Buzz Tips Archives - Bee Organized

July 31, 2025August 1, 2025

BEEing Productive: How to Manage Your Tasks and Time

A note book with a to do list written on it and a pen lying next to it on a desk.

Most of us have a love/hate relationship with To-Do Lists. A good list can help us make the most of our days, but a disorganized list can be so overwhelming that we are paralyzed and get nothing done. Remember that good task and time management isn’t about doing everything! It’s about doing the right things at the right time in a way that actually works for you.

Our goal is for you to be intentional about how you spend your days—not just react to what comes up—so that you can prioritize what matters the most to you. Getting your To-Do List and calendar organized will help you make better decisions, carve out space for the people and activities you love, leave behind guilt about unfinished tasks, get more done in less time, and give you permission to say NO to excessive demands on your time.

Why We Struggle With To-Do Lists

While most of us agree that a To-Do List is a helpful way to keep track of tasks, the struggle of managing it is real. Sometimes the problem is that the list is so long that it’s demoralizing to even make eye contact with. Sometimes the problem is that you have an abundance of lists—on your desk, in your planner, on a sticky note, on a napkin in your purse, in your phone, and in an email to yourself. Or maybe the items on your To-Do List feel random and semi-optional, so you just keep moving them from list to list without ever actually getting them done. Read on for our best strategies for taking charge of your tasks and time!

Strategies for Managing Your TASKS

Prioritize your list—Some things matter more than others, so make sure the most critical items are at the top. Many task-management apps give you the option of assigning an importance level to each task.
Follow the two-minute rule—If the task takes less than two minutes to complete (think sorting the mail or RSVPing for an event), don’t waste your time writing it on your list. Just do it.
Categorize your list—Putting everything from all of the hats you wear onto the same list is overwhelming. Think of ways to categorize your tasks so that they make sense to you. Does it make sense to divide items between personal and work? Or to divide personal items between home projects (upkeep, repairs), people (birthday presents, communication), travel (bookings, planning), or other groupings?
Keep tasks small—Don’t write Paint bedroom on your To-Do List. It’s waaaay too big and will never get done. Break down larger projects into bite-size pieces. Instead of Paint bedroom, maybe your list would include Remove items from walls, Buy drop cloths, Cover or move furniture, choose paint color, etc. Clearly outlining steps in a bigger project makes it easier to picture the entire process and therefore easier to accomplish.
Give everything a due date—Even if it’s just an estimate, having a deadline for when tasks should be finished can prevent headaches (and late fees and missed opportunities) in the long run.
Use verbs—Items on your list should be written with a verb to help you quickly remember the task precisely. For example, writing Vegetable garden on your list isn’t as useful as adding a verb like Fertilize, Water, Weed, or Harvest.
Estimate times for tasks—Next to each item on your list, estimate how many minutes/hours the task will take. This makes you more likely to jump into a task and gives you a more realistic understanding of how much you can accomplish in a day.
Batch similar tasks—Every time you switch between tasks or projects, your brain needs time to catch up and adjust. If several items on your list are similar in nature, doing them in the same block of time can help you be more efficient. Watering all of your house plants at one time is more efficient and takes up less mental space than watering a couple of plants each day.
Reset Weekly—We’ve long championed the idea of a Weekly Reset to keep your home and calendar managed. Think through the tasks and calendar events for the week ahead so that you minimize last-minute scrambles.
Try a method or app—Don’t be shy about trying one of the many methods for managing your tasks. Some folks swear by the 1-3-5 method, which prompts you to attempt to accomplish one big task, three medium tasks, and five small tasks each day. Others keep a Primary List where they keep track of everything that needs to be done, but then select a few items each morning for their Daily List. And check out task management apps or software that might be a good fit for your needs.

Strategies for Managing Your TIME

Block your time—Divide your day into set chunks of time and assign specific tasks or types of work to each block. Instead of reacting to your To-Do List throughout the day, you can plan in advance when you’ll tackle certain responsibilities. Treat your time blocks like appointments so that you can protect the time from distractions and overbooking!
Create themed days—Reserve certain days of the week for specific types of tasks. For example, maybe you pick a specific day to run all or most of your errands. Or maybe you dedicate Mondays and Thursdays to catching up on email and working through small items and the other days for projects that require deep thinking.
Protect buffer zones—Try setting your default meeting times to 25 or 50 minutes instead of the usual 30 or 60. Building in a few extra minutes between meetings helps reduce stress, giving you time to switch spaces, manage quick needs, and get organized for what’s next.
Schedule pre-and post-meeting blocks—Many meetings require time before and after to be truly productive, whether it’s reviewing documents, preparing your thoughts, taking notes, or following up. Don’t forget to schedule that prep and wrap-up time directly in your calendar.
Color-code—If you use a Google or other digital calendar, use colors to divide between categories (family, work, appointments, etc.) or to divide between family members so that you can better understand what your day looks like at a glance.
Reset Weekly—As we mentioned above, schedule a time for yourself to reset your calendar each week. You will be so much more ready to handle whatever curveballs life throws at you if you have a clear understanding of what is already planned each day.
Try a method or app—There are a multitude of time-management and calendar methods and apps. One favorite is the Pomodoro Method, which asks you to select a task, set a timer for 25 minutes, and work on the task without interruption until the timer rings. Take a five minute break to move your body, and then repeat the cycle. After four work sessions, take a longer break. The method encourages focus because you work in short, dedicated sprints while building in rest time to prevent mental fatigue.

You need realistic, workable systems that serve you and that reinforce your values and goals. Think about your life and what matters the most to you—and make sure that you see those things show up on your To-Do List and your calendar. Do you value giving back to the community? Then schedule weekly volunteering. Did your doctor advise you to get some exercise most days? Pick the most likely time that will work for you and get it in your planner! Do you wish you kept in better touch with people? Timeblock a couple of hours each week just for sending emails or Zooming with loved ones.

You don’t need a perfect system—you just need one that supports the life you want to live. So take some time this week to look at your list and your calendar. Is what matters most to you showing up there? If not, it’s time to make some space. And if you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed, you can always call in the Bees!

July 1, 2025July 1, 2025

Organizing as Self-Care? Yes, Really.

We know that much of the time and energy that our clients spend organizing is in service to the entire household. Whether you are reorganizing your garage, getting ready for the holidays, or preparing for an epic family road trip, so much of the organizational work that you are doing is to support everyone else. And that is perfectly fine and often necessary. But today, we are here to tell you that every so often, you need to turn your organizational energy toward something that benefits just you.

People often think of self-care as something extra—a luxury we squeeze in when the rest of the To Do List is checked off. But self-care doesn’t always take the form of a bubble bath or a spa day. Sometimes, it’s carving out a little bit of time to think about those small spaces that have an outsized impact on your day-to-day life. Organizing the spaces that serve your unique routines can help you start and end the day with more peace and less friction. It’s not selfish to organize a space that only you use. It’s restorative. It’s empowering. And it’s long overdue.

Bite-Size Ideas for Caring for Yourself

The goal is NOT to exhaust yourself in order to care for yourself! Instead, pick a few very small projects that have a significant effect on your daily routines and wellbeing. Focus on easy, small spaces that bug YOU the most—that affect YOU rather than the other people who live in your home. What could you do with that spot with a few minutes of your time and a little bit of self-compassion?

Nightstand—It’s one of the last things you see before you sleep and one of the first things you see when you wake up. But is it both functional and peaceful for you? Get rid of everything on your nightstand that doesn’t serve you, and then gather and organize the things that do. Perhaps you could stock a little basket with hand lotion, lip balm, a notepad and pen, a sleep mask, ear plugs, melatonin, and anything else that suits your individual needs. Maybe if you took away the clutter, there would be space for something that calms you, like a framed photo or scented candle.

Bathroom Counter or Vanity—This is another space where you begin and end your day, so why not have it intentionally serve you? Toss any products that you rarely use and return anything that doesn’t need to be there to its home. Decide what would work best to keep your most-used items contained but accessible—perhaps a drawer insert, clear bin, or small shelf. If you have the space, add a small touch (or two!) that helps you start your day on the right foot, whether it’s a little potted plant or your favorite quote taped to the mirror.
Coffee or Tea Station—Whether you prefer a steamy mug of Earl Grey, a plain cup of Joe, or an elaborate concoction of sweeteners and creamers, your coffee/tea station should feel like a morning gift to yourself. Toss or donate travel mugs and coffee cups that you don’t love, use, or need, and relocate anything that doesn’t belong. Use a tray, drawer, or cute bin to store all the bits and pieces—coffee, tea, sweeteners, stir sticks, filters, and more. Add something that is meaningful to you, such as a sugar bowl from your grandmother’s tea set or a tiny vase of flowers. When everything is in its place, your daily ritual will feel less rushed and more restorative.

A Cozy Reading Nook—This one might take a bit longer to pull off, but if you are a reader, this is worth the effort! Look around your home for an under-utilized corner or nook that you could claim as you own. All you need is space for a comfy chair, a small side table, and a lamp. If you want to go all out, add a shelf or two for your favorite books. If you don’t want to take this splurge too far, Facebook Marketplace is a wonderful resource for affordably sourcing your missing pieces.
Other Spaces Just for You—Maybe what really needs tender loving care is your desk, your purse or bag, the driver’s area of your car, or your underwear drawer. Whichever space you decide to improve for yourself, follow the same general process as our examples above: 1) Remove all of the items that don’t serve you in that space; 2) Organize the remaining items in a way that is tailored to how you use the items; and 3) Add one or two things that bring you a sense of joy or peace.

If you’ve flown recently, you’ll remember the flight attendant saying that if the oxygen masks drop, make sure you put your own mask on first so that you are able to help others. The same principle applies to your organizational life. Giving yourself a few spaces that work for you instead of against you will give you more time, energy, and patience throughout the day to handle setbacks and help those around you. Pick one drawer, one nook, one tiny corner of your day-to-day life that could use a little love. Remove what doesn’t serve you, organize what does, and add a dash of joy for good measure. And if you need help along the way, you know you can call in the Bees!

June 1, 2025June 1, 2025

Organizing Your Outdoor Oasis

Sidewalk chalk. Water balloon battles. Pool floaties and tennis rackets and sand boxes and ball gloves and endless giggles and the smell of sunscreen. (Oh—and mildewing towels and leaking goggles and missing croquet mallets too!) Summer is officially upon us—and we’ve rounded up a few of our best ideas to help you tame the summer chaos to maximize FUN! We’ll start with our advice on how to get started, give you some general principles to guide your work, and then describe a few of our tested strategies for wrangling the backyard buzz!

But First—Whittle Down Your Excess

It’s a waste of your time, energy, and storage space to organize and stash things that you no longer use, need, or love. Take a hard look at your backyard, shed, decks/patios, garage, and other outdoor areas that have accumulated extra items. If your summer gear primarily lives in the garage, our garage decluttering blog post can help you think through the process of organizing that space. It’s hard for kids (and us!) to see past the clutter, so take the time to ditch those old bike helmets, the too-small roller blades, the broken tennis racket, the rusty lawn chair, and the stack of flattened cardboard boxes. Using our famous Power Purge can help you manage the whittling down process one step at a time.

General Principles

Everyone’s idea of an outdoor oasis is unique to their family, home, and climate. Rather than a detailed prescription of what you should do, we’ve described below a few principles that we use to guide our outdoor organization. Use the ideas that make the most sense for your situation and dismiss the rest!

Make it easy—Time spent outdoors is good for everyone. Outdoor time deepens sleep, improves mood, increases muscle strength and the immune system, and reduces anxiety and depression! Our job is to knock down as many hurdles as we can for getting outside. Many of our ideas in the section below are designed to make it quicker and easier to jump into outdoor fun.
Prioritize intentional play—Rather than leave every possible toy and activity out in the yard at all times, consider establishing the routine of rotating through activities. Take one or two activities out at a time, and then put them away before moving to the next activity. Having everything out at once can be really overwhelming for kids, so rotate those activities to keep them both manageable and exciting.
Support autonomy—Store kid stuff low enough to reach and in easily accessible places. If you are using crates or bins, make sure they don’t get too heavy for little arms. If you are using a labeling system, your kiddo might do better with pictures instead of words. Or maybe use clear storage totes so the littlest kids can see what fun is hiding inside!
Give everything a home—The key to success is giving every item a designated spot. When everything has a home, it’s easier to find what you need—and easier for kids to help with cleanup. Try creating specific zones, bins, or hooks for different types of toys so everything is visible, accessible, and simple to put away.

Our Favorite Ideas

We’ve compiled below a few of our go-to ideas for organizing summer fun. As you think about what works for you, prioritize those things that will reduce obstacles for your crew to get off their screens and get outside!

Keep a well-stocked relief station—Use a small bin, shower caddy, or basket to build a portable relief station. Stock it with bug spray, sunscreen, bandaids, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, hair ties, and even a snack or two. Having an easy way for kids (and you!) to meet a few basic needs can extend your time outside.
Put it on wheels—We love rolling carts for driveway and patio play. Swap in and out favorite activities and make clean-up afterwards a breeze. Even a garden wagon can be awesome for giving kids the boost they need to easily bring out and return their toys.
Make it easy to grab and go—We’ve found storing some of our favorite activities in grab-and-go kits makes it simple to get the fun started! Think about containers for sidewalk chalk, bubbles, water balloons and blasters, plastic tea party dishes, and other toys that can survive the great outdoors. And don’t forget YOU! Think about making yourself a grab-and-go kit too. Perhaps it’s a few most-needed gardening tools so you can get some trimming or weeding done while your kiddo is occupied?
Think about storage options—As always, we recommend trying to repurpose something you already have before running out and buying more stuff to organize your stuff with! What combination would work best for your family? A waterproof chest for the patio? A large garbage can with wheels for all of your many bats and balls? Stackable storage crates for your grab-and-go fun?
Use a separate hamper—It’s so helpful to have a place to toss all of those swimsuits, sandy towels, chalky shorts, grass-stained socks, and clothes reeking of campfire smoke and bug spray. Keep all of these items from mixing with your regular laundry by having a separate basket or bin in your garage or laundry area this summer. Just make sure it’s both plastic and ventilated!

Summer should feel joyful, not chaotic—and a little organization can go a long way in making that possible. By taking the time to simplify your gear, create systems that work for your family, and make outdoor fun more accessible, you’ll set the stage for more laughter, more memories, and fewer meltdowns! And if you ever need help organizing your outdoor oasis, you know you can call in the Bees.

May 30, 2025June 27, 2025

Tamara Day: Bee Organized Saved My Sanity (and My Closet!)

By Tamara Day|May 30th, 2025

We were honored to work with Tamara Day on several spaces in her beautiful home, and we’re still BUZZING! From the first assessment to the final reveal, our team loved bringing calm and clarity to her busy household. Tamara captured the entire journey in her own words; keep reading for her personal take on the process, her favorite transformations, and the lasting impact of an organized home.

Being a mom of four means life never slows down. Between my everyday, work, travel and trying to keep everyone fed and (somewhat) on time, staying organized can feel impossible. I love a cozy, pretty space, but keeping it that way? That’s a full-time job on its own.

Bee Organized Kansas City-a total lifesaver!

From the moment the Bee Organized team walked in, I felt this huge sense of relief. They were calm, kind, and made me feel totally at ease. No judgment, just sweet support and a solid plan. I have a lot of pretty things. Editing them down? Not easy. But they helped me figure out what I truly use and love, and they did it in a way that didn’t feel overwhelming.

Let me give you a glimpse of the “before.” Our pantry was overflowing…half-open snack boxes stacked on top of each other, expired items hiding in the back, and way too many duplicates because I never knew what we actually had. Every meal prep time felt like a scavenger hunt!

Yes, we purged-and yes, it was hard. But it was so worth it.

Bee Organized made the process feel doable and even kind of fun. They brought the perfect mix of efficiency and creativity, customizing each space around the actual way my family lives day to day. They found smart, solutions that made sense for us.

They transformed our kitchen, gift closet, and bathroom essentials too. Now our daily routines run smoother, things are easy to find, and everything has a place. I can’t tell you how much time and stress this has saved me!!

And fast? So fast. These ladies don’t. mess. around.

The reveal was honestly amazing. When the kids got home, even they were impressed-which says a lot! My teen actually said, “Wait… is this our house?” 😄 That moment alone made it worth it.

The gift closet:

I mean…look at this!

The kitchen & cocktail pretties:

I can’t recommend Bee Organized Kansas City enough. Whether it’s your closet, pantry, garage, or any space that’s making you feel scattered, they make it so easy to create something functional, beautiful, and maintainable. It doesn’t matter what time of year-every season is a busy season when you’re juggling family life.

Big love and thanks for bringing calm into our chaos, helping us let go of what we didn’t need, and giving this busy mama some breathing room!!!

Do you want to simplify your hive, too? Follow them on Instagram @beeorganizedkc and learn more at beeorganized.com!

You can read the entire blog and check out the behind-the-scenes videos at https://tamaraday.com/bee-organized-saved-my-sanity-and-my-closet/.

May 6, 2025June 27, 2025

Franchise Times: Bee Organized Expands Franchise System in Niche Home Organization Segment

Bee Organized wants to be a household name, and not just because of its work as a home organization concept.

“We really want to be seen as a thought leader in the industry,” said Kristen Christian, Bee Organized co-founder. “It’s so much more than numbers and quantities and dollar signs. We want to change people’s lives through organization.”

Bee Organized’s services revolve around home organization, with “Worker Bees” decluttering and organizing any and all rooms. The company tackles moving and life transitions, such as downsizing after the loss of a loved one, as well as concierge services, helping simplify to-do lists by running errands, shopping and seasonal decorating.

Christian and lifelong friend Lisa Foley created Bee Organized in 2015. Christian, Foley and Scott Sjoberg are equal partners in the company, acting as chief marketing officer, CEO and chief growth officer, respectively.

Christian and Foley describe themselves as having a yin-yang relationship, incorporating their unique personalities and skills into Bee Organized.

“Lisa and I have been best friends since junior high, and we joke that she has always naturally been very organized and I not so much,” Christian said. “Both of us had corporate backgrounds in our earlier professional lives … and then we both took time off to raise kiddos at home. In doing that, I came to the conclusion that organization really helped me be a better version of myself, allowing me to be more present and effective.”

Franchising began in 2017, with the company now at 42 units in 22 states. Franchisees operate all but one unit, the flagship location that’s run by Christian and Foley in Overland Park, Kansas.

From left, Bee Organized co-owners Lisa Foley, Kristen Christian and Scott Sjoberg.

The decade-old company has driven sizable unit growth as of late, opening 18 units in 2024. As Bee Organized continues to grow, with plans to open 20 units this year, the co-founders believe success comes from sourcing mission-driven franchisees determined to scale the model and possess a front-facing community presence.

“We try to look at everything we do through the lens of actually being a franchisee,” said Sjoberg, who highlighted his own franchising experience. “What we do, how we do it, how that feels to them as a franchisee … I can talk to a prospect and say, ‘I know how you’re feeling. You’ve got all the jitters, you’re excited, you’re scared. We can walk through that together.’”

The cost to open a Bee Organized franchise ranges from $38,416 to $58,881.

The company’s core “Beeliefs”—“We love all the puns,” said Foley—are integral to the company’s success, those being confidentiality, compassion and approaching each project without judgment. Franchisees and staff in training are given temporary tattoos of the values as a lighthearted reminder of the company’s mission.

“Without those values, we really would not be where we are today,” Foley said. “For Bee Organized, it’s kind of different than a lot of our competition. It’s really not about the Pinterest-perfect, after picture of a project; it’s when we leave someone’s home, how we’ve made them feel.”

The company’s Bees Giving Back program plays into those values, encouraging franchisees and staff to participate in local volunteer and charitable work. On top of supporting a good cause, the program builds community engagement and familiarizes locals with the brand, reducing the stigma around asking for help with decluttering.

“We often say our biggest competition is people’s fear of being judged,” Christian said. “It’s so intimate what we do, as we come in and see areas and spaces and parts of their home and life they’re not so proud of.”

As Bee Organized looks ahead to large-scale goals, like reaching 100 units by 2028, the brand is focused for the time being on sustainably growing toward becoming a household name, feeling a duty to franchisees to scale the right way.

“In this space, there’s very few franchising—which was very attractive and still is—but we know we have competition and are going to have more,” Sjoberg said. “While we’re doing that, we’re doing everything possible to enrich, enhance and protect the brand and grow so Bee Organized is the first company that comes to mind when someone says professional organizing.”

Read the full article on franchisetimes.com.

May 1, 2025May 1, 2025

The Psychology Behind Clutter

Over the years, we’ve found that clutter and disorganization in a home is often a source of embarrassment for our clients. It’s time to change that mindset! You are not defined by your messy pantry or the garage you can’t fit your car into. Most of us have an abundance of reasons why we haven’t gotten a handle on our clutter (yet!)—whether it’s time, ability, a family member who tears through freshly organized spaces like a tornado, or one of many psychological reasons for holding onto the clutter. In this blog, we unpack five of the most common psychological causes for accumulating clutter and share helpful strategies to move past them.

Fear

Fear is one of the biggest obstacles to letting go of excess items. Many people worry that getting rid of items with sentimental value will cause them to forget the past. Others fear that if they part with an item, they will eventually regret their decision. This fear of future regret can paralyze a person as they are attempting to clear out the clutter. Another way that fear shows up in decluttering efforts is when people are afraid of what other people (both living and those no longer with us) will think about our choice to part with an item. Understanding what you are afraid of is the first step in figuring out how to navigate this extremely powerful and controlling emotion.

Sentimentality

Objects can hold sentimental value even if you no longer want or need them. Maybe you are holding on to an object not because you love it, need it, or use it, but because you simply remember where you got it. Or maybe you have something that is broken beyond repair—but because a loved one gave it to you, you feel like you should keep it. But would the person want you to hold on to the broken thing? Will you really lose your memory of the person or your connection with them if you get rid of it? Are there ways to hold on to the memory of the person or the experience (perhaps through photos, conversations, or journaling) that can strengthen the memory without taking up space? Remember that the past is stored in memories and photos—not objects.

Safety and Comfort

Most people have a strong psychological pull towards safety and comfort—and some of us focus on objects as the source of that safety and comfort. This sometimes stems from childhood scarcity, or even just hearing stories about the scarcity experiences of others. You can see this play out when people have extras of seemingly everything on hand, including items that would be a stretch to need multiple versions of. For these folks, it feels like a risk to get rid of something you might need in the future. What if there is another pandemic and you need 700 rolls of toilet paper? What if you suddenly lose or gain 10 pounds and need those clothes that haven’t fit in a decade? It’s okay to have a cushion to make yourself feel secure, but if your extra things are making it impossible to make room for the people and activities you love, it might be time to let go of the excess.

Indecision and Procrastination

Think about decisiveness as a continuum. On the one end, you have people who quickly make a judgment on something and then never look back. On the other end, you have people who hem and haw about every last decision. Perhaps they are writing extensive pro and con lists—or maybe they are just refusing to make a decision. Clutter is often just a sign of indecisiveness. Instead of making a decision, you just put the item in your closet or shove it back in a drawer. Do you have any DOOM piles in your home? DOOM stands for “Didn’t Organize, Only Moved.” These are stacks of papers or a box of items that you move around, but don’t actually confront. The first step toward handling your indecision is understanding that your indecision is what’s stalling your progress! Bring in a trusted (and opinionated!) friend to sit with you and help you sort through your stuff. Use our tried-and-true method to help bring clarity to what you should keep and what you can let go.

Depression and Anxiety

While most of the psychological reasons we’ve discussed so far are common and not concerning, it is important to note that sometimes an inability to deal with clutter is caused by depression, anxiety, and other more serious conditions. If that sounds like that might describe you, we encourage you to show compassion and care for yourself by reaching out to a trusted professional.

As you think about where you are in your organizing journey, we hope that learning about the psychology behind the clutter will help you self-reflect—and then make an action plan. And if you ever need help simplifying your Hive, you know you can call in the Bees!

April 1, 2025April 1, 2025

The Seven Organizing Profiles

Over the last decade, we have spent thousands of hours working closely with clients as we untangle the chaos in their lives. Our Bees recognize that in order to get to the heart of a clutter problem, we need to understand what is preventing folks from getting and staying organized. We developed the Organizing Profiles to give our organizers (and you!) a head start in figuring out the relationship between you and all of your stuff. You can find out which profile most closely represents you by taking our short Profile Quiz! Understanding the relationship between you and your clutter can BEE the first step toward finally taming the disorganization in your home.

1The Space Giver

Space Givers are people who frequently give up their storage space for others. Whether it’s keeping a few crates for your sister, letting your neighbor store their excess in your shed, or allowing your grown children to keep all of their memorabilia in their childhood bedroom even though they now own their own home, Space Givers have a hard time saying no to requests for storage. For Space Givers, the clutter relationship is not with the items, but with the owners of the items.

If you are in the habit of prioritizing others’ needs over your own, it can be a challenge to give yourself permission to reclaim your space. But if you want to get control of your clutter, you will need to have conversations with the owners of the items you are storing to make a plan and timeline for when they can reclaim their stuff—so that you can reclaim your space!

2 The Memory Keeper

Memory Keepers tend to be deeply sentimental and nostalgic, and they hold on to items as a way of preserving family history and precious memories. They worry that getting rid of an item that has emotions attached to it will erase the memory—or that they’ll feel guilty about letting things go that have sentimental value. For Memory Keepers, the clutter relationship is not with the items, but with the memory they represent.

If you are a Memory Keeper, try to remind yourself that if everything is special, then nothing is special. Give yourself permission to hold on to those items that are most meaningful to you, and let go of those things that you feel obligated to keep but bring you no happiness.

3 The Money-Minded

If you are the kind of person who hates throwing away things because it feels wasteful, you just might fit into this category. Our Money-Minded folks are cost-conscious and try not to spend money—even on things that really need an update. We find that they often feel guilty getting rid of unused items, so they hold onto things on the off-chance that someday, somewhere, somehow, they’ll be able to put the items to use. For the Money-Minded, the clutter relationship is not with the items, but with the money that was spent on them.

If this describes you, ask yourself if you would truly miss the item if it was gone—how often do you actually use it? If you don’t still love, need, or use the item, it’s okay to let it go. Maybe you can even sell it to recoup some of its cost!

4 The Just-In-Caser

Are you one of those people who other people turn to in an emergency—the neighbor that has every conceivable tool in their garage or appliance in their kitchen? Do you hear yourself consider getting rid of something but then decide to keep it just to be on the safe side? If you are always planning ahead for hypothetical needs and wants, you might be a Just-In-Caser. For our Just-In-Casers, the clutter relationship is purely circumstantial, not personal.

As we like to tell our clients, “Store things at the store!” Do you really need to stockpile items that aren’t relevant in your life right now? When was the last time you actually needed that 16th folding chair or the gourmet sandwich press? Prioritize your time, money, and space for your current reality rather than what might happen.

5 The Acquirer

Do you find yourself picking up items simply because they’re a great deal or because something caught your eye in the moment? Acquirers love shopping—it’s fun, exciting, and rewarding. But sometimes, the joy comes from the act of acquiring rather than from the actual items themselves. This can lead to an overwhelming amount of stuff that doesn’t always have a clear purpose or place. For Acquirers, the relationship is not with the items, but with the thrill of the hunt.

If you’re an Acquirer, try to focus on quality over quantity. Before bringing something new into your home, ask yourself whether you really need it or if you already own something similar. Being mindful about what you buy can help you enjoy the thrill of the hunt without accumulating unnecessary clutter.

6 The Crammer-Jammer-Stacker

Your home looks neat and tidy—until someone opens a drawer, a closet, or (heaven forbid) the garage. Crammer-Jammer-Stackers are masters of the quick clean-up, tucking things away wherever they’ll fit. While this method might make a space look organized, there’s usually no system in place, which can lead to frustration when trying to find things later. Over time, this type of clutter can become stressful and overwhelming—even if it’s mostly out of sight. For Crammer-Jammer-Stackers, the clutter relationship is burdensome and overwhelming.

If you suspect you might be a Crammer-Jammer-Stacker, ask yourself whether this system is working for you! Is your system wasting your time and money and causing you extra stress? Instead of stashing things wherever they fit, try to tame the chaos one space at a time. That will allow you to feel a sense of calm, not dread, when you open that drawer or closet.

7The Aspirer

Aspirers are dreamers. They have big plans for the future—whether it’s learning to paint, taking up golf, or starting that strength-training program your friend told you about. Because of this, they tend to accumulate items that represent their future selves rather than their current reality. If your house is filled with unopened craft supplies, unused gym equipment, or stacks of books waiting to be read, you might be an Aspirer. With Aspirers, the clutter relationship is not with the items, but with the potential that those items represent.

If you think you might be an Aspirer, give yourself grace. It’s utterly wonderful to have aspirations and goals, but it’s also okay to change your mind. Before holding onto something indefinitely, ask yourself whether holding on to the item makes you feel inspired or guilty? Instead of keeping physical reminders of who you want to be, consider creating a vision board or a goal list—and hold off on purchases until you have blocked out the time and mental energy to begin!

Understanding your organizing profile can be the first step toward creating a home that feels more functional, peaceful, and you. The key is recognizing the patterns that keep you stuck in clutter and making small, intentional changes that help you take control of your space. And if you ever need help simplifying your Hive, you know you can call in the Bees!

March 3, 2025March 3, 2025

The Sweet Rewards of BEEing Organized

Not a day goes by that we don’t see or hear about some sort of trendy new life hack. But we know that we have the ULTIMATE life hack—the process and habits to help you live an organized life! The research is in and it’s crystal clear that getting and staying organized has immense positive effects on almost every aspect of our lives. We have worked in countless homes across the country and have witnessed first-hand the transformation of our clients’ well-being when they finally tame the chaos in their lives.

While the benefits of getting organized are too numerous to count, we can put many of them into four major buckets: Happiness, Time, Health, and Financial Rewards. Let’s dig deeper!

The Happiness Reward

The simple truth is that when your home is well-organized, your happiness increases. People with organized homes report feeling less stressed and a deeper sense of satisfaction about their home. In fact, research by a team at UCLA found that excess clutter causes people to feel stressed out, anxious, and depressed. Whether it’s avoiding the panicked search for missing objects or enjoying the sweet serenity of walking into your bedroom and finding everything in its place, the effects of a decluttered space are both proven and profound. In addition, those folks who maintain an organized living space tend to have fewer interpersonal conflicts AND keep their social connections strong by being able to confidently invite the people they care about into their home. Putting the effort into getting and keeping your home organized will give you the boost of happiness and well-being that you deserve.

The family of four making dinner together

The Time Reward

The less time you spend looking for things, the more time you have for the people and activities that matter the most to you. Not only can you easily find what you are looking for, but an organized space also reduces irritating distractions so that you are more efficient with all of your tasks. Picture yourself cooking a meal in your kitchen. If you are working with an organized refrigerator, pantry, and spice rack (or better yet, a meal plan!), you will quickly see what ingredients you have to work with and what should be used up first. And if your countertop is clean and your utensils are where they should be, your cooking will go faster and more smoothly. No clearing off space to make room for your cutting board, searching multiple drawers for your favorite peeler, or wasting food hidden in the back of the fridge. No getting distracted by the stack of mail on the counter, take-out sauce packets stashed in random places, and not one, not two, but THREE open containers of ketchup in the fridge. When your space is organized, every movement you make is more efficient—and it all adds up to a huge amount of time that you can bank for more important things each week. An organized space saves you time by letting you focus on the task at hand and reducing the time you spend dealing with barriers that are just slowing you down!

Open drawer with organized eating utensil

The Health Reward

We all deserve to live long and healthy lives, but our cluttered lifestyles are putting up roadblocks to make it harder. It sounds dramatic, but it’s true! When your bedroom is the storage room for everything you don’t know what to deal with, study after study shows that the quality of your sleep declines. When your living room is too cluttered to safely unroll a yoga mat or do a jumping jack, you have one more barrier that keeps you from adding a quick workout to your routine. When your kitchen is chaotic and cluttered, are you really going to prep healthy lunches for the week or experiment with new recipes? An organized home helps knock down countless barriers to building healthy habits that will benefit you for a lifetime.

The Financial Reward

The fourth Sweet Reward of getting and staying organized is all about money! How many times have you been unable to find something that you know you’ve already purchased (a charger? softball socks? cumin? bug spray?) and so you have to buy it again? Each and every duplicate purchase wastes your money in addition to your time. All this extra stuff has to end up somewhere, which is why nearly 40% of Americans rent storage units at an average cost of about $2,000 per year. Think about how getting rid of your excess clutter can help you reign in your spending in other parts of your life. Getting organized can help you stay on top of bills and deadlines which can help you avoid all sorts of late fees and other penalties. And getting a handle on the minimalist mindset we wrote about recently can help you reduce impulse purchases and be more thoughtful about what things and experiences deserve your money.

So there you have them—the Sweet Rewards of BEEing Organized! Hopefully, this reminder gives you the motivation you need to make some long-lasting changes. But if you ever need help simplifying your Hive, you know you can call in the Bees!

February 1, 2025January 22, 2025

Making the Minimalist Mindset Work for You

Minimalism?! Isn’t that when people randomly get rid of all of their stuff and promise to never buy anything again? Or where people completely deprive themselves of every possible indulgence and impulse? And don’t you need to have all-white walls, zero decorations, and only wear reclaimed clothing?

Take a deep breath and suspend your skepticism for just a few short minutes! In this article, we are talking about the minimalist mindset—a way of thinking that can help you be more intentional about what you purchase, what you keep in your home, and how you spend your time and money. We are talking about intentionality, NOT deprivation! We are talking about one (very flexible) method of prioritizing your space, time, and money to elevate the things and people that matter the most to you.

What is the minimalist mindset?

One of the founders of the modern minimalism movement, Joshua Becker, describes minimalism as intentionally living with only the items that support your purpose. In other words, the minimalist mindset can help you focus on what’s most important to you rather than becoming distracted and bogged down by excess things, events, and obligations. The idea is to focus on finding joy and contentment with what you already have, rather than mindlessly pursuing the latest consumer trend on Instagram. The minimalist mindset encourages you to make purchases with purpose, rather than impulse. And instead of just living with the clutter around you, a minimalist mindset can help you see with more clarity what you can part with to make more room for what matters to you.

What are the key benefits of minimalism?

If you’ve been following Bee Organized for any length of time, you know that clearing away your clutter has numerous benefits, including:

increasing your happiness and feelings of well-being while reducing your anxiety
giving you more of your most precious resource—time—by reducing the amount of time you spend looking for lost objects, cleaning and dusting, and trying to be productive amidst the chaos
improving your physical and mental health by removing hiding spaces for dust and allergens, reducing stress, improving sleep, and much more

Adding a minimalist mindset to the mix can help you save precious financial resources by encouraging you to be more thoughtful before making purchases. Focus your purchasing power on those items and experiences that match up well with your life priorities—and save yourself from the headaches that come with impulse purchases.

Practical steps to get started!

There is no single correct method of bringing more of a minimalist mindset into your life. In this section, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite pieces of advice for wrapping your brain around this new way of thinking:

Take some time to assess your current lifestyle. Ask yourself what feels cluttered either physically or mentally. Is it your bedroom? Your social calendar? Your shopping habits? Whatever part of your life is causing the most angst is the best place to start. Then you can use that successful momentum to keep rolling into other parts of your life!
Use our famous Power Purge to make instant headway on clearing the clutter out of a specific space. Remember to start small so that you don’t get overwhelmed!
Practice mindful consumption in whatever way works best for you. Don’t just add things to your literal or virtual cart. Stop and consider whether you need this item, whether you have something already that would fit the bill, where you will keep it, whether you will still be glad you bought it a month or a year from now.
Try a 30-day declutter challenge, where you conscientiously remove something from your home every day for a month. Or make a pact with yourself that every item you bring into the home must be matched by two items that you remove from the home.
Get rid of your duplicates! In our experience working with clients, homes tend to accumulate multiple versions of the same things beyond any point of reason—think extension cords, vases, charging cords for obsolete technology, grocery bags, travel mugs, baseball caps, and more.
Embrace quality over quantity. How many times have you bought multiple of something when you only need one because it seemed like a good deal? The goal isn’t to ban all incidents of buying multiples—it’s to normalize the idea of stopping and actually thinking about whether buying extra is a good use of your money and storage space. Does it match with your priorities for your life?

What is standing in your way?

We know that it can feel overwhelming to start the minimizing process. If you haven’t made any attempt thus far to organize or declutter your home, looking around at all that you’ve accumulated can stop people in their tracks before they even start. We hear this a lot, which is why we rounded up our best advice for getting started into a five-step process.

We also know that it’s difficult for many folks to adopt a minimalist mindset because we are living in an age of consumption like no other! We are constantly bombarded on our various screens and in real life with social pressure to buy, buy, buy—whether we need the items or not! Find confidence in your own choices about how you want to spend your money, and what items you want to invite into (or out of) your home.

As you get started, understand that decluttering can be a very emotional process. Even objects that only have negative feelings attached to them (like guilt or stress) can be difficult for people to dismiss from their home. This recalibration of your emotional relationship with things takes time and practice. Give yourself grace as you work toward prioritizing the things, people, and experiences that bring you the most joy.

Remember that YOU have ownership over your life and your priorities, and therefore YOU get to have a major say in how objects and clutter and consumerism take up space in your mind and home. Make a plan to bring a more minimalist mindset into the new year—and if you need help simplifying your hive, you know you can call in the Bees!

January 1, 2025December 20, 2024

Reset, Recharge, Reuse!

January falls at such a complicated time. It’s a time of hope and excitement for the new year and all of the events and opportunities that will unfold. And for many of us, it’s a time for a bit of belt-tightening as we tally up the expenses and extravagances of the last few festive weeks. January is the perfect time to reset your home for the new year, recharge your social battery (and bank account), and find ways to reuse what you already have.

Reset!

Now that the excitement of the holiday season has come to a close, it’s time to reset your spaces to prepare for the months ahead. You’ll need to find new homes for the gifts you received, pack up your holiday decorations, and attempt to get back some semblance of order in your home after the gauntlet of travel, celebrations, and house guests. If you need a reminder about our reset philosophy, take a peek at our recent blog post on the subject!

As you are resetting your home, it’s also time to reset your budget. You are not alone if you spent a bit more than you intended this holiday season—in fact, 70% of Americans report that they go over their holiday shopping budget. This is the sign you are looking for to get back to your regular spending patterns! As you restore order to your budget, remember that getting and staying organized is a fabulous way to keep your budget in check.

Recharge!

While the holiday season brings joy and connection, it can also bring loads of stress. According to research by the American Psychological Association, nearly 90% of Americans feel stressed during the holidays. Be mindful of saying yes to social engagements in January—many of us have overtaxed our social battery with travel, houseguests, and holiday celebrations.

In addition to recharging your social battery, look for ways to recharge your bank account! Some of our clients swear by a No Spend January, while others look for different methods of righting their financial ship. One simple way is by challenging yourself to eat primarily from your freezer and pantry for the next month. Itemize what you have and build your meal plan each week accordingly—now is the time to find a recipe that uses up a few cans of those garbanzo beans you’ve been hoarding or that flank steak that’s just chillin’ in the deep freeze. You can even experiment with plugging your ingredients into a recipe match maker to help you use what you have without running to the grocery store.

Reuse!

We know we say this a lot but it’s worth repeating: You don’t need to buy a bunch of gimmicky items to get yourself organized. Most of the products out there are going to just add more clutter rather than help you remove clutter from your homes! Reuse what you already have and don’t forget to take advantage of neighborhood free groups on Facebook (just search for your city’s name and the words “Buy Nothing” to find your local group).

There are so many ways to extend the life of items that have already been purchased. What if this is the month you actually collect the various clothing items that need to be mended (a stuck zipper or a fraying hole or a fallen hem), googled the closest alterations shop, and expanded your closet without adding new items? Or what if you and a few friends sorted through your closets and got together to swap clothing (or decorations or dishes!)? Not only do you get a few new-to-you items, but you also make progress in ushering excess clutter out of your home.

We hope the patterns you establish at the beginning of this new year help you make room for the people and activities you love in the coming months. And, as always, if you’d like that expert touch in helping you streamline your home, you know you can call in the Bees!