Transforming Chaos to Calm: Simplifying Home Organization for Busy Parents

Parenting is a remarkable journey filled with joy, challenges, and, often, a good bit of chaos. As we navigate through the clutter of daily life, home organization can sometimes fall by the wayside. Yet, creating a serene and orderly environment is crucial not only for our peace of mind but also for the well-being and development of our children. I sat down with home organization expert Lauri Newell from Victory Organizing to explore effective strategies for decluttering your space and encouraging executive functioning skills within the family.

Ownership Over Overwhelm

Lauri reminds us that kids, especially as they transition from childhood to their teenage years, need to have ownership of decluttering and organizing their spaces. They need to let go of old belongings and create a space that promotes the life they envision. It might be challenging, but with the right encouragement and resources—like inspiring YouTube videos and humorous memes—teens can find the motivation they need to get started.

Designated Zones for Belongings

As family members get older, they accumulate specific coursework, reading materials, and personal belongings that can quickly become disorganized. Lauri underscores the need for designated spaces for each person’s items. Utilizing shelving units with separate cubes or hidden boxes that mimic books can be an inventive solution for organizing these possessions while keeping them easily accessible.

Functionality Fuels Freedom

The science of ergonomics isn’t just for the office—it’s for the home too. Lauri, drawing from the work of Lillian Gilbreth on time-motion studies and kitchen ergonomics, shares that organizing spaces with consideration for item flow and placement can greatly improve daily tasks. For children, this means prioritizing function over aesthetics and simplifying the organization to match their level of independence. By doing so, children learn to manage their belongings effectively, fostering better executive functioning skills.

Creating A System That Sticks, Tips for Visual Aids and Guidelines

Labels and visual aids go a long way in helping children (and adults) understand where things belong. Lauri advises creating general, yet specific enough, guidelines that are manageable for the entire family. By reducing the complexity of organizational systems and matching them to each individual’s skills, you’re setting up an environment that reduces overwhelm and increases accessibility.

Letting Go with Love, Embracing the Emotions of Decluttering

It’s not just about the physical act of organizing; it’s also about the emotional process of decluttering. Lauri and Sarah discuss the nostalgia and feelings that come with transitioning through life’s phases. They suggest creating space for sentimental items but not allowing them to take up “prime real estate” in the home, ensuring these cherished memories don’t hinder daily functionality.

Engaging the Whole Family Builds to Independence

One of the most impactful pieces of advice from Lauri is the push for involving children in the organizing process. Starting with toddlers, simplify choices and gradually include them as they grow, allowing them to take responsibility and feel empowered in their environment.

OT is IN #10: Streamlining Your Space: Organizing for Better Executive Functioning

Are you a parent juggling the demands of homeschooling or simply seeking to create a harmonious living space for your family? In this conversation, we delve deep into the world of executive functioning and the power of a well-organized home. Lauri shares her wisdom on decluttering strategies, establishing functional spaces, and involving kids in the process to ensure that each family member has a personalized system that promotes both growth and independence.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• Discussion on how space affects homeschooling productivity and the importance of organization in fostering family connections.
• Strategies for creating an environment conducive to learning and quality family time.
• The psychological benefits of letting go of items that do not serve current lifestyle or values.
• Guiding questions to assist individuals in assessing what they truly need and value in their organized space.
• The importance of aligning your space with your life goals.
• Planning and defining areas within a home for their intended function, especially regarding homeschooling needs.
• Creating multifunctional spaces that adapt to various activities and family members.
• The necessity for children to develop ownership in decluttering and organizing their spaces as they transition into adolescence.
• Methods to encourage and inspire teens to organize, drawing from relatable resources like YouTube and memes.
• Suggestions for using shelving units, pencil boxes, and disguised storage solutions to maintain order.
• Prioritizing practicality and functionality, especially in children’s spaces.
• Practical examples, such as organizing a coffee station for efficiency and improved workflow.
• Discussing environment setup to support individual executive functioning skills.
• Adjusting the organizational system to match an individual’s level of independence.
• Suggestions to simplify the organizational process for both children and adults.
• The utility of visual aids like labels and pictures in guiding children through organizing tasks.
• Techniques to avoid losing items with the use of drawer dividers and dedicated storage.
• Setting realistic organizational expectations that can be followed by all family members.
• Addressing the emotional challenges of parting with items during life transitions.
• Recommendations for dealing with sentimental belongings without compromising functional space.
• Tips on involving children of different ages in organizing, starting with simple choices for toddlers and increasing responsibility over time.
• Recognizing the benefits of including children in decluttering and space planning, fostering long-term organizational skills.

Links and Resources From Today’s Show

• What Are Executive Functioning Skills?
• Executive Functioning Focus Group
• Picture Books to teach Executive Functioning
• Victory Organizing’s website
• Like Victory Organizing on Facebook
• Follow Victory Organizing on Instagram
• Decorative Vintage Book Shaped Storage Box
• Small Drawer dividers (12.5-17.5”)
• Large Drawer dividers (18-22”)
• Cheaper by the Dozen (explains their motion study stuff early on, more about Dad)
• Belles on Their Toes  (continues after Dad’s death, and tells the story of Mom’s continuation.)

Connect with our Guest, Lauri Newell

Where you see chaos, Lauri Newell sees opportunity. As a mother of three, Lauri understands that life happens, and there’s no shame in needing help. A trusted, Nashville-based organizer for over a decade, Lauri is passionate about transforming cluttered rooms into beautiful and functional living spaces.