Simply Squared Away

Simply Squared Away I help life coaches organize & systemize their coaching biz to create time freedom & scalability.

👀 We’ve been talking about doing this for YEARS.Today, we finally got to record the conversation about what we’re actual...
08/25/2026

👀 We’ve been talking about doing this for YEARS.

Today, we finally got to record the conversation about what we’re actually making happen.

And next week, we get to tell YOU. 🎉 The episode will go live on 9/1/26 on The Organized Coach Podcast.

Any guesses what the three of us are up to?

Laurie Shopland | Coach • Speaker Kristin Dabney Coaching Tracy Hoth | Organizing Coach

Giving all the secrets away….What if the secret organized women know has nothing to do with having less stuff?I think it...
08/25/2026

Giving all the secrets away….

What if the secret organized women know has nothing to do with having less stuff?

I think it starts here: believe beinging organized is possible for YOU.

Because when you believe, “I’m just not an organized person,” every unfinished project becomes proof.

🛑You stop.
🤷‍♀️You second guess yourself.
🤔 You avoid decisions.
🫣 You start again and wonder why you can’t stick with it.

But organization isn’t something you either ARE or AREN’T.

It’s a skill you practice.

✅ Decluttering for 15 minutes is practicing.
✅ Making one decision is practicing.
✅ Giving something a home is practicing.
✅ Resuming after you’ve stopped is practicing.

The question I want you to take into your next decluttering session:

Instead of asking, “What should I get rid of?”

Ask. “What deserves space because it supports the life I’m creating?”

🎧 Episode 183: The Secret Organized Women Know About Decluttering (That You Don’t) - https://simplysquaredaway.com/183

What’s one thing you want your home to make MORE room for in this season of your life?

(My answer - guests!)

08/25/2026

Find all the links and info mentioned in this podcast at https://simplysquaredaway.com/183.
Ready to live an organized life? Book a consult with me here.
What if the biggest difference between you and an organized woman isn’t how much stuff she owns or how naturally organized she is?
What if she simply believes being organized is possible for her?
In this episode, I’m sharing the secret I think organized women know about decluttering and why that belief changes everything about the way you approach your stuff.
When you doubt that you’ll ever really be organized, every unfinished project, difficult decision, or cluttered room can become more evidence that you’re “just not an organized person.” You start, stop, question yourself, get overwhelmed, and eventually give up.
But organization is a skill you can learn and practice. You don’t have to organize your whole house to be organized. Every time you make a decision, declutter for 15 minutes, assign something a home, reset a space, or resume after stopping, you’re practicing being an organized person.
We’ll also talk about another powerful shift: decluttering from your life forward instead of from your stuff backward.
Instead of picking up an item and asking, “Should I get rid of this?” try getting clear about the life you want to live, the season you’re in, and who you’re becoming. Then ask, “Does this deserve space in that life?”
In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why believing organization is possible for you matters
How decluttering actually helps you become more organized
Why decluttering is really a decision-making practice
How fear, scarcity, memories, and regret make decisions harder
Why your current season of life can help you decide what stays
How your future identity can become a decluttering filter
The difference between stuff that supports your identity and stuff that simply proves your identity
Why you don’t have to finish an entire project for your organizing efforts to count
How to use 15 minutes to get clear on what you want your home and life to support

I also share the story of my client Cheryl, who had to declutter to move into her dream retirement home. The payoff wasn’t simply having less stuff. It was having a home she loves, a guest room her grandkids can actually use, and the freedom to enjoy this season of her life.
As you listen, consider these questions:
What am I making room for?
Who am I choosing to be in this season?
Does this support the life I want to live?
You don’t need to wait until your whole house is organized to become an organized person.
You become her while you practice.
One decision, one space, and one 15-minute session at a time. Get the 15-Minute Declutter Challenge here.

I’ve been a professional organizer for 18 years, and I had NEVER heard of decluttering this way.It’s called backwards de...
08/18/2026

I’ve been a professional organizer for 18 years, and I had NEVER heard of decluttering this way.

It’s called backwards decluttering, and when Myquillyn Smith explained it to me, I thought, “This is brilliant.”

Normally, we start decluttering by sorting and then looking at all our stuff and asking what we should get rid of. That means decision after decision after decision.

Backwards decluttering flips that around.

Choose one room that feels visually loud. Temporarily remove the smaller things from the room, then live with less for 24 to 48 hours.

You’re not donating anything yet. You’re not deciding what to keep. You’re simply experiencing the room with less visual noise.

THEN you ask the question I love:

“What deserves to come back?”

Instead of trying to find a place for everything, you get to intentionally choose what belongs in the peaceful space you just created.

Myquillyn Smith (aka The Nester) calls this House Hushing, and we talked all about it in Episode 182 of The Organized Coach Podcast.

Listen to House Hushing for the Win with Myquillyn Smith wherever you listen to podcasts. https://simplysquaredaway.com/182

Have you ever tried decluttering this way?

08/18/2026

All links mentioned in the post can be found here: https://simplysquaredaway.com/182
What if decluttering didn’t start with deciding what to get rid of?
What if, instead, you could simply experience your home with less stuff and THEN decide what deserves to come back?
In this episode, I’m talking with Myquillyn Smith, also known as The Nester, about her new book, House Hushing, and I absolutely love her approach to creating a peaceful home without feeling like you have to become a hardcore minimalist.
Myquillyn describes all the things in our homes as having a little “voice.” Over time, those voices add up. The books, plants, projects, pillows, dog toys, decor, papers, and all the other stuff sitting around can turn what was once a lovely melody into a visual roar.
And sometimes you don’t even realize how loud it has gotten until you experience your space without it.
That’s where House Hushing comes in.
Myquillyn walks us through her brilliant concept of “backwards decluttering.” Instead of picking up every single item and immediately deciding whether to keep it, donate it, move it, or throw it away, you temporarily remove all the visible surface items from a room. Then you live with the quieter space for 24 to 48 hours before intentionally choosing what comes back.
No giant pile of permanent decisions required.
We also talk about cozy minimalism and the idea that you don’t have to choose between a peaceful home and a home that feels warm, beautiful, and full of personality.
If traditional decluttering has felt overwhelming, or you’re craving a home that feels a little calmer, you’re going to want to try this.
What You’ll Learn:

What House Hushing is and how it turns down the “visual volume” in your home
Why Myquillyn considers herself a cozy minimalist and what that actually means
How to use "backwards decluttering" when you’re overwhelmed by making decisions
Why temporarily removing things can help you experience your home completely differently
How to experiment with less before deciding what to permanently let go of
How to become protective of the peace you create in your home

What if the thing you’ve been calling “disorganized” is actually something else?For years, Andrea Morton (Andrea, The Mi...
08/11/2026

What if the thing you’ve been calling “disorganized” is actually something else?

For years, Andrea Morton (Andrea, The Midlife Mom Coach ) had no idea she had ADHD.

She was a teacher. A mom. A coach. A business owner.

Then, at 48, while one of her children was going through the ADHD diagnosis process, she started reading the questions and thinking…

Wait. I do that.

And that.

Ohhhh. I’ve done THAT my entire life.

Eventually, Andrea was diagnosed with ADHD herself, and suddenly so much of her life made sense. Pasted text.txt

In this episode of The Organized Coach Podcast, Andrea and I talk about what ADHD can actually look like in women.

Procrastinating until the pressure finally gets you moving.

Hyperfocusing on something interesting for HOURS, but struggling to start a boring task.

Feeling rejection or criticism way more deeply than other people seem to.

Lying awake while your brain happily hosts a 2 a.m. meeting you definitely did not schedule.

And, of course, struggling with prioritizing and organization.

Andrea also shares something I loved about receiving her diagnosis: Along with some grief about not knowing sooner, it gave her so much more compassion for herself.

If you have ADHD, wonder if you might, coach someone with ADHD, or love someone whose brain works this way, listen to this one.

You may have a few “WAIT. THAT’S ADHD?!” moments of your own.

Listen to When ADHD Finally Explains Everything with Andrea Morton on The Organized Coach Podcast. https://simplysquaredaway.com/181

I first interviewed Joshua Becker on my Clutter Interrupted podcast in 2014. Last night I was able to see him in person ...
08/11/2026

I first interviewed Joshua Becker on my Clutter Interrupted podcast in 2014.

Last night I was able to see him in person as he travels across the country with his family to share his message: “Own less. Love more. And make room for what matters most. Owning less can help us experience more of God and more purpose in our lives.”

It’s always a special treat to get to see Organized Life Academy members in person - Myra and Joy! Thank you Joy for letting me know of this event.

And thank you Bridget Hoth and Chad Hoth for going with me - even though we didn’t get a picture. 😩

08/11/2026

All links mentioned in the post can be found here: https://simplysquaredaway.com/181
Have you ever wondered if ADHD could explain more than you think? Maybe you've always considered yourself disorganized, overwhelmed, or someone who just couldn't seem to "get it together." What if there was more to the story?
In this episode, I'm joined by ADHD coach Andrea Morton for an eye-opening conversation about what ADHD really looks like in women. Andrea wasn't diagnosed until she was 48, while one of her children was going through the diagnostic process. That one discovery completely changed how she understood herself, her past, and the way she now supports other women.
Andrea shares both her personal story and her professional expertise as we talk about why so many women go undiagnosed for years, how ADHD presents differently in women than in men, and why understanding your brain can replace years of self-criticism with self-compassion.
Whether you've been diagnosed with ADHD, suspect you might have it, are raising a neurodivergent child, or coach clients who struggle with organization and follow-through, this conversation will leave you with a whole new perspective.
What You'll Learn:

Why so many women don't receive an ADHD diagnosis until adulthood.
The common signs of ADHD in women that are often overlooked.
How hyperfocus, procrastination, and rumination can all be connected and can look differently than you might think.
What rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) is and why it can affect relationships and confidence.
Why understanding your brain leads to more self-compassion instead of self-judgment.
Practical ways to work with your brain instead of constantly fighting against it.
How ADHD impacts organization, prioritization, and running a business.

08/04/2026

All links mentioned in the post can be found here: https://simplysquaredaway.com/180
Words matter.
Have you ever felt like you "blew it" because you missed a few days of your routine?
Maybe your house got messy again. You stopped exercising. Your planner hasn't been opened in weeks. Your business routines slipped, or your quiet time in the morning has been inconsistent.
What if you didn't need to restart?
What if you simply needed to resume?
In this episode, Tracy shares a mindset shift that can completely change the way you think about consistency. Inspired by an article from The Optimized Pastor ("Don't Restart, Do This Instead"), shared by a former client, Jason, she explains why the word resume is far more empowering than restart.
You'll learn 10 practical strategies to help you return to the habits and routines that matter—without guilt, shame, or waiting for the "perfect" time.
If you've ever felt like you've fallen behind, this episode is your reminder that organized people aren't people who never get off track. They're people who know how to resume...over and over.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:

Why "resume" is a more powerful word than "restart"
How waiting for Monday, January, or the perfect moment keeps you stuck
The role shame plays in keeping you from moving forward
How to build an organized identity through evidence instead of perfection
Why reconnecting with your "why" makes consistency easier
How curiosity can replace guilt after you've "fallen off track"

Key Takeaway
Consistency isn't about never stopping.
It's about shortening the amount of time between when you stop and when you resume.
The people who seem the most consistent aren't perfect; they've simply become really good at coming back.

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