Life Made Simple With Carlarae Motivation Inspiration Home Organizing Time Management Lifestyle & Wellnes

Do you have a handful of things that have been on your to-do list that never seem to get done because there is always something more important to do? Things that you figure you'll do "one day"? Some of those projects and to-dos may not even be on your list anymore because you've put off doing them for so long... they're just tucked away in a box or closet somewhere. We all have those sort of projects lying around. Today I give you a little inspiration, a little motivation, and even a few tips on how you can finally get those things done once and for all.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Episode #51: A Must-Have Tool To Stay Motivated Everyday Episode #88: Paint Or Get Off The Ladder!   Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode177 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANI

Think of a few things on your to-do list that you've been procrastinating on... Do you get too preoccupied with details that may not matter in the long run? Do you wait until it feel like just the "right time" to do something? Do you find that many tasks are strenuous and slow going when you try to complete them? Do you prefer not to do something at all if it can’t be done perfectly? Or do you tend to have an "all or nothing" way of thinking? If you can answer yes to one or more of these questions then you just might be a Perfectionist Procrastinator. On today's episode I tell you how I definitely relate to this style of procrastination and what I've done to change.     Links Mentioned in this Show: Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode176 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with

Since time began, people have always put off till tomorrow what they could have done today. Sadly, it's true: each and every one of us, to some extent, is a procrastinator. We all know that procrastination negatively effects not only ourselves and our work, but sometimes others in our life as well. But if it's so destructive, then why do we do it? Well, there is sooo much psychology behind why people procrastinate. Today we dive in deep to one of the handful of reasons... it's actually considered a particular style of procrastination. I also give you a handful of tips on how you can finally begin to tackle the important things that need to get done.... with no excuses and no delay.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Episode #31: Urgent vs Important - Is It Important? Or Just Urgent?   Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode175 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLI

For many of us, we don't always have hours or even days to organize an entire room or closet. Fortunately, it doesn't always have to be a huge, time-consuming event. Sometimes all it takes is a few minutes here and there. Simplifying your home is a process, it's not just a one shot deal. Over time, stuff naturally creeps back into your house. If you want to tame the chaos, then ongoing mini declutter sessions are a must. Today I give you a list of 10 different things that you can easily toss in less than 10 minutes to help declutter you home.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode174 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson   Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/

Whether or not you consider yourself to be a "list-maker" type of person, we all have - to some degree - a love/hate relationship with our to-do lists.  On today's Encore Episode, we go back to episode #89 and take a look at why to-do lists just don't work for some people. I explain why you should consider having to-do lists, if you don't already. We look at why it's important to properly maintain those lists and then I give you some unique tips and techniques on how to do just that.    Links Mentioned in this Show: Episode #68: Get More Done With A Focus Frame Episode #90: My Favorite To-Do List Tool   Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode173 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson   Submit Q

Today's myth is the assumption there is only one right way to organize. Surprisingly, I've even heard a couple professional home organizers believe this misconception. On today's episode I debunk that myth and explain why there is really no one right way to organize.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode172 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life" Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home" Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson   Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

Most kids have collections. My son collects bottle caps from the beach, coins, fidget spinners, and Pokémon cards.   Do you have children that collect things? What do they collect? Maybe dinosaurs, Legos, stuffed animals, cars, shells, stickers, or bugs. I definitely want my son to have a healthy relationship with stuff. I want to encourage him to live a simple life with a clutter-free home. BUT, I am learning that it is still very important for children (and even adults) to have collections. On today's episode I am give you a handful of reasons as to why you should not only let your child have a collection, but why you should also encourage them to maintain it and help them to honor it.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Episode #25: PART 1: How Can I Help My Child Let Go of Stuff? Episode #27: PART 2: How Can I Help My Child Let Go of Stuff?   Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode171 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simpl

Today's myth is the very common misconception that only certain types of people can be organized. Well, that's just not true. You don't have to be an organizing whiz in order to get or stay organized. You don't have to be born with a specific gene or have a certain type of personality. ANYONE can learn how to be organized. In today's episode I explain how organization is a skill, not just a trait.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode170 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson   Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

Today, I'm having one of those mushy-gushy-sappy-sentimental "Mommy Moments". You see, this coming Thursday is my son's last day of 1st Grade.  I honestly have no idea where the school year went! I know it's such a cliché, but kids really do grow too fast. On today's episode I share with you a short article written by Jim Daly who is the president of Focus on the Family. It's called "The Moments We Nearly Miss."   Links Mentioned in this Show: Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode169 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson   Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

Today's myth is a big one. It is a misconception we all tend to believe. Here it is: Before you organize, you need to buy the perfect containers. Well, that's not necessarily true. The fact is you don't always know what the perfect containers are going to be - or if you are going to even need them at all - until AFTER you organize your stuff. On today's episode I explain what it means to organize backwards and how not to fall in that trap.    Links Mentioned in this Show: Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Episode #5: Top Organizing Strategies and Secrets Revealed! Episode #65: Do You Tend To Organize Backwards?   Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode168 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY     Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson   Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArne

A listener recently sent me a note: "CarlaRae, I really want to simplify my life, but the problem is I LOVE to shop!" Do you relate to that statement?  I know I sure do!  Shopping can definitely be fun. And it can be very therapeutic. But, mindless and impulsive shopping can become a huge problem if you're not careful. Today, we take a look at the psychology behind retail therapy and I give you some very practical strategies to help you become a more mindful shopper, so that your retail habits don't jeopardize your efforts to simplify your life.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode167 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson   Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.c

The myth that I debunk today is a very common misconception. It's the idea or belief that if you are a truly organized person, then your house is perfect. Well, here's the truth (and maybe by telling you this I'm  letting you off the hook): Being organized doesn't mean being perfect.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Episode #138: Messy, Cluttered, Or Disorganized? There Is A Difference!   Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode166 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson   Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

Why is it so hard to let a good thing go? For today's Encore Episode we are going to rewind to one year ago. In this episode I share with you one of my most favorite strategies for finding simplicity.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Episode #10: "Can You Have Too Much of A Good Thing?"   Episode #75: "Treat Your Life Like A Rose Bush - It's Time To Prune!" Episode #76: " How & What To 'Prune' Out Of Your Life"   Share this episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode165 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson   Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae

This is the first episode in a 5 part series. Over the years, I've witnessed many of my clients fall victim to a handful of misconceptions that they somehow came to believe about how to organize and how to stay organized. So, over these next 5 weeks for our "3 Minute Thursday" episodes on Life Made Simple, I am going to debunk 5 of the most common home organizing myths. On today's episode we start with Myth #1: Organizing is something you only have to do once. Well, sorry, but most of the time, that simply isn't  true. Organization is not a one-shot deal.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode164 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson   Submit Questions: CarlaRa

I don't know about you, but sometimes my mind is complicated. All the thoughts that swirl around inside my head are messy, chaotic, even confusing at times. As I try to simplify my home, my schedule and all other areas of my life, I want to also figure out how to simplify my crazy cluttered brain. Which is why, for today's episode share with you an excerpt from a book called Reclaim Your Brain: How to Calm Your Thoughts, Heal Your Mind, and Bring Your Life Under Control, written by a psychiatrist by the name of Dr. Joseph Annibali. In it he explains why getting negativity under control is crucial to a calm, mindful brain and how to do it.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode163 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: C

I'm a firm believer that you can completely change your life by just spending a few minutes a day listening, watching, or reading something that inspires you, challenges you to grow, or somehow just makes you a better you. If you listen often than you know I LOVE personal development. It's hard to wake up every morning motivated to conquer your day. It just is. We don't always feel motivated. You have to be intentional about surrounding yourself with things and people that motivate you. The problem is, we don't always FEEL like doing it. And for many of us who have crazy busy lives, sometimes we feel like we just don't have the time for it. If you ever feel like that, then today's episode will help.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Blinkist App: Blinkist.com   Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode162 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5

Yesterday was Mother's Day... a day to celebrate the strong amazing women in our lives who have helped raise us, teach us, and have loved us more than life itself. Today I'd like to share with you an inspiring article written by Rachel Marie Martin. Her blog is FindingJoy.net. The article is called "20 Mom Things I Wish I Had Done More Of". Keep in mind there are many points that can pertain to your life even if you aren't a parent.     Links Mentioned in this Show:   Rachel's Article: 20 Mom Things I Wish I Had Done More Of Rachel's Blog: FindingJoy.net   Episode #95: Take Time To Savor Your Little Ones Episode #96: Dear "In A Minute" Mom   Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode161 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook:

Sometimes, life is hard. There are many days, sometimes weeks, and even seasons in my life when I feel unmotivated and uninspired. And it doesn't feel good.   But the problem is, when you feel like that, when you're in the middle of feeling "blah", it's even harder to work your way out of it. Sometimes, in those moments, I just don't care. I don't want to tackle my to-dos. I don't want to work. I don't feel like doing my best or being my best. In fact, I don't feel like doing anything. In those moments, it's easy to feel almost complacent and even lazy. And you know what, it's ok to have those kinds of days. But when those inevitable seasons last longer than I'd like them to, I want to flip a switch and somehow snap out of it. On today's episode of Life Made Simple, I share with you one strategy that I've used in my own life to help battle your "blahs".   Links Mentioned in this Show: Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode160 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: Simp

I try to get as many wears as I can out of things like jeans, sweaters, and most of my blouses before I wash them. My husband and son do the same thing, which SIGNIFICANTLY cuts down on the amount of laundry we have to do. How often you wash a piece of clothing is, of course, entirely up to you. The real dilemma that I address on today's episode is this: when you wear something, but you're not ready to wash it yet, what do you do with it? What do you do with the clothes you have that are half-dirty, half clean? Where do you put those in-between clothes?     Links Mentioned in this Show: Episode #21: Here's Your Closet Clean-Out Master Plan!   Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode159 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook:

A messy home can be maddening!  But don't worry... you're not crazy. Did you know that there is scientific evidence that clutter causes anxiety? On today's quick and brief 3 Minute Thursday Episode, I share with you an article that I recently stumbled across that offers some reasons as to why clutter causes stress as well as a few tips to help prevent clutter.   Links Mentioned in this Show: Article by D.G. Sciortino: There’s Scientific Evidence That Clutter Causes Anxiety   Share this Episode: CarlaRaeArneson.com/episode158 Share this Podcast: LifeMadeSimplePodcast.com   Simplicity University: SimplicityU.com   Free Guide:  "9 Ways to Simplify Your Life"   Or send a text to 44222 with the word 9SIMPLIFY   Free Download: "5 Steps to Organizing Your Home"  Or send a text to 44222 with the word ORGANIZE   Website: CarlaRaeArneson.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CarlaRaeArneson   Submit Questions: CarlaRaeArneson.com/AskCarlaRae