The Power of Intentional Living: Decluttering for a Calm and Organized Home, Exclusive Interview with Declutter Coach, Erika Maddamma Ep.18

Educating Kids & Connecting Families with Christine Furman

In this engaging episode of "Educating Kids and Connecting Families," host Christine Furman interviews a special guest — Erika Maddamma, Declutter Coach and owner of Sunny Spaces Organizing. They dive deep into the art of decluttering, discussing practical strategies for families to reduce the overload of possessions and streamline their living environments. Erika shares her journey into the decluttering profession and the importance of living an intentional life. She walks us through her insights on the psychological benefits of minimalism and the freeing sensation it offers. As well as emphasizing the need to set boundaries and be mindful of what comes into our homes. Erika also provides tips for organizing toys and explains the concept of toy rotation. She encourages listeners to take small steps and be consistent in maintaining an organized space.

Quotes from today’s episode:

• "Pay it forward. Let somebody else use it [unwanted items]. Let somebody else have the joy of that item, and don't hold it all for yourself." — Erica Madama reinforcing the benefits of donating items.
• "We all have the ones way high up that, you know, you need a stepstool to get to. If your daily item requires a stepstool, it's not getting put back, right?" — Erica Madama discussing the importance of having practical and accessible storage solutions.
• "The other thing is our things were invented and created for people to use them, not to sit in your basement and collect dust." — Erica Madama on the purpose of possessions and using them meaningfully.
• "Your home should reflect what you want to feel. And most of the people that I meet do not want to feel chaos and stress." — Erica Madama on aligning your home environment with your desired emotional state.

Takeaways:

• Decluttering and organizing a space is an ongoing process that significantly impacts one's well-being and life satisfaction.
• Minimalism isn't about living with the bare minimum; it's about being intentional with what possessions you choose to keep.
• Setting clear boundaries for spaces, like using bins as a limit for toy storage, helps control the amount of clutter and teaches children how to manage their belongings.
• Toy rotation is a beneficial strategy to keep children engaged and ensure play areas are not overwhelmed with too many choices.
• Selling or donating items that are no longer needed can be gratifying and creates space for items currently in use.

About the Guest:

Erika Maddamma is a professional declutter coach and the enterprising owner of Sunny Spaces Organizing. Known for her Type A personality, she has a lifelong passion for organization and efficiency, which she has cultivated since childhood. Erika holds a history of organizing everything within reach right down to her own closet spaces. After college, her zest for organization led her to write a business plan for 'Erika organizes'. Post-college, Erika stepped into the corporate world, and her journey there included traveling the nation, selling baby car seats and strollers. However, it was her venture into motherhood that prompted her to take the entrepreneurial leap, starting her own business after feeling a pull to be more present in her child's life. Her business is now four years old and focuses on transforming cluttered homes into tidy spaces that promote more efficient and joyous living.

Ways to get connected with Erika:

• Sunny Spaces Organizing: sunnyspacesorganizing.com

• Email: [e-mail]

• Instagram and Facebook handles: @sunnyspacesorganizing

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