Clutter Free Academy

If you’ve ever decluttered only to have stuff creep back in, this episode is for you! This week, Kathi begins her four-part conversation with Tonya Kubo, founder and fearless leader of the Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group, about how to create a clutter-free home. Kathi and Tonya chat about the power of dedicating each space in your home because you don’t want to live in a house by accident; you want each room to have and serve its purpose. In this episode, you’ll learn how a little planning goes a long way to creating a clutter-free home. You’ll also learn how to: Reshape each room into what you actually use it for, not what it “should” be for Use anchoring objects as reminders of a room’s purpose Shift from “just surviving” to living with intention in your home   Clutter Free Home Are you longing for a place of peace from which you can love others well? The Clutter-Free Home: Making Room for Your Life is your room-by-room guide to decluttering, reclaiming, and celebrating every space of your home. In Th

We are all living a life we didn’t design. In this episode, Kathi chats with Tracy Steel, author of A Redesigned Life: Uncovering God’s Purpose When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned, about how to apply a designer’s eye to see the work God is doing in your life, when things don’t go according to plan.   This week, Tracy shares some of the things she learned as an interior designer that help her understand God’s work in her life. You’ll also learn: What to do when you wonder whether God is working How to notice and understand patterns in your life Practical ways to weave truth into your physical space and interior thoughts If you’d like to hear more, you can order your copy of Tracy’s book, A Redesigned Life from Amazon today!   Learn more about the shows Kathi and Tracy talked about today: Grand Designs and Designing Women. If you missed Kathi’s episode with Ron Deal, listen here. Check out The Blue Letter Bible and Bible Gateway to search the Bible and other encouraging tools. Kathi’s newest book, Clutter Free Ho

Are you putting off getting organized until the mayhem dies down in your home? What if you could make changes that make a big difference right now, in the midst of chaos? In this episode, Kathi talks with Kristi Clover, author of M.O.M.—Master Organizer of Mayhem, about ways to get organized, no matter what life season you are in. This week, you’ll hear how decluttering is something you’ll have to continually come back to, even when things are going smoothly. The more you have the foundational basics in place, the more you’ll be able to manage chaos no matter what happens. You’ll also learn how to: Control the things you can to adjust for chaos you can’t control Create systems to keep you on track Save yourself chaos down the road by planning ahead To learn more, order your own copy of Kristi’s book, M.O.M.—Master Organizer of Mayhem on Amazon today. If you’d like Kristi’s free eBook Sanity Savers for Moms, full of fun hacks that bring you more sanity, click here to sign up for her newsletter. We would love

This week, Kathi concludes her conversation with Tonya Kubo, founder and fearless leader of the Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group, about three key ingredients to forming lasting clutter free habits. Previously, they talked about the importance of routine and realistic expectations in becoming clutter free. In this episode, you’ll hear about how accountability will help you live the clutter free life you’ve always wanted. Maybe accountability seems like a scary or negative thing. Kathi and Tonya tell us this week that accountability is far from the harsh scolding you may anticipate. Instead, it means having friends who lovingly remind us of the commitment we made to ourselves. You’ll also hear how accountability: Brings us out of isolation Offers a different perspective Gives us people to cheer us on every step of the way If you’re looking for practical ideas and encouragement with managing day-to-day clutter, check out the Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group, the kindest corner of the internet. If you’re

This week, Kathi continues her conversation with Tonya Kubo, founder and fearless leader of the Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group, about some of the key ingredients to forming lasting clutter free habits. Last week, they talked about the importance of routine. This week, you’ll hear about how realistic expectations will help you live the clutter free life you’ve always wanted. In this episode, you’ll hear three realistic expectations that are critical for your clutter-free journey. You’ll learn how: Clutter is never one and done. We live with humans. It takes time and resources to make a lasting difference. Clutter Free For Life If you’re ready to invest the time and resources into making 2020 a turning point in your clutter free journey, now is the time to check out Clutter Free for Life. Clutter Free for Life is full of personalized, hand-on help to have realistic expectations! As a member, you’ll receive tons of valuable exclusive content: monthly action plans, coaching twice a month from Kathi herself

This week, Kathi chats with founder and fearless leader of the Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group, Tonya Kubo, about some of the key ingredients to forming lasting clutter free habits. Once upon a time, Kathi was in a perpetual panic, just surviving and trying (but not succeeding) at managing her clutter.  Years into her clutter free journey, she knows the importance of a routine in staying clutter free. In this episode, you’ll learn three secret ingredients to help you create a routine to lose the clutter. You’ll hear: How to put your house on a schedule and keep moving forward in spite of setbacks The one key to any lasting clutter free system What you need to get started today (hint: you already have it!) Clutter Free For Life If you want more personalized, hands-on help Clutter Free For Life is for you! As a member, you’ll receive tons of valuable exclusive content: monthly action plans, coaching from Kathi herself, access to a private, VIP Facebook group, and tons of gentle encouragement and guidance

Have you ever made progress on your decluttering journey only to stop when something unexpected and unwelcome happens? Maybe you have a loved one going through hard times and you want to help, but don't know where to begin. This week, Kathi chats with Niki Hardy, author of Breathe Again: How to Live Well When Life Falls Apart, about what to do in difficult seasons. In this episode, you'll learn tons of practical wisdom about what you can do in hard times, whether you or someone you love is directly affected. You'll hear about how to: Ask for and accept help from others when you need it. Offer help in a way that blesses those in hard times. How taking care of your future self is crucial in tough seasons. If you're curious about the Enneagram after hearing Niki mention it, click here. You can order your own copy of Niki's book Breathe Again: How to Live Well When Life Falls Apart on Amazon today. We would love to stay connected. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this s

Do you long for a cozy home that feels like your happy place? This week, Kathi chats with Liz Marie Galvan, designer and author of the best-selling book, Cozy White Cottage: 100 Ways to Love the Feeling of Being Home. Kathi and Liz discuss how to begin creating the cozy, beautiful home you’ve always wanted. In this episode, you’ll learn the connection between decluttering and creating a home you love. You’ll also hear how: Decluttering allows the “cute” and “cozy” to shine in your home You can appreciate decor ideas, yet leave them at the store To get a better sense of your personal style If you want to learn more about cultivating a home you love, you can order a copy of Liz’s book Cozy White Cottage on Amazon.   Kathi’s purple chair   We would love to stay connected. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes or sub

This week, Kathi chats with special guest prolific author Tricia Goyer about Tricia’s new book, The Grumble-Free Year. We’ll learn how her family’s year-long experiment giving up grumbling had an impact on the whole family and the way they interacted with one another. In this episode, you’ll also discover how our physical space can have an impact on our emotions. Clutter free really can work, even for a family of 11! You’ll find tips to help you: reduce your tendency to grumble, even when times are hard set a grumble-free tone for your whole family and get your kids on board with less grumbling cultivate a greater sense of peace in your home Click here to download Chapter One of Tricia’s book The Grumble-Free Year. If you like what you read, you can order your copy of The Grumble-Free Year on Amazon. If you’re inspired to write a book of your own, check out Tricia’s Write That Book group for tips and coaching to make your dream a reality. We would love to stay connected. To share your thoughts: Leave a no

If you are overwhelmed trying to make life Pinterest-perfect, you are in good company! This week, Kathi chats with comedian and self-proclaimed Hot Mess for Jesus, Kerri Pomarolli. Kathi and Kerri discuss what it means to find grace right where you are today, in the midst of a messy, busy life. In this episode, you’ll laugh along with Kathi and Kerri as you learn: What it means to be a Proverbs 32 woman, AKA a Hot Mess for Jesus. How to figure out what level of decluttering works for you Who are the people you need to have around you in your life For Kathi’s family stuffing recipe, click here. To hear Sebastian Maniscalco’s bit about company coming over, click here (warning: some language is inappropriate for children). Order your copy of Kerri’s book, Confessions of a Proverbs 32 Woman: How I Went From Messed Up to Blessed Up Without Changing a Single Thing from Amazon today.     We would love to stay connected. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter,

When you hear the word “relentless,” does it have a positive or negative connotation for you? Some of us hear it and think of persevering, continuing no matter what is in our way. Others of us think of wave after wave of challenges in our lives. In this week’s episode, Kathi sits down with Michele Cushatt, one of her besties and author of Relentless: The Unshakeable Presence of a God Who Never Leaves, to discuss how to hold onto hope when life feels relentless in its difficulties. Kathi and Michele give real-life examples of ways life can feel relentless and how we try to cope with that chaos. In this episode, you’ll also hear: Two unhelpful extremes that we try to “fix” chaos in our lives and two helpful ways to cope. How we can find an anchor outside ourselves and our circumstances to keep us from being tossed about. How relentless challenges and God’s relentless presence can coexist. If you want to go deeper in learning about how to hold on to hope, check out Michele Cushatt’s book Relentless: The Unsha

This week, Kathi finishes her three-part series of Clutter Free Basics with Tonya Kubo, fearless leader of Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group. Kathi and Tonya discuss the three totes and two bags system. When combined with space boxing and time boxing, this system leads to a sustainable clutter free home. In this episode, you’ll learn how: each technique discussed in Clutter Free Basics harmonizes to help you get and stay clutter free. the three totes and two bags system makes decluttering easy and fun for the whole family. you have what you need at your home to get moving towards a clutter free home today. If you’re ready to use what you’re learning in this Clutter Free Basics podcast series, be sure to head over to the Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group. There, you’ll find more tips and a community of friends to encourage you on your journey. Join us today! We would love to stay connected. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinter

Have you ever noticed how time-consuming decluttering can be? Perhaps you’re caught in an endless cycle of decision fatigue and shame about clutter. You need time boxing! This week, Kathi and Tonya Kubo, fearless leader of Clutter Free Academy on Facebook, continue their series on Clutter Free basics. In this episode, they discuss time boxing, a technique that leads to a decluttered home over time in just 15 minutes a day. Using time boxing will help you live a sustainable, clutter free life. No more long days of decluttering and exhaustion, no kidding. You’ll also learn how time boxing helps you: Avoid distractions that derail you Involve your whole family in decluttering Stay motivated and moving forward in your clutter free journey. If you want to hear part 1 of Clutter Free Basics, click here. Don’t miss next week’s third and final episode of Clutter Free Basics! Subscribe to have Kathi’s podcasts delivered to you every week. If you want more support on your clutter free journey, check out Clutter Free

If you get overwhelmed at the thought of decluttering an entire room, this week’s episode is just what you need! Kathi and Tonya Kubo, founder of the Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group, discuss the first of three Clutter Free basics: space boxing. This technique makes decluttering go faster, feel more doable and more satisfying. In this episode, you’ll learn what space boxing is and hear real-life examples of how to use this tool in your home. You’ll also hear how space boxing: Helps you to stay focused when decluttering Empowers your kids to declutter their space Leads to greater function and a sense of peace in your home. Kathi’s book, Clutter Free Home: Making Room for Your Life will be released next February. You can learn more and pre-order your copy on Amazon today. To learn more about MOMcon, click here.   We would love to stay connected. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your

Have you ever noticed that money is a tender spot in a lot of relationships? Maybe it even causes tension for you. In this week’s podcast, Kathi chats with very special guest Ron Deal of Family Life Today about ways to successfully resolve some of the conflicts related to spending and have a stronger, more unified family. In this episode, you’ll learn: Some key questions to ask when strong emotions come up related to money Contributing factors that make merging finances particularly difficult for blended families How a togetherness agreement can help you build a strong foundation financially and relationally If you would like more information about how to merge finances well, check out Ron’s book, The Smart Stepfamily Guide to Financial Planning. You can order it on AMAZON now. In case you missed the verse reference, Ron quoted Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have for He has said ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” Giveaway As a special treat we

In this week’s episode, Kathi sits down to chat with Amanda Hope Haley, author of Mary Magdalene Never Wore Blue Eye Shadow, about how to grow in wisdom every day. They invite us to take a journey of rediscovering who God is as we strip off mistaken ideas that can clutter our understanding and read the Bible with fresh eyes. You’ll learn from Amanda’s journey of unlearning some of her preconceived notions about the Bible. You’ll also learn how we can grow in wisdom through: Approaching the Bible boldly, with fresh eyes Pressing into uncomfortable and confusing passages Allowing the Living Word to teach us something new To start your own journey of rediscovery, get your copy of Mary Magdalene Never Wore Blue Eye Shadow on Amazon today. We would love to stay connected. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes or subscrib

Ready or not, Christmas is on its way! The holidays come every year and yet we always seem caught off guard by their arrival. What if we could make some important decisions today to make our lives easier in December? What if we could plan ahead and have the best Christmas ever this year? This week, Kathi and Tonya Kubo, fearless leader of the Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group, discuss three decisions you can make today to have the best Christmas ever. Their insights will help you move from dreading the holidays to actually enjoying them. In this episode, you’ll learn how taking care of your future self by making decisions early will help you to have the best Christmas ever. You’ll also learn how to: Get started on your Christmas cards today Arrange your calendar early to include all the things (even Christmas cheer!) Avoid the January sticker shock from your holiday spending Get a handle on the holidays by ordering your own gorgeous copy of The Christmas Project Planner. Click here to order on Amazon. If

Christmas is just around the corner! Do you have a Christmas plan in place or are you overwhelmed thinking about it already? Have no fear! In this episode, Kathi and Tonya Kubo, illustrious leader of the Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group, will help you create a Christmas plan to have your most joyful, meaningful, merry holiday season yet. Kathi and Tonya will give you a glimpse into some of their favorite Christmas traditions and others that didn’t work for them. Their experiences will help you discover: Three things that can make Christmas feel overwhelming and how to address them. Important questions to ask when crafting a Christmas plan. How to share the giving season and get others involved in your Christmas plan. Kathi and Tonya are right. You really can get anything on Amazon! Most importantly, you can pre-order your copy of The Christmas Project Planner and get your Christmas plan rolling today. Join the Christmas planning fun in the Christmas Project Planner Facebook Group. If you’re interested in

If you long to have a life with more beauty and order in it, today’s podcast will help you on your journey. Kathi sits down with artist and author Ruth Chou Simons this week to discuss ways of creating beauty with order.   Kathi and Ruth recognize that cluttery people often are the most creative and generous people, yet they are also plagued by perfectionism and self-doubt. Today’s episode offers powerful strategies for moving past those emotions that keep us stuck and towards beautiful order. This episode will also introduce you to a tool that moves us towards creating beauty with order by providing space to: Think about what matters most in your daily schedule. Make small, doable steps towards your goals (no giant lists of panic-inducing check boxes here!) Keep a record of past victories and/or future hope. Take steps towards growing If you would like to purchase the GraceLaced 2020 12-Month Planner you can order it on AMAZON now.   We would love to stay connected.  To share your thoughts: Leave a note

If you need to declutter your to-do list, you are in good company! In this week’s podcast, Kathi continues her conversation with Tonya Kubo, grand poohbah of all things Clutter Free Academy online, about how to declutter your to-do list. In Part One of this episode, Kathi and Tonya shared their own proven tips for managing an overwhelming to-do list and resetting when things feel out-of-hand. Today, they discuss how to use your calendar instead of a to-do list to bring wisdom and peace into your days. Psalm 90:12 (KJV) says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” This powerful shift helps us to follow those words. You’ll discover how using a calendar to declutter your to-do list: Helps you prioritize Teaches you to guard your time Can bring peace to others around you Allows for relaxation in the midst of busy seasons Check out Tonya's new Facebook group, The Secret to Thriving Online Communities.   We would love to stay connected. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in