Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Nyby.
Autumn, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always loved getting things in order and limiting the amount of clutter in my life. My first job out of college was an elementary school teacher. That job threw me into the deep-end of organizing. I needed to find things quickly and have the classroom space work for myself and all of my students. If I wasn’t prepared, the kids knew it! I had instant on-the-job training of the many benefits of getting organized and being well-prepared.
Fast forward to 2008, I had left my teaching job and had two children under the age of two. Parenthood was a whole new realm of things to organize and make sense of. I often felt like I was drowning in tasks and baby stuff!
My need to create an organized and functioning home for my family helped me to rediscover the joy a little planning and organization can bring. I wanted a functional space so that I could have more time in my day to actually enjoy my kids.
In 2012, I started my business, Space for Living Organizing, to help others take back control over their homes and schedules. Even though I had left the teaching profession, my love of teaching and helping others had not left me! Professional organizing felt like the perfect blend of my love of teaching and of organizing.
I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed and paralyzed with indecision. I could relate to the feeling of not knowing where to start or that sense of being stretched too thin because there is not enough hours in the day to do it all.
I also knew that as much joy as you can get from an organized space, not everyone wants to spend their weekends organizing. So whether I’m working with a client side-by-side or simply doing it all for them, my favorite feeling is seeing their reaction when we have made space in their life for living!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I was pregnant with my 3rd child, I decided to take a step back from personal organizing. We had just purchased a house and were in the process of renovating it. I knew something had to give because my schedule was too full. I had two busy girls at home and a 3rd on the way. My focus once again shifted towards getting our space together for the family.
I do remember feeling discouraged that I couldn’t do it all. I caught myself scrolling through endless online images of young moms who were renovating their homes and running successful businesses at the same time. They looked like they were doing it all! It felt like I was in a race with everyone speeding past me. In fact, it felt like I had dropped out; I was just a spectator.
I had to remind myself of my own business motto, “Make room for the things that matter most.” I needed to step back to make room for the most important thing in my life, my family. I had to stop comparing my business to what I saw online and look at the bigger picture. I would never get this time back with my young kids and I wanted to work as a team with my husband to get through the renovation and still have energy to welcome our 3rd kiddo!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Being trained as an elementary school teacher, I learned early on that strategies are not one size fits all. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone can be organized. If you’re not organized, you probably just haven’t yet found the right organizing system that works for you and your unique personality!
When working with clients, I am always focused on their particular situation and personality to find what works best for them and their families. A space is not really organized unless you are able to maintain it over the long haul. Systems do change and evolve as your needs change, but an organized space will work for you, not against you.
I know not everyone is able to hire a professional organizer, so my friend and I started a podcast as a way to encourage and motivate others.
A to B Podcast has been such a fun adventure and we have learned so much through the process of launching the show. I love the comments from listeners saying they feel like they have a professional organizer in their ear organizing right alongside them. It’s the next best thing to having a professional organizer in your home!
My co-host, Bethany, openly struggles with organization. We have been friends since college and we are able to talk candidly about our journey navigating the quest for simplicity and organization. We hope we throw in a lot of fun along with the tips, interviews, listener questions, and monthly challenges.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Looking ahead, I plan on continuing to grow Space for Living Organizing and A to B Podcast.
It has been amazing to interview such organizing giants as Peter Walsh and Julie Morgenstern. We have a small, but growing community of listeners and it has been wonderful to hear that others are enjoying the podcast as much as we’re enjoying creating it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://SpaceforLivingOrganizing.com
- Phone: 619-797-5857
- Email: Autumn@SpaceforLivingOrganizing.com
- Instagram: @Space4Living and @AtoBpodcast
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpaceforLivingOrganizing/
Image Credit:
Jamie Grant Photography – Headshot
Janelle Malueg – 1st picture of kids’ desk
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