Amanda Rog On How Simplifying & Decluttering Your Life Can Make You Happier
An Interview With Drew Gerber
Learn to love the little moments with the ones you hold dear. Making good use of your time and “decluttering” the things on your list that take your time away from your loved ones is also a BIG part of simplifying life and being happier. Make time and space to enjoy time with those who matter most.
We live in a time of great excess. We have access to fast fashion, fast food, and fast everything. But studies show that all of our “stuff” is not making us any happier. How can we simplify and focus on what’s important? How can we let go of all the clutter and excess and find true happiness? In this interview series, we are talking to coaches, mental health experts, and authors who share insights, stories, and personal anecdotes about “How Simplifying and Decluttering Your Life Can Make Us Happier.” As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Amanda Rog.
Amanda is an organized life coach who helps busy moms find balance among the chaos of daily life. She has been married for 20+ years and has homeschooled her 3 children for the past 8 years. She understands how easy it is to let things go around the house and has found the power in 15 minutes of focused time, which she now shares with other busy moms.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share your “backstory” with us? What was it that led you to your eventual career choice?
It has been a bit of a slow process for me (and one that isn’t complete yet) but I think the key for me was when my family of 5 moved twice in 6 months’ time. The amount of things we had to move was ridiculous. There were so many things we hadn’t used that were still boxed up and it really had me thinking things through. If we weren’t using them, why did we have them? And was it really worth the stress of moving it and having to find space for it in the new home. I quickly realized the answer was “no”. So I set myself on a mission to not only lessen this stress in my own home, but to help other moms find a way to do it in their homes as well.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
The most interesting thing that has happened is meeting other moms who expect me to totally have it all together. It doesn’t work quite like that. It’s a constant work in progress to find the right balance. There are so many aspects to it and we, as moms, tend to want a magic system and “poof” your home is organized and balanced.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
Yes! I am working on a group program to help busy moms declutter and organize their homes. This will help them to learn to balance all that happens in a days’ time and learn to prioritize and maximize 15-minute time frames throughout the day. This will cover all aspects of a balanced home: mind, body, & soul.
Can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority on the topic of “How Simplifying and Decluttering Your Life Can Make You Happier”?
Over the past year I have been learning decluttering techniques that I have put into practice and have had amazing success. I have also shared these techniques with other busy moms who have also found success.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our interview. We live in a time of excess. We have access to so much. But studies show that all of our “stuff” is not making us any happier. Can you articulate for our readers a few reasons why all of our possessions are not giving us happiness?
When we have too much “stuff” it steals our time because we are always having to clean and organize. It also steals our happiness because we tend to miss out on the small moments with our loved ones that make life special because we are so focused on our “stuff”, either in the hopeless task of always wanting things to look perfect or because we are so busy with all the extra things that we fail to notice the life happening all around us.
On a broader societal level, how do you think this excessiveness may be harming our communities and society?
I think it is harmful because we are so busy focusing on cleaning and organizing our “stuff” that we don’t go out in our communities and socialize. We are also so wrapped up in how our homes look that we are not willing to invite others in. Home is supposed to be where the heart is and if we don’t allow others in, it’s hard to truly have a good relationship with those around us.
The irony of struggling with happiness in modern times is glaring. In many places in the world today, we have more than ever before in history. Yet despite this, so many people are unhappy. Why is simplifying a solution? How would simplifying help people to access happiness?
Simplifying is a process that allows us to focus in on the things that have true value in our hearts, minds, and environment. This allows us to take the blinders off and realize that our happiness isn’t in the objects we have. We were made to be social beings, which means we need each other so much more than we need “things” in our lives.
Can you share some insights from your own experience? Where in your life have you transformed yourself from not having enough to finally experiencing enough? For example, many people feel they don’t have enough money. Yet, people define abundance differently, and often, those with the least money can feel the most abundant. Where in your health, wealth, or relationships have you transformed your life?
I have learned to accept that my home does not look perfect. We live here. We are a family here. Life happens here. So I have learned to embrace the time I have with my family. My kids are teens/young adult and I know that one day they will leave home and I will look back and miss these days. Learning to let go of the things we no longer need and enjoying the time with loved ones has helped me appreciate my home and loved ones more. And with this comes less stress, which is also a great boost in my health and wellness!
People, places, and things shape our lives. For example, your friends generate conversations that influence you. Where you live impacts what you eat and how you spend your time. The “things” in your life, like phones, technology, or books impact your recreation. Can you tell us a little about how people, places, and things in your own life impact your experience of “experiencing enough?”
When I have friends that I want to share my life with it’s comforting to know that I can welcome them into my home. When I have less “stuff” to clean and organize, it’s much easier for me to offer that at a moment’s notice. This has helped me learn to open up more to others and “experience enough”.
What advice would you give to younger people about “experiencing enough?”
It’s easy to get caught up in the perfect social media pics, where you really can’t see what’s behind the pictures. I think it’s important to see real life, the good and the messy. It’s a lot easier to “experience enough” when you put aside the pressure to be perfect in all areas and just be real.
This is the main question of our interview. Based on your experience and research, can you share your “five ways we can simplify and declutter our lives to make us happier?”
1) Learn to let go of what no longer serves you. This gives you the time and space to appreciate who/what matters.
2) Find an organizing style that works for YOU. It isn’t a one-size fits all type of thing. Once you find your style, you will find ways that work for you and that in itself will lessen the stress and simplify your life and home.
3) Let go of limiting beliefs and allow yourself to let go of things.
4) Work towards progress, not perfection. Let go of the idea that it all has to be done at once. Instead, focus on 15 minutes of progress at a time and eventually you will achieve your goal.
5) Learn to love the little moments with the ones you hold dear. Making good use of your time and “decluttering” the things on your list that take your time away from your loved ones is also a BIG part of simplifying life and being happier. Make time and space to enjoy time with those who matter most.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I would love for moms to realize that their home doesn’t have to be perfect. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a house that looks lived in. We need to let go of the “picture perfect” idea and learn to love what we have, let go of what we don’t need, and find an organizing style that works for our household.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I have a group for moms where I share tips and info about having a balanced life: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lavenderandcoffee
Thank you so much for these insights. This was so inspiring, and so important!
About The Interviewer: For 30 years, Drew Gerber has been inspiring those who want to change the world. Drew is the CEO of Wasabi Publicity, Inc., a full-service PR agency lauded by PR Week and Good Morning America. Wasabi Publicity, Inc. is a global marketing company that supports industry leaders, change agents, unconventional thinkers, companies and organizations that strive to make a difference. Whether it’s branding, traditional PR or social media marketing, every campaign is instilled with passion, creativity and brilliance to powerfully tell their clients’ story and amplify their intentions in the world. Schedule a free consultation at WasabiPublicity.com/Choosing-Publicity
