Ready for a reframe?

What if I told you that it’s time for a different approach to your clutter?
One that makes the organizing process feel a bit less like a root canal, and more like a fun adventure?

Instead of seeing clutter as a monster that’s out to get you, what if you viewed it as a treasure hunt?
Yes, you read that right – your organizing projects can actually be a treasure hunt!

Imagine embarking on an adventure, like a modern-day Indiana Jones, but from the comfort of your own home. And within the stacks, piles, and drawers, you discover a treasure! To jump into this reframe, I want you to start by not lifting a finger. In fact, all I want you to do is stop for a minute, close your eyes, and set an intention.

An intention for what, you ask? An intention for what you want to find buried in your clutter.

As you visualize, imagine yourself organizing the space and finding something exciting, meaningful, or even valuable. It might be that book you’ve been searching for, some hidden cash, or a cherished memento.

When it comes to our clutter, there’s always treasure to be found.

I created a video all about this to help walk you through your treasure. You can watch the full video here:

The key is to approach this process with an open mindset and a sense of positive expectation. Heaven knows we’ve had enough frustrating organizing sessions. Instead, let’s try to have a little fun.

Worst case, you’ll make a little progress on your organizing goals, and hopefully enjoy the experience a bit more than you usually do. Best case you find some buried treasure and you feel as smart and powerful as Mr. Jones himself!

So, when you’re ready to tackle your next organizing project, remember to let go of the idea that clutter is simply an overwhelming avalanche waiting to bury you. Instead, treat it as a thrilling treasure hunt.

What magic and beauty might you discover today?

Give this treasure hunt a shot and see what unexpected gems you uncover in your own cluttered wonderland.
It’s a whole new level of adult hide-and-seek!

Happy Treasure Hunting!

The post Unearth Treasures in Your Clutter! appeared first on Star Hansen.

They asked me to come to their annual holiday party and without even a thought, I blurted out yes. (My Inner People Pleaser is totally my gatekeeper. #thestruggleisreal)

The minute I said yes, I instantly regretted it. Why? Not because it wouldn’t be fun. Or because I didn’t like the person.

But because I didn’t give myself a chance to actually think about what I wanted.

Do I want to go to a party with a giant group of friends from 20+ years ago whom I rarely speak to anymore? Do I have time for additional social events?

If I’m honest…on top of seeing all my family, doing last-minute shopping, cooking, and (hopefully) taking a little time to rest…I really don’t.

At least, not if I want to feel peaceful at the end of my trip.

And it got me thinking about the ways that we charge into the holiday season and either go along with the chaos. Or stick with the status quo, without asking ourselves if we want to make any changes this year.

As we gear up for the holiday season, it’s so easy to get caught in the whirlwind of holiday chaos – socializing, shopping, the endless to-do lists, and the feeling of needing to keep up with it all.

It’s something I’ve witnessed closely as a professional organizer (and still experience myself).

It’s up to us to decide what kind of holiday season we create for ourselves.

Just because the world is racing around with their hair on fire, doesn’t mean we have to. And just because we’ve always done something, doesn’t mean we have to keep doing it.

You get to choose the kind of holiday season YOU want to experience this year.

I know it’s not always easy to think about what you need first…but when it comes to the holidays, I highly recommend taking a moment to think about what you truly want and need this year.

I created a quick YouTube video to chat more about this. Take a peek if you feel like you need a little extra support this holiday season. In the video, I share some tips and insights that can help you navigate the holiday season with ease.

The topic of reclaiming your holiday season is an important one to me.

It’s something we talk a lot about next month in the Chaos to Calm Community, as we explore creating Holiday Harmony.

I believe that the holiday season should be a time of joy, love, and connection.

And that it’s essential to take the pressure off ourselves and make it uniquely ours.

Start today by choosing one thing you can say no to this holiday season.

One thing that you know you don’t want to do but haven’t given yourself permission to say no to, yet.

I’m going to call that friend back and let them know that I need a little extra downtime this trip. No excuses. No big drama. Just truth. And reclaiming a little bit of peace for myself.

I hope you do the same. I’ll be cheering you on from afar!

The post Discover the Power of Saying ‘No’ this Holiday Season appeared first on Star Hansen.

Or better yet, what would you love to be doing there instead?

The living room is our room of the month in the Chaos to Calm Organizing Community. I want to talk about it here because I do something a little different when it comes to “organizing a room.”

As I help clients make sense of their clutter, I’ve realized that there’s often a connection between cluttered items and the spaces they’re in.

This might be a connection to a previous chapter of our lives. Or people we love. It might
ignite feelings of joy for the things we did, or regret for things we didn’t do.

The stack of books in the corner or memorabilia under our bed from a past relationship, often
tells us the story of where we have been or wanted to be.

But the rooms of our home also contain a special meaning.

Each room of your home connects to a different area of your life. Often the areas that are most cluttered, highlight an
area of our life that is out of balance. And the spaces that are most organized showcase the
parts of our lives that are most thriving.

Ok…now, back to the living room. The living room is often a space for fun, leisure, community,
and (in some cases) family time. These are all connected to a sense of joy and belonging.

When clutter fills the Living Room, it may be a red flag, highlighting that the fun, leisure, and
community engagement areas of our lives may be a bit out of balance.

Instead of beating ourselves up about the clutter, we need to get curious.

And ask ourselves if, perhaps, the clutter is doing something for us. Maybe the cluttered items are
reminding us of something important. Or, it might be helping to distract us from something
uncomfortable.

Maybe you can relate?

When life goes a bit differently than you expect, it’s normal to find yourself “adding things” to
distract yourself, or infuse the space with something that feels more pleasurable to you
(crafts, projects, books, memorabilia, etc).

The good news is…

You can absolutely create a space where you thrive, especially in the life you have now.

What is the clutter in your living room telling you? And how can you face the truth
behind that clutter…while being gentle with yourself as you create a space you love?

Check out this video exploring the clutter in your living room. You’ll discover how solving the
clutter in your living room is not simply about organizing or rearranging your furniture.

It will help you get a clear understanding of the clutter in your living room. You’ll also learn
the 3 key questions you need to ask yourself about your clutter in every room. The answers
will help you create a blueprint for the experiences you want to have in your spaces.

Here’s to doing more living in your living room!

The post Organizing and Decluttering Your Living Room appeared first on Star Hansen.

How Clutter Builds Connection with Others?

Días de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a time when we honor our loved ones through their possessions.

Originally an Aztec celebration, Dias de Los Muertos was later adopted by Spanish colonizers and is still celebrated in Mexico and countries across the world.

In these countries, loved ones are often buried with their possessions, and the Day of the Dead is an opportunity for us to celebrate their life.

It’s a beautiful tradition that teaches many things, especially the importance of honoring your loved ones through their possessions.

The emotions connected to these items can be complex, and simply separating items into matching bins or just throwing things away isn’t always the answer.

Watch this video to learn how to welcome and honor your loved ones through their possessions and manage more complex, trigger-inducing, or trauma-laced items on your own terms.

For many of us, we keep items from loved ones and feel “guilt” over giving them away.

What if instead, we find ways to honor our loved ones by putting their things on display?

We can use their knick-knacks, books, art, and other belongings to create an organized space. Where we can choose when and how to visit in reflection of their lives.

How do you remember those you’ve lost?

The post How Clutter Builds Connection with Others appeared first on Star Hansen.

Yes, all those zombie shows you’ve been watching have prepared you for this moment.

It’s time to head out — what do you take with you?

I love to ask this question because people get so clear, sharp, and focused when it comes to making their zombie apocalypse plans. For many, this is their “Roman Empire.”

Zombie apocalypse plans are very telling. What you take during a zombie apocalypse is so different from what you’d take if there was a fire or if you had to choose only things you love.

Because in a zombie apocalypse, you may be permanently stuck with your choices.

There might never be an easy way to replace or replicate lost items in your lifetime.

And what you take may make the difference between survival and becoming a zombie snack.

Your answers to these questions may be surprising.

What you choose illuminates your values, strengths, needs, and challenges.

This is why what you choose has so many implications that tie into decluttering and organization.

No matter what, your answers will give you insights into your values and needs. This becomes a blueprint for how you can escape clutter and plan to infuse your life with joy.

The zombie question can be helpful for anyone dealing with clutter, especially for those who feel bad for keeping things around or who are trying to be “prepared” for anything.

I recently recorded a video that goes deeper into the zombie question.

In this video, we’ll explore why answering the zombie question is an important exercise, and how the answers will help you escape clutter paralysis to expand your space for more joy.

Want a new perspective on how you can view clutter not as something to be overwhelmed by but as a pathway to a better life?

Check out my Zombie Apocalypse video on my YouTube channel.

The post What Are You Taking During the Zombie Apocalypse? appeared first on Star Hansen.

I’ve been a professional organizer for 20+ years, and in that time, I’ve developed a couple of fears.

No, it’s not the spiders in your attic or the slightly creepy porcelain dolls that stare at me from your guest room.

It’s not the amount of stuff you have on your tables or counters or in your closets.

My fear is seeing my clients and students beat themselves up when it comes to getting organized… and feeling like they have to do it one specific way.

There are a lot of great organizing frameworks out there. Perhaps you like to thank your old clothes for their service before you send them to the Goodwill.

Or you love having a minimalist kitchen and living room. Maybe colorful bins bring you a lot of joy!

All of that is great, but most of the time people come to me because those methods don’t help them address their clutter or feel better in their homes.

That’s what scares me!

That’s why it’s my job to help you get to the root of your clutter— and to hunt down your Clutter Monsters. Think of me as your very own Clutter Monster Hunter, like all those Ghost Hunter shows out there 😉

I’m here to help you identify and name these uninvited guests that weigh on your ability to enjoy your home and cause you to feel “stuck in your stuff.”

Once you know how your Clutter Monster got there, you can befriend it or send it packing.

I’ve spent 20+ years finding and taming Clutter Monsters to help my clients get their spaces in order and to keep the clutter from taking over their lives.  And today, I’m happy to announce that I’m coming back to YouTube just to help you identify your own Clutter Monster!

In this first video, I walk you through what’s really at the root of your clutter (your Clutter Monster). You’ll learn the four types of Clutter Monsters and their MOs — and you’ll get some tips on how to handle them.

I’m excited to be back on YouTube, and I’d love to have you join me over there. Make sure to check out this new video and like and subscribe to follow along!

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