BTS Week 2: Homeroom (Closet edition)

Donna Joy

Hello and Happy Week Two!
How did Week One feel?

  • 101s: Did you consistently put one thing away near your bed? If so, how does that space feel now?
  • 201s: Did you make your bed each day? If so, how does it feel to be greeted by a made bed at the end of the day?

I hope you were able to cast those votes for yourself and that you feel a little stronger and a little lighter. If not, it’s ok, no matter where you are, you can always join in. “Now” is always a good time to start. 

Are you ready to keep those going, and add a little more? This week, we’re staying in our “homeroom” (the bedroom) and moving to our closets. 

Recently, someone asked me if clothing was a big decluttering struggle for me. I said no, I’m more likely to wrestle with keeping craft supplies under control. And it’s true: I can justify keeping almost every piece of clothing I own (weekly “theme days” at my work definitely don’t help my tendency to justify pieces!). Compared to many people, my wardrobe is actually pretty small.

But as I shopped some Labor Day sales and packages started arriving on my doorstep, I realized: the number of clothes I own isn’t the real measure of whether this is a “problem area” for me.

Here’s the real: I love the thrill of donating clothes. Reorganizing my closet is one of my favorite de-stressing activities. I feel accomplished when I pile up bags for donation. But then…I find myself thinking I need “just a few things” for an upcoming event, a trip, or just because – and I get the dopamine hit of buying something new. Which, of course, gives me the chance to reorganize again.

When I chase the rush from both the purchase and the purge, it’s not so much about the clothes themselves – it’s about seeking the dopamine hits coming and going. It’s about the rush in the cycle. And that cycle costs real time, energy, and money.

This week we’re going to take a look at our closet. When I say closet, feel free to substitute wherever you keep your clothes: dresser drawers, a standing rack, that closet down the hall, or even your floordrobe (that pile of rando clothes on the floor).

As we’ll do each week, there is homework (101 level or 201 level, with a bonus extra credit assignment, if you’re ready). Each assignment will take you just minutes a day, and every day you complete the simple task, you are building your muscles and casting a vote for the person you want to be. You’re moving yourself one steady step closer to calm.

Assignments for Week 2

101 Assignment:
Lay out tomorrow’s outfit the night before.

  • Have you ever gone to get dressed, only to discover your shirt has a stain or your pants are still in the wash?
  • By choosing your outfit the night before, you’re sparing yourself that last minute scramble.
  • Even if you think some days you’ll change your mind in the morning, you have a clean, ready option waiting.

201 Assignment:

Say goodbye to one thing each day.

  • Place an empty box or bag in your bedroom closet. Don’t go designing a fancy “Donate” sign on your Cricut and buying a cute bin from Marshalls to hold your donations. We’re talking about a cardboard box, a tote bag you no longer want – something you can take to the donation center with the donations in it and drop the whole dang thing off. 
  • Each day, put one item to donate inside.

Resist the urge to pull everything out of your closet! Remember our goal isn’t to overwhelm ourselves, it’s those slow, simple changes that add up over time, while keeping our bodies and minds calm.

Extra Credit Reflection

This week, as you choose what to get rid of or wear, simply notice what you reach for.

  • Which pieces do you instinctively grab first to wear?
  • Which items consistently get cycled between wash and worn?
  • How do those frequent flyers make you feel – maybe comfortable?  Confident? Playful? “Safe”?
  • What gets skipped over day after day, even if it’s an everyday item (as opposed to a special occasion dress/suit or other occasion specific item)?

You don’t have to make any big decisions right now. We’re not tearing everything out of our closets, or designing capsule wardrobes.  

Just pay attention. Eventually, your daily choices will quietly show you what belongs front and center in your closet, and what might be ready to move on.

This week's homework assignments

Back to School Week 1: Homeroom

Donna Joy

It’s time for our 12 week back-to-school series! We’ll be exploring simple, gentle routines to help us settle into calm and contentment before the busy-ness of the holiday season arrives.

Each week in this series, I’ll be posting a few thoughts, along with 3 levels of challenges for the week:

  • 101 (tiny habit): the smallest step to build consistency.
  • 201 (step up): a little more effort when you’re up for it.
  • Extra Credit: giving space for reflection.


There’s no grades and no bullies allowed in this school, just gentle encouragement and real life stories. Let’s get started!

Week One: Homeroom (the bedroom)

A couple years ago I was in a bad place with my health. I struggled to find the energy to make it through the day. I knew exercise was important to my overall health, but I could barely find the strength to stay awake at work, much less find the time and energy to add regular workouts to my life.

After reading James Clear’s fabulous book, Atomic Habits, I came up with a plan. I was going to meet myself where I was, and find something so small I could commit to it every single day without requiring noticeable time, energy, preparation, or mental capacity. I needed something I could promise myself that I would show up to every day and follow through.

I decided to go microscopic. I asked: What is the absolute smallest thing I can commit to every day, no matter how tired I am?

2 minutes of yoga.

Before even getting out of bed in the morning.

That was it.

For literally 2 minutes every morning when I woke up, I would cat/cow my body and stretch myself gently, then go about the rest of the day. 

That commitment gave me two minutes to focus, stretch and remind myself to care for my body – and to prove to myself that I was going to keep showing up, every day. 

Just like those two minutes of yoga, we’re going to commit to two minutes of work in our ‘homerooms’ every day this week. 2 minutes to promise ourselves that we will show up every day and follow through.

We’re going to start in our ‘homerooms’ (our bedrooms) because we’re going for the simple, the everyday, and the small changes that will help us, relax, settle in, and enjoy our house, and supporting the environments we rest in is so important to that process.

Ready for your Homeroom Homework assignments?

Level 101: You’re literally going to put one thing away. Pick a time you are already in your bedroom. Maybe when you first wake up? Or tie it to when you brush your teeth or put on pajamas at night. Choose a time, morning or night, that you can commit to consistently.

Every day, pick up one thing near your bed and put it away. Or set a two-minute timer and see how much you can put away before the timer goes off. 

Up for a little more?

Level 201: make your bed

Set a stop watch and make your bed. See how long it takes you. For me, my magic number is 90 seconds. That’s the balance of how many blankets and pillows I want on my bed with how long I’m willing to spend making the bed. A minute thirty. Time yours.  We’re going to be making our bed every day, so notice each day if you’re willing to move and replace everything that’s currently on there. If it’s too long, or too much effort, are you willing to maybe remove a layer to streamline the process? Then see how it feels to be greeted any time you walk by with a bed made and ready for you.

Extra Credit:

Reflection: James Clear says every small habit is a vote for the kind of person you want to become. Each time you tidy that one thing, you’re confirming “I’m someone who takes care of my space.”  

Picking something up or making our bed every day gradually settles into our brains as “I am a person who does what they say they’re going to do.” 

Throughout this series, we’re practicing showing up for ourselves. We’re not focused on creating a magazine-ready bedroom. It’s about showing up for ourselves for two minutes a day, building momentum, and letting those tiny votes add up.

Homework Assignment

Summer Assignment

Donna Joy

Before my daughter heads off to school each morning, I remind her to “send me a photo of something that makes you smile today.” It might be something as seemingly small as a green acorn on the side of the road, but asking for that little photo helps put her in a mindset to be on the lookout for joy.

Because when we’re on the lookout for joy, we can usually find it. 

Of course, the opposite is true, too. When we’re on the lookout for frustration, comparison, perceived affronts, or anger, we are REALLY good at finding those too. Our brains love a well-worn path and following the direction we’ve told it to go, so whatever we are used to looking for we are certain to find. 

If you haven’t searched for joy before (or in a long time) it can feel like trying to flex a muscle you haven’t used in a long time. You may wonder if you still have it, or if you left it back in high school gym class. It can almost feel like trudging through an overgrown field. If you haven’t searched for joy before, your brain might be confused; this is not the path it is used to traveling.

Like a trailblazer, when we search for joy for the first time in a long time, we have to leave the familiar pathways and clear out the brush and stickers. But the more we direct our brains to travel that path, the more our brains say, “oh, I remember this way! I know what to do” and it will help us find our way to joy.

As we prepare for our Fall Semester (beginning next week),  I’m giving you and I a little “End of Summer Assignment.” No book reports or citation formatting required, just one simple task:

Take a picture of something in your home that makes you smile. Every day.

a hand holding a small green acorn.

When the Spark Flickers

Donna Joy

This week was hard.
Between health, house, and humans, my nervous system feels ripped raw. Yesterday, after a particularly rough morning, I got into work and went to turn on this little “neon” sign I light up every day. It flickered once, then refused to turn on.

unlit neon-style sign saying "WE CAN DO HARD THINGS"

Yep. That about summed how I felt in that moment.

Weeks like this make me remember why I am committed to keeping up with my house
both because the spaces that are well maintained hold me up,
And the not-so-well maintained areas show me where I can give a little more attention to make things smoother in the future.

That’s why I’m more excited than ever to start our Fall semester together. Over the next 12 weeks, we’ll gently explore ways to simplify, build routines that support us, and create rhythms that feel steady even when life is bumpy, or crashing, or extinguishing our “We can do Hard Things” spark. Our Back-to-School Fall Semester begins in just two weeks (September 5 through Thanksgiving) and I’d love to have you join as we support and encourage each other.
Subscribe to the email list below (weekly posts) and follow along at UncoveringReal on Facebook and Instagram for all the updates.

Fall Semester (12 Week Mission)

Donna Joy

We’re a few weeks from school starting and Labor Day and all the signs of Fall’s arrival.

Fall has always been my favorite season. I love the way it smells, the way it feels to be wrapped up in blankets around a fall fire pit, and the sound of swirling leaves.  

And the SCHOOL SUPPLIES. Not so much the school sanctioned back-to-school shopping, but I get (possibly an unreasonable amount of) joy from the thrill of fresh paper, new markers, and my personal favorite…stacks of colorful Post-it notes.

I also love back to school time because it feels like a natural reset. The daylight shifts, the clocks change, and our rhythms change with them. This Fall I want to use those natural timing changes to reset a few rhythms and routines that need a gentle tweak. (Or a swift kick in the butt.)

When Fall comes, I know Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the holidays are creeping right behind. This year I want to go into the holiday season feeling settled in, peaceful, and with space to welcome joy.

So, I’m starting a 12-week Back to School Series here on uncoveringreal.com and inviting you to join me.

If “Back To School” brings you more dread than excitement, I get it. School does not always (often?) mean happy memories for me. My least favorite part was that sinking feeling I wasn’t ready, usually due to missing assignments, forgotten gym clothes, or pop quiz panic. But the best feeling? When the teacher announced she was collecting homework and I opened my binder to find it complete and ready to turn in.

That’s the feeling we’re chasing this fall – confident and prepared.

Each week, I’ll share:

  • A 101-level task: super simple and manageable no matter where you’re starting from
  • A 201-level option: for when you’re ready for a little more of a challenge
  • An Extra Credit prompt: a quick reflection or journal exercise

We’ll start in our bedrooms, working towards a calm restful sanctuary for ourselves by implementing manageable routines around our resting and waking times, and some simple decluttering. We will build on those habits as we move through our homes. This isn’t about a perfect house, minimal living, or drastic changes; it’s about building simple routines that work whether you live in a twelve-bedroom mansion or one bedroom in your parents’ basement.

The series starts September 5 and runs right up to Thanksgiving break, so by the time the holidays arrive, we’ll feel more prepared, more at peace, and more ready to welcome joy into our homes. I’ll post weekly challenges and reflection prompts here, with extra inspiration on Facebook and Instagram. 

So get on the bus, school is about to be in session.

Take a Hint

Donna Joy

When we sit down on the couch, my partner and I both move a pillow.
Without thinking, at least one ends up on the floor every day. Then, when we get up, we have to remember to put it back.

What if instead of treating this like another micro task on our mental to do list,
I see it as a little hint:

Like the couch is quietly whispering: “You really don’t need four pillows.”
(Even if they are really cute.)

Maybe this doesn’t need a big evaluation or thought process.
Maybe the pillows that keep ending up on the floor are the ones we never choose. And maybe, instead of putting them back on the couch again, I could pick them up, put them in the donate bin, and never have to pick them up off the floor again.

What other simple clues are scattered around our homes, just waiting for us to notice?

The Joy in What Stays

Donna Joy

Uncovering real isn’t a blog about decluttering. I mean, I do a lot of decluttering work here. But the point isn’t decluttering. The point is uncovering what’s real and living life well. 

Sometimes what I get rid of  allows me to live more simply – like the weekend I wrote about a couple weeks ago, where we were able to enjoy hosting a family gathering AND engage in relaxing activities before, because we chose to simplify our processes, our expectations, and the amount of stuff we had to manage.

And sometimes uncovering real is about celebrating what stays.

This little vignette is one of the first things we see when we walk in our front door.  

A little vignette made up of a vintage dresser, mirror, and etagere.

Sometimes it gets extra crowded with random sunglasses, receipts and other things that got put down instead of put away. But most of the time it’s contained, and I love all the little elements that make up this scene.

I have always tucked dressers anywhere I can find a place to fit them. This one was a $5 find at a garage sale I drove by many years ago. I cleaned it up and replaced a couple knobs and legs. (The new legs got a little damaged in our last move, but it seems to hold its weight fine so I’m not touching it)

The étagère was a roadside treasure that just needed a good cleaning before joining the vignette to add a little height and storage, and the planter bursting with pothos is half of an old lamp I pulled out of my sister’s garage when she was sorting through what the old owners had left behind, paired with a gold tray “saucer.” 

A small hot cocoa station for the kiddos is contained in a “silver tray” (aka: a repurposed filter basket I salvaged from a broken coffee urn. One of those giant ones churches always had at their Sunday morning coffee hours in my childhood. 

I love the mixes:

Modern and Vintage: the modern electronic photo album that occasionally features little videos from our wedding day and big round mirror (the only things purchased new for this space), with the thrift store score of the parfait glasses like the ones we ate pudding out of in my childhood. 

The highly functional (keys and office supplies storage tucked into the top drawers) with the goofy –  Star Wars themed cocoa mugs for each of our kiddos, a coffee drinking Lego figure, and a cracked owl lamp who is still sporting the mustache sticker my daughter decided he needed many years ago. 

Like many of my spaces, it still has lots of stuff. (Have I mentioned I’m not a minimalist yet today?) but keeping it maintained – dealing with the receipts that pile up in the key drawer,  culling our coffee supplies – means I get greeted with a display that makes me smile every time I come home. 

It’s functional AND pretty, layered with stories, memories and joyful pieces, and exactly what I want to come home to.

The.Best.Storage

Donna Joy
Plastic Bin filled with health and beauty "back stock"

I keep a giant basket under the bathroom sink that holds our health and beauty “back stock”: toothpaste purchased on a “must buy three” sale, shave gel from a company you can only order from online (so might as well order enough to get free shipping)… you know all the deals.

I’m a sucker for a good deal. I used to be an avid couponer too, especially back when I was going through about a thousand diapers a week. I love watching the discounted price get calculated at the register like I imagine a gambler loves the feeling of beating the house.

And it’s not just the thrill of the win. I like feeling prepared. I feel like I have my life a little bit together if I know my family will never squeeze the last of the toothpaste onto their brush without a full tube ready and waiting just a few feet away.

But over the years, I’ve discovered there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Products don’t last forever and can expire before I get to use them. Or something changes—like when I got older and needed to start wearing lotion with sunscreen every day, so the regular lotion I’d stocked up on just sat there, languishing.

For most things we use regularly, one backup works for us. When we use the last of the mayo, we pull the backup out of the pantry and put mayo on the shopping list for the week. Backup food goes in our pantry closet. Backup health and beauty items go in that bin under the bathroom sink. I still love a good deal, and if the deal is for 3 toothpastes we like (and the bin isn’t already overflowing) I’ll probably buy three. 

Anything much beyond that? I’m learning the perfect place to store those extras.

I store them…

At the…

Store.

That’s what the store is there for.

I get it. We lived through the toilet paper crisis of 2020. There’s a lingering fear of not being able to access what you need. But it’s a pretty rare week we don’t go to at least one grocery store. And if an emergency came up, I have countless stores between work and home, plus endless online options, not to mention any number of ways I could reach out for help to get what we need.

I don’t need Costco under my kitchen sink. Costco can keep my extras on their shelves. They can manage the cleanup if something accidentally spills and assign someone to check expiration dates. They can worry about the storage space.

And when I do run out and need to replace my backup? Chances are, it will be at the store, waiting for me.

Reaping Rewards

Donna Joy

This weekend we had some family over. There was a festival in my community, and we planned to spend some time on the lake, eat dinner at home, and watch the fireworks from our living room. 

Hosting Translation: we would be serving dinner and dessert, people would be in the kitchen, dining room, bathroom, living room, and outdoor spaces. In short, we “needed” every space party-ready.

In the past, this would have meant intricate meal planning and extensive cleaning. 

This weekend we looked around and said, “let’s do a simple BBQ, give the bathroom and counters a quick swipe, and spend some time relaxing on the lake before people come, instead of intense party prep.”

And we did. We didn’t even vacuum.

But we did take a nap on paddle boards in the middle of the lake. 

It was absolutely delightful.

Not all of our weekend to-do list got done (lets be real, it almost never does.)

Snacks for the afternoon consisted of throwing some pretzels and drinks in a cooler bag, and dessert was bowls of ice cream.

And it was perfect (even if the floors could have stood to be vacuumed).

I still tried a new recipe for potato salad, and made chocolate sauce for the ice cream while we talked in the kitchen in between lake time and fireworks. I wasn’t missing the action, but also didn’t need to silence my creativity.

The focus was family, and the house was a helpful tool because we’ve been practicing not just the mundane clean-outs, but the intentional focus shift away from stuff. I love it when a plan comes together.

Community Fireworks

Bonus prize: with so little to clean up from Sunday, when a friend stopped by on Monday, it took no extra effort to offer for them to stay for dinner.