<![CDATA[GET ORGANIZED WITH ERIN - Blog]]>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:47:04 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[The Family Guide to Packing (and Actually Setting Up) a College Dorm Room]]>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:30:00 GMThttps://www.gowitherin.com/blog/the-family-guide-to-packing-and-actually-setting-up-a-college-dorm-roomCan you relate to this?

It's mid-August. There's a list somewhere — maybe printed, maybe living in a Notes app, maybe just existing in someone's head — of everything that needs to happen before move-in day. The shopping isn't done. The bins aren't labelled. And nobody's quite sure whether the extra-long twin sheets have been ordered yet.
Sending a kid to college or university for the first time is a big deal. The logistics are real, the timeline is tighter than it feels, and somewhere underneath all the shopping and packing is the quiet awareness that things are about to look different at home.
​
This post is for the whole family — the student who's equal parts excited and overwhelmed, and the parent who's holding the list and trying not to think too hard about the drive home on move-in day.
Here's how to do this well.

​Before You Buy Anything: The Decision Phase

The most common dorm packing mistake is shopping before you've figured out what you actually need.

Dorm rooms are small. Most of them are very small. And they come with some things already — a bed, a desk, a dresser, sometimes a closet — which means the goal isn't to fill every inch. It's to bring exactly what's needed and set it up so the space actually works.

Before anyone goes near a shopping cart, do this first:

Find out what the room includes. Most schools publish this. Bed frame, mattress, desk, chair, and dresser are standard at most institutions — but dimensions vary, and so does what's allowed. Check the school's housing page before buying storage furniture or bedding.

Make a zone list, not a stuff list. Instead of thinking "what do I need to pack," think "what does this room need to function?" A dorm room has four main zones: sleep, study, clothing storage, and everyday essentials. What does each zone need to work well for this student?
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Decide what's not coming. The impulse to send everything is real — especially for parents. Resist it. A dorm room isn't a second bedroom. The things that don't fit the space well end up on the floor, under the bed, or back home by Thanksgiving.

​What to Actually Pack (Zone by Zone)

Sleep zone:​
Extra-long twin sheets (check the size — standard twin doesn't fit), a mattress pad or topper (dorm mattresses are notoriously unforgiving), pillow(s), a duvet or comforter, and a blanket for layering. A sleep mask and earplugs are worth throwing in, especially if your student doesn't know yet whether they're a light sleeper in a new environment.
Clothing storage:
Pack for the season they're arriving in, plus a few layers for the transition. Winter gear can come home and come back. Use vertical space — over-door hooks and hanging organizers do more work in a small space than an extra bin on the floor. A small laundry hamper (collapsible is easier), a mesh laundry bag, and enough quarters or a loaded laundry card if the school requires it.
Study zone:
Laptop and charger, a surge protector power bar (most rooms have limited outlets), notebooks, pens, and whatever supplies are specific to their program. A desk lamp if the room lighting is dim. Headphones — good ones — are worth the investment for focus and for shared spaces.
​Everyday essentials:
Shower caddy and flip flops for shared bathrooms, a first aid kit, medications they regularly take, cleaning supplies (a small kit — wipes, a lint roller, a dish soap pod or two), a reusable water bottle, a power bank, and snacks for the first few days before they've sorted out where and when they're eating.
​What to leave home:
Half their closet. The decorative stuff they're not sure about. The "just in case" items that don't have a specific use. Anything that would be easier to get there than to ship or carry. Less comes in — less gets in the way.

​Move-In Day: How to Set Up, Not Just Drop Off
This is the part most families underestimate.

Move-in day is loud, warm, and logistically chaotic. There's usually a narrow window to get everything into the room before the next family is waiting for the elevator. Most people drop the boxes, feel relieved they got it all in, and then realize nothing is actually set up.

A few things that make this go better:

Bring the right tools. A small toolkit (scissors, a hammer, Command strips, zip ties), a box cutter, and a power bar for charging phones while you work. Schools usually don't allow you to put holes in walls, so Command products are essential.

Set up the bed first. It sounds obvious, but the bed is the thing your student will want at the end of the day — and if it's the last thing that gets done, it often gets done badly. Make it properly: mattress pad, fitted sheet, everything. It sets the tone for the rest of the setup.

Work zone by zone. Same logic as packing — tackle each area of the room as its own project. Desk set up and functional. Clothing stored and accessible. Bathroom supplies organized. Essentials within reach. Don't leave until there's a home for everything that came in.

Leave a little time at the end. Not for more unpacking — just to sit in the room for a few minutes before you go. Let your student feel settled in it. Let yourself see them in it. That moment matters more than getting the closet perfectly organized.
Move-in day is one of those days that goes fast and stays with you. A little preparation on the front end means you can spend less of it stressed and more of it actually present.
Progress over perfection, always.
Eryn 💜
Want to work with us?? Book a complimentary call and let's get started
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]]><![CDATA[Before You Pack a Single Box: The Step Most Families Skip]]>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:30:00 GMThttps://www.gowitherin.com/blog/before-you-pack-a-single-box-the-step-most-families-skipPicture
Can you relate to this?

The move is on the calendar. You know it's coming. And at some point — maybe this weekend, maybe next week — you're going to stand in the middle of a room, look at everything in it, and think: where do I even start?

For most families, the answer is boxes. Get the boxes. Start packing. Figure out the rest as you go.

And that's exactly the step that makes everything harder than it needs to be.
The step most families skip

​The step that changes a move isn't a packing step. It's a decision step — and it happens before a single box gets taped shut.

It's the process of figuring out, room by room, what is actually coming with you.
Not in a vague, general sense — "we'll sort it out when we get there." Deliberately. Specifically. With a clear yes pile, a clear no pile, and a plan for everything in between.
​
It sounds like extra work. It's actually the opposite. It's the thing that makes every step after it easier.
​The real cost of skipping it

When families skip the decision phase and go straight to packing, here's what happens: they pack things they don't need. Things they don't love. Things they forgot they even had. Things they were always going to donate, someday, when they got around to it.

And then they unpack all of it at the other end.

Every unnecessary box is time, money, and energy spent moving something that was never going to stay anyway. And arriving at a new home to unpack boxes full of things you don't actually want? That's not a fresh start. That's relocating the same overwhelm to a different address.
​
The families who do the decision work first — who arrive with less because they made the hard calls before moving day — consistently say the same thing: the move felt different. More intentional. Like they were choosing their next home, not just surviving the transition to it.
What the decision phase actually looks like

This isn't a one-day event, and it doesn't have to feel like a project. It's a few hours spread across the weeks before your move, worked through one room at a time, without the pressure of a closing date making every decision feel urgent.

For each room, you're asking three questions:

What am I definitely bringing? These things get packed with confidence. They've earned their spot in the moving truck without negotiation. Pack them, label them, done.

What am I not bringing? These leave before moving day — donated, given to someone who'll use them, or released. Not packed "just for now." Not brought to the new house to sort out later. Gone before you go. This distinction matters more than it sounds.

What do I still need to decide on? This pile gets a deadline — a specific date, at least a week before the move. Not "someday." Not "I'll figure it out." A date on the calendar. Because on moving day, this pile cannot still be a pile.
A few things that tend to surprise people

The furniture question comes up earlier than expected.
​A piece that works perfectly in your current space might not make sense in the next one. It's worth knowing before the moving truck shows up with it. A quick sketch of your new floor plan and some rough measurements can save a significant amount of stress on moving day.

The garage and the basement will take the most time.
Always. Without exception. Start there first — while you have the most energy and the most weeks ahead of you. The families who leave the garage for the final week of packing are the ones who have the hardest moving days.

Some decisions will be harder than you expected.
Not because you want the item, but because letting it go feels complicated. That's not a problem — that's just what this process involves sometimes. Give yourself the space to sit with those decisions. And if you find yourself stuck, it's okay to ask for help. Some things are genuinely easier to work through with someone else in the room.
This is where the move actually begins

The truck, the boxes, the tape — those are logistics. They can be organized and executed efficiently once the decisions have been made.

The decisions are the part that determines whether you arrive at your new home feeling like you're starting fresh, or like you've just carried the same unfinished business from one address to the next.

When you do the decision work first, something shifts. You arrive with intention. Your new home gets to begin the way you actually want it to — not overloaded with things that didn't make the cut, but set up for the life you're living now.
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That's what a move is really for, when you think about it
A note on doing this with support

For a lot of families, the decision phase is the part where having someone in their corner makes the biggest difference.

Not to make decisions for you — but to help you think through them clearly, keep the process moving when it starts to feel like too much, and handle the practical pieces so you can focus on the parts that actually need your attention.

That's what my moving packages are built around. Whether you're looking for a full moving experience from start to finish, support with the pack-up and transition, or someone to get your new home set up and ready to live in from day one — there's a package designed for exactly where you are.
​
If you're curious about what that looks like, I'd love to talk. Reach out at [contact link] and we'll figure out together what kind of support makes the most sense for your move.
Grab the free Pre-Pack Decision Checklist

To help you work through the decision phase room by room, I've put together a free Pre-Pack Decision Checklist — a clear, printable guide for deciding what comes, what goes, and what needs a plan before a single box gets taped shut.

[Download the free Pre-Pack Decision Checklist →]
​
Progress over perfection, always.
Warmly, Eryn 💜
]]><![CDATA[The Summer Slump: Why Your Organizing Systems Feel Like They're Breaking (And What to Do About It)]]>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:30:00 GMThttps://www.gowitherin.com/blog/the-summer-slump-why-your-organizing-systems-feel-like-theyre-breaking-and-what-to-do-about-it
Do you ever look around your house in July and wonder what happened?
Not because it's a disaster — just because it looks nothing like it did in April. The system you set up so thoughtfully in the spring is barely recognizable. Stuff has migrated. Surfaces that were clear have layers on them again. The kids have established entirely new drop zones that you definitely did not plan for.
And somewhere in the back of your mind, a little voice is asking: did I do this wrong?
You didn't. You're just in the summer slump — and it happens to almost everyone.
It's not you. It's the season.Here's the thing about organizing systems: they're built around how a home gets used. And in summer, everything about how your home gets used changes.
More people home for more hours. Different routines — or no routines at all. Kids cycling in and out with shoes, sunscreen, water bottles, and every piece of sports equipment they own. Meals at different times. Bags dropped in different spots. The front door opening forty more times a day than it did in May.
A system designed for a school-year schedule isn't going to hold up under those conditions. That's not a failure on your part — it's just math. The system was never designed for July.
The goal isn't to push harder on a system that isn't working. The goal is to adapt it.
Picture

The rooms that take the biggest hitEvery home is different, but there are a few spaces that tend to bear the brunt of summer in most households:
​
The entryway or mudroom This space was built around a very specific routine: bags go here, shoes go here, out the door by 8am. That routine is gone. Now it's a landing pad for everything — wet towels, soccer cleats, helmets, backpacks that haven't been touched in three weeks. The problem isn't that your family is messy. The problem is that the system doesn't have a category for summer yet.

The kitchen Lunch is happening now. Snacks are happening constantly. The counter that stayed clear during the school year is suddenly the staging area for everything. If the kitchen feels like it's always in a state of mid-meal, it's because it kind of is — and it will be until September.
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The living room This one sneaks up on people. The living room in summer becomes a playroom, a homework spot, a hang-out space, and a place to dump whatever didn't make it upstairs. The systems that worked when the room had one job don't always hold up when it has five.
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The reset: adapt, don't scrap
​
The most important thing I want you to take from this post is this: you don't need to start over. You need to adjust.

Your systems aren't broken — they're just running a different operating system than the one they were installed for. A few intentional tweaks can make a significant difference without requiring a full reorganization of your home.

Here's where to start:

Add a summer-specific landing zone Give summer stuff its own home. A basket by the door for sunscreen, bug spray, and outdoor toys. A hook for wet towels that isn't the one everyone else is using. A bin in the entryway specifically for shoes that get taken off before they hit the floor. Small, clear, obvious homes for the things summer actually brings in — because fighting it every day isn't the answer.

Simplify your kitchen counter rules Rather than clearing the counter completely (ambitious in July), decide what's allowed to live there. The things you reach for every single day can stay. Everything else needs a home that isn't the counter. That distinction — daily use only — is easier to maintain than an aspirational blank surface.

Give the living room a reset basket One basket. End of every day, anything that doesn't belong in the living room goes in. Once a day, the basket gets sorted. It takes five minutes and it stops the slow creep from getting out of hand. It's not a perfect system. It's a working system, which is the only kind that matters.
A few things to remember as you work through this

You don't have to fix everything at once. Pick the room that's bothering you the most, start there, and let that win carry you to the next one.

It's okay to keep it if you have the space — but summer is also a natural moment to notice what's accumulating that doesn't serve anyone. A few quiet donation runs between now and September can make a real difference by fall.

And if you look at your systems right now and feel genuinely overwhelmed — that's okay too. Sometimes we need a little support to see our spaces clearly again. Someone else can often see the potential we've stopped being able to see.
​
Remember to breathe. Summer is loud and full and fast. Your home is doing its best to keep up.
Grab the free Summer Systems Reset Guide
To help you work through this room by room, I've put together a free Summer Systems Reset Guide — a short, practical reset for the spaces that take the biggest hit when everyone's home.

It's not a full reorganization. It's a recalibration — the smallest adjustments that make the biggest difference between now and September.

Download the free Summer Systems Reset Guide →

Progress over perfection, always.
Warmly, Eryn 💜
]]><![CDATA[When Less Really Is More: A Guide to Downsizing for You, Not Your Kids]]>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMThttps://www.gowitherin.com/blog/when-less-really-is-more-a-guide-to-downsizing-for-you-not-your-kidsCan you relate to this?
Someone — maybe your kids, maybe your doctor, maybe just the quiet voice in your own head — has started saying the word "downsize." And you're not quite sure how you feel about it.
Maybe it makes sense. Maybe you know, if you're honest with yourself, that the house is more than you need right now. But knowing something makes sense and feeling ready for it? Those are two very different things.
Here's what I want to say first: you're allowed to take your time with this. Downsizing doesn't have to happen on anyone else's timeline. And it doesn't have to feel like giving something up.

​Let's try a different word

What if, instead of "downsizing," we called it curating?
You've spent a lifetime gathering things that meant something. Things that helped you raise a family, build a home, create a life. Now you get to decide — deliberately, on your own terms — what comes with you into this next chapter.
That's not a loss. That's a privilege.
The shift in language matters more than it might seem. "Downsizing" sounds like subtraction. Curating sounds like what it actually is: thoughtful selection. Choosing what earns a place in the next version of your life.

Why this is harder than it looks

Picture
If it were just about things, it would be simple. But it's rarely just about things, is it?
The dining table where your family gathered for twenty years. The dishes you brought out for every holiday. Your grandmother's sewing basket that you've never actually used but couldn't imagine not having.
These things carry weight — not because they're valuable, but because they hold stories.
Here's the good news: the stories don't live in the items. They live in you.
You can write them down. You can tell them to your grandchildren. You can photograph the things before they go and keep those images somewhere beautiful. The memory lies within your heart and your head, not the item itself.
Write the stories. Tell the stories. That's where the memories are.

The pressure from people who love you

Sometimes the hardest part of downsizing isn't the stuff — it's the people.
Adult children with opinions. Family members who want certain things, or who have strong feelings about what you should keep, what you should give away, and how quickly this should all happen.
I want to say this clearly: you don't have to hold on to things for other people. And you don't have to let go of things for them either.
This next chapter belongs to you. Hold on to what makes you happy. Let go of what you're ready to release. Take the time you need.
And if someone in your life is making this harder instead of easier — it's okay to name that. It's okay to ask for a little space to make decisions on your own terms.

Where to begin (when you're ready)

If you're not sure where to start, start small.
Pick one drawer. One shelf. One closet in one room — not the whole house, not the basement, and not the things that feel the most loaded. Not yet.
Start somewhere that feels manageable and let yourself feel the small satisfaction of having made some decisions. That feeling is important. It tells you that this is going to be okay.
A few questions to help you as you go:
  • When did I last use this?
  • Would I bring this into a new space on purpose?
  • Am I keeping this for me, or for someone else?
  • Does this belong in my next chapter?
You don't have to rush the answers. It's okay if you need to think about it a little longer.

What less actually makes possible

A smaller space — or just a more intentional one — isn't a compromise. For many people, it turns out to be a relief.
Less to maintain. Less to manage. More time, more energy, more room for the things and the people who actually matter to you now.
I've worked with many families through this process. And the thing people say most often, once it's done, is that they feel lighter. Not because they lost something, but because they made a choice. A deliberate, personal, empowered choice.
That feeling is yours to have too.

You don't have to do this alone

This is genuinely hard work — emotionally and physically — and there's no rule that says you have to figure it out by yourself.
That might look like a trusted friend who can sit with you through the difficult decisions. It might look like family members who take things off your hands so you know they're going somewhere good. Or it might look like a professional organizer who can manage the practical pieces while you focus on what matters most: making decisions that feel right for you, without the weight of doing it all yourself.
Not everything needs a second set of eyes — but when it does, someone else can often see the potential you've stopped being able to see.
If you're anywhere in this process — whether you're just beginning to think about it, or you're further along than you'd planned to be — I'd love to be a resource for you. You can reach me directly at [contact link/email], and we'll figure out together what kind of support makes the most sense.

A gentle place to start


I've created The Downsizing Decision Guide as a companion to this post — a thoughtful, printable framework for working through what comes with you, what gets passed on, and what gets released. At your pace. On your terms.

Download The Downsizing Decision Guide →

Helping you create the best chapter yet — that's exactly what this work is for.

Yours in organizing success,
Eryn 💜
]]><![CDATA[How to Organize Your Garage Without Losing Your Mind | Get organized With Erin]]>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.gowitherin.com/blog/how-to-organize-your-garage-without-losing-your-mind-get-organized-with-erinDo you ever open the garage door, take one long look inside, and quietly close it again?

Yeah. Same.
The garage has this very specific talent for becoming the place where everything goes when you don't know where else to put it. The sports equipment from the season that ended eight months ago. The boxes from the last move that never quite got unpacked. The thing your neighbour gave you because they were downsizing and you felt too awkward to say no.

It builds slowly. And then one day you look up and realize it's become a lot.
Here's what I want you to know before we go any further: this doesn't mean you're disorganized. It doesn't mean you've failed. It means you have a space that never had a real system, and stuff has been making its own decisions in there ever since.
That's fixable.

​Why the garage gets away from us

Picture
The garage door closes. That's the whole problem.

When life gets busy — and whose life isn't busy — the garage becomes the path of least resistance. It's out of sight. Nobody's eating dinner in there. So it waits, quietly collecting whatever we don't have time to deal with right now.

The trouble is that "right now" adds up. Season after season, the threshold to start gets higher. Not because you don't want to deal with it, but because it starts to feel too big to know where to begin.

The trick is to stop trying to tackle it all at once.

​Before you touch anything: decide what this space is actually for

Picture
This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that makes everything else easier.
What does your garage actually need to do for you?

Is it first and foremost vehicle storage? A functional workshop? A home for seasonal gear, sports equipment, and the things that don't belong anywhere else in the house? Some combination?

There's no wrong answer — but there is your answer, and that's the one that matters. Your garage doesn't need to look like a showroom. It needs to work for how your family actually lives.
​
Once you're clear on its purpose, everything else becomes a filter. Does this belong here? Does it have a proper home here? If the answer is no — it's time to make a decision.

​A zone-based approach that's actually manageable

Forget trying to sort everything by category all at once. Instead, think in zones. Here's a framework to get you started:

Zone 1: Active use Things you reach for regularly — the lawnmower, bikes, tools you use weekly, whatever sport is currently in season. These get prime real estate: easy to grab, easy to put back. If you have to move three things to reach something you use every week, it doesn't have a home yet.

Zone 2: Seasonal storage Holiday decorations, winter tires, camping gear that comes out twice a summer. These can live higher up, further back, clearly labelled. You don't need them often — you just need to find them immediately when you do.

Zone 3: The exit lane This is a temporary zone by design. It's where things land while you make a decision: Is this coming with us? Does someone else need this? Or is it time to let it go? Set a deadline — a week, two weeks — and stick to it. This zone doesn't get to become permanent.

Zone 4: The honest pile We all have one. This is the stuff that's been sitting there for two years and you genuinely can't remember why you kept it. Ask the honest question: is it earning its space? It's okay to let it go. That is the permission you've been waiting for.

​A few things to keep in mind as you go

Picture
Remember to breathe. You don't have to do this in a day.

You don't have to get rid of anything you're not ready to let go of. It's okay to keep things if you have the space and they have a proper home. The goal here isn't minimalism — it's a space that functions without making you feel defeated every time you open the door.

And if you hit a wall partway through and it starts to feel like too much? That's normal. It doesn't mean you're doing it wrong. Start with one zone. Just one. See how that feels.
​
It will always feel harder before it becomes easier — and that's not a warning. That's a promise that it gets better.

​One more thing: if a move is on your horizon

Picture
The garage is often the last thing families tackle before a move, and the first thing that causes delays.
If a summer move is on your radar, the garage is actually a great place to start now. Getting clear on what's coming with you before the pressure of a closing date means less to sort through under stress — and it means your movers aren't loading things you were planning to donate anyway.
The families I've worked with who get the garage done early always say the same thing: once that space is sorted, the rest of the move suddenly feels manageable.
If you could use a hand — whether you're moving or just ready to reclaim the space — I'd love to talk. You can reach me at [your contact link/email].

​Grab the free Garage Reset Checklist


To help you get started without the overwhelm, I've put together a free, printable Garage Reset Checklist — a zone-by-zone guide built for real garages, not showroom ones.

[Download the free Garage Reset Checklist →]
​
Progress over perfection, always.
Warmly, Eryn 💜
]]><![CDATA[The Clutter Isn't the Problem]]>Wed, 20 May 2026 23:30:00 GMThttps://www.gowitherin.com/blog/the-clutter-isnt-the-problemI've stood in a lot of homes. I've seen overflowing closets and garages that haven't been opened in three years. I've sat with people surrounded by boxes they moved from the last house — and the house before that — still sealed. I've helped families sort through decades of belongings after a loss, and helped young couples figure out how two full lives merge into one shared space.

And in all of that, I've learned something that might sound counterintuitive coming from a professional organizer:
The clutter is almost never the problem.

​What We Talk About When We Talk About Clutter

When most people reach out to me, they describe their situation in physical terms. Too much stuff. Not enough space. Can't find anything. The house is out of control.
And those things are true. But underneath them — almost always — is something else entirely.
A spare room that became a dumping ground after a parent passed away and nobody was quite ready to deal with what was in there.
A kitchen that stopped feeling functional after a divorce, when cooking for one felt like too much of a reminder.
A basement full of kids' things from people whose kids have long since grown up, because letting go of those things means admitting that chapter is really over.
A home office buried in paper from a business that's been quietly overwhelming its owner for two years.
Clutter collects in the places where life got complicated. It settles in the rooms we avoid, the corners that hold our unfinished decisions, the spaces we stopped being able to face. It is, more often than not, a very physical record of something emotional we haven't had the bandwidth to process.
This is not a character flaw. It is a deeply human response to a full life.

The Shame Makes It Worse

Here's the part nobody talks about enough: shame is one of the most powerful forces keeping clutter in place.

We look at a disorganized home and we think: I should have handled this by now. What does it say about me that I haven't? What would people think if they saw this?
And then, because the shame is uncomfortable, we close the door. We tell ourselves we'll deal with it when we have more time, more energy, more of whatever it is we feel like we're running out of. The clutter stays. The shame compounds. The cycle continues.

What I've noticed is that the people who are hardest on themselves about their spaces are almost always the ones carrying the most — caregiving for a parent, managing a business, raising children, navigating a health challenge, holding an entire household together largely on their own. The disorganization isn't evidence of laziness or failure. It's evidence of a life that got very full, very fast, with not quite enough support.
​
You are not your clutter. And the state of your home is not a verdict on the state of your character.

What Decluttering Actually Asks of Us

​This is where I want to be honest with you, because I think a lot of organizing content glosses over it: decluttering is not just a physical task. It asks things of us emotionally, and sometimes those asks are significant.

It asks us to make decisions about things we've been avoiding deciding about.

It asks us to let go — not just of objects, but sometimes of the version of ourselves those objects represent. The person we were going to be when we bought that equipment. The life we imagined when we kept those things.

It asks us to grieve, sometimes. To acknowledge that a chapter has ended, that a relationship has changed, that something we hoped for didn't happen the way we thought it would.

None of that is easy. And none of it has a shortcut.

What I can tell you is that on the other side of it — when the space starts to breathe again — something shifts. People describe it in different ways. Lighter. Clearer. Like they can finally exhale. Like the house feels like theirs again.
​
That's not magic. That's what happens when the physical environment finally catches up to who you actually are right now — instead of holding you in who you used to be, or who you thought you were supposed to become.

Why Having Support Changes Everything

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I want to gently push back on the idea that you should be able to do this alone.

We hire people to help us with our taxes, our health, our legal questions, our cars. We ask friends to come help us move furniture. We bring in contractors to do work that technically we could do ourselves but would take three times as long and cause a lot of unnecessary stress.

And yet there's something about the home — about the personal, intimate nature of our stuff — that makes people feel like asking for help is an admission of failure.
It isn't. It's actually one of the most efficient, self-respecting decisions you can make.

Having someone in the space with you changes the dynamic entirely. The decisions feel less heavy. The momentum builds faster. The things you've been avoiding for months can often be resolved in an afternoon — not because a professional organizer has some special power, but because having a calm, non-judgmental presence beside you makes the whole thing feel possible instead of impossible.
​
I'm not there to judge what you kept or why. I'm not there to tell you what your home should look like or make you feel bad about where you are. I'm there to help you figure out what you actually want — and then help you create a space that reflects that.

A Different Way to Think About Getting Organized

If you've been thinking about getting organized but you're not sure you're "ready," I'd invite you to consider this:
You don't have to be ready to be ready. You just have to be willing to take one small step.

Maybe that's a phone call to talk through what's going on in your space. Maybe it's reading this post and quietly recognizing yourself in it. Maybe it's finally saying out loud — even just to yourself — that the way things are isn't working anymore, and that's okay.

The clutter is telling you something. Not that you're a mess. Not that you've failed. But that something in your life has been asking for attention, and now your home is echoing that back to you.
​
When you're ready to listen — and to get some help responding — I'm here.
Eryn Moreau is a Professional Organizer and Moving Specialist serving Barrie, Orillia, Collingwood, and the Simcoe-Muskoka region. She offers in-home organizing, moving packages, downsizing support, and virtual organizing — all with a judgment-free, real-life approach.

👉 Book a free clarity call 

Eryn 💜 Get Organized with Erin | Organize. Move. Thrive.
]]><![CDATA[Moving This Summer? Here's What to Do in May]]>Mon, 04 May 2026 18:00:00 GMThttps://www.gowitherin.com/blog/moving-this-summer-heres-what-to-do-in-may​May feels a little like the Sunday of summer. Everything is possible, the pace is still manageable, and you have just enough breathing room to actually make a plan — before the chaos of June, the heat of July, and the "HOW IS IT AUGUST" panic set in.
If you've been thinking about moving this summer — browsing listings, having the conversations, maybe already whispering the words "we should probably start decluttering" — this post is for you.
You're not behind. You're actually right on time. But May is the month to stop thinking and start doing, because the families who feel calm on moving day? They started here.

​​​First, a Reality Check (The Kind One)

​Summer moves — especially in Barrie, Orillia, Collingwood, and the surrounding area — get booked fast. Movers, storage units, junk removal companies, and yes, professional organizers all fill up quickly once the school year ends and the real estate market heats up.
That doesn't mean you need to have everything figured out by Friday. It means that starting now, even in small ways, gives you options. And options feel a whole lot better than scrambling.

What to Actually Do in May (In Order of Importance)

1. Get Honest About Your Timeline
Do you have a firm moving date? A rough window? A "we'd love to be settled by September" kind of hope? Write it down. Even a fuzzy timeline helps you work backwards and figure out what needs to happen when.
If you're not listed yet, that's okay — but know that the prep you do now directly affects how your home shows and how quickly you can move when the right offer comes.
2. Walk Your Home Like a Stranger​
This is one of my favourite exercises. Walk through your front door as if you've never been there before. What do you see? What feels heavy, cluttered, or tired? What would make a buyer (or frankly, your future self) nervous?
You're not trying to redo your whole house. You're just looking for the 20% of things that are creating 80% of the visual noise. That's usually where we start.
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3. Identify Your "Definitely Not Coming With Us" Zones​
Every home has them. The storage room where things go to be forgotten. The basement corner. The garage. The junk drawer that somehow became a junk dresser.
In May, you're not tackling these — you're just naming them. Give them a label, a rough size estimate, and an honest assessment of what lives there. That information is gold when it comes time to plan your declutter and move prep.
4. Start One Box​
I know. You're not ready to really pack. But starting one box — just one — does something important: it makes the move feel real in a manageable way instead of an overwhelming one.
Put it somewhere visible. Toss in things that are clearly coming with you but don't need to be accessible between now and move day. It builds momentum without pressure.
5. Book Your Support Early​
Whether that's movers, junk removal, a cleaning company, or a professional organizer — reach out in May. Not to commit to everything, but to get on radars, get quotes, and understand your options.
The families who call me in May get to be thoughtful about how we work together. The ones who call in July are often in triage mode. Both are totally fine — but the May version is a lot more fun for everyone.

What You Don't Have to Do in May

Just in case you needed permission: you do not need to have it all figured out. You don't need to have had "the purge." You don't need to pack up the kitchen or label every box or know exactly what's going into storage.
May is for orientation, not execution. Get your bearings, make a few moves, and trust that the rest will unfold — especially if you have a good team behind you.

How I Can Help

My moving packages are designed specifically for families and individuals in the Simcoe-Muskoka region who want to move with less stress and more intention — whether you're upsizing, downsizing, or just ready for a fresh start somewhere new.


Fresh Start |
​Perfect if you want hands-on help sorting, decluttering, and preparing your current home for sale or departure.
Seamless Transition |
​A more comprehensive package that supports you through both the outgoing and incoming side of your move.
Welcome Home |
​For when you've arrived and just need someone to help you unpack and set up your new space so it actually feels like home — fast.
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Not sure which one fits? That's what a discovery call is for. No pressure, no commitment — just a conversation about where you are and what would actually help.
👉 Book a free discovery call 
Book a Call
You've got this. And if you don't want to do it alone — that's what I'm here for.
Eryn 💜
Get Organized with Erin | Organize. Move. Thrive.
​gowitherin.com
]]><![CDATA[Declutter Before You Pack: The Moving Secret That Saves Time, Money & Sanity]]>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMThttps://www.gowitherin.com/blog/declutter-before-you-pack-the-moving-secret-that-saves-time-money-sanityCategory: Moving Tips | Estimated read time: 6 minutes
If you’re getting ready for a move this spring or summer, I want to tell you something that could save you hundreds of dollars and a whole lot of stress:
Don’t pack your clutter.
It sounds obvious when you say it out loud. But when moving day is bearing down on you and boxes need to be filled, most of us default to “I’ll deal with this at the new house.” And then we unpack the same junk into a fresh space and wonder why it still feels overwhelming.
Let’s break that cycle. Here’s why decluttering before you move is one of the best things you can do for yourself — and exactly how to make it happen.

Why Decluttering Before a Move Actually Matters

Moving costs money. Movers charge by the hour, and many companies charge by weight or volume. Every box of stuff you don’t need is costing you real money to transport. Beyond the financial side, moving is a massive psychological reset. You’re starting fresh in a new space — and you deserve to fill it only with things that actually belong in your next chapter.
Decluttering before a move also means:
  • Less to pack (and therefore less time packing)
  • Fewer boxes to label, stack, and move
  • A faster, easier unpack on the other end
  • A new home that feels intentional, not like your old chaos in a different location

The Golden Rule: One Room at a Time

Don’t try to declutter your whole home in one frantic weekend. You will burn out, make rushed decisions you regret, and end up packing everything anyway just to get it done.
Instead, work room by room, starting as early as possible before your move date. Ideally, begin 6–8 weeks out if you can. The further ahead you start, the more intentional your decisions will be.

The Three Questions to Ask About Every Item

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When you’re sorting through a space before a move, apply these three questions to each item:




  • Do I love it or use it regularly? → Pack it.
  • Would I buy it again if I were setting up a brand-new home? → If yes, keep it. If no, let it go.
  • Does this belong in my next chapter? → This one is about intention. Moving is a rare chance to be deliberate about what comes with you.
Anything that doesn’t pass the test goes into one of three categories: donate, sell, or toss.

The Spaces Most People Forget to Declutter Before a Move

We usually tackle the obvious rooms. But these spaces get neglected all the time:
  • The garage — don’t move mystery boxes! Open every one before it goes on a truck.
  • The junk drawer — or the five junk drawers. Do a quick sort before you just dump them into a box.
  • The linen closet — how many mismatched fitted sheets do you actually need?
  • The kitchen cabinets — duplicate tools, small appliances you haven’t touched in years, expired pantry items.
  • The attic, basement, or storage room — out of sight means it often gets moved without a second thought. Give it a second thought.

A Realistic Declutter Timeline for a Move

​6-8 Weeks Out
  • Start with storage areas: attic, basement, garage, storage closets
  • Tackle sentimental items early so you’re not making emotional decisions under deadline pressure
  • List items for sale on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji
​4-5 Weeks Out
  • Move through main living areas: living room, dining room, home office
  • Tackle the kitchen (cabinets, pantry, junk drawers)
  • Schedule a donation pickup or drop-off
2-3 Weeks Out
  • Bedrooms and closets
  • Kids’ rooms (with their help, where possible!)
  • Bathrooms — toss expired medications and products
Final Week
  • Pack what’s left — at this point it should all be intentional
  • One last pass through every room before the movers arrive

​What to Do With the Stuff You’re Letting Go

You have options:
  • Donate: Salvation Army, local shelters, Habitat for Humanity ReStore (for furniture and building materials), community Facebook groups
  • Sell: Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, or a garage sale
  • Toss: For items that are truly at end-of-life — check your municipality for large item pickup dates or hazardous waste events
  • Gift: Some items are perfect for family members, friends, or neighbours who could use them

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Decluttering before a move is emotional. You’re making big decisions while also managing a thousand other moving logistics. It can feel completely overwhelming — which is exactly why having support makes such a difference.
Our moving packages are designed to take this weight off your shoulders. From pre-move decluttering and packing support to full unpack and setup at your new home, we meet you wherever you need us.
  • Fresh Start Package — perfect if you want professional guidance while staying hands-on
  • Seamless Transition Package — our most popular, full-service option
  • Welcome Home Package — complete white-glove service for a stress-free move
👉 Ready to move with intention? Visit gowitherin.com to learn more or book your free discovery call.​
Book a Call
You’ve worked hard for everything in your home. Your next chapter deserves a fresh, intentional start.
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]]><![CDATA[Your Garage is Begging for a Spring Reset — Here’s Where to Start]]>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:00:00 GMThttps://www.gowitherin.com/blog/your-garage-is-begging-for-a-spring-reset-heres-where-to-startCategory: Spring Organizing | Estimated read time: 5 minutes
Let’s be honest. The garage might be the single most avoided space in the entire house. It starts as a parking spot, becomes a dumping ground, and eventually transforms into a labyrinth of “I’ll deal with this later” that you mentally skip past every single day.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone — and you’re not lazy. Life is busy, and the garage is where things go when there’s nowhere else for them to go. But spring is here, the days are getting longer, and your garage deserves a reset just as much as the rest of your home.
Here’s how to tackle it without losing your weekend (or your mind).

Step 1: Don’t Try to Organize a Messy Garage

The biggest mistake people make is trying to organize before they declutter. You can’t build a system around stuff you shouldn’t be keeping. So before you buy a single storage bin or shelving unit, you need to do a clear-out first.
Pull everything out — yes, everything — and sort into four categories:
  • Keep (used it in the last year and it belongs here)
  • Donate or Sell (still good, just not for you)
  • Toss (broken, expired, or mystery items with no purpose)
  • Belongs Elsewhere (the stuff that migrated to the garage from inside your house)
This step is messy and uncomfortable, but it’s the only way to get a clear picture of what you’re actually working with.

Step 2: Group What You’re Keeping by Zone

Once you know what’s staying, resist the urge to just put it all back. Instead, create zones based on how your family actually uses the garage. Common zones include:
  • Sports & Recreation (bikes, balls, outdoor gear, helmets)
  • Gardening & Lawn Care (tools, pots, soil, hoses)
  • Seasonal & Holiday Storage (decorations, winter gear)
  • Tools & Hardware (hand tools, power tools, fasteners)
  • Automotive (fluids, cleaning supplies, spare parts)
  • Overflow/Household (extra paper towels, cleaning supplies, etc.)
The goal is that every item in your garage has a category — and a home within that category.

Step 3: Work Vertically

Floor space in a garage is precious. The secret to a functional garage is getting things off the floor and onto the walls and ceiling. Here’s what works:
  • Wall-mounted pegboards or slat walls for tools and smaller items
  • Heavy-duty shelving units (metal or plastic) for bins and boxes
  • Overhead ceiling racks for seasonal bins and rarely-used items
  • Bike hooks to get bikes up and out of the way
Invest in matching storage bins — they don’t need to be fancy, but having a consistent size makes stacking infinitely easier and your space will look 10x more organized instantly.

Step 4: Label Everything 

​This is the step that separates a space that stays organized from one that falls apart in three weeks. Label your bins, your shelves, and your zones clearly. If everyone in your family can find the bug spray and the spare batteries without asking you, your system is working. For families with kids, picture labels alongside text labels go a long way.

Step 5: Do a Quick Safety Check

​While everything is out, it’s the perfect time for a quick safety review:
  • Dispose of old or expired chemicals, paints, and fuels properly (check your municipality for hazardous waste drop-off dates)
  • Make sure fire extinguishers are accessible and not expired
  • Store hazardous materials up high and out of reach of children and pets
  • Clear pathways so exits and emergency equipment are always accessible

The Realistic Timeline

A full garage reset for an average family home takes 4–8 hours depending on the size and how much is in there. Breaking it into two sessions — a declutter day and an organize day — is completely valid and often more sustainable.
You don’t have to do it all at once. You just have to start.

Need a Hand?

If your garage feels like a two-person job (or you just know you’ll feel more motivated with support), that’s exactly what our in-home organizing sessions are for. I’ll come to you, we’ll tackle it together, and you’ll have a functional, organized garage by the end of the day.
👉 To book a free clarity call, click the button, or reach out directly — I’d love to help.
]]><![CDATA[Moving with Kids? The Secret to Keeping Everyone (Including You) Sane]]>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:30:00 GMThttps://www.gowitherin.com/blog/moving-with-kids-the-secret-to-keeping-everyone-including-you-saneMoving is stressful enough when it's just adults. Add school-aged kids to the mix, and suddenly you're dealing with lost homework, forgotten favorite stuffies, and complete meltdowns over leaving their best friend. Sound familiar?
Here's the thing – most families try to wing it when they move, thinking they can pack everything in a weekend and somehow keep the kids happy while boxes pile up everywhere. But what if I told you there's a better way?
After helping hundreds of families through moves, I've learned that the secret isn't about being the perfect Pinterest mom who has color-coded moving boxes (though no judgment if that's your thing!). It's about having a system that works for real families with real chaos.

The Problem with Most Moving Approaches

Most families approach moving like this:
  • Wait until the last minute to start packing
  • Try to pack everything themselves to save money
  • Keep the move a "surprise" until the last possible moment
  • Pack the kids' rooms last (because "they'll just mess it up anyway")
  • Assume everything will go according to plan
The result? Stressed parents, anxious kids, and a move that feels like it takes forever to recover from.

A Better Way: The Family-First Moving System

What if instead, you could:
  • Have the kids actually excited about the move
  • Find their favorite toy on Day 1 in the new house
  • Unpack the essentials first so life feels normal faster
  • Actually enjoy your first week in the new home
The secret is involving your kids in the process and prioritizing what matters most to your family's daily life – not just getting boxes from Point A to Point B.

Three Must-Do Steps for Moving with Kids

Step 1: Create a "Moving Adventure" Story
Start talking about the move 6-8 weeks ahead. Use language like "our new adventure" instead of "leaving our home." Let them help research the new neighborhood – find the closest park, ice cream shop, or library. Make it exciting, not scary.
Step 2: Pack Their "First Day" Box
Each child gets one clearly labeled box with: their favorite stuffed animal, one comfort blanket, pajamas, toothbrush, a favorite snack, and one small toy. This box travels with you (never goes on the moving truck) and gets unpacked first thing in their new room.
Step 3: Set Up Their Space First
Before you worry about the kitchen or living room, get at least one kid's bed made with their familiar bedding. Having one "normal" space in the chaos makes all the difference for everyone's stress levels.

This Week's Action Steps

  • Have the conversation – If you're moving in the next 6 months, start talking about it now
  • Research together – Let each child find one thing they're excited about in the new area
  • Start the First Day boxes – Get each child a special box or bin just for their moving essentials
​Remember, a successful family move isn't about having everything perfectly organized from day one. It's about making sure everyone feels secure and excited about your new chapter together.
Need help with your family move? Our Fresh Start package is specifically designed for families with school-aged children. We handle the overwhelming stuff so you can focus on helping your kids through the transition. Learn more about how we can support your family's move at gowitherin.com.
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