Olivia Gaines Author Group

Decluttering progress can be surprisingly difficult to see.

You clear a drawer, donate a bag or make one difficult decision—and then your attention immediately moves to everything that remains.

I’m joining Sandy Krokaugger for the Reduce the Clutter Summit to discuss how a simple journal can help you recognize the progress that would otherwise disappear into the work.

My interview is called Write Down the Wins: Using a Journal to See Your Decluttering Progress.

We’ll talk about recording decisions, noticing patterns and capturing small wins so you have real evidence that your effort is changing your home.

Have you ever given up on a dream because you've listened to that 'little voice' in your head that tells you that you 'can't do it' or 'what's the point?' That inner voice is the critic inside of everyone that causes many bright futures to come to a screaming halt. Just like the mommy who freaks out when little Johnny runs with a stick, your inner 'mom' worries and frets over new challenges that arise, very often creating enough doubt to make you believe you can't do it, whatever it may be.

There are times when listening to your 'gut' comes in handy, but for the most part, what is perceived as a gut reaction is simply fear of failure or rejection before the event even takes place. How can you squelch your inner critic so that you can move on and build the business that you dream of?

Carolina Coleman had a good job, a nice apartment, too many books, and a family with entirely too many opinions about her life.

She needed a change.

Duke Halverson wanted a wife and the life of a family man.

The mechanical engineer turned woodworker had a home, a thriving business, and no interest in wasting time on modern dating. Carolina, a technical writer who believed every problem had a workable solution, figured answering his mail-order bride ad made perfect sense.

On paper, they were a perfect match.

This title will be auto-delivered to your Kindle on September 30, 2026.

You’ve pre-ordered this item

Pre-ordered on Jul 31, 2026