Clutterbug - Real-Life Hacks and Tips to Declutter, Organize and Clean your Home Fast - Nikki Boyd - The Secret to Success in Life | Clutterbug Podcast # 159

Episode Date: February 13, 2023

In today's podcast, I sit down with Nikki Boyd from At Home with Nikki.  She shares her secrets for success and how to obtain an organized home that is beautiful AND functional.   You can find Nikki's YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/AtHomeWithNikki You can find Nikki's website here: https://athomewithnikki.com/ #organizingpodcast #cleaningpodcast #motivationalpodcast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever just looked at other people and thought, how in the heck are they doing all these amazing things? Like, what is the secret? I think about this all the time. And especially now that I have a podcast, I get the privilege of interviewing a lot of really successful, especially women, who are seemingly doing it all. They have really tidy homes and they're managing their family and everyone's happy and they've got crazy successful careers and they're healthy. they've got their health under control, they're fit, they're happy, and they're successful. And what the heck's their secret? Like what? If they had to pick like one thing, that's kind of their secret, what unites all of these different people? I'm telling you, I have found what that one thing is.

And we're going to talk about it in today's podcast. Hey, clutterbugs, welcome back to the clutterbug podcast. I am thrilled to introduce you to to today's podcast guest. We have Nikki Boyd from At Home with Nikki. Nikki and I have been friends for a really long time. We started YouTube together, but I have had the privilege of watching her insane growth. So not only is she an incredible YouTuber and author of two bestselling books, in my opinion, one of the best organizing books ever written called Beautifully Organized, but she has a successful, huge organizing company, helping thousands of people in her community,

plus doing online coaching, and so much more. And so I want to talk about Nikki, and I want to find out her secrets, but welcome, welcome to the podcast, Nikki. Thank you for having me. I am so excited to be here. I just adore you. You are a longtime friend for me,

and we have been on this journey. Can you believe it's been what? Over 10 years, 11 years. A really long time. I feel like when we started on YouTube, there was just a handful of us. There really was doing kind of like the home space. There was Catherine from Do It on a Dime. Yes.

How Jen does it. I think there was like Green Apple Home. I don't know if you remember Green Apple Home. I do. I loved her. I do. Yeah. Yeah.

And so you kicked me off. I remember I was, I think at the time, only my mom was watching my YouTube channel. And then you ran across one of my videos and you shouted me out. And from there, here we go. Here we go. I mean, you've always been so inspiring to me. It's so brilliant. You have such a gorgeous aesthetic. And when I started my journey of organization, you know, I'm not like you. I am not a naturally organized person. I'm a hot slob. But when I started looking at how people organize differently and what that really looked like, and sort of delving into that, you were one of my biggest inspirations because you have a very specific organizing style that I have later called a cricket. But what that is is someone who is very detailed, who has categories who like you label your spices and decamp, do you know what I'm saying? Like you want to say perfectionist, Nikki, but I'm going to say a little bit of perfectionist.

but also prefers that look of minimalist, that minimalist look, not that you don't have a lot of stuff, but just that you don't want your eyes attacked by a lot of stuff. Does this make sense? It makes sense. And you are the epitome of that. You are what I direct other crickets too for inspiration because your space is gorgeous. But it's also full, full of life and full of stuff and full of things, but it never feels cluttered. It always feels minimal and it's so organized. So I just want to like say thank you for that because you are such a huge inspiration to me. But I also love watching your journey. My new passion, Nikki, is like finding out how successful women are doing it all. And so that's what I want to talk about today. Definitely

want to talk about your books, but also like, you are incredible. Oh, thank you, Cass. You are an incredible entrepreneur and you're, you're just, you've got grit, Nikki. And I want to kind of find where that comes from. So could you tell us, I guess, a little bit about yourself and how you got started? Okay, absolutely. Well, as you know, my start came with YouTube, but my start with organizing and my passion for it years ago as a military spouse.

And because I cast, I was a messy child. I was that I was, yes, I was that child that my dad would come and see my room. It was a disaster. And he would say, you better get in there and get it clean. I would have it clean in five minutes. He would come in. It looks immaculent. He would open the closet door and everything would come falling on.

I was that under the bed in the closet girl. And it was after I became an adult and got my first place, I had so much pride in my place. And I just was obsessed with it. And that's when I started my passion for organizing and then being a military spouse and my husband coming in and saying, okay, we're moving across the world in a month. You got a pack of our life. And so I had to hone in on skills to make it work along with a passion for making my family happy because our life was, being turned upside down every two to three years. But I was responsible for just kind of creating that environment at home that really had a safe place for everyone to come home to. And so that's how I got into my love for organizing. And then when I started YouTube, it just grew into a business from there. Did not anticipate that in the beginning.

And I'm sure, as you can relate to. So it really has been just such a huge, enormous blessing and exciting. I never know what's behind the next door. But I love it. I love it. I love that you say that because I had such a similar experience just with my home being a safe space. And when I was messy and cluttered and disorganized, I felt really chaotic. And I felt just I didn't feel, I don't know, there was something missing.

and I was looking externally for all of these things to kind of fill all these voids. But then when I started focusing on my home, it really is the foundation of your life. And when your home is in control, and like you said, when you feel proud of it, it doesn't have to be fancy. It doesn't have to be expensive. But when you take pride in your home, it gives you a sense of peace that I have an experience from other things. Yes. Yes. It is what rejuvenates you.

You know, this is where we go out into this world, which is a tough world to be out in. Home is where you get your energy back. And if you come home and it's cluttered or it's stressful, how do you get your energy? You know, how do you get that, that umph to go back out there and kill it? You know, so home is very vital. It's a very vital place in our lives. It is. Okay.

So, but I want to talk about your secret for success because I'm just going to tell you the truth. Usually people who are a little like they're, they're a little bit, you know, they're detailed. They take a lot of time to plan things, tend to be overthinkers, over analyzers, over analyzers, over researchers. And don't always jump into things with two feet. But I feel like you're a jumper inner. Am I wrong? No. I am that one. I jump first think after I jump. You know, one thing I can say about me is, yes, I love detailed and I love for things to really be nice. I try to not gear into perfection because I am not perfect by any means. I'm the biggest clutz.

But I don't have fear when it comes to jumping in and trying something. I am not afraid to fail. And I feel like that is the biggest thing about me that has a lot. allowed me to do the things that I do is I'm just not afraid to try. I, you know what? I'm so glad you said that, Nikki, because every successful entrepreneur that I've spoken with over the past two years, when you get down to the crux of it, that's it. That's it. It's not afraid to try and not afraid to fail. So can we talk, Have you had any failures? I mean, from an outsider looking in, it is success all day. It looks like

you're raining down awesomeness, right? Because you've had so much success. You've started with YouTube. You had the blog. You have like this successful organizing company. You're the best selling author of one of the greatest organizing books of all time. I mean, from an outside perspective, you've had nothing but wins. Oh, and of course it's just like social media. If you look at social media, the whole world's winning, you know. But when you go behind closed doors, that's where all the failures and all the struggles, that's where that lies.

And oh, my goodness, I've had failures. I've had struggles. I don't know if you remember I had my subscription box. That was just, oh, my, that was a huge failure for me. You know, I thought that it was a beautiful thing when it kicked. from a business perspective, it was not a good move. And so, yes, I have, I am very much a self-taught entrepreneur. So, and I learned by my failures. I learned by my mistakes. And so that's another part of not being afraid because I know if I'm going to make a mistake, I know I'm going to

get something great from it. So that is one of the things that is a catalyst for me not being afraid to move on things. But I've had my fair share. still. I'm still learning. I'm still trying. I will try something. If it doesn't work, I'll go to the next, you know, but I do have a look. I, okay. That makes me feel so much better because I feel like I have more failures than wins. I try a lot of things. I'm just like, I'm going to try this. Oh, I'm going to try this. So it's like it's adapting and pivoting. Adaptating and pivoting. That's just the sort of secret of my whole entire life. And some things have really worked out. And the crazy thing is, as big as some of my failures have been, I feel like the successes

are big enough that they, they kind of overshadow all those little tiny baby failures, even the big failures. And so I still, I'm a jump in with both feet. You have nothing to lose, everything to gain, even if you fail, you've gained so much knowledge, so much knowledge. So you don't have a fear of failure. I don't. I have a fear of not trying because I feel like if there's something that I want to do and I don't at least try, that is always going to be weighing on me because I don't know the outcome. So even if the outcome is failure, at least I tried and I know what the result is. So for me, it's about at least getting that result to know whether it's good or bad, you know. Okay. And so what I love that we can talk about is you work with a lot of clients too. So we're not going to throw anyone under the

bus, but what I've observed over years of working with clients who are struggling with disorganization and mess is a lot of it really does come down to fear of making a mistake, fear of trying to get organized because they don't, what if I'm not doing it right? What if I'm not using the right things? I don't have the exact plan. I'm not exactly sure where to start. Are you seeing that same, like if you had to pick one thing that kind of unites people who are struggling with disorganization. To me, that's what I would say, but what would you say? I would say that they're overthinkers. They're overthinking it. It's not, you know, when you do it, of course, as an organizer, we see it as a simple process. But what's simple to us is not

necessarily simple to someone else. But what I found with my clients a lot of time is they just are really just overthinking it. And they're thinking about the big picture all of the time. And that's kind of stopping them from being able to just move forward. And I'm like, look, just take it one step at a time, one thing at a time, and don't get drawn into the whole big picture. Because the big picture is going to come together. You just got to get started. You just have to get started.

Yes. Before Nikki shares more of her incredible secrets for success, I have to thank today's podcast sponsor, Earth Breeze. A few months ago, I stopped you. using tide pods and switch to Earth Breeze laundry detergent eco sheets. They're like dryer sheets, but they're not. You throw them in the wash cycle. They dissolve 100% whether you're washing in hot or cold. They smell amazing. They clean so good. I just find them more convenient, but also I love that there isn't the waste. Whether you're using like a laundry detergent jug or a

Tide pod container, there's so much plastic garbage that's just getting tossed out. And 90% of what makes up that detergent is water. So with Earth Breeze, you're eliminating all of that. It's recyclable paper that it comes in and you have these little sheets that you toss in so easy, incredible clean. Right now, you've got to try Earth Breeze. You can get 40% off. Go to earthbreeze.com slash clutterbug to get started. That's EarthBreeze. breeze.com slash clutterbug for 40% off. You will not regret it. Okay, so I know you've recently had a move to. Yes. Yes. Yes. And that was such a huge, but amazing transition for Mike and I. And we moved to Charlotte into an apartment. So we went from a

house to an apartment. And so it's temporary until we get here. I want to come learn the area before we bought another or built another house. But I tell you, it is, initially it was very refreshing to just let go over the responsibilities of a house, give myself a break from that. And, you know, you know me, I jump in first. So I'm like, oh, I want to live downtown. I want to walk out, go to the cafe, live my best life as a city girl. That's kind of the dream that I had with it. Now, the reality is a little different. I'm thinking, Nikki, what about your serving dishes? I've seen your country. But for me, I love a good challenge. So it was like, oh, that apartment, I'm going to have that, that, you know, done and ready.

But it was challenging taking a home and condensing it down into a smaller space. So that's one of the things that I have been, you know, challenging myself to really, release my things, you know, what I tell my clients all the time, release my things from just because it's beautiful, doesn't mean it needs to be with you, you know. And so it really has been a learning experience going from my house to here. Also just the lifestyle is different. And so it's like I'm trying to adjust to that. But I think for me, it gives me more insight when I'm working with my clients

that live in an apartment and live in a space because I've actually now have done it after all of these years because, I mean, I've lived in small spaces in the past with the military, but it's been several years since I've had to downsize. Your home had an entire movie theater room. So yes, yes, yes. Yes. So like to go down, I could see how that would be, you would have had to have gotten rid of a ton of stuff, Nikki. Luckily, the couple that purchased our home, they loved everything, they wanted to buy as is with the things in it.

So they bought a lot. They bought the media room with everything, curtains and everything. So in place. So a lot of the rooms in the home they purchased as is as they were set up. Because it's gorgeous and because you're so talented. So talented. Okay. So let me just gush about your books. I mean, you have. Beautifully organized. Yeah. My husband always makes fun of me because I don't know if you could see you listening can't see, but I have like a bookshelf behind me. And there's a ton of organizing books on. there and I have one that's displayed up like this. I love you know. They're not my own. I have four. You can't see mine because they ugly, but beautifully organized by Nick Boyd is right there in the middle of the shelf facing out because this is so freaking gorgeous and elegant classic. And that describes your organization. But it's also attainable. I really want to say, say that. I feel like your organization is not unrealistic. I don't want to throw other organizers onto the bus, but you're not putting stuff in rainbow colors and buying your food based on the color of

the packaging. It's like you have what you have. Let's organize it in an elegant, beautiful way, and still keep your stuff, but make it feel like visual simplicity. And that's, yeah, and that's what it's, it's not a, like you said, it's not a, like you said, It's not about buying the things. It's more about taking what I have. And my thought process, Cass, is I love when I go into that just beautiful department store. And everything is just, they grab you by the displays and how everything looks. And so when I'm working in my home, that's what I'm thinking about.

I work in this high end department store. So when I'm arranging that cabinet or I'm arranging that drawer, my mind is trying to sell my items. Like I'm trying to get someone to look at this and want to buy it. And because with me, it makes me happy in my home to open a door and see it just beautifully arranged for me. You know, so that's kind of the mindset that I keep in my home so that because function is, for me, function and beauty go hand in hand. They are equal.

So I have to have the function. And you know this as a cricket. I have to have the function. Yeah. But I have to have that beauty also. So that's huge for me. I love that. Okay, so, but listen, is your husband, does he put things back in this beautiful way?

Are you blessed with someone? Oh, my goodness. Yes. That's a whole other podcast. That's a no. Because I will organize a space, Nikki, and I'll be like, oh, look at it. And then my family comes by like a freaking tornado or some crazy cartoon character level crap and everything's trashed. You know, I'll be glad when they come out with that peel with that will address the

family's issue with putting things back. No, my husband doesn't have the same appreciation as I do for the arrangement. So what I've learned to do is I've learned to put in booby traps. You know, I put in, you know, and so, and one thing that I have been our saving grace is that 15 minutes sweep at the end of the day. Because I'm like, okay, if you trash the place, before we go into bed, you're not leaving me with it the next day. We're going to, we're going to sweep. through this. So yeah, that's that's our secret to 15 minutes. Everybody's participating or putting things back and it's never perfect. But it is it gives me a real sense when I wake up in the morning and things are tidy and things look like I love that you said that. My house does not look

like a department store. But it's beautifulish to me. Like I walk in there and I think, every morning like that's that's the sound that escapes my body. When I look at, rooms in my home. It's an energy. Like what I had said before, our home gives us that rejuvenation to go back into this world. So if you wake up and the kitchen counter is clean, it's like, it's going to be a good day. It's going to be a good day. And there are things I hate my kitchen. I'm just going to say, I hate the cabinets. I hate the darkness. I hate the back splash. I don't walk in that kitchen and say, ah, because I love the aesthetic. I walk in there because it's calming, it's done. It's not work for me. And there was a huge part of my life where my home

was another source of work. It was a chore on my to-do list. And I had to do two things. One, I had to get it under control and kind of do the work at the end of each night to reset it. But two, I had to realize that that resetting process was a gift to myself. Yes, yes. It was like a self-care meditation, whatever you want to call it type thing. So I don't look at tidying in dishes and doing these things now is like, oh, I got to do them. It's like this is giving me that. It's self-care.

You hit it on the head. It is truly self-care because you know when you wake up the next morning and you don't have to see the stack of clothes that need to be fold or, you know, know, the counter that needs the dishes washed or anything like that, you know, that gives you time and it gives you energy, you know, and it just, that's a part of self-care is just giving yourself time, giving yourself energy. And for me, as, as busy as I am, one thing that is non-negotiable for me is my four o'clock nap. Every day at four o'clock, Nikki Boyd is going to be taking a nap. Oh, my God. I love that. That's my favorite thing. And so it's because it's so important to take care of ourselves because we are doing so much. And I want longevity. I want to be able to just, I want to be 90 years old and I'm up getting ready to do something. And so for me to be able to do that, I know I need my four o'clock nap because that is that is what I personally need to do what I do. I love that. I don't know why I always think like there are so many times I'm like, I wish I could have a nap right now. But I'm like, mom, but I'm like, mom,

I don't, what if I don't sleep tonight and I can't? And then by, you know, seven o'clock, I'm done. I'm useless. I'm a potato. You know, I can't, I can't do anything else. If I gave myself the grace to just have that recharge, I could be refreshed to do my nighttime things that I need to do. Yes. And four o'clock for me is that perfect time because by the time four o'clock hits, I'm tired from from doing the Nikki thing. And then And after four o'clock, I transition into family mode, home mode. And that takes just as much energy. And so I've rejuvenated to be able to tackle that with grace and joy and all the things that I need to tackle it with. Yeah. You've got your life figured out, Nikki. I don't know about that now, but I know that nap thing I do have figured out. I just am so impressed. I'm impressed to watch your journey. And I'm loving that you're a person who says, I'm not afraid to try. Because everyone that I see who's like you and has so much just success, that's the same story I'm hearing is, you know what, I'm going to fail, but I'm going to jump in anyways and I'm going to give it a try. Okay. So to the people listening at home who are living in a house that feels out of

control, they're like, I can't just do 15 minutes. Oh my gosh, it's overwhelming. It's going to take me forever. Why would I start? And it's, ah, the kids are just going to trash it again. do you have advice? Do you have some words of wisdom for those who feel like what's the point? That's great for you, but that would never work for me. Yes. No, absolutely. I would tell anyone who is, and what I call that, they're always looking at the big picture. When you're looking at everything that's wrong in your home, everything, we have to switch that. There's so many things that are right, you know. And I really encourage anyone who is in that place where you're just discouraged in your home. Stop and start making that list of what's right.

You have a healthy family. You have a home. You have beautiful things around you. They may be a cluttered mess, but you can go in your closet and you can change your clothes every day. You know, some people can't do that. Some people have one outfit that they're wearing every day in this world. And so I think switching that mindset of think about the things that are right so that you can build some motivation to deal with the things that are wrong. But first, you need to look at the brighter side of things. And then I would say, break it down. And that's why I came out with that beautifully organized in 52 weeks, because the one question that I always get Cass, and you may get this also, is where do I start? I don't know where to start. I'm frustrated. And so this just takes,

where you take one card, and you have all week to complete that one task. But you know in your mind, you have a plan. In 52 weeks, you have a plan and you don't have to think about it. If I am consistent, my house is going to come together because I am doing my cart. And I'm not having to think about the whole entire picture. So there you go. I have it right here. It's all in the details. And it is such a beautiful card deck too. I mean, of course it is because you designed it. So I love that you can leave this out. You can leave this out on your counter. It looks gourd like a piece of decor.

You open it up and you just pull one card every week. And it walks you through step by step. That's it. And it isn't like overwhelming. It's just a couple of paragraphs. This is what you're working on this week. This is what you're tackling. And it's really genius.

So congratulations. I love it. Thank you. And it's a maintenance system for anyone. Because if you just keep that routine up, I pick my card for the week. And that's what the focus of the home is every week for the family. then it's a maintenance system in a box for you, for you for you in your home. And going back to, you know, function and beauty, because function and beauty had way the same

with me, that's why if you notice with my books and everything, I'm always focused on how it looks and all the function on the inside because both of them have, they have equal play with me. Yeah, you're a genius. I love it. You're talented. You're brave. You're just, the whole package, Nikki. So I want everyone listening to go. Tell us how we can find you, how we can follow you, and how we can find your books and your new cards. Yes, absolutely. So at home withnicki.com is my website and blog. And so you can find me there. You can find my books there. My books are everywhere that books are sold, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and all those those booky places. And I'm on Amazon every Friday at 1 p.m. That's kind of the friend girl's time.

It's at homoeniki. Live. And, you know, I'm on Amazon. And I'm, we just have enough. I had a family reunion on there last night. Met a girl that we went to the same high school. I think my dad was her teacher. I mean, we just, we just. I do know you could go live on Amazon. That's so cool. Yes, yes. Every Thursday at 9 p.m. every Friday. at 1 p.m. So that's awesome. Well, thank you so much, Nikki. And if you're looking, you know, if you're looking on Instagram or Pinterest for inspiration for organization, here's what I'm going to say. I'm going to say, I want you to pick up Nikki's books because not only do you get that same, oh my God, this is gorgeous inspiration, but then you have the instructions of how to do it.

It's both. It's both that gorgeous visual inspiration and the step-by-step instructions to make it happen in your home. And I think that's what makes you, Nikki, so special. Thank you, Cass. Thank you. Just thank you so much for being here. And thank you everyone for listening. And I'll see you guys next time.