Organizing Strategies, Resources, Events and Tips on the Big Rocks Blog
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Practicing Zero-Waste While Drowning
Even a little effort is enough. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all practice zero-waste perfectly, and the planet would be miraculously saved by our collective amazingness? Well, the reality is that real life can make it very challenging just to get by sometimes,...
Taming the Paper Tiger
This month’s zero-waste topic is something that most of us struggle with—cutting down on paper waste. But before we dive into the paper pile, we want to express our gratitude to you. We’re in month six of our year-long challenge to reduce waste, and you’re still here!...
Sustainable Personal Hygiene
Sustainable personal hygiene: Such beauty shouldn’t go to waste! I was at the drugstore yesterday and practically fainted at the hundreds of hair products, face washes, moisturizers, and body care products…all in plastic bottles. I wondered, do we really need to have...
Zero-Waste Housekeeping
Zero-Waste Housekeeping: Your grandmother would be proud! Think about this for a minute: Our grandmothers practiced the original version of zero-waste housekeeping. They cleaned with rags, not paper towels, and used homemade cleaning products. I remember my Greek...
Food Prep and Storage: Waste Not, Want Not
Welcome to month three of our year-long zero-waste challenge. This month, we’re hungering to take on food prep and storage solutions (p. 69-83 in our guide, Zero Waste, by Shia Su). If you’re like us, you feel guilty when you toss leftovers or expired food—what a...
Ask The Organizer 2026 Series: March
“Ask The Organizer” 2026 Series: “Food Prep and Storage” - Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 5:00 - 6:00 PM Pacific on Zoom. This event has passed. You can watch the replay below! This month, we’re focusing on simple, practical ways to reduce food waste through...
Ask the Organizer 2026 Series: February
“Ask The Organizer” 2026 Series: “Where and How to Shop” - Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from 5:00 - 6:00 PM Pacific on Zoom. This event has passed. You can watch the replay below! Discover how everyday shopping habits can be transformed into powerful tools for...
(Don’t) Shop Till You Drop
Welcome to month two of our zero-waste year! If you’ve read last month’s blog (and who wouldn’t, as it’s such fabulous writing☺), you know we’re doing a full year of zero-waste challenges, working toward creating less trash to help save our planet. This month, our...
Zero Waste, Zero Regrets
Zero Waste Introduction Happy New Year! And while we’re on the subject, I want to talk about a big New Year’s resolution that Big Rocks is making, and we invite you to join us. We resolve to practice zero waste this year more consciously than we’ve ever done. Now, we...
Ten Habits to Keep You More Organized Than Me
Let’s make believe we’ve all spent the past year diligently reading this monthly organizing blog, and now we have completely organized homes, everything has a home, and everything is in its place. (Just go with me on this. Even I don’t follow my own blog’s advice.)...
Sentimental Items and Photos: Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Is your house full of objects and photos that bring back memories? Are they occupying too much emotional and physical space? Do you cringe and look away when you walk past your overstuffed china cabinet? It’s challenging to let things go; however, you can keep the...
Garages and Playrooms: Now’s the Time to Organize!
At Big Rocks Organizing, we fully admit we think every day is the perfect day to organize. But the truth is, autumn is a great season to clean out two important spaces: the garage and playroom. The garage is cool but not cold this time of year. And the kiddos are...
Storage Units and Basements and Attics, Oh My!
Cue the Scream soundtrack, folks. We’re about to organize the creepiest, dampest, dustiest, spidery-est spaces of all: storage units, basements, and attics. Ew. Read on to learn how to organize these spaces. (And since I don’t have a storage unit, attic, or basement,...
Turn Your Craft Room into a Creative Paradise
Imagine a spacious studio with every paint, brush, marker, bead, sticker, and stamp you'll need. There is plenty of storage for works in progress, and you can stretch out across a huge, clean table to draw, sew, or sculpt. Your creative process is not interrupted even...
Home Office and Paper Organizing: Making it Work
I used to have a beautiful home office with lots of great storage. Then my daughter (they/them) broke up with their boyfriend and moved home because apparently, you heal better when you’re not paying rent. My office is now their bedroom, and I work on our living room...
Pantry and Kitchen Organizing: Easier Than It Looks
What makes me qualified to write about pantry and kitchen organizing? My spices are alphabetized. Anise-Basil-Chives, all the way to Za’atar. They’re in matching bottles that I labeled with a label maker after spending twenty minutes picking a typeface. Now they’re...
Rightsizing Your Bedroom and Closet: If I Can, You Can
I have a bedroom confession to make (ew no, not that kind of bedroom confession): Our bedroom used to be a hot mess. But it was really our closet’s fault; the overflow from that little disaster area had to go somewhere. So one rainy weekend, I rightsized both spaces....
Define and Declutter Your Living and Dining Rooms
Ah, the living room and dining room—our go-to spots for relaxing, gathering with loved ones, and juggling everyday life. Over time, these well-used spaces can quietly fill up with clutter, making them feel less like a retreat and more like a catch-all. It...
Transform Your Bathroom and Laundry Room!
Let’s be honest: the bathroom and laundry room don’t always get the love they deserve. But these hardworking spaces deserve better! A well-organized bathroom and laundry room can make daily chores feel less overwhelming—and dare we say—even enjoyable. Imagine starting...
Simple Steps to Transform Your Junk Drawer
We all have one: the infamous "junk drawer." It's that catch-all space in your home where everything, from loose batteries to rubber bands, mysteriously accumulates. Over time it becomes a chaotic, cluttered mess that seems impossible to tame. But fear not! Organizing...
Rightsize Room by Room with Big Rocks Organizing in 2025!
Roadmap + Month 1: The Linen Closet For many, the thought of getting organized can feel overwhelming. The clutter, the decisions, the sheer amount of stuff—it's easy to feel paralyzed. But we believe organizing doesn't have to be a chore. In fact, it can be a fun,...
Big News: Big Rocks Featured in Rent.com and ApartmentGuide Holiday Articles!
Greetings, We’re excited to share some wonderful news—Big Rocks was recently featured in two articles about holiday rightsizing and storage! We are delighted to appear in both Rent.com and ApartmentGuide blog posts! One article highlights creative tips from organizers...
Getting Connected Through Giving Back
The holiday season is a time for giving, and what better way to celebrate than by helping those in need? If you’re looking to declutter your home, give back to your community, and promote sustainability all at once, donating your gently used items is a wonderful way...
Sustainability: The Heart of Organizing
“Ask the Organizer” Sustainability Edition! Plus, Take Our Recycling Quiz and Download Our Recycling Guide Below! Going about your daily life, you hear the term “sustainability” thrown around frequently. It’s on grocery bags, product labels, and even political...
Aligning to Seasonal Rhythms
When talking about clearing clutter, most people think about tangible clutter related to physical spaces like your home, closets, storage, car, etc. However, today, I’d like to call your attention to another important space where you might accumulate clutter that...
Get Organized to Navigate Divorce
The time leading up to a divorce can feel chaotic as many big life changes are happening all at the same time. The changes are not just with your relationship with your spouse, but also your children, schedule, living situation, and finances. While you can’t control...
How To Keep House While Drowning
A tender guide to doing the best you can under challenging circumstances We have a team book club at Big Rocks, which means we get paid to read interesting books. How cool is that? This month, we’ve been reading How To Keep House While Drowning. I haven’t written a...
Minimalist vs. Maximalist: How to Meet in the Middle (Sort Of)
Help create harmony between the maximalist and minimalist in your household. Try these pointers for meeting in the middle-ish.
FYI for LGBTQ: What You Need to Know as You Age
Getting older is challenging enough. Aging as a member of the LGBTQ+ community can be even more so. More than 3 million LGBTQ+ Americans are over age 50. Many of us don’t have grown children to help us as we age. However, with a long history of fighting...
Organizing Q&A
You asked, and we answered! In honor of World Organizing Day (May 20), we are answering your burning questions about organizing. Thank you for your thoughtful questions; we hope our responses help. (Questions may be edited for brevity.) Read on to see your Q’s and our...
The Big Rocks Rightsizing Quiz
Are you really ready to rightsize? Take our quiz! Spring is finally here. It’s the perfect time to lighten up, spruce up, cheer up. A good place to start? By rightsizing some of the household clutter that always seems to magically grow during the long winters. Wait...
Home Remodel Survival Guide
Tips from a Professional Organizer Who Remodeled Three Houses and Lived to Tell About It Woohoo, you’re finally going to remodel! That avocado green kitchen will soon be history. Or maybe you’re saying a not-so-fond farewell to your ‘70s orange bathroom. Be excited!...
Organizing Through Grief: Reclaiming Your Space After Loss
Understanding how grief manifests in your surroundings can help you discover strategies for reclaiming personal spaces after loss. Here are a few considerations when addressing your physical spaces during grief.
Refresh Your Room For Zero Dollars
It’s a new year, and I’m lying on my couch looking at my same old living room. The one that looks exactly like it did a year ago. I don’t even see the décor anymore. It feels boring and blah and the same. So, I jump off the couch and announce to my family, “Guess...
Giving Back While Cleaning Out: Portland, OR Donation Resources
The holiday season is upon us, and as we gather with loved ones to celebrate, it's also a time to reflect on the spirit of giving. While you're busy preparing for festive gatherings and shopping for gifts, don't forget that it's also the perfect time to clean out your...
Death: The Ultimate Organizing Challenge
As humans, we put off death as long as we can (just like organizing), but (just like organizing) it has to happen eventually. Do yourself and your loved ones a huge favor and prepare long before then. We’re here to help, with a list of things you need to know about...
Keep Only The Keepers: Photo Organizing Basics
When I was growing up, there was a stack of photo boxes in the front bedroom at my grandmother’s house. Some were marked with family names, others were labeled “sunsets” or “to be sorted.” A box of my baby photos and treasures sat in my parents’ attic along with a...
How to Rightsize Sentimental Papers (and Preserve Memories)
If, like me, you’re north of forty, there’s a good chance you have more papers in your possession than subsequent generations. What in the world should we do with them all? What about those that carry emotional weight? This month, we are talking about sentimental...
How to Start Swedish Death Cleaning
We all have to go sometime. So does our stuff. Whoever coined the phrase “Swedish death cleaning” really needs a new marketing person. Death cleaning? Really? That’s the best they could do? Anyway, it’s a terrible name for a good idea: Getting rid of your excess stuff...
Sentimental Clutter: How to Let it Go
As a “Militant Minimalist” (my family’s title for me), I’m pretty good about letting go of sentimental things. If it weren’t for the fact that my family loves every dopey holiday ornament we’ve collected for decades, my Christmas tree would be just white lights. Like...
From Rightsize to Resale: Tips From Four Consignment and Resale Professionals
Are you stepping into the world of secondhand goods, or do you have some experience and want to learn more? One of the best ways you can discover the potential of your possessions is to work with professionals who can connect you with people who will appreciate the...
Decluttering the Decades: Rightsizing for Seniors
There was a box that sat in our attic for twenty-three years. It contained twenty-three years of my husband’s unopened monthly bank statements—276 statements. Did I mention they were unopened? When it was time to move to a smaller house, that box was the first thing...
5 Steps to Spring Clean + Organize Your Office
Whether working in the kitchen, the garage, or any other space, the fundamental principles of organizing remain the same. There are many names for these steps, some with catchy acronyms, but basically, they boil down to: sort, organize, systemize, contain, and...
Big Rocks Organizing Featured on Redfin
Redfin recently named Big Rocks Organizing a top organizing and decluttering expert. Check out the recent article we were featured in: 37 Book Organization Ideas: The Ultimate Expert Guide | Redfin. If you’re like most people, chances are you have accumulated many...
Tips for Moving Like a Professional Organizer
Moving to a new home can be a challenge at the best of times. From packing to searching for the coffee pot on the first morning, there are many moving parts (pun intended). There is so much to think about—from keeping new home documents organized to decluttering and...
Springtime Tips for the Closet You Deserve
Does the sudden arrival of crocus and the green shoots of daffodils get you in the mood for new summer dresses, T-shirts, and flip-flops? Spring is a time of renewal and a chance to reassess and decide if items deserve the space we give them. This is true for closet...
Our Planner and Journal Picks for the New Year
It’s hard to come down from the thrill of the holidays, but January can be an exciting month, too. It gives us the opportunity to review our lives and find fresh focus for the upcoming year. We can dream big and imagine new possibilities. This is a time when our...
Give Back While Cleaning Out
Happy Holidays from our team at Big Rocks Organizing! For many of us, the holiday season is a time for gift giving with our loved ones. As a result, we welcome new items into our homes that can pile up and be a drag on holiday cheer. Instead, we invite you to give...
Tips to Rightsize the Paper in Your Home
Sometimes, the stream of mail and paper into our homes can feel neverending. Don’t let letters, bills, and junk overwhelm you, though! Here are some tips from Big Rocks Organizing to rightsize your paperwork and manage the flow of paper into your home. Tips to Manage...
The Power of Habit in Home Organization
Life maintenance can be repetitive, thankless work. Putting things away and tidying up are usually not anyone’s favorite tasks. However, they keep your household running smoothly. Oftentimes, because of busy schedules, these tasks get pushed to the bottom of the list....
Create a Home Recycling Station in 5 Easy Steps
Is your pantry or garage overflowing with recyclables? Perhaps you’re waiting for the next big recycling event, Fix-It, or Repair Fair, but in the meantime, bags of corks, plastic lids, and other random recyclables are piling up. Without a clear system, adding new...
Finding the Right Way to Rightsize, Reuse + Recycle
You’ve done (or are doing) the hard work of deciding what no longer fits your space. Maybe you even used different options to donate or sell those items. But what about the things that don’t fit either of those categories? Are they destined for the landfill? What...
Blended Families, Blended Stuff: How to Survive + Thrive When Merging Households
Blended families come in all shapes and sizes. Parents move in with their adult children. Two households merge after a marriage. Kids boomerang back after college. In short, there are many combinations. This can create both harmony and utter chaos as a result. How do...
Steps for Managing Email Overwhelm
You declutter the rooms in your home—the cabinet in your office, the shelf in your entryway, the mail on your desk—but what about in your digital life? Rightsizing your space takes time. Similarly, managing your inbox is an ongoing project. This job is never...
Declutter Your Space (and Get Paid in the Process)
We at Big Rocks Organizing want to help you make space for what truly matters. The most time-efficient way to rightsize and clear out what you no longer need is to donate your items, however, sometimes you need a little extra incentive to say goodbye to items that are...
Holistic Time Management
It's 2022 and you've likely been asked if you have any New Year's resolutions. Yet, for all our talk about our new goals, we often joke about how unlikely it is that we'll continue to pursue them past January. Why is it so hard to keep up our resolutions? Our...
Pay It Forward
Off the Beaten Track Places to Donate Stuff Congratulations! You’ve made some hard decisions about what to let go of. And perhaps you’d like to donate your items before December 31st to write them off on your taxes. Now, where should these items go? We all know about...
Rightsize Your Holidays
Does the thought of the upcoming holiday season cause your gut to clench with anxiety? Feeling the weight of guilt, expectations, and commitments you don’t enjoy? Are you dreading navigating safety considerations when gathering with work colleagues, friends, or...
Create a Capsule Wardrobe!
Do you find that even though your closet is stuffed with clothes, you tend to wear the same things on repeat? We gravitate towards the items that are most comfortable, or versatile, or that make us look and feel good, and tend to wear the rest infrequently. What if...
Rightsizing Your Relationships by Polishing Your Arguing Skills
Communication Skills As professional organizers, we primarily work with folks in their homes, their most intimate, personal space. More often than not, one member of a couple tends to be more of a "minimalist" and the other tends to be wired more sentimentally. As...
Time Management: A New Way!
I want to start a new conversation around how we handle our time. There are infinite apps, tools, hacks, and machines meant to help us save time (anyone else in love with their Roomba?) - yet so many folks I know are still on the brink of burnout. I recently listened...
Rightsizing Our Post-Pandemic Lives
After almost a year and a half of staying mostly—or completely—inside our homes, things are opening back up and we’re starting to remember what the lower halves of other people’s faces look like. It’s so easy to get swept up in the excitement and try to do all of the...
The Secret to Organized Packing for Travel
As we tentatively look toward a future of increased physical togetherness, another reemerging pre-pandemic experience comes to mind: traveling! In the last year, many of us have poured over old travel photos, reminiscing about the fun we had and wondering how we ever...
5 Steps for Adding Self-Care to Your Routine
There’s no doubt that our brains have been put under an immense and unflagging stream of external pressure over the past year. As a result, many of us have become aware that we need to look at sources of stress a little more closely. We’ve had to learn how to be...
How to Foster Resiliency
How to Foster Resiliency This past year has been challenging for all of us. It seems that every month brings a new unprecedented event. We are growing weary of these “uncertain times” and long for a return to normalcy. How do we manage to stay healthy and happy in a...
Artful Boundaries
Coffee in hand, you plunk down in front of your computer, staring down a to-do list rivaling the Mariana trench in length. With a big deep breath, you glance through your list and figure out which tasks must get done this morning. Alright. It’s a lot to get through,...
Rightsizing from the Inside Out
A Journey A Rightsizing journey begins with locating where we currently are. Where are you? Waking up each morning to a life you love? Or is dread weighing you down? Perhaps something just doesn’t fit anymore and needs to change but you’re not sure what. Or you’re...
How To Create a Capsule Wardrobe (or just make more room in your closet)
Do you find that even though your closet is stuffed with clothes, you tend to wear the same things on repeat? We gravitate towards the items that are most comfortable, or versatile, or that make us look and feel good, and tend to wear the rest infrequently. What if...
Back to School
School looks very different this year. Many students will be working partially, or even fully online. As a parent, you want to provide a place where your kids can successfully learn, but also have space to play and still be kids. How do you balance all of their needs...
What Is Rightsizing?
Have you ever helped a loved one “downsize?” Oftentimes, downsizing events are precipitated by loss, such as a fall, a major medical event, the death of a spouse/partner, cognitive impairment, or loss of independence. Or perhaps you’ve been “downsized” from your job?...