Welcome to POP Talk!
The blog for all things related to Purposeful Productivity & Organization. Think of this space as a tool kit for creating a life that works for you. With topics that give you actionable steps to bring order to the chaos and intention to your life. Welcome to this space and let’s build this tool kit together as a community!
Assessing Your Space Before Organizing: What’s Working and What’s Not?
Hello POP Talk friends! Did you sign up for the Purposeful Productivity Program waitlist yet?? JOIN HERE! You don’t want to miss out on early deals and extra bonuses! It will not only transform your productivity but also help you feel organized in your life. And as...
Mid-Year Reflections: A Time for Celebration and Renewal
Hello Friends! As we stand here in the middle of 2024, it’s not just another week—it's a moment to pause, celebrate, and recalibrate. With the 4th of July upon us, a time of national pride and reflection, let’s take a page from our country's playbook and reflect on...
Balancing Productivity and Connection During the Holidays
Hi Friends, We all know that the holiday season is supposed to be magical, but let’s be real—sometimes it feels like a whirlwind of chaos, especially when you're trying to juggle work deadlines, family traditions, and everything in between. 🎄😅 If you’ve ever found...
5 Tips for Budget-Friendly Holiday Prep: Stress Less & Save More
Hi Friends, The holiday season is a magical time, but it can also be one of the most stressful and expensive parts of the year, especially for busy moms trying to juggle all the festivities on top of everything else. I’m already trying to do the mental math for all...
Shed the Weight of Indecision: Your Path to a Clearer Home + Mind!
Hi Friends, Indecision is the root cause of all the clutter in your life—whether it’s physical piles that seem to grow overnight or mental to-do lists that never seem to shrink. Many of us struggle with confronting the emotions tied to our decisions, which is why we...
Kickstart Your Day: Easy Ways for Moms to Own Their Mornings
Hi Friends, Does this sound familiar? It’s 7:30 a.m., and you’re already in the middle of a mini-crisis. The kids are still in pajamas, someone’s crying over a lost shoe, and you’re frantically scanning the room for your work bag. Your coffee is cold, the to-do list...
It’s OK to Let Go: Give Yourself Permission to Declutter and Breathe Easier
Hi Friends, Do you ever step into a room and feel like it’s closing in on you? Those piles of laundry, scattered toys, or that stack of mail—it’s overwhelming, isn’t it? Sometimes, it feels like all this clutter is saying, “You should really take care of this!” But...
Taming the Money-Time Struggle: Simple Hacks for Stressed Moms to Organize Finances Without Losing Sanity
Hi Friends! Ever feel like you’re constantly juggling? Between managing the household, working, and making sure everyone’s where they need to be, the idea of sitting down to tackle finances can feel like one more thing you just don’t have time for. In this blog, we’ll...
Letting Go of Mom Guilt and Finding Balance
Hi Friends! Mom guilt—it's something that most of us experience at some point. Recently, I found myself feeling guilty over a decision I made that should’ve been a positive one. It wasn’t just about the decision, though—it was the weight of those nagging feelings, the...
5 Simple Ways to Reclaim Your Time this Fall
Hi Friends! As the leaves start to change and the cool air sweeps in, life can get busier for moms. With school back in full swing, extracurricular activities picking up, and the holiday season just around the corner, finding a moment for yourself can feel impossible....
Beat the Mold Before It Beats Your Belongings: Must-Know Tips
Hi Friends! Summer has officially come to a close, and as we pack away all the summer gear, I want to talk about something I see in many homes—mold. While it’s not just a summer issue, the heat and humidity of this past season where I live certainly didn’t help....
Why Are We Falling In? Finding Calm Through Purposeful Productivity
Hi Friends! I’m feeling the excitement for fall everywhere, and I’m right there with you! 🍂 I love all things fall and can’t wait for the cozy activities. This transition from summer to fall is one of my favorite times of the year. For many of you, I know it’s a...
Busy Mom’s Guide to Emergency Preparedness: Simple Steps for Staying Safe Without the Stress
Hi Friends! September always feels like a whirlwind, doesn’t it? Between getting back into routines, kids’ activities, and managing the daily chaos, it’s easy for certain things to slip through the cracks. One of those things? Emergency Preparedness. It’s something we...
Pause for a Purpose: Suicide Prevention Month Matters
**Trigger Warning** In this blog, I discuss suicide prevention and share statistics. Please prioritize your mental health. If this topic is distressing, feel free to skip to the end or pass on this post. 🫶 —---------- Hi Friends, I hope everyone had a safe and...
Create Effective Back-to-School Family Routines
Hey friends! 🌟 It's back to school! Like this week! OMG! This is a great time for parents to step in and help their kids establish a smooth and enjoyable routine. A well-organized day can make a huge difference in reducing stress and setting your child (and you) up...
How to Create a Family Command Center
Hey friends! 🌟 In today's fast-paced/chaotic world, managing a family's daily life can feel like juggling with one hand tied behind your back. from School forms to bills, meal planning to family schedules, it's easy for important papers to get lost in the shuffle....
10 Organizing Tips for Back-to-School
Hey friends! 🌟 I cannot believe that August is already here like tomorrow😮. Were we not just celebrating Memorial Day and my 40th birthday? Please, someone slow down time! I'm feeling like it is flying by, especially as this week my nephew officially became a...
Meaningful Connections
Hey there, friends! 🌟 Today, we are talking about a topic that's close to my heart and probably yours too – International Friendship Day. This special day, celebrated globally, is all about honoring the friendships that color our lives, providing support, laughter,...
It’s Okay to Ask For Help
Today, I want to dive into a topic that resonates deeply with many of us: knowing when it's okay to ask for help. Whether you're struggling to organize your space, considering hiring a coach to boost your productivity, or simply reaching out to a friend during tough...
Get Your Personal Practices on Point!
Hello Friends! Welcome to this week's POP Talk where we discuss the last but certainly not the least of our Purposeful Productivity Program pillars - Personal Practices. Today, we're unlocking the power of routines and habits, those seemingly small decisions that...
The Art of Scheduling: Your Blueprint to Purposeful Productivity!
Hey there, Purposeful Productivity Pioneers! Welcome back to another inspiring installment of POP Talk! Can you believe it? We're nearing the end of our exciting journey through each pillar of the Purposeful Productivity Program. And boy, oh boy, do I have a gem for...
Master Priority Management and Join the Purposeful Productivity Tribe!
Hey there, friends! 🌟 I’m thrilled you’re here for another POP Talk post. Sharing my thoughts with you each week in this longer format has been such a joy, and I’m always looking for more ways to connect with you. My passion for organizing and productivity is at an...
Simplify Your Life with a Personal Vault
Welcome back to POP Talk and our exciting series on the Purposeful Productivity Program (PPP)! Over the last couple of weeks, we've dived into the pillars of Physical Wellness and Psychological Well-Being and explored how they enhance our productivity. Today, let's...
Bring Out Your Best: Supporting Your Psychological Well-Being
Welcome back after the holiday weekend and the start of summer! As we dive into the warm summer months, it's the perfect time to focus on mindset, rejuvenation and growth. This week's POP Talk is dedicated to a cornerstone of our Purposeful Productivity Program that I...
Building Your Foundation: Physical Wellness is the First Pillar!
Welcome to this week’s edition of POP Talk! Today, we’re diving into the very first pillar of the Purposeful Productivity Program (PPP): Physical Wellness. Each pillar in this program is vital on its own, but when combined, they create a synergistic effect that...
Sharing My Passion for Overwhelm: The Purposeful Productivity Program!
Hey there, POP Talk friends! Welcome to this week’s POP Talk! You might be wondering, how can I be passionate about overwhelm? Let me clarify: it's not about reveling in others' overwhelm, but rather about a wholehearted dedication to helping people, especially moms,...
Level Up Your Life: How Gamification Can Make Every Task a Win
Hey there, POP Talk friends! 🎉 Guess what? Yesterday was my birthday, and I hit the big 4-0! Birthdays are like little checkpoints in the game of life, right? They're fun, they're celebratory, and they're a perfect excuse to inject some joy into our everyday routines....
Perfectionism: Embracing “Just Right”!
Perfectionism - it's a word that carries both power and weight. We often associate it with qualities like being detail-oriented, disciplined, and committed to quality. But what happens when our pursuit of perfection starts to hold us back or even harm us emotionally?...
Break Free from Procrastination: Elevate Your Productivity Today!
Hands up if you've ever found yourself procrastinating on a project, whether it's work-related or personal. Well, guess what? You're not alone! It's a completely human response, one that's becoming increasingly prevalent in today's fast-paced world. In fact, just the...
Welcome to the New Era of POP Talk
Refreshed and Refocused!It's been quite a journey since my last blog post in 2020. Life has taken me through twists and turns, including the incredible joy of welcoming my spunky three-and-a-half-year-old daughter into the world. Alongside the joys, there have been...
How to Prepare for a Closet Installation
Get Your Closet in ShapeIf you’ve decided to hire someone to install a closet organization system, this blog is for you. Getting a closet system installed is exciting and can truly change your day to day life. But in order to maximize your investment you have to do...
Black Friday Alternatives
Skipping The Biggest Shopping Day For so many of us Black Friday has become a huge, stressful ordeal over the years. Sometimes it can even be a spectacle as we have seen on the news. Some people get all their holiday shopping done on Friday and even get a few deals...
Declutter for the Holidays
Preparing Your HomeSome of us have been in denial that Thanksgiving and the holidays are here but they are. It’s an extremely busy time with lots of activities. If you’re hosting a family or friend gathering then you have even more on your plate than just...
Organize Your Closet Like A Hollywood Set
Chatting With A Set CustomerHave you ever wondered what it must be like on a television of film set with access to fun outfits and accessories? I think I always imagined it was like a gymnasium sized closet organization system with everything you could ever need or a...
5 Reasons for Downsizing Early
Thinking Ahead to Downsizing EarlySome of you reading this may not think this applies to you because you are not even close to thinking about downsizing but I’m going to tell you why you should start thinking about it and acting like you’re about to downsize. Here are...
Treat Monday Like The New Year
New Year's Day FeelingI know by the title of this blog it may sound like I’m pushing us past all the holidays and right into 2020 by talking about New Year Planning while some of us feel like it's still April. The year is FLYING by. It is truly mind blowing. Trust me...
My Favorite Products to Get Practically Organized
The Right Organization ProductThe number of products geared towards organization and storage has skyrocketed in the last few years. Everywhere you turn something new pops up. Everyone wants to know what the ‘best’ product to get organized is and that is both an easy...
How to Prioritize Your Tasks and To-Do’s
Tasks + To Do ListsManaging and prioritizing tasks and to do lists can be challenging. We write these lists sometimes daily and they don’t end. They never seem to be finished and some days grow. They are supposed to help us get done what is important. That’s why we...
Taking Care of Your Mental Health
You are your greatest asset.I’ve said it in other blogs but I think it bears repeating because it is so important - YOU ARE YOUR BIGGEST ASSET. All the apps, platforms, planners, checklists mean nothing if you’re not ok. If you’re sick you know what that does to your...
What is Essential? | Part Two
Applying Takeaways from the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of LessWelcome to Part Two!Last month I read (listened via Audible) to the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. So I’m sharing more of McKeown’s genius nuggets on...
Paper Pile Management
Piles for MilesSo many people have trouble with paper piles, it happens. I often see this happen after a family crisis or drastic change in the household such as having a new baby or moving. Even just a short time without your good paper managing habits can leave you...
Getting Ahead For The Holidays
The Holidays Are Coming...Time to start planning for the holidays. I know its only September but this is the time of year where the next 3 months feel like 1 big month and go by so quickly. We have several holidays in a short time frame that require a lot of time,...
Managing Transitional Moments
What is a Transitional Moment?Transitional moments are the short periods of time between activities. Such as driving home from work, going from one meeting to another, managing the household to picking up the kids from school. You’re changing focus from different...
What is Essential?
Applying Takeaways from the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of LessThe BookI recently finished reading (listening via Audible) to the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. It was a fascinating book with so many nuggets of...
Get Your Garage Organized
Garage Season is HereThe cooler weather is coming soon in some parts of the country and summer is sadly coming to a close. That means it's garage season! It’s time to take a good look at your garage and get it organized. Before you know it the cold temps and even snow...
Do Nothing & Be More Productive?
Nothing is ProductiveI know what you’re thinking, how is it possible that doing nothing be more productive: It can! I believe taking time to do nothing can lead to less stress and being more productive. Hear me out. I've always been a big fan of taking even a small...
Back to School Organizing Tips
New School YearIt’s that time of year already! Kids are going back to school, teachers are gearing up for another year and parents are trying to keep up with new requirements and routines. It can be chaotic and the summer seems to go by faster and faster each year for...
Resetting Your Routine To Get Back on Track
Off Your Game Is anyone else feeling off their game? Maybe you’ve fallen out of your routine. Maybe you got back from vacation and your mindset is still at the beach. For me - I bought a house! It’s exciting and exhausting but it has thrown my whole routine and rhythm...
Flex Your Estimation Skills
Estimating TimeEstimating time is a highly under-estimated skill. Most people that I know don’t estimate time as well they would like to think they do. Estimating time in particular can be challenging. Everyone I work with struggle to estimate how long it will take...
Master Your Mail
Mail Pileup & ConsequencesIn a digital time it is amazing how much physical mail that still comes to our homes and businesses every day. With our busy schedules it can be a task easily set aside and forgotten about. Most of it is bills, spam or ads but all of that...
10 Tips to Stay Organized While Traveling
Vacation and Travel ChaosEveryone looks forward to vacation and the freedom from work and everyday responsibilities it can promise. Sometimes we don’t do enough to prepare for travel that we can add to the chaos. But I’ve put together a list of ways to stay organized...
Define Your Style & Get Organized
My JourneyI want to be completely honest with you all. I did not go on a style journey so I could write this blog. This was my experience and the results were unexpected but I thought some of you might relate so I’m sharing it with you. I am NOT a fashionista. I don’t...
Letting Go of your Stuff
Why Is It Hard To Let Go?When I talk to my clients about decluttering and organizing on their own they tell him how hard it is for them to let go of an item. They know logically they don’t use the item, it doesn’t fit, it’s broken, it’s not theirs but they still...
Organizing Your Digital Files
Going DigitalCongratulations! You’ve gone digital and you’re using less paper with your home or office files! Well now that you have all these files what’s next? Digital organization can be just as overwhelming as a paper filing system. You need to be able to find...
Bring Balance to Your Summer
Summer is UniqueSummer takes forever to get here and goes by so fast. We have so many ideas, plans and activities we want to get to there never seems to be enough time. Family and friends all want to go places and soak up the sun and good weather. There is a...
Organizing Crafts & Games
Getting CraftyOrganizing kid’s crafts supplies and games can seem daunting. There are a lot of pieces to everything, some require supervision and they all seem to multiple and turn up in every part of the home. One of the biggest contributing factors to this is not...
Setting Meeting Expectations
Meeting MistakesMeetings are great vehicles to interact with team members and can be very valuable. However, everyone has been in meetings that go way too long, have no direction and there is no easy way out. Team meetings are so important for connecting and sharing...
Keeping Kid’s Artwork
Schools Out For Summer!Everyone can sense that school is almost out and summer is just around the corner. It’s exciting for everyone until parents start noticing all the school work and artwork that has piled up throughout the year. The intention was to display them...
Managing Your Energy
Energy & Attention Effect Your Time ManagementLet’s talk about a key ingredient to time management - your energy. You can perfectly craft a schedule that squeezes in all your tasks, activities, meals and social time but if you haven’t taken into account your...
Streamline Your Apps!
Do you have too many apps? Is it hard to find the right app?Applications “apps” have become so integrated into our daily lives. They help us get up on time, manage our calendars, navigate, communicate, document and entertain ourselves. They assist us at home and at...
Why you need an Accountability Partner
Finding a Buddy Can Help You Meet Your GoalsSometimes achieving a goal, establishing a new habit or just getting through a rough season feels lonely and impossible. You shouldn’t go it alone. Find an accountability partner and it can be a game changer for you. Many...
How to Boost your Productivity with 3 Tips
How productive have you been in 2019?We are halfway through the month of April and hopefully you have made headway on your 2019 goals. If you’re feeling behind in your work, like you're not getting work done, or not making time for what you love, it can be hard to...
Designing your Home Management System
Do you wish your home came with an instructional manual? It may seem like a daunting task to get your entire home in order and running smoothly. START SMALL Start small with one task or activity that needs to be done your home and create a system. Discuss and...
Introducing the It’s Practically Organized Blog!
WELCOME TO THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW PRACTICALLY ORGANIZED BLOG & MY FIRST POST!My name is Nicole Holtman and I am the founder of Practically Organized, LLC. I am a Certified Professional Organizer® and Productivity Coach. I am so thrilled to share with you what I...
5 Key Lessons from Marie Kondo’s Netflix Show
Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix has everyone talking about my absolute favorite topic - organizing! Marie Kondo’s warm personality and cleverly named tidying method (Konmari), along with an exceptional PR team, have done an amazing job highlighting a...