I didn’t see that coming.
We had a great conversation in our Zoom call last Friday!
Side note: If you haven’t yet popped in to The Grace Lab for our Friday Zoom, you should! We’d love to have you.
The conversation started as it always does with a podcast chat on last week’s featured episode which was on establishing healthy routines around homework.
Where I thought the conversation might go (routines around homework) is not where it went.
It’s what keeps it interesting!
The theme that bubbled up in the conversation was: clutter.
And it got me thinking…
What impact does clutter have on productivity?
In doing my research to answer that question, I came across some resources that made one thing clear.
It’s tricky to move into a new season and new routines with last season’s clutter in the way.
In some cases that may be physical clutter.
Are you climbing over the still-packed pool bag to access the backpacks; even though the pool closed for the season three weeks ago?
Are bathing suits and tank tops still occupying the most accessible drawers in the dressers/closets?
Is the fall sports gear now piled on top of the summer yard games in the garage?
No judgement! Cut yourself some slack, it’s still 80 degrees outside!
But it’s a lot and mental clutter abounds when physical clutter is not addressed.
Fall is really two seasons.
Add to the physical clutter the sheer volume of mental clutter coming at us since the start of school…
Meet the teachers, Curriculum Night, PTO/PTA meetings, the parent portal, new sports, clubs and activities to manage, carpools to arrange, teen angst, toddler angst, device management, a new driver, new bedtimes, crazy mornings, etc.
The transition from summer to fall is tricky because moms associate it with back-to-school.
However, while back-to-school is synonymous with fall, it happens while it’s still summer.
Then, a month later, we’re suddenly bombarded by all things pumpkin and have to transition seasons yet again.
Did I mention it’s a lot?
Take a deep breath. There are tools to navigate the clutter and get back to being productive!
Here is what the experts have to say…
Disorganized spaces are stressing us out, leaving everything in our homes feeling chaotic and overwhelming. The good news is, clutter can be solved. Here are 5 ways that clutter is adding chaos to your home, and some tips for decluttering and restoring peace to your space.
Heather @ Sorted ATX
Read 5 ways that clutter is stressing out your entire family (yes, even your kiddos!) by Heather over at Sorted ATX.
And listen to Practical Decluttering with Katy Wells on the Work+Life for Overwhelmed Women podcast to hear how clutter impacts productivity from a productivity expert and a decluttering expert!
From the show notes…
We’ve all been there — especially as moms — and know first-hand that decluttering can feel like a daunting, never-ending task.
By the end of this episode, you will discover:
1. How clutter affects your mental health and productivity — PLUS, the freedom that comes from learning how to get organized with your physical stuff
2. An easy, less stressful way to encourage your kids to help with decluttering and how to get them to put things away the first time
3. The organizational tips you need to make decluttering simple and even fun
Megan Sumrell, Work+Life Harmony for Overwhelmed Women
👩🏽💻 The Grace Lab
Join us on Fridays at 2pm ET in The Grace Lab on Zoom for our weekly community call.
It’s like a book club except instead of reading an entire book, you just have to listen to a single podcast episode.
Use it as an excuse to pop in your headphones and listen while you go for a walk or tackle something you’ve been avoiding (like folding laundry… just me?).
Listen to the episode on tap for the week found here, then join us on Zoom! The episode is also the first one on the playlist below…
🎧 The Podcast Playlist for Busy Moms
Here are the latest episodes added to the September playlist:
Remember to 💚 it to save it to your Spotify library so you can chip away at it while you sip your coffee, drive, walk, exercise, organize, fold laundry, cook, clean, etc.!
🐝 BIZI: An Online Community for Busy Moms
Our online community is an off-social spot to engage and connect. We ask questions and share resources and ideas that encourage moms to give themselves grace.
Today’s issue covered how clutter impacts productivity according to the experts, now we want to hear from you!
Question of the week: What are your favorite decluttering tips?
Post your response here in our online community (and/or check out what other moms are posting!)
And because we’re certainly not all business in our community…
📚 Here is my latest read. It had a time travel element and I enjoyed the pop-culture references to time-travel books and movies of the last 30 years.
📚 Here is what Amanda is reading. (It is one of Rachel’s favorites!)
Share what you are in to this week here!
❤️ Thank you for being here!
We truly appreciate you! If you’re enjoying Grace in the Race (the newsletter, BIZI – the online community, the weekly Zoom calls, and/or the podcast playlist), please consider sending us a note to let us know what you like… or show your love with a cup of coffee:
At Grace in the Race, our mission is to help moms do what they can with the time, energy and resources they have; all while believing that’s enough.
How to Get Kids Comfortable with Routines