The Mel Robbins PodcastFrom Chaos to Calm: The Easiest Way to Organize Your Life and Home
EVERY SPOKEN WORD
80 min read · 16,407 words- 0:00 – 6:59
Introduction
- MRMel Robbins
Today, on the Mel Robbins Podcast, you and I are getting organized. The Home Edit is here to help you go from chaos and clutter to feeling calm and confident in your life and home. Clea and Joanna, The Home Edit is here-
- CSClea Shearer
[laughs]
- MRMel Robbins
... in Boston.
- JTJoanna Teplin
[laughs]
- MRMel Robbins
Welcome to-
- CSClea Shearer
Thank you
- MRMel Robbins
... the Mel Robbins Podcast.
- CSClea Shearer
It's the best.
- JTJoanna Teplin
We are so honored to be here.
- CSClea Shearer
It's thrilling.
- MRMel Robbins
Well, I invited you to the studios in Boston instead of my home in Vermont, because I was too embarrassed- [laughs]
- CSClea Shearer
[laughs]
- JTJoanna Teplin
[laughs]
- MRMel Robbins
... to have you.
- JTJoanna Teplin
You know, you're not the first person to tell us that.
- CSClea Shearer
[laughs]
- MRMel Robbins
I have followed you online for years, and I will tell you upfront, I am so excited to talk to you, because I have had a very mixed relationship with you two.
- CSClea Shearer
[laughs]
- JTJoanna Teplin
[laughs]
- MRMel Robbins
Because I've seen how beautiful your work is, and it has stirred both inspiration and a bit of, uh, shall I say shaming of myself when I see your beautiful pantries and color-coded stuff. I'm like, "I don't think I'm ever gonna..."
- CSClea Shearer
We're gonna erase that.
- MRMel Robbins
Okay.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
Erase it?
- CSClea Shearer
We're gonna erase your shame.
- MRMel Robbins
You are?
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yes.
- CSClea Shearer
We're gonna erase your shame.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Absolutely. The... It's for inspiration, but it doesn't have to be the, what you absolutely need to strive to become.
- CSClea Shearer
Yes. Our Instagram, it's our portfolio. It's, of course, it's gonna show all the beautiful things. You know, we, we like to say that, that the things that we put on Instagram, it's, it's like having a wedding album. It's not the marriage, it's the wedding album.
- 6:59 – 8:11
The NO COST Way to Declutter Your Home
- MRMel Robbins
I love this, 'cause you're right, organizing, I'm just, like, moving stuff around.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah.
- JTJoanna Teplin
And it feels overwhelming, and it feels like you're cleaning and all this. No, editing, you're curating the things that you need, use, and love.
- MRMel Robbins
This is gonna be one of these conversations where I forget I'm supposed to interview you.
- JTJoanna Teplin
[laughs]
- CSClea Shearer
[laughs]
- MRMel Robbins
Because I'm gonna be so up in my own head dealing with myself-
- JTJoanna Teplin
[laughs]
- MRMel Robbins
... and picturing places in my home and-
- CSClea Shearer
We should've done this in Vermont.
- JTJoanna Teplin
I know. [laughs]
- MRMel Robbins
Oh my God. Well, that, well, that'll be act two.
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah, let's get on a plane.
- JTJoanna Teplin
It's a magic trick though.
- MRMel Robbins
Well-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Changing the way that you think about it is half the battle also.
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
Okay, let's talk about something that we need to change the way we think about, because so many of us think we don't have time.
- CSClea Shearer
Yes.
- MRMel Robbins
That the ti- that the clutter's not really the problem. The problem is I don't have time-
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah
- MRMel Robbins
... to deal with the clutter. What do you say to the person like me who says, "Well, I just don't have time to do this."
- CSClea Shearer
There's an old adage, maybe we made it up, I don't know.
- JTJoanna Teplin
[laughs]
- MRMel Robbins
We're old, actually.
- CSClea Shearer
That, that, right, that organized people are just too lazy to look for things, because we just want something in one spot.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Right.
- CSClea Shearer
We just-
- JTJoanna Teplin
We don't wanna look for it
- 8:11 – 9:56
“I Don’t Have Time to Organize”: The Truth About Clutter and Time
- CSClea Shearer
in your house should, should have some home.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Right.
- CSClea Shearer
I don't care if it... It doesn't have to be, like, in a bin.
- JTJoanna Teplin
No.
- CSClea Shearer
It just needs to live somewhere.
- JTJoanna Teplin
In the same spot.
- CSClea Shearer
So you-
- JTJoanna Teplin
So every morning, your keys, you know where they are
- CSClea Shearer
... you always know where to go. You always know where to put it away, and it's just, it's that easy. It's, it can be drilled down to being something that simple.
- JTJoanna Teplin
And it's a system, and it, that's the other piece too, which is, we'll get into later, which is not to overcomplicate the system.
- CSClea Shearer
Right.
- JTJoanna Teplin
You have to have simple, sustainable systems.
- CSClea Shearer
Trust us, you, you, it is time well spent-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yes
- CSClea Shearer
... to take that small amount of energy and just focus drawer at a time-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah
- CSClea Shearer
... cabinet at a time.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Doesn't-
- CSClea Shearer
It doesn't have to, doesn't have to be overwhelming
- JTJoanna Teplin
... and do not do the house. Like, we would never advise you to even do a room to start with, ever, ever, ever. That's not where you wanna go.
- CSClea Shearer
No. You wanna-
- MRMel Robbins
Don't even start with a room?
- JTJoanna Teplin
No.
- CSClea Shearer
No.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Absolutely not.
- CSClea Shearer
Absolutely not.
- JTJoanna Teplin
You'll beget paralyzed in the corner.
- CSClea Shearer
Yes.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Like, it's so overwhelming to start with a room.
- CSClea Shearer
Absolutely.
- 9:56 – 14:02
The Daily Drawer: A Simple System That Makes Mornings Easier
- MRMel Robbins
we don't have to spend the rest of our lives as this version of ourselves-
- CSClea Shearer
No
- MRMel Robbins
... wasting time looking for things that we need.
- CSClea Shearer
No.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Absolutely.
- CSClea Shearer
And it's a muscle. Organizing is also a muscle. It doesn't, you don't have to be born good at it. You can learn to have a system that works for you, and you are organized. You can call yourself organized.
- MRMel Robbins
All right, well, let me ask you another question, because as you're listening or watching, maybe you feel the way that I feel, which is how can I be successful at work?
- CSClea Shearer
Mm-hmm.
- MRMel Robbins
How can I raise kids and have them fed? How can I be in a relationship and my dogs get fed? And yet I can't manage my own house or my own closet without having a panic attack.
- CSClea Shearer
Well, okay, let's break that up a little bit.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
Okay.
- CSClea Shearer
First of all, what you just described, you're a really busy person, right?
- MRMel Robbins
You are.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Man, most of us are. Like, I'm sure all of your listeners are very busy people.
- CSClea Shearer
Yes.
- MRMel Robbins
Very busy. You are highly functioning, and you simply just need to take something off of your list, which is, again, not racing around the house trying to search for a million things. You actually deserve a break. You deserve to have some peace in your home so that you can deal with all the m- million things you have going on.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm.
- CSClea Shearer
If you are a super busy person, again, whether it's kids, and work, and feeding dogs, and, you know, signing homework slips, and all-
- JTJoanna Teplin
It's a lot
- CSClea Shearer
... all the millions of things.
- JTJoanna Teplin
It's a lot.
- CSClea Shearer
And organizing actually takes something off of your plate.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- CSClea Shearer
It, it is a small amount of energy to put into something that has such a long-lasting effect, and it actually removes, like, a burden.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- CSClea Shearer
It's not, it doesn't add to it. You, people have to rethink and, and shift their-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yes
- CSClea Shearer
... their idea of what organizing is. It's not another chore.
- JTJoanna Teplin
No.
- 14:02 – 16:20
The Right Place to Start Decluttering When Your Home Feels Overwhelming
- JTJoanna Teplin
Well, if I have another baby, I spent so much money on these maternity clothes and I only wore them once. I would ha- it would be a shame to have to have another baby and now I have to buy the maternity clothes. God, do you think I should talk to my husband? Are we gonna have another child? Oh, my-
- CSClea Shearer
Or, or just even the, the thought of, "You know what? I spent money on that."
- JTJoanna Teplin
I spent money on that-
- CSClea Shearer
That, that is the biggest thing
- JTJoanna Teplin
... and I never wore it. Or my grandmother gave it to me and I never liked it. So there's guilt associated with all these decisions, too, and so that, I think, comes into play a lot of times with people having this, like, aversion to organizing because they're afraid to confront these bigger existential issues going on in their minds.
- CSClea Shearer
And I think that that, Joanna's exactly right. I think that it, those are the real issues why people resist it-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm
- CSClea Shearer
... but they use the fact that they don't have time.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm.
- CSClea Shearer
And I think that we all have a little bit of time. You spend a lot more time looking for things. You could spend very little time just being like, "I actually don't like that."
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- CSClea Shearer
You know?
- JTJoanna Teplin
I don't like that mug. It has a chip and I'm never gonna get it fixed.
- CSClea Shearer
It doesn't match the others. Whatever it is, it's so much easier, actually, to just make decisions about things. We, we have to go through life making good decisions all day, every day, so why not let this be one of them? And again, start extremely small. Start in a space, like Joanna said, without landmines.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yes.
- CSClea Shearer
Like-
- JTJoanna Teplin
No landmines. A junk drawer has very few.
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah.
- JTJoanna Teplin
That's why we love a junk drawer. You're not that attached to a paper clip.
- CSClea Shearer
Right.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Like, let's be honest. And if it's bent out of shape and it's not gonna work, it can go. Like, so we wanna start with the small wins, and then you kinda get your muscle memory and you kind of buil- build your confidence, and then you're like, "Oh, wait, you know what? I can actually do a cabinet, too."
- CSClea Shearer
Mm-hmm.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Because maybe that mug is sentimental from college, or maybe it's not, but you start getting the muscle and you're like, you feel the reward and the endorphins start kicking in, and you're like, "I can actually do this."
- CSClea Shearer
And then you're off to the races.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Boom.
- MRMel Robbins
Thank you to today's partner, Expedia. You know, if you haven't booked your next trip yet, now's the time. Let me, your friend, remind you, you deserve to go do something exciting. 'Cause travel can make you feel alive in so many different ways. In fact, research tells you and me that travel's one of the most important things that you can do for yourself, your happiness, your health. In fact, most people make a big life decision after traveling. And you don't have to go that far. Yeah, you could fly halfway around the world, but it could just be a quick weekend getaway or even exploring the neighboring town. It all counts as travel, 'cause you're getting out of your day-to-day and experiencing something new. And Expedia makes it easy. Flights, hotels, vacation rentals, cars,
- 16:20 – 22:16
The First Step to Organizing Any Room in Your Home
- MRMel Robbins
activities all in one place. And when you bundle, you can save up to 30% with everything you need in one app. Life is short, so stop waiting and book the trip. And the beauty of having everything in one app with Expedia is that you can go from an idea to booked in minutes. No jumping between sites, no hassle. Sign in to save. Savings theory, Expedia. The one place you go to go places. So let's say I look around-
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah
- MRMel Robbins
... my house.
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
From the garage to the, if you're lucky enough to have an entry or a mudroom-
- CSClea Shearer
Sure
- MRMel Robbins
... to the kitchen, to the... And all you see is like, oh my God, what's the first step?
- CSClea Shearer
Okay. Okay.
- MRMel Robbins
So-
- CSClea Shearer
The very first step, let's just talk about a mudroom, right?
- MRMel Robbins
Okay.
- CSClea Shearer
Let's just say.
- MRMel Robbins
Okay.
- CSClea Shearer
A mudroom or an entry, whatever you have, especially if you have kids-
- MRMel Robbins
Uh-huh
- CSClea Shearer
... it is what one of the places that we call ground central. It is where everyone comes in and out of, and it's where things get dropped and things get left. And it's like, well, this is my project pile and this is where the kids' backpacks are.
- MRMel Robbins
Yeah.
- CSClea Shearer
And so the first thing you need to do is assess, does everything belong here?
- MRMel Robbins
Yes.
- CSClea Shearer
You know? Like, are there things here, like, that-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Dirty socks. What, no, why are those there?
- CSClea Shearer
Because I have a 21-year-old son-
- JTJoanna Teplin
All right. Well, that-
- CSClea Shearer
... who, like, walks in the door and drops them on the floor
- JTJoanna Teplin
... and that's, and we'll get into what to do with family members too.
- CSClea Shearer
We'll get into that.
- JTJoanna Teplin
We'll get into that.
- MRMel Robbins
Yeah.
- CSClea Shearer
And we're gonna come back. We're gonna stay on task.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yes, we're gonna stay on task.
- 22:16 – 26:09
How to Organize Mail, Paper Clutter, and Messy Countertops
- CSClea Shearer
bin's where it goes. Look up. Vertical storage is-
- MRMel Robbins
That's right
- CSClea Shearer
... always an option.
- MRMel Robbins
Behind a door, over a door.
- CSClea Shearer
Behind a door, over a door.
- MRMel Robbins
Yep.
- CSClea Shearer
Hooks are super cheap.
- MRMel Robbins
Yep.
- CSClea Shearer
And, uh, don't fight the tide.
- MRMel Robbins
That's right. You got it, Mel.
- CSClea Shearer
Stop turning Grand Central into an Architectural Digest photo shoot.
- MRMel Robbins
Yes.
- CSClea Shearer
Exactly.
- MRMel Robbins
And just embrace Grand Central.
- CSClea Shearer
Yep.
- MRMel Robbins
Embrace it. Got it.
- CSClea Shearer
If, if you know that every day, whether it's you or a partner, whatever, everyone gets the mail, and the mail always goes right down on the counter.
- MRMel Robbins
Oh, my God. Can we talk about this?
- CSClea Shearer
All we need is a simple basket.
- MRMel Robbins
Tray. You need a tray.
- CSClea Shearer
That's it. A tray.
- MRMel Robbins
Or a basket.
- CSClea Shearer
A basket. That's it.
- MRMel Robbins
Th- let's talk about paper clutter. Why do the entryways, the kitchen-
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah
- MRMel Robbins
... like, why do the counters-
- CSClea Shearer
Flat surfaces. Because it's just asking. You're just like, "Oh, this is a space I can put things on top of." So we also try, when it's possible, to not have additional flat spaces for things to get cluttered.
- MRMel Robbins
Like open flat spaces.
- CSClea Shearer
Yes. Just asking.
- MRMel Robbins
A, a flat space is fine, but just an open, empty spot-
- 26:09 – 35:05
How to Declutter Anything: The “Need, Use, or Love” Method
- CSClea Shearer
if they leave the keys or the glasses not in the home that you helped create-
- MRMel Robbins
Yes
- CSClea Shearer
... that's-
- JTJoanna Teplin
That's a them problem
- CSClea Shearer
... that's a them problem.
- JTJoanna Teplin
And that's something-
- MRMel Robbins
Got it
- JTJoanna Teplin
... that needs to be worked on.
- MRMel Robbins
So I don't have a home for those things.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Right.
- MRMel Robbins
Which is why they keep ending up.
- CSClea Shearer
That's why-
- MRMel Robbins
And that's a me problem.
- JTJoanna Teplin
That's right.
- MRMel Robbins
So I gotta create a home.
- JTJoanna Teplin
That's the thing.
- CSClea Shearer
Then you create the home, and then it's a them problem if they don't follow it.
- MRMel Robbins
Oh my God, I love this.
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah. It's a, it's a me and a them problem.
- MRMel Robbins
Got it.
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
This is actually kinda simple.
- CSClea Shearer
It is.
- JTJoanna Teplin
It is.
- CSClea Shearer
Organizing is simple.
- MRMel Robbins
Wow. Okay, let's talk about editing.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Okay.
- CSClea Shearer
Okay.
- MRMel Robbins
Because when you said, "Okay, we're not even gonna talk about organizing. Let's just talk about first this editing."
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah.
- 35:05 – 48:47
How to Organize a Junk Drawer Step by Step Without Buying Anything | NO COST
- JTJoanna Teplin
the categorization because if you can see that you have 20 pens, when they're all, when things are all scattered all over, you have no idea what you even own, and then you end up wasting money because you're buying it over and over again.
- MRMel Robbins
Oh, my gosh, that's so true.
- JTJoanna Teplin
But if you-
- MRMel Robbins
And then I have 40 pens-
- JTJoanna Teplin
That's right
- MRMel Robbins
... not 20 pens.
- JTJoanna Teplin
But if you see them all together, again, this comes back to you don't have time to not be organized. Like, once you're organized, you save so much time and so much money.
- CSClea Shearer
Right.
- MRMel Robbins
All right. Well, we'll come to the, into the details of the organization and containment-
- CSClea Shearer
Yes
- MRMel Robbins
... in a little bit. First, I wanna make sure we understand editing.
- CSClea Shearer
Yep.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm-hmm.
- MRMel Robbins
And we talked a little bit about pens and scissors. Let's talk about the junk drawer that we all have that gets out of control, and I would love for you to walk us through a zero-cost way-
- CSClea Shearer
Yep, let's do it
- MRMel Robbins
... to take the disaster in a drawer and edit and organize.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Well, someone brought us your drawer, Mel.
- CSClea Shearer
Yep.
- MRMel Robbins
Wait.
- CSClea Shearer
We actually, I'm so sorry to tell you-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah, at this late stage, but we'll-
- CSClea Shearer
... and to put you-
- MRMel Robbins
Did you call Clea? [laughs]
- JTJoanna Teplin
[laughs]
- CSClea Shearer
I am so sorry to put you on blast like this.
- JTJoanna Teplin
We have your junk drawer.
- CSClea Shearer
You know, I know this is your show, and this-
- MRMel Robbins
Oh, my gosh
- CSClea Shearer
... this is your, this is your junk drawer.
- MRMel Robbins
It is.
- 48:47 – 52:10
The Biggest Decluttering Mistakes, and How to Avoid Them
- CSClea Shearer
in, within 30 minutes, and the great thing is going from A to Z in a small space is the same thing as going A to Z in a big space.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm.
- CSClea Shearer
The rules are the same.
- JTJoanna Teplin
That's right.
- MRMel Robbins
Got it.
- CSClea Shearer
It just takes more time.
- MRMel Robbins
That was so helpful, and the edits, easy.
- CSClea Shearer
Easy.
- MRMel Robbins
Do I use it? Do I need it? Do I love it?
- JTJoanna Teplin
That's right.
- CSClea Shearer
Easy.
- MRMel Robbins
Awesome. All right, I have more questions.
- CSClea Shearer
Okay.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Okay.
- MRMel Robbins
Now we've gone from drawers-
- CSClea Shearer
I'm gonna take the drawer away
- MRMel Robbins
... all right, let's take all this stuff away.
- JTJoanna Teplin
All right, all right, good.
- CSClea Shearer
I'm gonna take the drawer away.
- MRMel Robbins
'Cause I wanna go from drawers to other parts of the house.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Okay, let's do that.
- CSClea Shearer
Okay.
- MRMel Robbins
So let's talk about the big mistakes and traps.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Okay.
- MRMel Robbins
It's a Saturday morning.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yes.
- CSClea Shearer
Okay.
- MRMel Robbins
Kids are out, partner's gone.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Okay.
- CSClea Shearer
Sounds amazing.
- 52:10 – 54:16
Why the Mess Keeps Coming Back, and How to Make Organization Last
- CSClea Shearer
for myself. I will not buy new hangers. I don't need any more.
- MRMel Robbins
Ooh.
- CSClea Shearer
The hangers are, they completely match the space I have. If I need to add hangers, then I'm shoving things into my closet.
- MRMel Robbins
Oh.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm.
- CSClea Shearer
So if I'm, if I get into a one in, one out, that means like I'm not adding a hanger to accommodate my new clothes. I will purge.
- JTJoanna Teplin
She, and she's an excellent, she is ruthless.
- CSClea Shearer
I'm hardcore.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
Wow. Why does mess always come back?
- CSClea Shearer
It really comes down to putting systems in, in like a situation that is so sustainable and easy and simple. So when a mess comes back, I generally think it's like, okay, Joanna and I obviously organize, we spend the time organizing our homes. If we create a system that's too complicated or don't put in a system at all, the mess will come back. If you're only tidying up a space-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm-hmm
- CSClea Shearer
... and not truly organizing it-
- MRMel Robbins
Oh
- CSClea Shearer
... the mess comes back. It's, a- all organizing is, if you really wanna keep it as organized as the day you did it, you just have to create simple, realistic systems and set realistic expectations. A lot of it comes down to a me versus them.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm.
- CSClea Shearer
Is it a me problem or a them problem?
- JTJoanna Teplin
Uh-huh.
- CSClea Shearer
If I... I don't even care if it's a kids' playroom. You just put big floor bins for like blocks.
- JTJoanna Teplin
That's right.
- CSClea Shearer
For dolls. If you start-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Don't have Disney doll, or-
- CSClea Shearer
No
- JTJoanna Teplin
... princess dolls here.
- CSClea Shearer
Oh my God, I get that.
- JTJoanna Teplin
But people, but people do go down the path, 'cause it's easy to do, and because you do it one day and you get excited.
- CSClea Shearer
And they get excited.
- JTJoanna Teplin
And then the thing is, it's too hard to maintain, and then all the wheels fall off the bus.
- CSClea Shearer
Like okay, for instance, for a pantry. We love pantries.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Love.
- 54:16 – 55:32
Why Clothes Are So Hard to Let Go Of
- JTJoanna Teplin
person just in general, just the six categories and you are off to the races with organization.
- CSClea Shearer
Just simple systems. And one of the keys to maintenance is a label.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yes.
- CSClea Shearer
And again, that, that feels like it's just an aesthetic situation, and it is not. Labels are a set of instructions for the household.
- MRMel Robbins
I love this. Oh my gosh, I am gonna have so much fun this weekend. What is the hardest thing That people seem to have trouble getting rid of.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Denim.
- MRMel Robbins
Denim?
- JTJoanna Teplin
We have had to make many, many aspirational denim categories in a closet, because people feel like they're always gonna be able to fit in to their old jeans.
- CSClea Shearer
And I would say just generally clothes. Clothes are so-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Clothes are really hard
- CSClea Shearer
... because it's the emotional piece that goes with clothes.
- JTJoanna Teplin
There's so many triggers in a closet that it's so hard. So going, once you are ready for the closet, just give yourself grace, and know that you may come across things that are hard for you to face, and be patient with yourself.
- MRMel Robbins
And-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Because it is hard
- MRMel Robbins
... okay. You were masterful in walking us through the drawer. If somebody-
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yes
- MRMel Robbins
... starts with the drawers-
- CSClea Shearer
Okay.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Okay
- MRMel Robbins
... we're doing one drawer at a time.
- CSClea Shearer
Yep.
- MRMel Robbins
We're getting good-
- CSClea Shearer
Yep
- MRMel Robbins
... with the pens.
- CSClea Shearer
Yep.
- MRMel Robbins
We are really starting
- 55:32 – 57:09
How to Declutter Your Closet Without Getting Overwhelmed
- MRMel Robbins
to feel motivated.
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
We got the six different items in the pantry.
- CSClea Shearer
You got it.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm-hmm.
- MRMel Robbins
We have handled grand central.
- CSClea Shearer
Yes.
- JTJoanna Teplin
You're working through the house.
- CSClea Shearer
Cruising.
- MRMel Robbins
Yes, we're working through the house.
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
I'm, I'm realizing my systems-
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah
- MRMel Robbins
... are simple. I'm able to get things where they're supposed to be. I'm not buying more stuff. I'm starting to feel like, "Oh my God, I've got more space." I'm feeling good about this.
- CSClea Shearer
Yes.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm-hmm.
- MRMel Robbins
Now I'm ready for the closet.
- CSClea Shearer
Okay.
- MRMel Robbins
How do you want us to think?
- JTJoanna Teplin
You still need to start super small.
- MRMel Robbins
Do I have to empty the whole thing out?
- JTJoanna Teplin
Not at once. Do not do that at once.
- MRMel Robbins
So just one drawer?
- CSClea Shearer
Or one category, so like-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Or like one, you know, bank of clothes or whatever
- MRMel Robbins
... and are there categories, I know this is a weird question-
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah
- MRMel Robbins
... like in the pantry-
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah
- MRMel Robbins
... is there a ca- or-
- 57:09 – 58:42
Sell or Donate? What to Do With Clothes You No Longer Want
- CSClea Shearer
I pull them all out of the closet.
- JTJoanna Teplin
All, all of them.
- CSClea Shearer
Yep. Throw them all on the bed.
- JTJoanna Teplin
That's right.
- CSClea Shearer
Pull it out, just look at it. Do I actually, do I wanna take the .5 seconds it's going to take to actually put this back on the rod? Like, do I actually love this, or do I, am I never gonna wear this kinda tank top ever again?
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- CSClea Shearer
You know?
- JTJoanna Teplin
And if something creeps up, oh gosh, I've, it cost so much, and I've never worn it, and now-
- CSClea Shearer
Sell it, donate.
- MRMel Robbins
Okay, let's talk about the selling, donate. Selling is a whole-
- CSClea Shearer
That's right
- MRMel Robbins
... nother thing.
- JTJoanna Teplin
And that's a barrier to entry, and so we don't want you to get stuck with the selling.
- CSClea Shearer
There are a few things that if you wanna sell your items that are, you know, that you spent money on, that you feel like, you know, I spent, I spent some money on this. Y- there are resellers that do the work for you. You know? There are people who do the Poshmarks, that do the RealReal, that do-
- MRMel Robbins
Really?
- CSClea Shearer
Oh, yeah.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm-hmm, yeah.
- CSClea Shearer
All s- there are people who do these things. It's their job.
- MRMel Robbins
And they just take a commission?
- CSClea Shearer
Uh-huh.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
And they market it, and you drop-
- CSClea Shearer
Yep
- MRMel Robbins
... your stuff off with them?
- CSClea Shearer
Yes.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yes.
- MRMel Robbins
Oh.
- CSClea Shearer
They do, they pick it up. They do the whole thing. And I would guarantee there's always an exception to a rule here, but I can't think of anyone we've worked with, a single client, that has missed what they have purged from their closet.
- MRMel Robbins
Ooh.
- CSClea Shearer
They make the decision, and once it's gone, it's gone.
- 58:42 – 1:00:12
Small-Space Organization: How to Create More Storage Without More Room
- MRMel Robbins
hanging rod, put the empty hanger back at the end of the rod."
- CSClea Shearer
Yes.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
I never do that. I stick it in the middle.
- CSClea Shearer
No.
- JTJoanna Teplin
No.
- CSClea Shearer
You can't find it. And sometimes, like if I do a real big, like a major purge, like from all the different sections, I won't take all of the hangers and put them on one rod-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah
- CSClea Shearer
... at the end. I put it in their section.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- CSClea Shearer
So that way it's not, doesn't take up so much space on, on one rod.
- MRMel Robbins
So what if you live in a really small place?
- CSClea Shearer
Okay.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm-hmm.
- MRMel Robbins
Okay? And do you have, uh, suggestions for, like where do you put things like clean laundry-
- CSClea Shearer
Mm-hmm
- MRMel Robbins
... before it's folded? Where you put your work laptop when it's the weekend?
- CSClea Shearer
So this goes back to external storage.
- MRMel Robbins
Mm-hmm.
- CSClea Shearer
Like we talked about with hooks, o- over the wall unit, things like that. A cart-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm
- CSClea Shearer
... is a miracle.
- JTJoanna Teplin
It's amazing.
- MRMel Robbins
What do you mean by a cart?
- CSClea Shearer
A three-tier cart.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Ugh.
- CSClea Shearer
They sell them at the con- they sell them all over the place, but we, we made one at one point-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah
- CSClea Shearer
... at The Container Store. The Container Store has tons.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yep.
- 1:00:12 – 1:01:31
How to Know When Your Home Is Organized Enough
- JTJoanna Teplin
the back of the door. It's clean looking. You can put shoes on the back. You can put-
- MRMel Robbins
Oh, that's true. This is your look up thing, so you're using-
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yes
- MRMel Robbins
... vertical surfaces.
- JTJoanna Teplin
We're always looking for vertical space.
- CSClea Shearer
Vertical space and, uh, and external storage. A cart is-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Ugh. It's-
- CSClea Shearer
But see, when you said external storage, I thought you meant outside.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Oh, no, no, no.
- CSClea Shearer
And I'm like, oh, sorry. Sorry, sorry. Um, additional storage-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah
- CSClea Shearer
... that, that doesn't exist already. It's prebuilt.
- JTJoanna Teplin
It's not like built into the house.
- MRMel Robbins
Got it.
- CSClea Shearer
Yes.
- MRMel Robbins
Okay, that makes sense.
- CSClea Shearer
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
So how do you know when you've edited and organized and contained enough?
- CSClea Shearer
Okay.
- MRMel Robbins
Whenever it works.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Oh.
- MRMel Robbins
That's how you know. If it works, you've done it.
- JTJoanna Teplin
You did it.
- MRMel Robbins
If it's falling apart, you need to rethink your system.
- JTJoanna Teplin
And let me say this, though. It's not just falling apart. There is a level of maintenance that's required.
- MRMel Robbins
Yes.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Organizing is not a one and done. It's akin to exercise. You can't go to the gym one time. Like, that is not how it works.
- MRMel Robbins
Right.
- JTJoanna Teplin
You don't do anything one time. You invest in your relationships. You have to constantly maintain things that matter to you, and organizing is unfortunately no different.
- 1:01:31 – 1:09:33
How to Get Organized When You Feel Overwhelmed: Try the Low-Bar Method
- MRMel Robbins
is the easy solution? What is a system that's simple to maintain?
- JTJoanna Teplin
Mm.
- MRMel Robbins
Because it, it, that's when things go off the rails. If it, if you put in a system that's, like, kinda too complicated, it's not gonna work.
- JTJoanna Teplin
It's like exercise. If you, something falls off, somebody puts in the steak knives into the junk drawer in your, in your kitchen, it's not like, oh my God, it's over. No, no, no. It's exercise. Like, you... Okay, so you wor- you missed two days of working out. Just get right back up there and do it again.
- CSClea Shearer
Um, we talked a little bit about the low-bar method-
- MRMel Robbins
Mm-hmm
- CSClea Shearer
... for closet.
- MRMel Robbins
Yeah.
- CSClea Shearer
But is there any other examples of low-bar editing?
- JTJoanna Teplin
Our whole life is low bar.
- MRMel Robbins
Our whole life. So-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah. [laughs]
- MRMel Robbins
I, we, we have something called a low-bar lifestyle.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
Which means if you set the bar low enough-
- JTJoanna Teplin
You will achieve it
- MRMel Robbins
... you'll be able to get over it.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- MRMel Robbins
So if you, if the bar is on the floor, you're gonna be able to-
- JTJoanna Teplin
That's right
- MRMel Robbins
... to walk over it.
- CSClea Shearer
Except for nothing's supposed to be on the floor.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Well, that's right.
- MRMel Robbins
Except for the rug.
- CSClea Shearer
Except for the rug and the bar.
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah.
- CSClea Shearer
The rug and the bar. Um, but if you set the bar low enough, basically what we just want people to understand is that any amount of effort that they put in is enough. Any amount of energy, of effort, of, of financing, of whatever is enough, and you don't need to beat yourself up. Like-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah
- CSClea Shearer
... the low-bar lifestyle is about giving yourself a gold star-
- JTJoanna Teplin
Yeah
Episode duration: 1:09:33
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Transcript of episode BfW9ENoucyE
