Tidy at Heart

03/09/2026

Don't be demotivated or overwhelmed by programmes that declutter a whole home in one go, in the space of a week and with the aid of a gigantic warehouse

Decluttering doesn't have to be all or nothing

If you find the idea of decluttering a bit overwhelming or you're limited on time, read on for decluttering jobs that are small, manageable, effective and can be achieved even if you only have 15 minutes to spare

Clear a surface - think coffee table, kitchen counter, dressing table, bedside table
Clear the hallway floor
Declutter coat hooks - think seasonal
Sort through a catch all basket
Empty, declutter and organise the junk drawer
Deal with one pile that's built up

Sort laundry - wash, pick off floor, hang up, fold, put away
Sort your underwear drawer
Resolve your odd sock bag (many clients have one), match what you can, give up on the rest
Remove empty hangers from your wardrobe (you'll be surprised how much room this can free up)
Sort through your footwear

Declutter the bathroom cabinet
Detox your make up bag
Audit medicines
Clear out travel supplies - miniatures, sun cream, travel meds

Audit your fabrics
Fold a full bed set together, reduce number kept (3 sets per bed is plenty)
Check your towels, face cloths, tea towels, cleaning cloths

Tidy your desk / workspace
Organise stationary supplies
Tackle a pile of paperwork
Tackle your handbag / workbag

Have a digital clear out:
Clear up your email inbox - delete messages, sort into folders, unsubscribe
Tidy up your desktop, organise your apps
Detox your photos by deleting unwanted, duplicates or random pics

Tidy your cutlery drawer - remove anything that doesn't belong
Clear the front of the fridge / noticeboard
Clear out the fridge
Refresh your food supplies by removing out if date items - spices, sauces, packets
Clear recycling

Clear children's bedroom floor
Sort a toy box / book shelf

Tackle the car boot / interior
Reduce bags for life

You don't have to do them all in one go, pick one and do just that

Little jobs, little effort, big impact

01/09/2026

31/08/2026

A great morning routine means a great start to the day

It will set you up for the rest of the day, make you more organised, more productive and lift your mood
Here are some ideas you could incorporate to kickstart your day

You don’t have to do all of them, but why not try out a few - see what works for you, what motivates you and gets you in the right frame of mind
Even one will have a positive impact. Then, hit the day running

🔆 Wake, and get up, early
🔆 Drink water immediately on waking
🔆 Make your bed and open your curtains / blinds
🔆 Eat a good breakfast
🔆 Build positivity by practising gratitude
🔆 5 minutes mindfulness
🔆 Meditate
🔆 Breath work
🔆 Move in a way you enjoy - workout, yoga, dancing, running or walking
🔆 Catch up on news / social media - limit time, set a timer then switch off
🔆 Get outside - enjoy natural light, fresh air and nature
🔆 Listen to a podcast / music
🔆 Positive thinking
🔆 Self care - an invigorating shower or good skin care routine
🔆 Speak kindly to yourself
🔆 Dress well - in clothes you feel good in that suit your day ahead
🔆 Keep on top of laundry
🔆 Prep for dinner, give yourself time to eat healthily
🔆 Clear your inbox
🔆 Clear away clutter, keep surfaces clear
🔆 Tackle a chore - laundry, washing up, bins
🔆 Journalling - get your thoughts, feelings and hopes out and on paper, track daily habits
🔆 Write a to do list to declutter your mind

And for the perfect end ...
🌙 Plan ahead for tomorrow, check your schedule
🌙 Prep outfit, lunch, pack your bag
🌙 Eat healthily, avoid caffeine
🌙 Try restful practice - exercise, yoga, stretch, breath work, meditation
🌙 Spend time on a hobby, reading, do a puzzle, painting, colouring, listen to music
🌙 Connect with a loved one
🌙 Take a bath
🌙 Clear your mind, jot down your thoughts
🌙 Put away screens, switch of social media
🌙 Set your circadian rhythms with a regular bedtime
🌙 Switch off your mind and get a good nights sleep

I'd love to hear some of your tips for a great way to start or end your day 😊

28/08/2026

September brings the promise of a new start. Kids are back at school, some routine and structure has returned
It's a great time to reevaluate life a little, consider adding some habits into your life that will enrich you, make you healthier, improve your wellbeing and help you get more out of life

Kickstart your morning and evening routine
Watch out for Mondays post on some great ways to start, and end, your day on a high

Have a Sunday reset
Remove midweek stresses by getting organised
Spend some time clearing household chores - freshen the kitchen and bathroom, change the bed
Check your schedule for the week ahead
Get on top of things - plan activities, post birthday cards, make payments and so on

Add movement to your day
This doesn't have to be strenuous workouts or running 5k though go ahead if you can! Consider adding yoga, meditation or breath work to your day
Spend time in nature, go for a walk, sit on a bench

Invest in your health
Introduce healthier eating, limit or remove unhealthy treats
Try new recipes, spend time preparing food, get children or grandchildren involved
Drink more water

Invest in your mind
Reduce mind numbing screen time and doom scrolling instead pick up a book or a magazine
Introduce focus with a puzzle or jigsaw or creative activity
Spend time with a loved one, pick up the phone
Learn a new skill, join a class or group activity

Invest in your home
Tackle DIY tasks, manage chores using a planner
Assess your budget, create a savings plan

Start small and slow and build up gradually
Pace yourself - don't take on too much, once a new habit is embedded consider building on it
Start with an easy win - want to run start by walking
Know your goals and stay focused on them
Build a new habit into existing routine by pairing with an old one
Use a habit tracker
Don't be too hard on yourself - missed a day? don't worry just start again the next day

Habits have the ability to change your life
"We are what we repeatedly do" Will Durant

24/08/2026

I love decluttering and getting organised as it not only creates a feeling of calm and simplicity in the home but also ensures I give myself more time to enjoy the more important things in life
Planning and preparation make life simpler

Try a weekly or monthly checklist and create a simple to do list that each month will bring organisation into your life and make more time time for fun, friends, family and yourself

Review significant dates:
Birthdays - buy cards / stamps at end pf previous month and write them all ready for delivery
Appointments - Know what you have coming up and when it is and plan how it fits into your diary
Special events - consider gifts, outfits, transport, hotels etc
School events - check what you need to get ready and don't be caught out by a last minute world book day costume again
Work commitments - parking, meetings, deadlines, events

Pre book grocery slots - these can be saved by putting essentials in your basket and adding more specific items once you've done your ....
Meal plan - you know I love a food plan!

Get your admin under control:
Review finances/ budget, check your bank statement
Paperwork - filing, take action
Clear emails
Electronic - back up computer, tidy up desk top, organise your phone,
Unsubscribe, limit screen time

Plan when you need to get those essential chores done:
Deep cleaning projects
Declutter
Decorating / maintenance
Garden jobs

Now the fun bit, schedule time to do the fun things in life:
Self care
Allow 5/10 minutes a day to journal or practise gratitude
Schedule exercise, walks, activities
Create wish lists: books to read, podcasts to listen to, films to watch, places to visit, meals to cook
Add an activity to enhance your life
Do something out off your comfort zone
Date night
Plan time with friends and family
Phone a friend or loved one

Spending a little time each month to see what the month ahead has in store will reduce surprises and bring greater control and less stress, leaving you free to relax and enjoy your time and add in some memorable events. Organise in a way that works for you - electronic diary, wall calendar, diary or planner. It's all about making life a little easier 😊

20/08/2026

A great morning is helped by an organised evening, so do as much as possible the night before:

Lay out uniform (maybe a hanger for each day)
Ensure homework's ready
Gather special items - cooking, PE etc
Pack school bags
Display a timetable for easy reference
Prep packed lunches
Organise paperwork. Use a plastic wallet for permission slips, letters etc
Bath time

Establish a morning routine. Your child's age and ability affects what they can do independently. Get up early enough to allow plenty of time

Share expectations and rules. Knowing what and when things need doing will support your child to grow in independence
Use a chart and prompts to work through the morning. Do things in the same order
and repeat daily so the routine is embedded. Throughout morning, give timing reminders or a countdown

Avoid surprises (and meltdowns), make sure your kids know what’s happening each day - activities, who is picking up etc

Encourage independence but limit choices. Offer choice of just 2 things and accept your child's choice, rotate choices throughout week

Only allow screen time when everything's done and they have time to spare
Keep calm - being organised will help

Set up an area for homework so you can support / monitor
Organise stationary. Keep a supply at home for top up when needed, keep items handy so your child can access themselves for homework

Use the weekend to plan the week ahead incl. meal planning

Keep on top of laundry so what you need is always on hand even in emergencies, or have enough kit to cover the weeks needs. Create bundles for each day of the week - PE/swim kit, after school activity

Keep a grab bag of things you might need in your car, buggy or handbag - hair bands, wipes, tissues, loose change, pen for last minute signing

Ease back into routine
Week before put bedtime and getting up back by 10 mins a day
Don't overfill first couple of weeks of term - allow yourselves to settle back into things

Assess after school activities
Don't fill your week with after school activities. Make sure you have at least one night a week completely free. Plan how activities fit in

Keep a shopping list / to do list - add, update and refer to it regularly

18/08/2026

The trusty magazine file ... What do you use yours for?
Let me guess... Paperwork, folders, magazines, manuals, colouring books?

Scroll down to to find some, surprising and genuinely genius ways of using this stationary staple

Water bottle organiser
Create a shelf in your fridge or cupboard
Organise and control Tupperware lids
Flip flops or sandals, colour coordinated maybe?
Clutch bags and purses
Face cloths, rolled up for a pretty display
Make up pallets
Store and organise gift wrap accessories i.e. bows, gift bags
Make craft supplies easy to see i.e. balls of wool, colour coded papers
A personalised gift box
Cans of drink, tins
Store vegetables (ventilated designs work great for this)
Napkins / party ware (paper plates, table cloths)
Attach inside a cupboard door to store hairdryer / straighteners, foil / clingfilm etc
Create holes in base lay on back and use as a charging station, create sections with DIY dividers
Hide the router and cables
Turn on its side use subject dividers and store handwritten recipes and those ripped out of magazines
Kitchen organiser - chopping boards, baking trays
Pantry organiser - pasta boxes etc

Feeling bolder? Pinterest can offer some great design hacks …
A shelf or bedside table by mounting a sturdier design horizontally to a wall
A printer storage area
Desk storage using 2/3 files at each end of a desk and place a shelf on top
Mail hub in your hallway using 2/3 files and a shelf

I'd love to hear about how you use yours, share your ideas and photos

17/08/2026

When you’ve decided to declutter, it’s easy to get carried away buying baskets and storage before you’ve started, but this could be wasted money
Once you start decluttering you’ll find, by reducing what you have, less storage is required or what you’ve bought may end up not being suitable

Here are a few ways of getting organised without spending a penny

💡 Always declutter first
This way you’ll know exactly what you need and you may find you already have everything you need
Decluttering means you’ll end up with empty baskets boxes etc which you can redeploy or donate. Fewer possessions means less need for organising products

💡 Shop your own home
Be creative and resourceful with what you already have. Think differently about items, what can be used elsewhere or used more effectively
Think about accessibility and ease for every day items, less used items can be stored higher, further back so not taking up daily space, take care not to block items

💡 Repurpose items
Make use of empty boxes, pots and containers as a cheap, practical solution
Don’t hoard items though. These containers can be really useful but too many and they become clutter and take up valuable space, especially if not using

Use old jars to store pens, make up brushes, batteries, washing up tabs, plant herbs, etc. Use pretty labels, string and accessories to prettify. Display on a tray or basket
Old ice cube trays make great jewellery organisers
Organise paperwork, cards/gift wrap, photos, memorabilia ie cards, certificates in old ring binders
Old take out tubs are useful containers and drawer organisers
Old Tupperware / old phone boxes convert into handy drawer organisers
Decorate old boxes and use as drawer organisers or display items. Shoe boxes great for larger drawers
Old toilet rolls -organise hair scrunchies/hair ties, fairy lights
Box files - too many uses to list! (look out for a post later this week)

💡 Go digital
Paperwork is often the biggest challenge so reduce by signing up for paperless bills, etc
Create digital folder of links to digital manuals
Use notes app in your phone rather than notebooks, scraps of paper

💡 Get free (or cheap) stuff
Use apps to source free storage items. Do you know anyone that has something they are getting rid of that will solve your organisation issues? Be savvy, always measure, think how it will work in your space and if it will work for you
Think of buying second hand to make great savings

💡 Stick to your space budget
Designate a space for everything. Whether you use a basket, hooks or trays. A home for everything is key
Locate like items together
Allocate a space and don’t exceed it. For example, one bookcase that is overflowing - it’s tempting to buy another one but why not declutter? Donate/sell, keeping only those you really love and will fit into the one bookcase. When you are tempted to buy more you need to consider what you will remove to make space for it or ask yourself if you really need it

💡 Wardrobe
Taking time to fold things properly and put away neatly will create more space than just chucking things in
Maximise storage use the full height, use dead floor space, make use of the door if depth allows
Streamline your hangers. Get rid of bulky designs. Coat and suit hangers can take up to 5 times the space of a streamline hanger
Double up on hangers / invest in multi use hangers
Use hooks or old shower curtain hooks for caps, scarves and so on