stuffed animals

[36:27] - The last 10% of the project is the real feeling of accomplishment

[39:47] - Which room to declutter first if you’re overwhelmed

[44:31] - Put time on your calendar to deal with clutter

Further episodes of The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur

Further podcasts by Amber Hawley

Website of Amber Hawley