​Your home is your sanctuary. If the idea of decluttering seems like the most daunting task in the world, rest assured it will actually make you feel better in the long run. Here are seven reasons why organizing your home reduces stress and increases relaxation, getting you ever closer to that sanctuary you want and deserve.

Your pantry sees a lot of activity. Daily, you and your family are in and out, grabbing food and snacks, putting things back, loading, stacking, shoving, digging, stuffing - it's no wonder it can start to look a little chaotic. Keep reading to learn how you can reset your pantry - or get it organized for the first time - and how to best keep it that way.

The first step to an organized space is visualization. The first ACTION step to an organized space is decluttering. It's choosing which of your possessions you want to keep - which you use, which you love, and which brings you joy. It's letting go of guilt, the parts of the past that aren't part of your future, and the weight (literally and figuratively) of clutter. Decluttering clears the way (again: literally and figuratively) for you and your family to live the life you want and deserve. The first step to getting what you want is getting rid of what you don't. Wow, right? But those of you who have started decluttering know: it's easier said than done.

Whether the space you're organizing is large or small, cluttered to the ceiling or just a little over-stuffed, filled with shoes and clothes or pasta and canned peas - the general organization process is the same. Follow these steps for a more organized space.

This month JAM Organizing presents another informative post from a guest blogger. Enjoy!

​One of the greatest side effects of the modern, fast paced lifestyle is stress. With rushed mornings, long work days, and late evenings, many of us feel like we spend our lives in a state of chaos trying to keep up with our to-do list. But did you know there are specific ways we can foster a calming environment that will help us relax? By integrating soothing elements into your surroundings at home, you can transform the way you begin and end each day and create a space that promotes peace and serenity.

Having a home to call your own is a wonderful feeling, but let’s be honest here: there will be times when you find yourself nitpicking at certain details of your house. Is there a particular backsplash in your kitchen that you aren’t fond of? Does your living room and kitchen look cramped? Do you dislike the interior of your bathrooms? A lot of times, these little problems that you have with your house won’t go away with time, but there are lots of simple ways to revamp your old home that will have you falling in love with it once more. 

JAM Organizing will soon announce the schedule for two different educational series to help you get where you want to be. Join us for live classes in Wilmington, North Carolina and, in the near future, for webinars you can watch regardless of where you live.

Read on for more information on the why's, what's, where's and when's!

Accountants and the IRS recommend keeping your last seven years of tax returns and supporting documentation, and that's what I tell my clients. I was recently able to help a client purge over 224 lbs of well-organized tax documents spanning the last 46 years. 

Full disclosure: I don't enjoy lining my cabinets. Not even a little. I never buy enough shelf liner, it always takes longer than I expect, and before the project is over, I've been to the store MULTIPLE times to buy more. Why do I line my kitchen cabinets? For the same reason many women do much of what we do around the house: because my mother did.

​So, I decided to look into it. Is this necessary? Do the benefits outweigh the frustration? Turns out, they do.