Interview with Rebecca Phillips from R You Ready To Organize

Hello!  I have a very special guest interview today and her name is Rebecca Phillips. Rebecca has a master’s degree in social work and has worked in the field for many years.  Over the years, she found that her true passion is to help people through utilizing her organization skills and now combines the two.  She has a unique twist on organization that includes the aspect of wellness within her role as a personal coach and home organizer.  I met Rebecca through the Forever Fierce Revolution group and we instantly connected around this topic.  See, this is my Huge, Huge Problem Area and I feel so blessed that I met Rebecca to help me through my Huge Mess.  Yes, I am very messy!  Rebecca will be helping me organize my mess over the next few weeks and I will be documenting it with photos to show you how it goes.  Are you messy too?  If you need help organizing, then she can help you.

So, here it goes…

Hi Rebecca!  Thank you for sharing your time with us today.

Tell me about yourself.

I am a business blogger, home organizer, retired social worker, and grandmother of 3. My oldest grandchild went to college this year (trying to catch my breath). I am blessed to be semi-retired and stay at home with my two terriers (one is 17, blind and deaf, so need a lot of care) and build my new business.

Why did you decide to start your own home organization business?

I have always been very organized. My father died at a very young age. So, my mom went to work and the three of us stayed home. We had a babysitter, but I still took on the cleaning and tidying up a lot. I even ironed my mom’s clothes. And they were crisp. Everyone started to notice my knack for organizing, and my love of it. I loved to help mom clear clutter and put things away. It was a great help to her as she worked 3 jobs.

Explain how wellness is a part of your organization process.

Clutter causes chaos, anxiety, and a loss of control. It is that simple. I’m not talking about neat stack of sorted items around the house. I am talking piles of unused, untouched stuff. That is like a dumping ground.

“Each room in our house nurtures us. Our bedroom gives us rest and rejuvenates us. Our kitchen nourishes and feeds us. Our bathroom cleans our bodies and also rejuvenates us. The family room brings families together to bond and connect. Our home is our sanctuary. It should be tidy and organized with only the things we use and love.”

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What are the main types of clutter that you usually see?

Stock piles of personal items of a close deceased relative or loved one. This is challenging. A loved one close to us dies. We hold onto anything that makes us feel them and experience them over and over. It is prolonging loss. Loss hurts. Yet, knowing this is the key. I try to work with clients to clear the junk and keep only a few precious items from their loved one-only ones they will use and love.

So, what are some of the major reasons why people might struggle with clutter?

Just like before, sentiment. Strong feelings of sentiment come from uncontrolled feelings of loss and helplessness. Part of clearing clutter is gaining control of these feelings, knowing they are natural and normal. When people feel more in control and normal about their trauma, they start to let go of a loved one’s stuff and keep only what they truly cherish.

A lot of my readers are fashion bloggers and some of us shop a lot.  At what point does shopping become an addiction/ a hoarding problem? Why do so many women struggle with shopping addiction?

This is tricky. When does shopping become an addiction. Like any other addiction. When something, a habit or behavior starts to interfere with your ability to function on a daily basis, it’s a problem. Hoarding gets in the way of every aspect of our daily living. It is clearly an addiction. If the amount of time and clothing accumulated during shopping trips interferes with you daily routines, work, keeping your home tidy and decluttered, then it’s a problem. I think fashion bloggers in particular, need a regular clothing weeding routine. They accumulate lots of clothing. They only need to keep what the love and will truly use on a regular basis. That’s the hard truth.

Can you tell me about a time where you felt that you really helped to change someone’s life?

Many times. When I managed housing for homeless families in Phoenix many years ago, the most challenging cases were those families who lost their homes and had to move into one of my tiny apartment units. All of their stuff just stuffed into them. I had to work very hard at trying to get them to downsize, focus on getting job skills, good paying jobs and buying another (usually smaller) home. The hardest part was not job training or getting work. It was the trauma of downsizing and parting with what was sentimental, but no longer used or valuable.

Where can we find you?

Website: ryoureadytoorganize.com

Email: rebeccaphillips@ryoureadytoorganize.com

Instagram: ryoureadytoorganize

Twitter: readytoorganize

Pinterest:ryoureadytoorganize

Out With The Old and In with Sustainable Clothing from Pact Clothing

Decluttering Your Wardrobe

*Created in collaboration with PACT to support the sustainable clothing initiative, but I was in no way compensated  for this post.

This is literally the story of my life haha.  If you are a clothing lover like myself, you can surely relate to this never ending cycle of new clothing coming in and old clothing going out.  This can be a task in itself, especially if you have attachment issues to clothing due to sentimental reasons.  I admit, I have had clothes that I can’t get rid of due to the memories it holds for me. However, this year was a pivotal year for me.  I started to think about how much holding on to the “stuff” was hurting my personal relationships.  I had to take a serious look at the “cost” of holding on to so much stuff.

“Memories don’t exist in the things themselves, rather they are in our minds and embedded in our stories.”

I still have a hard time letting go, but I am getting better.  Who else owns clothes from every era? Let it go…

Tips to “Decluttering” or “Letting Go”:

·        Ask Yourself: “What pieces will you want to wear for the next 5 years?” (Think of your capsule wardrobe: a few good coats, easy t-shirts, a few good sweaters or cardigans, jeans, work pants, skirts, dresses, exercise clothes, and pajamas.)

·        Ask Yourself: “What items do I want to sell or give away?” For those high-quality items, you may want to consider selling or gifting to a good friend or family member.  List them on Ebay or popular apps like Poshmark, DePop, and Let Go.

·        Ask Yourself: “Do I Need a Friend to Help Me Sort Through My Stuff?” (If you have a hard time letting go, you may want to ask a friend who can help keep you on task)

·        Ask Yourself: “Am I over this trend?” and “Is this even wearable?” (no moth holes, snags, or stretched out clothing, also does this even still fit?)

·        Ask Yourself: “How Can I Make a Difference in Someone Else’s Life?”

Yes, you can make a difference to another girl or woman by donating what you don’t want.  Maybe this girl or woman shops at thrift stores because she is struggling to get by financially or maybe just wants to get a great deal on some stylish trendy apparel.  Maybe she is a single mom who has to manage her money wisely and is looking to save on an awesome outfit, or an “interview suit” for a prospective job interview, or maybe this woman needs a “working wardrobe” for the new job she just landed.  Just thinking about how much we would be helping another woman should be exciting to us and should motivate us to step into our closets and start sorting and “letting go”.

I have listed organizations below that you may want to consider donating to depending on where you feel the love of giving…

·        WHW (Women Helping Women)

·        Working Wardrobes

·        American Red Cross

·        United Way

·        Madre

·        Big Brother Big Sister Foundation

·        Soles 4 Souls

·        Career Gear

·        Brides Across America

·        Share Your Soles

·        Change Purse

·        Indigo Rescue

·        One Sight

·        Assistance League

·        Los Angeles LGBT Center

·        Out of The Closet

·        Salvation Army

·        Goodwill

·        Dress For Success

·        NCJW (National Council of Jewish Women) Thrift Shops

Do You Believe that What You Wear Matters?  Considerations For Future Wardrobe Purchases…

In the future, we may want to consider thinking beyond our purchases in a more environmentally conscious way.  I found this great line from Pact, a clothing brand that uses the best sustainable ingredients and Fair Trade Certified Factories. 

About Pact Clothing

·       No Toxic Dyes

·       No Pesticides

·       Only uses the best sustainable ingredients

·       Uses Fair Trade Certified Factories

When you make purchases from Pact clothing, you can look good while feeling good about what you are wearing! 

I hope you found some helpful tips and consider shopping from Pact this year.

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Joanna