De-Clutter your Life with Debra Smouse & A Giveaway

I’m so delighted for you all to meet my friend and peer, Debra Smouse. I’ve known Debra for a year through my work with All Things Girl as a freelance writer. Debra joined the online magazine in 2001 and became Editor in Chief in 2005. In addition to her writing she is also a life coach whose main focus is around creating a daily life that you love. She is an outside-the-box thinker that knows that one size does NOT fit all lives. She shares loads of ideas in her blog and her weekly newsletter.

She says it’s all about choosing love over fear. It’s how you begin living the life you’ve been dreaming of.

I know I’m not alone with my daily fight against clutter – clothes strewn in our room, school papers on our counters, piles of yet-to-be-finished furniture in the basement. I know you often don’t see clutter-filled shots on the blog, but it is out of camera shot and little piles of stuff in most rooms. Here’s a space I’m currently working on:

I often have so much clutter in my head too (so many to-do lists!).

Debra knows that it’s not just physical clutter that hampers us from living. It’s the mental and emotional clutter taking up our brain (and soul) space. Clutter of all kinds stands between the big dreams you have for your life. Debra can help you with all of this clutter and more. She has a special offer and is giving away a season’s pass for one lucky reader (value $109) for more details read on!

Here’s our little chat over coffee:

Q. Debra, first, can you tell my readers how you started life coaching?

A. I’ve really been coaching my whole life, but formally, I began my coaching practice in 2010. I had been working as a consultant (mostly in project management) for almost a decade and found that big chunks of my time were spent coaching my clients around personnel issues and domestic struggles. When my world began to change in 2010 (and I no longer wanted to live out of a suitcase), I got my certification as a coach and transitioned my business from project management to helping people hone in on what they really wanted (and needed) in order to live a life that feels supportive and nourishing.

Q. Clutter is a huge issue in all our daily lives. I know your e-course goes into great detail, but can you give my readers two top tips?

A. When it comes to physical clutter, the number one tip I have is to stop before you buy. We often buy things out of desire to feed an emotion instead of out of love or need.  If you’re living in a cluttered space, begin by clearing space in your bedroom, desk and kitchen. The bedroom should be a place that feels sacred and restful. Your desk should allow you to think and create. And your kitchen is where you nourish your family. 

When it comes to “calendar clutter”, remember that “no” is a complete sentence. And, baby, you don’t have to explain away why you’re saying no.

Q. This is a busy time of year for everyone, with Thanksgiving and the holidays coming up. It can feel pretty overwhelming to cram it all in. What is your advice on finding happiness in such busy lives?

A. I believe that there is sacred to be found in the everyday art of living, but if we’re rushing around from one task or event to the next, we miss the beauty of it. Create routines that feel nourishing and supportive.

Build into your day a few moments for a deep breath and a little prayer or meditation. Linger over a cup of coffee and light candles at dinner.  For me, personally, it begins with that first cup of coffee each day.

All of these seemingly insignificant details connect you to what is sacred within your own soul. 
Reduce your obligations to the bare minimal. We say that holidays are all about family, but it isn’t very fun (as an adult or a child) to rush from one place to the next and not enjoy the food or the toys!
Block off at least one night a week where there are no outside obligations so you and your family can really relax together.

And though it’s common to think about gratitude around Thanksgiving, know that creating a gratitude practice can help you re-wire your brain to go to the positive instead of the negative.

Q. I know many of us with young children can feel bogged down with the daily chores – meals, help with homework, keeping the house tidy. What is one of the first steps to creating a life you love and find rewarding?

A. I’m a big fan of keeping extra curricular activities to one or two per child so that you aren’t always rushing around.  Kids need time to be kids and just play, especially unstructured play. Learning to play alone (or with a sibling) instead of “being entertained” is a way for kids to learn how to amuse themselves. It also allows them to dream and be creative.

Unplanned Times on beach & at home with legos are the happiest for our family.

I think even the smallest of children can learn organization if they’re given tools. I love big colored baskets and bins as a way to easily organize a room. What happens, is we try to make things too complicated. I’m a fan of unmatched socks in baskets (who has time to match socks??), toy boxes, and bookshelves.  When your child gets something new, have them pick something old to giveaway to charity.

And when your child becomes interested in time and activities, get them one of those big calendars for the back of their bedroom door so they can count down days to Christmas, a class party or their scout meeting. The allows them to begin to understand the concepts of “waiting” and “planning”.

Paper clutter is huge for school aged children. Have one designated place for papers, homework, etc. Create a designated “launch pad” for each person in the family and, before bed each evening, everyone spends 10 minutes getting ready for the next day: book bags, coats, etc are put in the launch pad area – and clothes for the next day are laid out so there isn’t a scramble for clothes, shoes, or socks in those rushed morning hours.

Q. Who is life coaching for?

A. Life coaching isn’t just for celebrities, it’s for everyone. Hiring a coach is about gaining an ally, partner, cheerleader, and butt-kicker. As a coach, I see the best in all of my clients, long before they can see the beauty within themselves and their lives. Working with a coach isn’t about a belief that you’re broken or need to be fixed. It’s about seeing the best within yourself, and stepping towards what you desire. Coaches hold your hand, are compassionate (and non-judgmental) observers, cheer you on, hold you accountable to what you say you want, and help you move from unstuck and fear towards love.
Friends and sisters are great, but coaches are non-partial and aren’t tied up in the drama or existing relationships, so you get a fresh approach to new and old issues.

I offer ways to work with me in the way of e-classes (like the 30 days to clarity courses), group coaching, and one-on-one coaching opportunities to fit your budget and your lifestyle.

Thank you so much, Debra, for chatting with me today. Now, I have something fun for you, dear reader! Debra, has kindly offered one of my lucky reader:

You don’t have to do it alone. Reach out for help  and we’ll walk through it together, one step at a time.
Get it all:

• The Advent Series Close Out 2013 and Prepare for 2014 with Love, Joy and Hope
• Clutter Busting Edition (Clear Your Physical Clutter),
• Clearing Brain Clutter (Discovering Your Heart’s Desires),
• Clearing Soul Clutter (Creating Your Vision).

All you need is an email address and each day during the class, the lesson will be delivered to your home.