Permission to Say No — To Your Own Schedule

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We talk a lot about saying no to other people’s requests. But what about the commitments we’ve made to ourselves?

The project we said we’d start. The class we signed up for out of obligation. The recurring task that no longer makes sense. Sometimes our own calendar becomes the clutter.

Over-commitment is exhausting in a quiet, invisible way. It creates a low hum of behind-ness that follows us through our days. And unlike a cluttered closet, it’s hard to see — until we stop and look.

Try this:

Look at your schedule or to-do list this week and ask: is there one thing on here that I could release, reschedule, or reconsider? Not because you’re lazy or behind — but because it no longer fits, or the timing is wrong, or it was never really yours to carry.

What would it feel like to take it off the list?

Clearing time is just as meaningful as clearing space. Both create room for what actually matters.

A deep breath and a small step,

Kate Fehr, Clear & Simple

Clear & Simple, Kate Fehr, Schedule Say No

When Did You Last Actually Find the Photo You Were Looking For?

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You know the moment — you’re scrolling to find that one picture, the good one, the one you know you took. And you scroll. And scroll. Past 47 nearly identical sunset shots, a blurry one of someone’s elbow, and approximately 300 screenshots you meant to revisit.

Or maybe your phone has started sending you that gentle, but unnerving nudge: storage almost full.

Either way, your camera roll is ready for a clearing.

Try this:

  • Open your photos app and set a timer for 5 minutes.

  • Go to Screenshots or scroll to the oldest photos and start there.

  • Delete anything blurry, duplicate, or past its purpose. Be a little ruthless.

  • Aim for at least 20 deletions. You might blow past that — and that’s a win.

When your timer goes off, stop. Celebrate the small clearing you just made. If you want to keep going, set another 5 minutes. Otherwise, let that layer be good enough for today.

Progress, not perfection. A lighter roll is still lighter.

Here’s to a little more breathing room,

Kate Fehr, Clear & Simple

Clear & Simple, Kate Fehr, Looking for Photo

The Decision You Keep Postponing

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You know the one.

It’s been sitting in the back of your mind for weeks — maybe months. You think about it in the shower, in traffic, right before you fall asleep. And then you set it aside again.

There’s often a reason we circle a decision without landing. Sometimes we’re genuinely not ready. The timing is off, or we need more information, or our heart just hasn’t caught up yet. That deserves to be honored.

But sometimes — and only you can know which this is — the circling has become its own kind of clutter. We’re not gathering more information; we’re avoiding the discomfort of choosing.

Try this:

Take a breath and write down the decision at the top of a blank page. Then make two columns: what I know and what I’m afraid of. Let both be honest.

Sometimes just naming the fear — on paper, out loud, to a trusted person — is enough to loosen its grip. You don’t have to decide today. But you might be closer than you think.

Releasing a lingering decision is its own kind of decluttering. The mental space it frees is real.

Here’s to a deep breath and a small step,

Kate Fehr, Clear & Simple

Clear & Simple, Kate Fehr, Decision Postponed

The Countertop Reset

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What does your kitchen counter look like right now?

If there’s a little more going on than you’d like — a pile of mail, yesterday’s keys, a mystery charger — this week’s moment is for you.

Try this:

  • Set a timer for 10 minutes.
  • Clear everything off your counter and into a laundry basket or box. Everything.
  • Give the surface a good wipe. Let it breathe for a moment.
  • Now pick up each item from the basket and ask: does this actually belong here? If yes, return it intentionally. If no, find it a real home — or let it go.

Visual calm has a way of landing in your body. When one surface is clear, it signals to your brain: this space is manageable. That’s not a small thing.

You don’t need to tackle the whole kitchen. One counter creates a ripple.

One gentle step at a time,

Kate Fehr, Clear & Simple

Clear & Simple, Kate Fehr, Countertop Reset

Organize Your Digital Photos

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Recently I read that “most people” take about 10,000 pictures a year. Say what?!

“Clutter is not just the stuff on your floor,

it’s anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.”

 – Peter Walsh

Adding to Peter’s excellent quote, I’ll include “and devices” after floor. Since the first iPhone was shared with the world in 2007, the number of photos we take has increased exponentially. One might think having photos in digital format would help us process them, edit them, and get to enjoy them more… Sadly, that’s far from reality. We simply do not have the time, so in our libraries they sit. Come along with me and we’ll organize your photos simply, clear out the stress, and make more space for the life you most want to be living.

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© is the 3-step organizing process that works for all the areas of your space and life, including digital. Time to use them for your photo library.

SEE IT – Take a look at where you are now. Answering the questions below will provide reflection and clarity about your current situation.

  • How do you feel about your digital photos?
  • Are you able to quickly find photos when you want to look at them?
  • What’s working? You can be specific or general.
  • What isn’t working? What don’t you like?

MAP IT – Make a plan for what you want. We’ve got ideas to help you make determinations.

  • How do you want to feel about photos?
  • What would it be like to enjoy photos of your favorite people, places, and events?
  • Would you enjoy seeing your favorite photos on your TV? In a digital photo frame? Or would you prefer to create and print books?
  • Think about photos with umbrella categories. See a sample outline in the Do It. Step.

DO IT – Take the steps to make it happen. Schedule 60 minutes on your calendar for organizing your 2023 photos.

  • Set the stage: Put your phone on Do Not Disturb/Focus. Silence is probably best for this.
  • Create folders/albums in your photo library. We suggest using years and then events or other relative subcategories within those years. Start with processing your 2023 photos and, over time, work your way backwards. Below is a sample outline.
      • 2023 Hawaii Trip
      • 2023 Trace Graduation
      • 2023 Taos Trip
      • 2023 Backyard Project
      • 2023 Concerts
      • 2023 Random Gems
      • 2023 Landscapes or Nature Faves
      • 2023 Screenshots or Misc. for Filing
  • Move your photos into the appropriate album.
  • Take time to celebrate a layer complete!

Schedule more Do It Sessions as needed to get your whole library processed. Take your time

Over the next few months use the system as life unfolds. Have an event coming up? Make an album with the event name and put photos in there that day or within a few days.

Your Guide, Kate Fehr. I am passionate about teaching people the skills of clutter clearing, organizing, and simplifying.