Declutter Your Way
a guided personalized program for DIY organizers
You've read books and watched videos on decluttering but you wish you could get some guidance in translating that information into a plan involving your stuff and your needs.
You don't want to hire a professional organizer to organize your home because of the cost and time involved, not to mention the fear that after they help you get organized, you won't be able to maintain the order they set up.
Declutter Your Way helps you clarify your vision for your home, identify the ways you best work, and guides you through creating a plan (or “plan”) for decluttering and organizing at least one room in your home over a month. You work one-on-one with professional organizer-coach Susan McCarthy who teaches you techniques and strategies for becoming – and staying – organized.
Decluttering is about more than tossing the things you don’t use in a trash bag, it’s about making decisions that you’ve avoided making, maybe for years. It’s about making space for your current life instead of filling your home with the results of wishful and wistful thinking. Clearing clutter can help you feel calmer and more balanced. Decluttering not only frees space in your home, it allows you to free your time, energy and attention.
You don't want to hire a professional organizer to organize your home because of the cost and time involved, not to mention the fear that after they help you get organized, you won't be able to maintain the order they set up.
Declutter Your Way helps you clarify your vision for your home, identify the ways you best work, and guides you through creating a plan (or “plan”) for decluttering and organizing at least one room in your home over a month. You work one-on-one with professional organizer-coach Susan McCarthy who teaches you techniques and strategies for becoming – and staying – organized.
Decluttering is about more than tossing the things you don’t use in a trash bag, it’s about making decisions that you’ve avoided making, maybe for years. It’s about making space for your current life instead of filling your home with the results of wishful and wistful thinking. Clearing clutter can help you feel calmer and more balanced. Decluttering not only frees space in your home, it allows you to free your time, energy and attention.
Your Instructor
I’ve been a teacher in nonconventional settings for over 26-years. Wherever I worked, I was the one who’d organize stationary supplies, art and craft materials, books, files, educational materials, shop displays and store backrooms. Some coworkers asked me to go to their home to tackle things like all their paperwork. In high school, I even had asked my art teacher for permission to organize the supply closet.
Some of these organizing skills developed as I tried to help my parents, who hoarded, to organize their 800-square-foot ranch. But trying to keep everything not only takes away space but also perspective on what’s important.
My goal as a professional organizer-coach is to offer you kind but firm support through the Declutter Your Way program so you can clear your clutter and make space for your life.
Some of these organizing skills developed as I tried to help my parents, who hoarded, to organize their 800-square-foot ranch. But trying to keep everything not only takes away space but also perspective on what’s important.
My goal as a professional organizer-coach is to offer you kind but firm support through the Declutter Your Way program so you can clear your clutter and make space for your life.
Declutter Your Way – Overview
Scheduling
Within 24-hours of purchasing Declutter Your Way, I will email you potential dates and times for our one-on-one video chat session. I’ll also send you a questionnaire with a survey about you and your home.
Preparation
You’ll take photos of your home and fill out a questionnaire that you’ll send to me before we meet for our video chat. This preparation helps you to clarify what you want to gain through this program. I’ll review this information so that our meeting is purposeful and productive.
40-Minute Video Chat Coaching Session
Using Skype or Google Hangouts, we work together to create an action plan for you and your home. Instead of being told what to do, you’ll learn how to work through an organizing project. At this end of this time, you’ll know where to start, how to declutter the items in the space, and how to stay focused and manage your time.
This is your chance to ask me question. You’ll state your objective for the next 30-days – what you’ll declutter and organize, when you’ll do the work, and what ‘done’ will look like for this project.
30-Days Unlimited Email Support while You Declutter
I’ll check-in with you every few days to keep you accountable to meeting your objective. When questions arise or you need support, email me. I’ll respond within 24-hours (usually much less, but different time zones, my schedule, and my potential need to mull through an answer can affect my response time). This additional coaching helps you get your project done.
How-to Articles and Videos
You’ll also receive articles and videos developed specifically for individuals in the Declutter Your Way program. The information helps you develop decluttering, organizing, and maintaining habits and skills that you can use in any room of your house for the rest of your life.
15-Minute Video Chat Wrap-Up
We’ll review your work on the room or space you decluttered and organized and discuss the routines, habits, or systems that can help you maintain order in that space. We’ll celebrate what you accomplished and discuss what you’d like to do next.
Within 24-hours of purchasing Declutter Your Way, I will email you potential dates and times for our one-on-one video chat session. I’ll also send you a questionnaire with a survey about you and your home.
Preparation
You’ll take photos of your home and fill out a questionnaire that you’ll send to me before we meet for our video chat. This preparation helps you to clarify what you want to gain through this program. I’ll review this information so that our meeting is purposeful and productive.
40-Minute Video Chat Coaching Session
Using Skype or Google Hangouts, we work together to create an action plan for you and your home. Instead of being told what to do, you’ll learn how to work through an organizing project. At this end of this time, you’ll know where to start, how to declutter the items in the space, and how to stay focused and manage your time.
This is your chance to ask me question. You’ll state your objective for the next 30-days – what you’ll declutter and organize, when you’ll do the work, and what ‘done’ will look like for this project.
30-Days Unlimited Email Support while You Declutter
I’ll check-in with you every few days to keep you accountable to meeting your objective. When questions arise or you need support, email me. I’ll respond within 24-hours (usually much less, but different time zones, my schedule, and my potential need to mull through an answer can affect my response time). This additional coaching helps you get your project done.
How-to Articles and Videos
You’ll also receive articles and videos developed specifically for individuals in the Declutter Your Way program. The information helps you develop decluttering, organizing, and maintaining habits and skills that you can use in any room of your house for the rest of your life.
15-Minute Video Chat Wrap-Up
We’ll review your work on the room or space you decluttered and organized and discuss the routines, habits, or systems that can help you maintain order in that space. We’ll celebrate what you accomplished and discuss what you’d like to do next.
What’s Included?
This is a one-on-one program so there are no group conference calls, webinars, or private Facebook groups where everyone is at the same stage in the decluttering process. (Although you are welcome to join A Less Cluttered Life on social media.)
You get two one-on-one video chats (40-minutes and 15-minutes), 30-days of email access, as well as articles and videos developed for participants of this program. You’ll clarify your objective for the month – the room or items you’ll declutter and organize; create a plan of action; and then do the work while receiving support, advice, and accountability from me.
Due to the personalized, one-on-one nature of this program and its supporting programs, there may be times when Declutter Your Way shows as “full,” which means that I’m unable to take on new clients at that time.
You get two one-on-one video chats (40-minutes and 15-minutes), 30-days of email access, as well as articles and videos developed for participants of this program. You’ll clarify your objective for the month – the room or items you’ll declutter and organize; create a plan of action; and then do the work while receiving support, advice, and accountability from me.
Due to the personalized, one-on-one nature of this program and its supporting programs, there may be times when Declutter Your Way shows as “full,” which means that I’m unable to take on new clients at that time.
Get Started Now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Declutter Your Way for?
This program is for the do-it-yourselfer who can physically, mentally, and emotionally handle the challenges of decluttering and is seeking advice, accountability, and support to meet their objectives.
When does the program start and end?
This is a one-on-one guided program and can start any day of any month. We’ll set up an appointment for the video chat. The next day starts the 30-days of email support. We’ll meet for a briefer video chat at the end of the month. So, the entire program lasts 30-ish days.
What do I need to be able to do to participate in this program?
Are you going to tell me to get rid of all my sentimental keepsakes?
No. In fact, when you encounter these items, you should set them aside, so they are the last things you sort through. Decluttering is about making decisions and discovering what is important to you. You may have some keepsakes that you’ll realize you don’t need to keep. They’ll be other items that you’ll want to show off. You decide how you’ll curate the memorabilia of your life.
What should I buy?
Beyond some trash bags and cardboard boxes, you don’t need to purchase any organizing supplies before you start. Chances are that you have bins and other things that were meant to keep you organized already in your home. You don’t want to waste time and money organizing things that you don’t need.
As we see what you’re keeping in a space and how you use those items, I may recommend items that will make it easier to retrieve useful objects from where they’re stored.
How long do I have access to the information you share with me?
You are free to save our email conversations and the articles I share through email. My hope is that you aren’t just ‘doing’ organizing but learning skills that you can use in other spaces in your home for the rest of your life. Reviewing information is always helpful.
What if I don’t get as much decluttering and organizing done as I thought I would?
It can be difficult to accept that some progress is better than no progress. Sometimes life changes quickly and unexpectedly. Maybe you underestimated how much stuff you had stored in boxes, bins, drawers, and cabinets.
Although the process of decluttering can be summed up in a simple series of steps that doesn’t make decluttering easy. You’ve held onto every item in your home for a reason and often you need to acknowledge and clear that reason before eliminating the item.
There’s no grade or final exam in this program. If it takes you another month to declutter and organize a room, that’s okay. However, if that isn’t okay with your and your objective, then let me know as soon as you feel as if you are falling behind and we can adjust your plan.
What if I’m just unhappy with the program?
I can’t guarantee the specific results you’ll get by working with me. I want you to feel confident in the process, so let me know if you feel that we aren’t headed in the right direction so I can correct the situation. The 30-days of email support is there so you can ask questions and get advice and accountability.
If you’ve taken all the actions that you agreed to and have followed through with a commitment to see results and you aren’t satisfied with the experience, I’ll refund the fee you paid after you provide written feedback as to why this program didn’t meet your expectations. Before we get to that point, please remember that the sooner you let me know that things aren’t working for you, the sooner I can adjust the program to your needs. I want you to be successful.
Can I purchase this program for a friend or family member?
While I applaud your concern for a loved one, please don’t force someone into this program. Talk to them about your belief that they need some guidance. If you want to, offer to give them the money so they can sign up on their own. Sit with them during the purchase process to support them.
However, if the individual has so much clutter that they have difficulty cooking, sleeping in their bed, showering, or moving safely around their home, then this program won’t offer the proper support. Please go to the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and look for an organizer who can work with them in person.
Can I repeat this program as I work through another room?
Yes. During the month-long program you’ll be working through one room or category of items. You may be able to move onto another space or you may discover that you need more time to declutter and organize.
My goal is to provide you with the information you need so you can declutter any space in your home. If you want support and accountability as you organize another room, you are welcome to purchase another run through Declutter Your Way.
I also offer Virtual Organizing Sessions where our video chat is devoted to decluttering/starting to declutter a space so that you get real-time support and advice. And if you loved our email conversations, you can add a month of Advice and Accountability Emails.
What happens when I push the ‘purchase’ button?
When you hit the ‘purchase’ button, you'll be charged $99 USD for this program. You’ll receive an automated thank you email and within 24-hours, I’ll personally email you with a questionnaire and possible dates and times to schedule our session. (I know, there’s software that would allow you to schedule yourself faster and it’s a task on my to do list.)
If you don’t receive these emails, check your spam or promotions folders. Still can’t find them? Email Susan@ALessClutteredLife.com and I’ll investigate.
This program is for the do-it-yourselfer who can physically, mentally, and emotionally handle the challenges of decluttering and is seeking advice, accountability, and support to meet their objectives.
When does the program start and end?
This is a one-on-one guided program and can start any day of any month. We’ll set up an appointment for the video chat. The next day starts the 30-days of email support. We’ll meet for a briefer video chat at the end of the month. So, the entire program lasts 30-ish days.
What do I need to be able to do to participate in this program?
- You need to be able to email photos and participate in video chats. (Yes, video chats, not phone calls. I’m not a big fan of talking on the phone. I miss words and then there are uncomfortable pauses because I don’t realize you’re waiting for me to answer you … so, yeah, awkward. I rarely talk to friends on the phone; it’s not personal.)
- You have the willpower to commit to decluttering at least 20-minutes a day, six days a week. (If time management is a concern, we can focus on that during a part of our 40-minute video chat or work on this through emails.)
- You are physically able to declutter. If you need assistance moving boxes or furniture, you have people who can help you.
Are you going to tell me to get rid of all my sentimental keepsakes?
No. In fact, when you encounter these items, you should set them aside, so they are the last things you sort through. Decluttering is about making decisions and discovering what is important to you. You may have some keepsakes that you’ll realize you don’t need to keep. They’ll be other items that you’ll want to show off. You decide how you’ll curate the memorabilia of your life.
What should I buy?
Beyond some trash bags and cardboard boxes, you don’t need to purchase any organizing supplies before you start. Chances are that you have bins and other things that were meant to keep you organized already in your home. You don’t want to waste time and money organizing things that you don’t need.
As we see what you’re keeping in a space and how you use those items, I may recommend items that will make it easier to retrieve useful objects from where they’re stored.
How long do I have access to the information you share with me?
You are free to save our email conversations and the articles I share through email. My hope is that you aren’t just ‘doing’ organizing but learning skills that you can use in other spaces in your home for the rest of your life. Reviewing information is always helpful.
What if I don’t get as much decluttering and organizing done as I thought I would?
It can be difficult to accept that some progress is better than no progress. Sometimes life changes quickly and unexpectedly. Maybe you underestimated how much stuff you had stored in boxes, bins, drawers, and cabinets.
Although the process of decluttering can be summed up in a simple series of steps that doesn’t make decluttering easy. You’ve held onto every item in your home for a reason and often you need to acknowledge and clear that reason before eliminating the item.
There’s no grade or final exam in this program. If it takes you another month to declutter and organize a room, that’s okay. However, if that isn’t okay with your and your objective, then let me know as soon as you feel as if you are falling behind and we can adjust your plan.
What if I’m just unhappy with the program?
I can’t guarantee the specific results you’ll get by working with me. I want you to feel confident in the process, so let me know if you feel that we aren’t headed in the right direction so I can correct the situation. The 30-days of email support is there so you can ask questions and get advice and accountability.
If you’ve taken all the actions that you agreed to and have followed through with a commitment to see results and you aren’t satisfied with the experience, I’ll refund the fee you paid after you provide written feedback as to why this program didn’t meet your expectations. Before we get to that point, please remember that the sooner you let me know that things aren’t working for you, the sooner I can adjust the program to your needs. I want you to be successful.
Can I purchase this program for a friend or family member?
While I applaud your concern for a loved one, please don’t force someone into this program. Talk to them about your belief that they need some guidance. If you want to, offer to give them the money so they can sign up on their own. Sit with them during the purchase process to support them.
However, if the individual has so much clutter that they have difficulty cooking, sleeping in their bed, showering, or moving safely around their home, then this program won’t offer the proper support. Please go to the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and look for an organizer who can work with them in person.
Can I repeat this program as I work through another room?
Yes. During the month-long program you’ll be working through one room or category of items. You may be able to move onto another space or you may discover that you need more time to declutter and organize.
My goal is to provide you with the information you need so you can declutter any space in your home. If you want support and accountability as you organize another room, you are welcome to purchase another run through Declutter Your Way.
I also offer Virtual Organizing Sessions where our video chat is devoted to decluttering/starting to declutter a space so that you get real-time support and advice. And if you loved our email conversations, you can add a month of Advice and Accountability Emails.
What happens when I push the ‘purchase’ button?
When you hit the ‘purchase’ button, you'll be charged $99 USD for this program. You’ll receive an automated thank you email and within 24-hours, I’ll personally email you with a questionnaire and possible dates and times to schedule our session. (I know, there’s software that would allow you to schedule yourself faster and it’s a task on my to do list.)
If you don’t receive these emails, check your spam or promotions folders. Still can’t find them? Email Susan@ALessClutteredLife.com and I’ll investigate.