You will get rid of more in two weeks of packing than in five years of living in the same house.

Not because you tried harder. Because the rules changed.

Deanna Yates has moved 16 times as an adult, and number 17 is happening right now, unplanned and unwanted. In this episode she breaks down exactly what moving does to your brain, and how to steal that effect without touching a single roll of packing tape.

On a normal day, everything you own is already in your home. Every item has a spot. So when you try to declutter, each thing has to argue its way OUT, and if you cannot find a good reason, it stays. That is why decluttering feels like a fight. It is why so many decisions end with "well, I have room for it."

When you move, everything comes out. And now every item has to argue its way back IN.

Same stuff. Same you. Opposite default.

Deanna hands you the one question that flips it: Would I unpack this?

In this episode:

The real reason moving makes you ruthless (it is not motivation)Why "I have room for it" is the sentence that kills most decluttering sessionsHow to use the unpack question on your kid's artwork without feeling like a bad momWhat that box you never opened from your last move is actually telling youWhy show ready and move-in ready are not the same thing, and which one you deserveThe five minute photo exercise that will show you exactly what feels off in a room

Plus, Deanna is taking a small group through her move-in method in real time as she packs up her own home. Six years of helping families declutter, a background in property management, and 17 moves worth of lessons. Waitlist link below.

You do not have to move to declutter like you are moving.

Homework this week: Stand in the doorway of one room. Take a wide angle photo like it is a real estate listing. Then look at it the way you would scroll past it on Zillow. It will click.

Show notes: wannabeclutterfree.com/325 Join the move-in method waitlist: https://www.wannabeclutterfree.com/move-in-waitlist Come say hi on Instagram: @wannabeclutterfree

Next week: Amy Nesbitt on wellness, energy, and how to be a whole mom when your time is completely constrained.

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If you're decluttering the chances are that there is a bag in your trunk right now, isn't there?

You did the hard part. You went through the closet, you made a hundred decisions in a row, you got everything bagged up and loaded in the car. And then you drove past the donation center. Twice.

The problem is that there are two decisions inside every declutter, and almost nobody warns you about the second one.

In Episode 324, Deanna is answering this question in real time. Her house is selling, her family is moving, and she is decluttering 500 items right now while her husband recovers from back surgery. Some of it is going to Buy Nothing. Some of it is going on Vinted. Some of it is going in the trash. None of it is happening perfectly, but it is happening.

She is also going to tell you the truth about where donated items actually end up, because she thinks you can handle it, and because knowing is going to make you feel better instead of worse.

In this episode:

The two decisions inside every declutter, and which one stalls you outWhat percentage of your donations actually make it onto a thrift store shelfWhere the rest of it goes, including the millions of garments that arrive regularly in GhanaHow to tell in 30 seconds whether a parking lot donation bin belongs to a real charityThe 1938 labor law behind the unease people feel about big box thrift chains, and how to research your own local one in two minutesWhy the guilt you are carrying is not keeping a single item out of a landfillThe donation Deanna found while volunteering that made her want to throw her hands upFive places your decluttered stuff can go, ranked in the order you should try themThe new Target Textile Drop Spot that takes stained and torn clothing in every California storeWhere to send shoes, makeup empties, electronics, and batteriesFull permission to throw away actual garbageWhy we need a lot of people doing this imperfectly instead of a few people doing it perfectly

FREE RESOURCE:

The Guilt-Free Exit Plan One page that tells you where anything goes, a short vetted list instead of forty links, and the 30 second donation bin check. Comment the word TRUNK on Instagram to get it, or grab it here.

LEARN MORE

Show notes and free resource: wannabeclutterfree.com/324The 19 for $19 Ultimate Decluttering Bundle: wannabeclutterfree.comGo to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use promo code BEEF at checkout for $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply.

CONNECT

Instagram: @wannabeclutterfree

LISTEN

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wannabe-clutter-free-declutter-simplify-find-freedom/id1485473251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ATUIVONi0kyoVUKOQV4OT?si=f555de5388164b10YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wannabeclutterfree

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Your house isn't cluttered. It's loud.

That single reframe changed how I look at my own home, and it comes from Myquillyn Smith, known online as The Nester.

Myquillyn has spent over twenty years helping women create homes they actually want to use. She's the author of Cozy Minimalist Home and House Rules, and her new book House Hushing is out now.

Here's what makes her different. She's a decorator, not a decluttering coach. She is not going to tell you to give up everything beautiful. She's going to show you how to turn the volume down first and let the room tell you what it actually needs.

In this episode she walks through backwards decluttering, her method that takes about twelve minutes a room and requires zero hard decisions up front. You clear the visible layer, you live in the quiet room for 48 hours, and then you only bring back what you genuinely missed. No willpower required. The room does the convincing.

We also get into why we fill up whatever space we're given, what to do about the closets you're not touching yet, and how to hush a kid's room without breaking their trust.

And I got honest with her about where my own home is right now, in a hard season, drifting. What she said back to me is the reason I'm keeping this episode close.

In this episode:

Why "loud" lands when "cluttered" doesn'tThe photo trick that cures house blindness instantlyAll the steps of backwards declutteringWhy the 48 hour wait does the deciding for youStuff threshold vs clutter thresholdWhen to finally open the closed storageHosting without keeping every extra just in caseHow to hush a kid's space collaborativelyExperiencing a season through your five senses instead of storing decor eleven months a year

Your quick win from Myquillyn: clear off your coffee table and let it be naked.

Connect with Myquillyn:

Website: thenester.com Instagram: @thenester House Hushing is available everywhere books are sold.

Show notes: wannabeclutterfree.com/323

Come say hi on Instagram @wannabeclutterfree and tell me which room you're hushing first.

Happy decluttering.

Our Sponsors:
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I host a decluttering podcast, and my house is full.

Not messy. Full. And I know exactly how it happened, because I have done it before.

Our landlord is selling our house. My husband is in surgery the day this episode goes live. My mom is in another round of chemo. My daughter just went back to school and does not know about the move yet.

I did not choose any of this. So I am choosing the one thing I still control.

For the next 20 days, I am radically simplifying every single thing I own. Not my husband's. Not my daughter's. Mine.

This is not the plan I wanted to make. It is the one I have. And I would love for you to make it with me.

In this episode I share:

Why my home quietly filled back up after I sold 85 to 90 percent of what we ownedThe reason I am not touching anyone else's belongings, and why going first works better than askingMy five rules for the 20 days, including why the maybe box has to goThe four phase plan: the warm up, the drift zone, papers and pixels, and the hard thingsMy goal of 500 items in 20 days, or 25 items a day if you want it simpleThe reframe that changed everything for me the week I found out we had to move

I have been told you are not supposed to share until you are through to the other side. I cannot do that.

So I am showing you the whole thing, in real time, starting today.

Want the tracker? DM the keyword 20 on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wannabeclutterfree and I will send you the 500 Item Declutter Challenge tracker so you can count right alongside me.

Before you do anything else today: find five things that are yours. Just five. Put them in a bag by the door. That is day one, and you are already in it.

Next week I am talking with Myquillyn Smith, The Nester, about her new book House Hushing. I recorded that conversation standing in the middle of this very full house, and I asked her things I would not have asked a year ago.

Full show notes: wannabeclutterfree.com/322

Follow along daily: @WannabeClutterFree

Listen and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use promo code BEEF at checkout for $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. 

Our Sponsors:
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You have decluttered your closets. But have you decluttered your calendar?

In this episode, Deanna sits down with Megan Sumrell, time management expert and founder of The Pink Bee, to talk about why reclaiming your time is the piece of living clutter free that most people skip. Megan spent over 20 years in corporate IT before she realized traditional time management systems were never built for women's lives, and she has spent the years since building something that actually works.

In this episode you'll learn:

Why living clutter free has to include your calendar, not just your closetsThe single biggest time thief most women never noticeHow to set up your phone so you're only interrupted for what actually mattersWhy invisible work is real work, and how to make it visible to your familyWhy a to-do list is not a plan, and what to build insteadHow a decluttered home and a decluttered schedule work togetherWhy rest is not a reward, it's required

If your schedule feels just as cluttered as your closet used to, press play.

Connect with Megan Sumrell:

Podcast: Work + Life Harmony

App: The Pink Bee (App Store & Google Play, free training inside)

Instagram: @megansumrell

Connect with Deanna:

Instagram: @wannabeclutterfree

Show notes: wannabeclutterfree.com/321

Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use promo code BEEF at checkout for $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. 

Our Sponsors:
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Who has soccer at 5:15? Did the permission slip go back? Is there anything defrostable for dinner? Are we out of milk again?

If every one of those answers lives in your head and nowhere else, you do not have an organization problem. You have a bottleneck problem, and the bottleneck is you.

In this episode I am sharing the session I presented at the Chaos to Calm Summit on building a family command center. It is one of my favorite things I have ever taught, because it is not about being more organized. It is about not being the only person in your house who knows what is going on.

We cover both versions, physical and digital, so you can build the one that actually fits your family instead of the one that looks good on Pinterest. I walk you through the components every command center needs, the extras that solve specific problems like the school paper avalanche, and the five steps to get yours set up this week. And with the school year and every activity schedule coming back at once, this is the week to do it.

In this episode:

Why a family command center works as the brain of your home, and what it actually fixesThe three components every command center needs, physical or digitalThe one physical addition that finally solves permission slips and school papersWhy location matters more than how pretty it looksWhy I love my Skylight calendar, and the three features to look for in any digital systemHow color coding creates instant ownership so nobody has to ask youWhy I use a hybrid of physical and digital, and where each one earns its keepThe five setup steps, including the fifteen minute weekly sync that holds the whole thing togetherThree bonus tips to make it stick past week two

Your next step: Pick one component. Just one. Set it up today.

Grab my free Doable Dozen guide with the 12 tasks I run every week to keep our home running, including my Daily Magic Five: https://wannabeclutterfree.com/doabledozen

Want the rest of the Chaos to Calm Summit? All 35 sessions are available here: https://wannabeclutterfree.com/summit

Next week I am talking with Megan Sumrell about time management, and it is the perfect follow-up to this one.

If this episode helped, would you tap follow and leave a quick rating? It genuinely helps other tired moms find the show.

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wannabeclutterfree/

Full show notes: https://wannabeclutterfree.com/podcast

Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use promo code BEEF at checkout for $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. 

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
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If you struggle to stick to your routines, create new habits, or find perfectionism running your life, this episode is for you.

I'm sitting down with Monica Packer, host of the top-rated About Progress podcast and author of the upcoming book Sticky Habits, for a conversation that completely reframes why habits feel so hard for busy moms.

Monica opens up about her own journey with perfectionism, and then walks us through something surprising: almost every popular habit book was written by and tested on lives that look nothing like a mother's. Most of us carry an insane amount of invisible labor every day. So when the standard advice doesn't stick, we blame ourselves, when really the method was never built for us.

Here's what we get into:

Why perfectionism is really a misplacement of identity, and what it quietly costs usThe invisible labor research that explains why habit advice keeps failing womenHow to redefine consistency so it's actually possible on your worst daysThe four qualities that make a habit stickyMonica's simple WTA formula (When, Then, After) for habits that finally hold

This is warm, validating, and full of the kind of slow, messy, sustainable growth we love around here. It pairs perfectly with the decluttering work you're already doing.

The thing Monica most wants you to know? You can change. Everyone can.

Resources mentioned:

About Progress podcast Sticky Habits by Monica Packer, pre-order at stickyhabitsbook.com Fair Play by Eve Rodsky

Connect with Monica: Instagram: @aboutprogress Book and bonuses: stickyhabitsbook.com

Let's connect: Instagram: @wannabeclutterfree Show notes: wannabeclutterfree.com/319

If this episode helped you breathe a little easier, share it with a friend who's been beating herself up about her habits, and leave a quick review so more moms can find us.

Our Sponsors:
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You have probably said it at least once: “I’ll do the whole house this weekend.” And then Saturday came, and you either didn’t start, or you started and made things worse, or you finished and watched it fill right back up within a week. Today I’m explaining exactly what’s happening, and introducing the habit that finally breaks it.

The Lightning Tidy is five minutes a day. Same time, same routine, every day. I’m walking you through the neuroscience of why it works when every other approach hasn’t, including a deep dive into what happens in your brain with every unfinished task in your home, why large sessions create decision fatigue before you even begin, and why the Lightning Tidy is specifically designed to work for ADHD brains in a way that conventional tidying advice never has.

I’m also sharing what comes next: the weekly Mighty Tidy, a 30-minute deep dive into one specific area of your home, and why the daily Lightning Tidy is the thing that makes the Mighty Tidy actually possible.

In this episode you’ll learn:

The Zeigarnik effect: why every pile of clutter is an open loop draining your brainHow unfinished goals degrade cognitive performance (2011 Masicampo & Baumeister research)Decision fatigue and why the Lightning Tidy bypasses it completelyTask initiation aversion and why it hits ADHD brains differentlyExactly what a Lightning Tidy looks like (with the family math that makes it powerful)Peggybacking: how to attach the Lightning Tidy to something you already doThe identity-based habit shift from James Clear’s Atomic HabitsThe 66-day research on habit automaticity (and why it’s less daunting than it sounds)The Mighty Tidy: 30 minutes once a week for real decluttering progress

Mentioned in this episode:

Atomic Habits by James ClearEffortless Home: DAILY Edition: wannabeclutterfree.com/effortless-home-daily

Next week: Monica Packer joins me to talk about habits. If you listened to this thinking, great, but I can’t keep habits, that episode is for you. Subscribe so you don’t miss it.

After that: the next solo episode goes deep into the neuroscience of why your cluttered home is affecting your mental health at a biological level. It’s some of the most important context I’ve ever shared on this podcast.

Our Sponsors:
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Have you ever decluttered your home only to watch it slowly fill right back up? This episode is for you.

Ashlee Piper is a sustainability expert, speaker, and author who has been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and CNN, and in Vogue, the New York Times, and Newsweek. She created the No New Things Challenge in 2013. What started as a personal 30-day experiment turned into nearly two years of not buying anything new. The result? She saved over $36,000, paid off $22,000 in debt, reclaimed her time, and completely rewired her relationship with shopping. Her new book, No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity, guides readers through the same challenge.

In this conversation, Ashlee and Deanna dig into what she calls conditioned consumerism, the history of how post-WWII America reprogrammed an entire society from resourceful people into reflexive shoppers, and how that programming is the real reason your home keeps filling up no matter how many times you declutter.

In this episode you will learn:

Why the urge to buy new things is not a personal failing but a historical and marketing constructThe SUPER System: five ways to get your needs met without buying anything newHow to use a trigger-tracking journal to discover the real emotions driving your shopping impulsesThe 2-7 minute rule and why riding it out changes everythingHow the challenge builds creativity, community, and connection as unexpected side effectsWhy Ashlee says women are the most powerful purchasing cohort on the planet and what that means for your household

Pick up No New Things wherever books are sold. You can also find it secondhand at ThriftBooks.

Find Ashlee on Instagram: @ashleepiper

Learn more at: ashleepiper.com

Full show notes: wannabeclutterfree.com/317

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
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Have you ever spent a Saturday morning deep cleaning your entire house, and by noon you still feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and a little annoyed at everything? Your house looks great. You should feel amazing. But you don’t.

That’s not you being a perfectionist. It’s the sneaky kind of clutter that almost nobody in the decluttering world ever talks about.

Calendar clutter (or the mental load of keeping everything running)

In this episode I’m bringing it to light and giving you a real system to clear it. You’ll learn the two distinct forms calendar clutter takes (an overbooked calendar full of other people’s priorities, and the quieter weight of undone decisions with no home), the weekly capture method that gets everything out of your head and onto paper, and why protected blank space is not wasted time, it’s the time that makes everything else work.

This is the finale of my four-part series on the invisible weight of clutter, the stuff that doesn’t pile up on your counters but piles up in your mind instead.

In this episode you’ll learn:

Why a clean house doesn’t always feel like a calm houseThe two kinds of calendar clutter (most people only ever deal with one)How to build a “vision filter” so you stop saying yes out of guiltThe weekly capture method for clearing undone decisions out of your headWhy blank space on your calendar is not wasted spaceA simple script for saying no without feeling like a flake

Mentioned in this episode:

Effortless Home: DAILY Edition (use code EPISODE316 for $10 dollars off, 48 hours only): https://wannabeclutterfree.com/dailyFair Play by Eve Rodsky: https://amzn.to/4wpuSwFNiksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing: https://amzn.to/4weJL4E

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
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Your kid won't get rid of anything. You know their room has too much stuff. But every time you try to do something about it, it turns into a battle. What if you never had to be the bad guy again?

Dana K. White is the creator of the No Mess Decluttering Method, the blogger behind A Slob Comes Clean, and the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Decluttering at the Speed of Life. She has spent 17 years teaching overwhelmed, messy people how to get their homes under control without shame or perfection. And now she has taken everything she knows and put it into her very first children's book, Winnie's Pile of Pillows.

In this episode, Dana shares how to use a picture book as an actual decluttering tool, why her container concept works even better on kids than it does on adults, and how to get through a decluttering session with your child without convincing them of anything. This one will change how you approach your kid's stuff.

Covered in this episode:

How to use Winnie's Pile of Pillows as more than a bedtime storyWhy the container concept makes the space the bad guy instead of youThe five-minute pickup test that tells you if your child has too many toysWhat to say when your kid insists they need to keep everythingHow to declutter with your child without starting a power struggleWhy you should never start with your kid's roomThe age when kids can really start to grasp the concept of having enoughHow to pass on a no-shame, no-guilt relationship with stuff to your kids

If you are fighting the toy clutter battle and losing, this episode is for you. Hit play, grab the book, and go find that trash bag.

LEARN MORE

Winnie's Pile of Pillows by Dana K. White: https://amzn.to/4afYyDH

A Slob Comes Clean: https://www.aslobcomesclean.com

Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room by Deanna Yates: https://amzn.to/4gDSp89

Show notes: https://www.wannabeclutterfree.com/315

CONNECT

Dana K. White on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aslobcomesclean/

Deanna Yates on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wannabeclutterfree/

LISTEN

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wannabe-clutter-free-declutter-simplify-find-freedom/id1485473251

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ATUIVONi0kyoVUKOQV4OT?si=f555de5388164b10

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wannabeclutterfree

Our Sponsors:
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Digital clutter doesn’t pile up on your counter, but it absolutely piles up in your brain. Every unread email, every unused app, every notification going off every eight minutes is quietly draining your focus and your energy.

In this episode I’m giving you three moves for your inbox, three moves for your phone, and a simple weekly habit that keeps all of it under control going forward.

In this episode you’ll learn:

The one reframe that changes how you think about email forever How to cut your inbox in half this week without losing anything important The 30-day app audit (and why you don’t have to fully delete things to get them out of your way) The Favorites list trick that lets you protect your peace without missing important calls The three-habit digital maintenance system that takes under 15 minutes a week

Resources mentioned:

Unroll.me (mass email unsubscribe tool) Clean Email (email management tool) Digital Declutter Challenge course: https://www.wannabeclutterfree.com/digital-declutter-challenge

⁠If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Digital Clutter

00:29 Understanding the Impact of Email Clutter

03:44 Reframing Your Email Inbox

05:03 Unsubscribing and Archiving Emails

07:45 The Archive Bomb: Cleaning Out Old Emails

11:49 Organizing Your Email Folders

14:30 Addressing Phone Clutter

16:42 The 30-Day App Audit

18:29 Resetting Notifications for Clarity

21:31 Creating a Favorites List for Important Contacts

22:29 Simplifying Your Phone's Home Screen

24:14 Establishing a Digital Maintenance Habit

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
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Have you ever looked at a "minimalist" home on Instagram and thought, well, that is never going to be me. My kids alone would destroy that in four minutes? Or convinced yourself that your clutter-free journey isn't working because your house just doesn't look the part? You are not alone. And this conversation is for you.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESOURCES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the transcripts and more at wannabeclutterfree.com/313⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Episode with Joshua Becker The Minimalists Documentary Previous episode with Desirae⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Desirae:

Minimal-ish Website⁠⁠ ⁠Minimal-ish on Instagram⁠ Minimalish Podcast: Search "Minimalish" wherever you listen

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Effortless Home: DAILY Edition - 5 Steps to Run Your Home Like Magic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Desirae Endres is the host of the Minimalish podcast, and her decluttering journey started in 2018 when she sat down as a brand new mom and watched a documentary that completely changed the way she thought about her stuff, her home, and her identity.

Since then she has built an entire community around the idea of "minimal-ish" living, not a perfect aesthetic, not a stark white capsule home, just a real and intentional life with less in the way. 

In this episode, Desirae gets honest about the postpartum anxiety that made her desperate for a calmer home, what it felt like when her husband said their house no longer looked minimal-ish, and the beautiful shift she had about what this whole journey is actually for. We also dig into how to get your kids involved in decluttering without it turning into a battle, and the single most powerful thing you can do to raise kids who genuinely understand how to let go.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

What "minimal-ish" means and why it has nothing to do with how your home looks The real connection between clutter and mental health Why letting go of stuff is really about letting go of past versions of yourself How to involve your kids in decluttering without forcing it What age kids can meaningfully participate (and when it is okay to just do it yourself) The one thing you can do today that quietly teaches your kids to let go

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Introduction

2:59 Desirae's origin story: the documentary that changed everything

5:37 Why changing your nature is harder than changing what you own

9:21 How decluttering helped manage postpartum anxiety

11:37 Letting go of clothes and letting go of past versions of yourself

15:02 Baby stuff, the "what if" fear, and letting go anyway

20:20 Feeling like an imposter when your home does not look minimal

22:45 The minimalist aesthetic vs. the minimalist mindset

24:56 Accepting certain areas of clutter in your current season

32:43 Teaching kids to declutter: where to start

37:21 The power of narrating your own decluttering out loud

43:28 What age should kids start participating?

47:07 What Desirae wishes someone had told her at the very beginning

49:13 Decluttering as a gateway to bigger life changes

50:09 Rapid fire questions

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
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Paper doesn't ask permission. It just shows up in your mailbox, your kids' backpacks, and somehow on every flat surface in your home. And if the piles keep coming back no matter how many times you deal with them, it's not a discipline problem. It's a system problem.

In this episode I'm sharing the exact system I use to keep paper from taking over, including what to do with everything that comes in, how to handle the stuff that's been piling up for months, and two bonus sections for the things nobody talks about: your kids' school papers and the one document organizer every family needs.

In this episode you'll learn:

Why paper piles keep coming back (it's not what you think) The Paper JAM System: three categories, every piece of paper, no exceptions How to set up a weekly processing routine that takes under 30 minutes The landing spot rule that stops paper from spreading during the week A simple system for kids' artwork and school papers that doesn't require keeping everything What an Emergency Binder is and the one document it cannot be missing

Mentioned in this episode:

Catalog Choice (opt out of paper catalogs for free) Digitized in a Day (go fully paperless) Episode 310: Your Phone Has 10,000 Photos Episode 314: Digital Declutter Ep 232: How Simplifying Your Home Can Improve Your Finances with Jill Sirianni Ep 174 Learning How To Spend Guilt-Free in a Clutter Free Home with Alli Williams Ep 243: Declutter Your Finances: Breaking Free from the Debt Cycle Without Budgeting Burnout with Germaine Foley Ep 260: Simplify Your Family Budget: The 5-Account System That Changes Everything with Brittany Flammer

If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The Sneaky Clutter: Paper Invasion

01:47 Understanding the Paper Pile Problem

06:55 The Paper Jam System: Sorting Made Easy

16:26 Establishing a Weekly Processing Routine

23:16 Managing Kids' School Papers

27:18 Creating an Emergency Binder

30:16 Going Digital: The Future of Paper Management

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
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Time management expert and Secrets of Supermom host Lori Oberbroeckling joins Deanna to talk about why energy runs out before time does, how clutter quietly sabotages your best-laid plans, and the small routine changes that actually stick.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESOURCES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Snag your ticket to Supermom Summer Camp⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the transcripts and more at wannabeclutterfree.com/311⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Lori:

⁠Secrets of Supermom Website⁠ Secrets of Supermom Instagram

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Effortless Home: DAILY Edition - 5 Steps to Run Your Home Like Magic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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You bought the planner. You made the schedule. You had a whole plan. And then a super busy day happened.

Sound familiar? This week Deanna sits down with Lori Oberbroeckling, a working mom of four, corporate project management leader, and host of the Secrets of Supermom Show. Lori has spent years helping busy, ambitious moms figure out why their best systems keep falling apart. Spoiler: it is almost never the plan.

In this episode, Lori introduces her framework of energy bleeds, energy blocks, and energy boosts, and explains why your home environment plays a much bigger role in your daily productivity than most time management advice will ever admit. When your physical space is draining you before you even start your to-do list, even a perfect schedule cannot save you.

Lori also shares the moment she and Deanna both recognized in themselves: we think we need a better planner, when really we need more energy boosts built into our days first.

If you have ever felt like you are doing all the right things and still ending every day depleted, this episode is going to reframe everything.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

Why a cluttered, chaotic home is an energy bleed that quietly tanks your whole day How to do a simple time and energy audit to figure out where your energy is actually going What to do when you hate a task but still have to do it Why routines fall apart and the one question to ask before you try to build one The small change that helped Lori's family of six stop tripping over shoes How to get your family actually on board with new home routines

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Lori Oberbroeckling

03:05 Why home environment matters to your schedule

08:25 Energy bleeds, blocks, and boosts explained

10:01 What to do when you have to do an energy bleed task

16:18 How to find your energy boosts when you do not know what they are

20:24 Flying trapeze and other energy boost revelations

21:32 Why routines fall apart and how to build ones that stick

24:11 Small changes that create big impact for the whole family

26:58 Getting family buy-in with carrots, not sticks

29:28 Why the planner is not the problem

32:27 Where to start when everything feels out of control

34:26 Rapid fire: what clutter free means, what is making Lori happy, and one takeaway

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Digital clutter doesn’t feel as obvious as a cluttered closet. But if you’ve ever had that pit-in-your-stomach moment of not being able to find a photo that matters, you know this isn’t small.

In this episode I’m breaking down the three phases of getting your photos in order (Declutter, Organize, Maintain), the two specific starting points that build momentum without making any hard decisions, and the triple backup system that means you’ll never lose a photo again.

In this episode you’ll learn:

Why photo clutter is an emotional problem, not a storage problem The three-phase framework: Declutter, Organize, Maintain The burst photos trick that eliminates hundreds of photos in 20 minutes The calendar method for going through your entire catalog one day at a time The triple backup system that keeps your photos safe forever

Resources mentioned:

Snag Photo Freedom Formula ($37) ⁠⁠⁠Instagram @WannabeClutterFree⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Episode 304: The 15-Minute Declutter Method⁠⁠⁠

This episode is Part 5 of a series. Start with Episode 304 if you haven’t already.

Next episode: The Paper Clutter System That Took Me From 6 Piles to Zero

If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference.

TIMESTAMPS

02:03 The Invisible Weight of Digital Clutter

04:56 Understanding the Emotional Impact of Photo Clutter'

07:30 Framework for Organizing Photos

09:54 Three Phases of Photo Management

12:31 Practical Tips for Decluttering Photos

15:41 Maintaining Your Photo Organization

18:24 Quick Wins for Photo Organization

20:45The Calendar Method for Photo Management

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Your kids are more capable than you think. Katie Kimball, creator of Kids Cook Real Food and founder of the LifeSkillsNow summer camp, shares the practical systems that take kids from passengers to contributors -- and why cooking is the gateway to all of it.

****************

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESOURCES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Snag your ticket to the FREE #LifeSkillsNow Family Workshops ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the transcripts and more at wannabeclutterfree.com/309⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Katie:

Raising Healthy Families Website

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Effortless Home: Run your home in less than 20 minutes a day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What if the key to a calmer home (and a lighter mental load) was already walking around your house asking for snacks?

In this episode, Deanna Yates sits down with Katie Kimball of Raising Healthy Families, a former classroom teacher, two-time TEDx speaker, and mom of four. Katie created Kids Cook Real Food (named the best online cooking class for kids by the Wall Street Journal) and runs LifeSkillsNow, a virtual summer camp that teaches kids everything from cooking and budgeting to entrepreneurship and mending their own clothes.

This conversation is all about kids as contributors, not passengers. Katie shares how her teaching background shaped the way she thinks about agency, choice, and raising the bar for what kids can actually do. She talks through the moment she realized her mental and physical load didn't have to fall entirely on her, the summer she intentionally taught her kids to cook, and the chore system her family is still using ten years later.

You'll also hear why Katie calls cooking the gateway life skill, how the skills gap happened across generations, and the three-part framework she uses to help any parent hand something off to their kid in a way that actually sticks.

If you have ever stood in your kitchen thinking it would be faster to just do it yourself, this episode is for you.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

The summer everything changed: how Katie went from "forgetting the faces of the children she was feeding" to building a family system that actually works What her classroom teaching taught her about agency, choice, and why raising the bar is always a good idea Why teenagers need even more autonomy than young kids -- and how she built Teens Cook Real Food around that The story of her 14-year-old vacuuming on a day off with no one asking him to Cooking as the gateway life skill: why starting in the kitchen spills over into everything else The three-part framework for handing something off to your kid: teach the skill, find the motivation, set the expectation

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 -- Katie's Parenting and Cooking Journey 04:37 -- What Teaching Taught Her About How Kids Learn 07:31 -- Raising the Bar: Kids Are More Capable Than We Think 10:33 -- Teaching Teens: Why Choice Is Everything 13:14 -- Cooking as a Pathway to Empathy 19:20 -- The Long Game: What It Looks Like When It Works 22:27 -- The Life Skills Gap: What Kids Are Missing 30:05 -- Values, Vertical Transmission, and Family Culture 32:36 -- Cooking Is the Gateway Life Skill 36:50 -- LifeSkillsNow Summer Camp and Where to Start

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You can declutter your entire home and still end up right back where you started. I know because I’ve lived it. This episode is the piece that makes everything permanent. I’m teaching you the closing shift, the exit bin, and why stacking habits beats scheduling them every time.

In this episode you’ll learn:

Why I went from owning almost nothing to filling up a house, and what finally broke the cycle The restaurant-inspired closing shift my family does every night What the Lightning Tidy is and how to make it fun for your whole family Why the one-in-one-out rule doesn’t work (and what to do instead) The habit stacking trick that makes routines stick forever

Resources mentioned:

⁠Effortless Home Course ($27) ⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram @WannabeClutterFree⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Episode 304: The 15-Minute Declutter Method⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Episode 305: The Joy Anchor Method⁠⁠ Episode 306: The Motivation Cliff

If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Clutter-Free Living

02:18 The Journey to Minimalism

04:45 Establishing a Daily Routine

07:13 The Closing Shift Explained

09:44 The Exit Bin Strategy

12:28 Habit Stacking for Success

14:23 The Invisible Weight of Clutter

21:03 Looking Ahead: Future Topics

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Behavioral scientist Leidy Klotz reveals how your home feeds or starves three core psychological needs, why clutter blocks connection, and how to make your spaces actually work for your family.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠RESOURCES⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the transcripts and more at wannabeclutterfree.com/307⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Leidy:

⁠In a Good Place by Leidy Klotz: Available wherever you get your books Subtract by Leidy Klotz Leidy's website: leidyklotz.com

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Effortless Home: Run your home in less than 20 minutes a day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What if the reason you feel stuck, distracted, or disconnected at home has less to do with your habits and more to do with your spaces?

Leidy Klotz, an engineering professor at the University of Virginia, is the author of Subtract and his brand-new book In a Good Place. He has spent over a decade studying the relationship between our physical environments and our psychological well-being, and today he is breaking it all down for us.

This conversation changed how I think about my home. We are not just talking about decluttering (although we do get into that). We are talking about why our spaces either feed or starve our deepest needs, and what we can do about it.

In this episode you will learn:

The three core psychological needs your home either supports or works against How clutter literally gets between you and the people you love Why you use your spaces the same way every day (and a simple research-backed way to break out of it) The renovation trap: when updating your home actually makes it less meaningful How to involve your kids in decisions about your home (and why it changes everything) The beautiful story of Josie's Way and what it teaches us about legacy and space

Content note: Leidy shares openly about his daughter Josie, who passed away unexpectedly at four years old. Her story is woven throughout this conversation and is both heartbreaking and deeply beautiful.

Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction and Leidy's background

05:40 The intersection of environment and behavior

11:24 The three core psychological needs: agency, growth, and connection

17:25 Agency and connection in the home (plus tips for renters)

20:30 How clutter literally blocks connection

26:50 Behavioral changes through environmental cues

32:23 The family that moved dinner outside

36:06 Functional fixedness: why adults are worse at this than kids

40:42 Nostalgia, the renovation trap, and protecting what matters

50:57 Josie's Way: remembering through spaces and stories

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You started decluttering. It felt amazing. And then somewhere around day 7, your house felt just as cluttered as when you started, even though you know you did the work. That moment has a name. I call it the motivation cliff, and in this episode I'm explaining exactly why it happens and what to do about it.

In this episode you'll learn:

What the recalibration dip is and why your brain makes progress invisible The one metric that your brain can't trick you on How to make decluttering enjoyable enough to actually sustain The identity shift that turns you from a starter into a finisher Why motivation follows action, not the other way around

This episode is Part 3 of a series. Start with Episode 304 (the 15-minute declutter method) and Episode 305 (the Joy Anchor Method for sentimental items) if you haven't already.

Comment HOME on my latest Instagram post (@wannabeclutterfree) and I'll send you the link to Effortless Home.

Resources mentioned:

Effortless Home 19 for $19 Ultimate Decluttering Bundle (includes the 500 Item Challenge tracker) Decluttering Playlist on Spotify Episode 304: The 15-Minute Declutter Method Episode 305: The Joy Anchor Method

If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Why the decluttering quit day hits around day 7

01:16 What the motivation cliff is and how to recognize it

04:01 The recalibration dip explained

08:37 Tool 1: Count items out the door, not how your home looks

13:04 Tool 2: Joy during the process, not after it

19:11 Tool 3: Finish what you start, even if it’s small

24:04 How Effortless Home and the 500 Item Challenge tracker can help

28:35 What’s coming next in the series

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If you’ve ever held onto something not because you need it but because of what it means to you, this episode is for you.

I’m teaching you the Joy Anchor Method, a simple way to keep what matters and let go of what’s weighing you down.

What you’ll learn:

the reframe that makes it easier to know what sentimental items to keep the step-by-step method for handling sentimental collections How to use the Photo Bridge for items you can’t keep but can’t release A simple question I asked my client to help her get unstuck

Comment PHOTOS on my latest Instagram post (@wannabeclutterfree) to get the link to Photo Freedom Formula.

Next episode: The Motivation Cliff – Why You Quit Decluttering at Day 7 (And How to Not)

Resources mentioned:

⁠Photo Freedom Formula Course ⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram @WannabeClutterFree⁠⁠

If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The Emotional Weight of Sentimental Clutter

03:01 Understanding the Joy Anchor Method

10:34 Implementing the Joy Anchor Method

21:30 Creating a Photo Bridge for Memories

31:34 Navigating the Motivation Cliff

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If you’ve ever said “I want to declutter but I don’t know where to start,” this episode is your answer.

I’m breaking down the sequencing mistake that makes decluttering feel impossible, the 15-minute pulse check method you can use in any room today, and a reframe that changed how I think about letting go.

Plus, I’ll tell you about Effortless Home, my room-by-room system for busy families who want a clutter free home without the weekend overhaul.

What you’ll learn:

Why starting with the hardest room is the #1 reason people quit The 15-minute pulse check method (three categories, one timer, done) How to reframe “letting go” so it feels like a gain, not a loss The room-by-room system inside Effortless Home

Next episode: How to Declutter Sentimental Items Without Guilt (The Joy Anchor Method)

Resources mentioned:

Effortless Home Course ($27) ⁠Instagram @WannabeClutterFree⁠

If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00: Introduction to Decluttering

00:23: Identifying the Problem - "You have a sequencing problem."

01:41: Where most people go wrong with decluttering

4:29: Step One - Where to Start for Decluttering Success

07:23: Step Two - 15 Minute Pulse Check

08:51: The Sorting Categories to Get You Moving Quickly

15:41: The Mindset Shift that Flips Decluttering

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Do you feel like you're constantly managing your home instead of enjoying it? Like no matter how much you declutter, the chaos just keeps coming back?

In this solo episode, Deanna breaks down why routines are the missing piece and how building the right ones can completely change the way your home feels.

Resources mentioned:

Effortless Home Course ($27): comment HOME on any Instagram post at @WannabeClutterFree and Deanna will send the link straight to your DMs, or grab it in the show notes Finish by Jon Acuff Join the email list to be the first to hear about something exciting coming soon

Links: Effortless Home Course Join the Email List Instagram @WannabeClutterFree

In this episode you'll learn:

Why decluttering without routines is like mopping the floor with dirty water The real reason your mental energy is gone by 4pm (hint: it's not laziness) Why most routines fail on day two and what Jon Acuff calls "the day after perfect" The STICK framework: five steps to building routines that actually last Why fewer things in your home makes your routines easier to stick to

If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Introduction 02:15 — Why decluttering without routines doesn't work 05:00 — Decision fatigue and why your brain is exhausted by 4pm 09:30 — Jon Acuff's "the day after perfect" and why day two is the danger zone 13:00 — The STICK framework: five steps to routines that last 20:00 — Why decluttering and routines work together 22:30 — Effortless Home + how to get the link 24:00 — Something exciting is coming soon

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Professional organizers and sisters Meg DeLong and Ea Fuqua share practical, sustainable strategies for organizing your home based on function and intention rather than perfection. Discover how to create spaces that support your lifestyle and embrace real-life solutions without pressure.

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⁠⁠⁠RESOURCES⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/302 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tidy Up Book on Amazon⁠ ⁠IKEA Storage ⁠⁠Solutions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Meg & Ea:

The Tidy Home Nashville Instagram Facebook Pinterest TikTok

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

What does it actually look like when a professional organizer walks through your front door for the first time?

Spoiler: it probably doesn't look like what you're imagining — and it definitely doesn't require a Pinterest-perfect pantry.

Meg DeLong and Ea Fuqua are sisters and the founders of The Tidy Home Nashville. In nearly seven years of professional organizing, they've seen it all. And their message?

Refreshingly real. Function first. Perfection never. And for the love of all things tidy, stop organizing your fridge.

They also just released their first book, Tidying Up, and today they're breaking it all down for us.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What actually happens during a first consultation (everyone hides stuff in closets, yes, everyone) Why organization has to fit how you actually live, not how you think you should live The fridge organizing myth and why they're unapologetically anti-fridge How to create systems that grow and shift with your family over time Why the junk drawer is the best place to start (every. single. time.) What Tidying Up is really for (hint: it's not for people who already have it together) How to get your whole household on board without becoming the organization police Their evolution from perfection → function → intentionality, and what that means for your home

Time Stamps:

00:00 - Meet Meg & Ea: sisters, professional organizers, and the story behind The Tidy Home Nashville

01:33 - What a first consultation actually looks like (and why you don't need to pre-clean)

09:20 - Function over pretty: building systems that fit how you actually live

22:30 - Why big decluttering sessions backfire — and what to do instead

32:07 - Their new book Tidying Up: room-by-room, no perfection required

44:30 - The anti-fridge stance + intentional living as an organizing philosophy

55:55 - Getting the whole family on board + where to find Meg & Ea

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feeling burned out and stretched too thin? Former attorney turned burnout expert Michelle Niemeyer shares her "bending time" framework to help you find clarity, fill your energy reserves, and get more done in less time without losing yourself in the process.

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⁠⁠RESOURCES⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/301⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Michelle Niemeyer:

⁠⁠Michelle's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Free clarity meditation: text CLARITY to 33777

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

What if the reason you can't get it all done isn't a time problem but an energy problem?

Michelle Niemeyer is a speaker, consultant, and former attorney who burned out after 20+ years in law. That burnout led to an autoimmune diagnosis and became the wake-up call that changed everything.

She shares The Art of Bending Time, a framework that helps you expand what you can accomplish by getting clear on what matters, cutting the junk, and filling your energy reserves. The conversation also explores burnout warning signs, why women struggle with guilt around self-care, and how families can function as a team.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The burnout sign Michelle ignored for years that eventually made her body shut down How one dad doubled his sales in a single week by changing just one thing about his morning The simple clarity exercise that reveals what actually fills your cup (most people have never done this) Why the phrase "work-life balance" might be the very thing keeping you stuck and overwhelmed What 80 unused boats on a Miami dock taught Michelle about the clutter we're killing ourselves to maintain

Time Stamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:20 Who is Michelle Niemeyer and what she does 2:16 What is "bending time" and how it works 3:54 The 80/20 rule and why we waste time on busy work 5:51 Flow state and why physical health matters for productivity 7:11 Why "work-life balance" can actually be destructive 9:25 Signs of burnout: Michelle's personal story 13:56 The clarity exercise: finding what lights you up 17:47 How to weave your "sparks" into daily life 21:06 The power of small moments of connection 26:31 Why women feel guilty taking time for themselves 27:30 Treating your family like a team 33:51 Burnout to autoimmune disease: Michelle's health wake-up call 38:45 Bending time revisited: cutting junk, expanding capacity 41:38 Stop chasing a lifestyle that doesn't light you up 43:29 The boat dock story: things we own but never use

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Your clutter isn't a personal failing. It's the intended result of a system that profits from your overwhelm. Episode 300 is about opting out -- and taking back your power.

Resources Mentioned:

No New Things by Ashlee Piper "Sit Still Look Pretty" by Daya Wannabe Clutter Free on Instagram (30-day declutter series) ⁠⁠Deanna's Best Decluttering Resources⁠⁠

Three hundred episodes. When I started this show, I thought decluttering was about getting rid of stuff. And it is. But it's not only that.

The more I've done this work, the more I've realized the stuff was never really the problem. The problem is what keeps creating the stuff. For episode 300, I finally go there.

Your clutter is not an accident. It is not a personal failing. It is, in significant part, the intended result of a trillion-dollar industry that profits from your overwhelm, your insecurity, and your desire to feel better right now.

Desire is manufactured. Algorithms aren't showing you what you love -- they're showing you what you're most likely to buy. The "treat yourself" culture is a sales strategy. And the chaos that keeps you too exhausted to pay attention? Worth money to the people selling it.

But here's where it gets good: once you see it, you can't unsee it. And that's where your power starts.

Buying less is not deprivation. It's defection. Every time you walk past a sale and keep walking, you are opting out of a system that is counting on you not to. Every purchase is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in.

In this episode I cover:

Why clutter keeps coming back no matter how often you declutter How desire gets manufactured (and the Stanley cup is a perfect example) The $44 billion self-storage industry and what it says about all of us Why voting with your dollars is one of the most direct forms of civic participation The mental clutter side: what short-form content is doing to your sense of enough 5 low-lift ways to start opting out this week

If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Text it to a friend who's been drowning in stuff and can't figure out why. The message that clutter is not your fault (and that you have more power than you think) deserves to reach more people. You're how it gets there.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference. Thank you for 300 episodes.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 -- Welcome + 300 episodes milestone

2:38 -- The story that changed how I see everything (the Amazon tab moment)

5:46 -- How desire is manufactured (ads, algorithms, "treat yourself" culture)

9:36 -- Why your overwhelm is worth money to someone

11:27 -- No New Things by Ashlee Piper + the reframe

12:42 -- Not buying is not deprivation. It's voting with your dollars

16:10 -- Feeling smaller and disconnected -- and what's still in your control

18:36 -- Mental clutter: what short-form content is doing to your sense of enough

19:57 -- The highlight reel fallacy

22:17 -- 5 practical experiments to start opting out

26:24 -- The hole in the boat: why decluttering without stopping the inflow never works

27:30 -- 300 episodes: what I actually believe

28:37 -- My one ask for episode 300

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How do you get dinner on the table every night without losing your mind? Melissa Griffiths shares her monthly meal planning system, how to get kids helping in the kitchen, and how to lighten the mental load around food.

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⁠RESOURCES⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/299⁠ Pro tip from Melissa: Add "-AI" to your recipe searches to filter out AI-generated recipes!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Melissa Griffiths:

⁠Melissa's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

What if meal planning didn't have to feel like another thing on your endless to-do list?

Melissa Griffiths is the founder of Bless This Mess, a food blog she has been growing for over 13 years to help busy moms put simple, nourishing meals on the table. As a mom of five who recently moved her family from Utah to Vermont, Melissa knows what it takes to feed a family through every season of chaos.

In this conversation, Melissa shares her monthly meal planning system, including the master list method and how theme nights can take the decision fatigue out of dinner. We dive into getting kids involved in the kitchen and her "launch list" concept for life skills she wants her kids to have before they leave home.

Then the conversation takes an unexpected turn. Melissa opens up about her family's cross-country move after losing a family business, what it was like to downsize by two-thirds, and how to ask your partner for real help with the mental load.

Whether you are drowning in dinnertime decisions or just want a simpler approach to feeding your family, this episode will leave you with practical strategies and a fresh perspective.

In this episode, you will learn:

The master list method for monthly meal planning How to get kids involved without it becoming a chore for mom How to handle picky eaters without shame or food battles Why smaller spaces can actually simplify your life How to ask for help and share the mental load

Time Stamps:

0:00 Introduction 1:54 Meet Melissa Griffiths 6:23 The monthly meal planning system and master list method 9:12 Theme nights and delegating meal choices to kids 15:49 Getting kids involved in the kitchen without the guilt 20:03 The "launch list" of life skills for kids 23:43 Moving from Utah to Vermont after heartbreak 26:12 Downsizing by two-thirds and why smaller is simpler 35:35 The mental load and sharing invisible labor 42:25 Handling picky eaters with grace

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

After losing both in-laws within months of each other, life coach Amy Slenker-Smith shares what she learned helping them downsize and the conversations she wishes more families would start sooner.

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RESOURCES

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/298⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Amy Slenker-Smith:

Amy's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

Are you dreading the day you'll have to clear out your parents' home while grieving? In this powerful episode, Amy Slenker-Smith shares her deeply personal experience of losing both in-laws within two and a half months of each other, and what she learned helping them downsize years before.

Amy walked her in-laws through a massive transition: from 3,400 square feet to a 1,200 square foot apartment. Because of that work, clearing their belongings after they passed took just 3-4 days instead of months. She's sharing exactly how you can give that same gift to YOUR family.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why proper downsizing takes 1-2 years (and what to do if you're already in crisis mode) The first thing to abandon when your timeline is short (hint: it's selling) How the "category by category" method makes decisions easier Why the things your family wants are NOT what you'd expect How to start conversations even when parents won't talk about "someday" The phrase "I'll let my kids deal with it" and why it's so devastating

Whether you're in the sandwich generation juggling kids and aging parents, starting to think about your own legacy, or already facing a home cleanout, this conversation offers both practical strategies and emotional permission to begin.

Amy's reminder that "more is caught than taught" offers a hopeful path: even if your parents won't budge, you can still lead by example in your own home.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro 1:36 Amy's background 6:05 Losing both in-laws within months 10:47 Why hospice is a gift 14:07 The first downsize: 3,400 to 1,200 sq ft 22:43 Why you need more time than you think 26:36 Tips for tight timelines 29:58 Category by category (17 side tables!) 35:53 What your family actually wants 43:30 "I don't want to do this to my kids" 57:05 How to start the conversation 1:00:35 Rapid fire questions

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Your teen's bathroom doesn't need 20 products. Double board certified dermatologist and mom of three Dr. Angela Casey breaks down the only steps tweens and teens actually need, the ingredients to avoid, and why simplifying skincare is one of the best habits you can give your kids.

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RESOURCES

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/297⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Atomic Habits by James Clear Episode 292 with Tracy McCubbin - https://wannabeclutterfree.com/292

Connect with Dr. Angela Casey:

Dr. Angela's Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

What if the secret to a clutter-free bathroom and healthier skin for your teen came down to doing less, not more?

Deanna Yates sits down with Dr. Angela Casey, a double board certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon, and mom of three teen and tween daughters, to talk about why skincare is healthcare and how families can simplify their routines for better results. Dr. Casey is also the founder of Bright Girl, a dermatologist-created skincare line designed specifically for young skin.

Whether you're a mom trying to guide your teen through the overwhelming world of skincare or looking to simplify your own routine, this conversation will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually works. Plus, Deanna shares a personal connection to skin cancer prevention that makes this episode hit close to home.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

the truth behind the Sephora kids trend the only steps tweens actually need morning and night the popular ingredients (like retinols and exfoliating scrubs) that can actually harm developing skin how to tackle bathroom clutter some shocking statistics about skin cancer and prevention

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction
2:09 Meet Dr. Angela Casey
4:35 The Sephora kids trend: good or bad?
7:17 The bare basics every tween needs morning and night
8:30 Ingredients tweens and teens should avoid
10:45 What "clean beauty" actually means (hint: nothing official) 16:56 Decluttering the bathroom through simpler routines
18:26 Why too many products can make skin worse
20:29 The three-month rule for testing skincare
25:32 How to know if your products work well together
28:36 Makeup advice for tweens and teens
35:32 Habit stacking your sunscreen
36:14 Skin cancer statistics every parent needs to hear
43:48 How to respond when your teen brings home a trending product
50:19 Where to find Dr. Angela and Bright Girl

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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What does minimalism actually look like for a busy family in a small home? Bestselling author Shira Gill shares her 15-minute win strategy, the simple question she asks before buying anything, and how to stop clutter from creeping back in.

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RESOURCES

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/296⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shira's Books: LifeStyled, Organized Living, and Minimalista The #30Wears Movement by Livia Firth No New Things by Ashlee Piper - https://www.ashleepiper.com/

Connect with Shira Gill:

⁠⁠Shira's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

What if the key to a clutter-free home isn't following someone else's formula, but creating one that fits your real life? Shira Gill is the bestselling author of Minimalista, Organized Living, and LifeStyled, and has spent 15+ years helping families declutter and simplify. Her work has been featured by Good Morning America, Oprah Daily, Architectural Digest, and The New York Times. Together we dig into what minimalism looks like in a busy household (Shira raises two teens in a 1,200-square-foot bungalow with almost no storage). We explore why everything you bring through the front door becomes your responsibility, why organizing systems should be simple enough for a five-year-old, and her 15-minute win strategy for anyone too overwhelmed to start. Shira also shares how she handles sentimental items, the shoebox test, and why her experience with billionaires confirms that stuff never delivers the happiness we expect. Plus, a fourth book announcement!

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

Why minimalism is not about restriction and how to customize it for your season of life The one question Shira asks before buying anything new Why your organizing systems keep failing and how the five-year-old test can fix that How seasonal maintenance moments and a Sunday basket ritual keep clutter from creeping back Shira's shoebox test for sentimental items and why keeping less makes what you keep more valuable

Timestamps:

(01:26) Meet Shira Gill: from in-home organizer to bestselling author (plus a fourth book announcement!)

(03:20) How writing three books on minimalism changed Shira's own relationship with stuff

(06:37) Adapting minimalism for real life with kids, work, and full calendars

(10:40) Why everything you bring through the front door becomes your responsibility

(13:39) Navigating guilt, waste, and the "fewer, better" approach

(20:08) The #30Wears movement and breaking disposable culture

(21:11) The biggest misconception about what "organized" really means

(27:31) Shira's daily uniform: white shirt, jeans, and the power of decision-free mornings

(30:45) The 15-minute win: a game-changing strategy for anyone who feels too overwhelmed to start

(35:31) Why clutter keeps creeping back and seasonal maintenance moments that prevent it

(40:48) The emotional side of letting go: guilt, sentimental items, and inherited collections

(44:13) The shoebox test and keeping one token from a collection

(45:53) Minimalism, privilege, and what working with billionaires taught Shira about "enough"

(51:20) Where to find Shira and her books

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Why does clutter keep coming back no matter what you try? Author Katy Wells shares her holistic approach to decluttering that tackles the root cause, not just the stuff, so you can finally feel at peace in your home.

****************

RESOURCES

Katy's Book - Making Home Your Happy Place: A Real Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm (available wherever books are sold) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/295⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Katy Wells:

⁠Katy's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

What if the reason clutter keeps coming back has nothing to do with your organizing systems and everything to do with what's going on beneath the surface?

In this episode, host Deanna Yates welcomes Katy Wells, author of Making Home Your Happy Place and host of the Maximized Minimalist podcast. Katy shares how she developed her holistic decluttering method after years of trying every hack, bin system, and organizing strategy only to watch her home fall apart two days later. Drawing from her background in holistic wellness, she realized that lasting change required looking at not just the stuff, but the beliefs, emotions, and stories behind it.

Together, Deanna and Katy dig into why clutter sometimes serves as a coping mechanism that protects us from feeling harder emotions, the crucial difference between expected mess and actual clutter, and how to release the shame that comes from comparing your home to magazine perfection. They also explore the four main types of clutter (superficial, sentimental, scarcity, and identity), how generational patterns and cultural messaging quietly shape what we keep, and the ART framework for working through sentimental items without regret.

Plus, Katy shares practical strategies for getting your partner on board without nagging, helping kids build decluttering as a life skill, and understanding how dopamine actually works when it comes to shopping habits. This is a conversation that will change how you think about your stuff and the space you call home.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

Why clutter keeps coming back and how it can secretly be a coping mechanism The difference between expected mess and clutter, and how to release shame around both The four types of clutter and where to start decluttering How to get your partner on board without nagging using one simple change What dopamine actually does when you shop and how to break the cycle

Time Stamps:

(00:00) Introduction and guest intro

(02:41) Katy's background and holistic decluttering origin story

(07:34) When clutter becomes a coping mechanism

(10:29) Expected mess vs. clutter: releasing the shame

(14:14) The "shoulds" around decluttering and setting your own benchmarks

(19:14) The four main clutter types and where to start

(24:29) Your "stuff story": how family history and culture shape what you keep

(29:17) The ART framework for sentimental items

(37:56) Onboarding your partner without nagging

(45:51) Helping kids declutter toys and build life skills

(50:45) Dopamine and shopping: the motivation molecule

(57:00) Social media, comparison, and anchoring to your core values

(1:00:14) Where to find Katy and her book

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What can a year of decluttering a hoarder house teach us about letting go? Author Eileen Stukane shares her journey from horror to healing, plus practical tips for helping loved ones and releasing your own grip on stuff.

****************

RESOURCES

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/294⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Eileen Stukane:

Eileen's Website⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

What would you do if you inherited a home from a family member, a home you'd visited many times and remembered as warm and elegant, only to open the door and find it had become a floor-to-ceiling hoarder house?

In this episode, host Deanna Yates talks with author and journalist Eileen Stukane about her memoir, The House That Held Everything. When Eileen and her sister inherited their cousin's childhood home after his death, they were shocked to discover rooms so packed with stuff they could barely get through the front door.

What followed was a year-long journey of clearing out the house and uncovering family secrets that had been buried for decades.

With an estimated 19 million Americans affected by hoarding, this episode offers hope, understanding, and practical wisdom for anyone who knows someone struggling with this issue or recognizes tendencies in themselves.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How possessions become "mini autobiographies" that reveal sides of people you never knew The difference between collecting and hoarding, and warning signs to watch for A powerful tip for letting go: create a photo album "museum" of items you can't keep How to help a loved one who hoards using trust-building and the harm reduction approach Why checking in on people matters, even when they say "don't come over"

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction & Welcome

01:52 Meet Eileen Stukane: From Magazine Editor to Memoir Author

04:18 Inheriting the House: The Shocking Discovery

06:20 From Repulsion to Compassion: Why Eileen Wrote the Book

09:15 Possessions as Mini Autobiographies

14:08 Uncovering Family Secrets

18:15 Discovery via Ancestry.com and the Year-Long Cleanout

23:17 The Photo Museum Tip: Taking Pictures Before Letting Go

24:55 Sorting Categories: Keep, Throw Out, Auction, Donate, Not Sure

29:57 Understanding Why: The Psychology of Hoarding

34:11 Helping a Loved One: Building Trust First

41:00 How the Experience Changed Eileen's Relationship with Stuff

43:44 Rapid Fire Questions

47:09 Closing Thoughts: 19 Million Americans Affected

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Decluttering gets easier when you release fear, obligation, and guilt. Ashley Hines shares a holistic approach to organizing that builds self-trust and helps you create a clutter-free home with intention.

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RESOURCES

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/293⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Ashley Hines:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Ashley's Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

Fear. Obligation. Guilt.

If decluttering feels emotionally heavy (even when you want a clutter-free home) you’re not doing it wrong. You’re just stuck in F.O.G.

In this episode, I’m joined by Ashley Hines, founder of Thee Tailored Life, to talk about the emotional side of decluttering and why letting go can feel so complicated.

Ashley introduces her F.O.G. framework (fear, obligation, and guilt) and explains how it quietly shapes our homes, our decisions, and even our sense of identity. We talk about why “should” is such a powerful clutter trigger, why identity-based items are the hardest to release, and what actually changes when you begin trusting yourself again.

This conversation is gentle, validating, and deeply grounding, especially if you’ve ever felt bad for wanting less.

We cover:

How fear, obligation, and guilt show up in our homes Why decluttering isn’t just physical—it’s emotional The hidden pressure behind “should-keep” items Why identity-based clutter feels impossible to release How self-trust makes decluttering easier over time A gentle first step if you feel completely stuck What it looks like to live clutter-free without perfection

If you’re craving a calmer home and more confidence in your decisions, this episode will meet you right where you are.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Welcome + why decluttering feels emotional 02:00 What holistic organizing really means 04:30 Introducing F.O.G.: fear, obligation, and guilt 08:10 Where F.O.G. shows up most in homes 12:45 The problem with “should” 17:30 Identity-based clutter and emotional weight 22:15 Self-trust and decision-making 27:40 A gentle first step for overwhelmed listeners 33:10 Community, sharing, and living with intention 38:30 What freedom actually looks like in a clutter-free home

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Clutter isn’t a personal failure. Decluttering expert Tracy McCubbin shares a compassionate, clutter-free approach to emotional clutter, realistic systems, and organizing for real life, not perfection.

****************

RESOURCES

Tracy’s Books:

Making Space, Clutter Free Making Space for Happiness

Melanie Summers

Tracy’s chat with Nick Fox

Deanna’s Bundle of Her Best Decluttering Resources

Connect with Tracy McCubbin:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tracy's Website⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

Clutter has a way of feeling personal. But according to Tracy McCubbin, it rarely is.

In this honest and grounding conversation, Tracy and Deanna talk about why clutter forms, why it sticks, and how emotional patterns like perfectionism, guilt, and generational habits quietly shape our homes.

You will hear why buying more bins does not solve clutter, how to move away from Pinterest perfect organizing, and how to create practical systems that support real life. Tracy shares what it actually looks like to declutter with kindness instead of pressure and why starting small matters more than doing it all at once.

This episode is for busy women who want a clutter free home without shame, extremes, or unrealistic expectations. It is especially helpful if you have ever felt like your home should be easier to manage or wondered why organizing advice does not seem to stick.

Tracy also shares insights from her books Making Space, Clutter Free and Make Space for Happiness, along with what she is seeing most right now after nearly 20 years as a professional declutterer.

If clutter has been weighing on you, this conversation offers a deep breath, a mindset shift, and a realistic path toward intentional living and a clutter free home.

We cover:

Why clutter is not a character flaw How emotional and generational patterns influence what we keep Why perfectionism makes organizing harder, not easier What “good enough” systems look like for real homes How to start small and build momentum When asking for help is the smartest next step

Time Stamps:

00:00 Welcome + why clutter feels personal 03:10 Emotional attachment and why letting go is hard 06:30 Why clutter is not a personal failure 10:05 How childhood and generational habits shape clutter 13:20 The emotional “blocks” behind clutter 16:45 Why bins don’t fix the problem 25:30 Decluttering without pressure or shame 34:10 Creating judgment-free systems that last 38:40 Delegating, asking for help, and support systems 45:30 Common decluttering myths debunked 50:10 Final thoughts on clutter-free living

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Getting back into routine after a break can feel overwhelming. This episode shares a gentle, clutter-free re-entry plan with simple, practical steps to reduce stress, rebuild momentum, and ease back into daily life.

Resources Mentioned:

⁠Deanna's Best Decluttering Resources⁠

⁠Wannabe Clutter Free on Instagram⁠

Getting back into real life after a holiday or time off can feel surprisingly hard—especially when clutter, routines, and expectations all come crashing back at once.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why does this feel so much harder than it should?”—this episode is for you.

Today’s conversation is all about a gentle re-entry to your normal life after a long holiday break.

Not snapping back into routine. Not fixing everything at once.

Just easing back into daily life in a way that actually feels supportive.

You’ll learn how to:

Reduce overwhelm before chasing motivation Create quick relief by clearing physical and mental clutter Rebuild routines without pressure or perfection Use small, visible wins to regain confidence Avoid the common traps that make re-entry harder than it needs to be

This is a realistic, clutter-free approach designed for high-achieving, modern moms who want their homes (and lives) to feel calmer, lighter, and more manageable again.

If you’re craving a smoother transition back to normal life, this episode will help you do it with grace instead of grit.

Timestamps:

00:00: Why re-entry after a break feels harder than expected

03:25: The re-entry reality check and letting go of pressure

10:21: The re-entry rule: clear friction before motivation

14:06: Five simple moves to reduce overwhelm fast

26:09: Why visible wins matter more than big progress

33:10: Reclaiming your personal reset point

37:14: What not to do when easing back into routine

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
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Reading 100 books this year reshaped how I approach decluttering, burnout, and intentional living. These five standouts changed my energy, mindset, and home, without adding clutter.

Resources Mentioned:

Wannabe Clutter Free on Instagram

Reading used to feel impossible for me, until this year.

In 2025, I read (and listened to) nearly 100 books, and along the way something surprising happened. My mindset around decluttering, burnout, productivity, and intentional living began to shift in ways I didn’t expect.

In this episode, I’m sharing:

The decluttering and life books that shaped my year The five standouts that genuinely changed how I live and coach Why organizing alone isn’t enough when burnout is involved How I read 100 books without adding physical clutter to my home Practical tips for letting go of books without guilt

My 5 Standout Reads of 2025

Burnout by Emily Nagoski PhD& Amelia Nagoski DMA

Why you can’t organize your way out of burnout and how completing the stress cycle changed everything for me.

The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon

A simple (yes, slightly cheesy) story with a powerful reminder: your energy affects everything - your home included.

I Didn’t Do the Thing Today by Madeline Dore

A refreshing take on ambition, rest, and worth, without hustle culture or guilt.

How to Keep House While Drowning by K.C. Davis

A shame-free approach to care tasks that gave me permission to stop tying my worth to a clean house.

No New Things by Ashlee Piper

A powerful reframe on consumption, shopping habits, and stopping clutter at the source.

How I Read 100 Books Without Adding Clutter

I listened to all of these books using Libby, a free app connected to my local library. Audiobooks allowed me to “read” while cleaning, driving, or folding laundry and I never had to bring more stuff into my home.

What book has changed how you think about your home or life?

Send me your recommendations because I’m already building my 2026 reading list.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Why I chose books instead of goal-setting to close out 2025

2:15 – How I read nearly 100 books (and why that surprised me most)

4:30 – The types of books that shaped my decluttering mindset this year

7:45 – Burnout and why you can’t organize your way out of stress

11:40 – The Energy Bus and protecting your energy at home

14:50 – I Didn’t Do the Thing Today and releasing productivity guilt

18:10 – How to Keep House While Drowning and shame-free decluttering

22:30 – No New Things and stopping clutter before it starts

26:00 – How Libby helped me read more without adding physical clutter

30:45 – Decluttering books without guilt + my favorite question to ask

33:15 – Final reflections and building a meaningful 2026 reading list

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
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Holiday clutter doesn’t mean you’re behind. This calming episode offers permission to rest, a gentle after-Christmas reset, and a supportive path toward decluttering and intentional living in the new year. 

📌 Resources Mentioned:

Episode 288

The days after Christmas can feel louder than we expect. More stuff. More mess. Less energy.

In this calming, guilt-free episode, Deanna offers reassurance for overwhelmed homes and hearts. You’ll hear why the post-holiday mess is normal, why nothing needs to be fixed today, and how to give yourself permission to rest without falling behind.

Deanna shares a personal story about gift guilt, the pressure to create a “perfect” Christmas, and how more stuff often pulls us away from the connection we’re really craving.

You’ll also learn:

• Why temporary mess does not require permanent solutions

• What not to declutter during the holidays

• A low-lift reset for when motivation shows up

• How to quiet your nervous system instead of forcing productivity

• A gentle path forward for decluttering in the new year

And when you’re ready, Deanna invites you to join her January decluttering challenge, where you’ll get a flexible plan, weekly live support, and accountability that feels kind.

You’re not behind. The mess is temporary. And you don’t have to do this alone.

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wannabeclutterfree/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or leave a review.

Timestamps:

00:00 – A calm reminder for overwhelmed homes

02:45 – Why the holidays feel loud and heavy

05:15 – Gift guilt and the myth of “more is better”

07:30 – The moment that changed how Deanna sees Christmas

10:05 – The holiday emergency reset: what not to do

12:30 – Why rest matters more than organizing right now

14:55 – A low-lift option if motivation shows up

17:10 – The mess is temporary and you didn’t fail

19:15 – A gentle invitation to the January decluttering challenge

23:05 – Coming back to presence, connection, and breath

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I decluttered 500 items in four days!

Decluttering doesn’t always look like overflowing junk drawers or packed closets. Sometimes it looks like a home that feels “fine”…but still holds more than you need.

📌 Resources Mentioned:

Get the Declutter 500 Items Challenge course for just $1!

In this episode, Deanna shares a personal experiment that completely surprised her. Using a flipped version of a traditional decluttering challenge, she removed 500 items from her home in just four days without creating mess, stress, or burnout.

You’ll hear why starting big worked better than starting small, how gamifying decluttering changed everything, and why flexibility matters more than perfection when you’re letting things go.

Deanna also walks through exactly where those 500 items came from, what was harder to declutter than expected, and how donating with intention made the process even more meaningful.

If you’ve been craving a clutter-free home that feels lighter, calmer, and easier to maintain, this episode will show you what’s possible, even if you already think you’ve “done the work.”

What you’ll learn:

Why traditional decluttering challenges don’t work for everyone Where clutter hides, even in organized homes A flexible way to count items without getting stuck How to declutter without making a bigger mess What to do with items once they leave your home Why letting go of “perfectly good” things can feel hard How decluttering supports intentional living in this season of life

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wannabeclutterfree/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or leave a review.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Decluttering Challenge

06:05 Why traditional decluttering challenges didn’t work for me

11:59 Day-by-Day Decluttering Process

17:48 How I counted items without stress or rules

23:54 What I did with the decluttered items

30:07 What surprised me most about the process

35:56 Why I’m doing this challenge again

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Discover how your personal energy shapes the clutter in your home and learn simple, powerful mindset shifts to create a more clutter-free, aligned, and intentional life.

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Resources

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/287⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Jena Lorén

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jena's Website⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

Your personal energy is woven into every corner of your home, and today’s conversation with Consciousness Architect Jena Lorén will change the way you see your space forever.

We explore why clutter often has nothing to do with laziness or lack of willpower and everything to do with unseen emotional patterns, old identities, and ego tricks that quietly shape your habits. Jena shares her powerful 3-second mindset reset, her story of purging 80 percent of her belongings, and how to identify the ego archetypes (rebel, realist, illusionist, martyr) that show up in your clutter patterns.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, ashamed, or frustrated by the state of your home, this episode gives you a compassionate and practical path forward. You’ll learn how circulation, alignment, and awareness can transform your space into one that supports your highest self.

We cover:

Why clutter often reflects emotional attachments, not messy habits How your personal energy shows up in your space (and how to shift it) What “circulation” really means and why it builds abundance The surprising root of procrastination around decluttering How the four ego archetypes affect your home and habits A simple 3-second mindset shift you can use today How to let go of items that no longer align with your future self Why awareness without integration keeps us stuck How to create a home that feels supportive, calm, and aligned

Time Stamps:

00:00 – The energetic link between your home and your inner world 03:07 – How personal energy imprints itself on your space 07:04 – Purging 80% of your belongings and choosing a new identity 12:43 – “What if I need this?” and the scarcity trap 15:20 – Circulation: the hidden key to abundance 18:24 – Why receiving feels unsafe for so many women 23:38 – The true root of procrastination around clutter 31:42 – The four ego archetypes and how they shape your home 42:03 – How ego shows up when you try to declutter 51:56 – The simple 3-second shift to reconnect with your future self

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Want a calmer, cleaner, clutter-free holiday season?

This episode walks you through how to simplify Christmas in a way that feels peaceful, joyful, and actually doable for busy families.

Deanna shares how her family is decorating more slowly this year, how she’s focusing on cozy moments over perfection, and the simple choices that help keep December from spiraling into chaos.

What you’ll learn

How to gear up for the holidays without overwhelm How to have clutter-free gift conversations with family (without guilt or drama) Clutter-free gift ideas that still feel special The “four-gift practice” that simplifies kids’ gifts instantly What to do when guilt pushes you to buy more than you should Why “more stuff” often leads to overstimulation and less joy for kids How to prepare your home now for a peaceful Christmas morning The Santa Bag Trick (a magical way to declutter with younger kids!)

Whether your holidays feel too busy, too full, or just too much, this episode will help you create more intention, more breathing room, and more meaning this season.

📌 Resources Mentioned:

⁠Deanna's 19 Best Decluttering Courses for $19⁠

⁠Full show notes:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wannabeclutterfree.com/286

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wannabeclutterfree/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the Wannabe Minimalist Community on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/wannabeminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or leave a review.

Timestamps:

00:00: Decorating slowly this year + why it feels right

02:15: Letting go of traditions that no longer serve you

04:25: Planning holiday activities earlier for less overwhelm

06:00: What to expect in this clutter-free holiday episode

07:10: The emotional clutter of December and how to release it

09:00: How to talk to family about clutter-free gifts

13:50: The four-gift practice for kids (want, need, wear, read)

15:00: Clutter-free gift ideas that still feel special

20:00: Guilt around giving less + Deanna’s personal story

26:10: Pre-holiday decluttering and prepping for Christmas morning

29:40: The Santa Bag Trick for younger kids

31:00: Weekly challenge: pick one clutter-free shift for this season

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feeling overwhelmed by decluttering? Gratitude can change everything.

Learn how a gratitude-based mindset helps you let go without guilt, stay present, and create a more intentional, clutter-free home, even during the busy holiday season. Hear one powerful client story, plus three simple gratitude practices you can start using today.

You’ll learn:

how gratitude supports a growth mindset why it helps you separate memories from objects how gratitude shifts the energy in your home toward calm and clarity how focusing on gratitude for what you keep can transform the entire decluttering experience three simple gratitude practices you can start using today

📌 Resources Mentioned:

Deanna's 19 Best Decluttering Courses for $19

Full show notes:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠wannabeclutterfree.com/285⁠⁠

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wannabeclutterfree/⁠⁠⁠ Join the Wannabe Minimalist Community on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/wannabeminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or leave a review.

Timestamps:

00:00 Navigating a full season and why gratitude matters right now

01:00 How gratitude creates a growth mindset for decluttering

02:30 Seeing what works in your home instead of what’s missing

04:00 Making kinder decisions and letting go without guilt

06:00 Gratitude as a tool for releasing old seasons and stories

08:00 A client transformation: shifting from guilt to gratitude

11:30 How gratitude shifts your energy, your mood, and your home

14:30 Three simple gratitude practices to make decluttering easier

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Learn how to approach aging parents about decluttering, navigate sibling emotions, and prepare for estate sales with compassion, clarity, and less clutter this holiday season.

****************

Resources Mentioned:⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/284⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Jeannine Bryant

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Jeannine's Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The holidays often bring family, memories… and stuff. If you’ve ever looked around your parents’ house and thought, “Someday we’ll have to deal with all of this,” this conversation is for you.

In this heartfelt episode, rightsizing expert Jeannine Bryant joins me to talk about how to compassionately approach decluttering with aging loved ones.

We cover:

How to start tender conversations without conflict What to do when siblings have stronger emotional attachments The truth about estate sales and what to expect How to start early, so decluttering feels peaceful instead of pressured The questions to ask around the Thanksgiving table to spark connection, not guilt

Whether you’re helping your parents downsize, sorting through family heirlooms, or simply preparing for future transitions, this episode will help you navigate it all with grace.

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Welcome & Thanksgiving week reflections 02:00 – What “rightsizing” really means (and why it’s different from downsizing) 05:00 – The emotional side of letting go and facing mortality 08:00 – When keepsakes shift from comfort to burden 10:00 – Separating love, memories, and stuff 13:00 – Why your kids don’t want your stuff (and that’s okay) 16:00 – How to talk with siblings who attach emotions to things 18:00 – What to keep, what to display, and what to release 23:00 – Family conversations to have during the holidays 27:00 – How estate sales actually work (and what to expect) 33:00 – The hidden cost of “saving everything” 36:00 – Practical right-sizing tips to start now 39:00 – Donate early, not later — why it matters 41:00 – Clutter-free gifting and experience-based holidays 42:00 – Rapid fire: What clutter-free means to Jeannine 44:00 – Key takeaways + gratitude for our loved ones

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Discover how decluttering and organizing your closet can ease stress and restore balance. Shaniece Jones shares how “closet therapy” helps you create peace, clarity, and a clutter-free mind.

****************

Resources Mentioned:⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/283⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Shaniece Jones

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Shaniece's Website⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Closet Therapy Podcast⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What if your closet could tell the story of your inner world?

Professional organizer and “Closet Therapist” Shaniece Jones joins Deanna to reveal how decluttering your space can become a powerful tool for emotional healing and intentional living.

From grief and burnout to clarity and calm, Shaniece shares her journey from biologist to organizer, showing how our closets mirror our mental health and how small changes can create massive shifts in how we feel.

You’ll learn how to turn your closet into a peaceful retreat. Don’t worry. Luxury labels or walk-in wardrobes are not required.

We Cover:

How decluttering can move you from burnout to balance Why your closet reflects your emotional and mental state Practical steps to create a calm, organized space you love How mindset shifts make letting go easier What redefining “luxury” really means for intentional living

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Welcome & Preview 02:44 – Shaniece’s Journey: From Biologist to Closet Therapist 04:59 – Grief, Loss & Finding Clarity Through Decluttering 10:07 – Turning Your Closet into a Safe Haven 12:25 – The Mindset Shift that Makes Organizing Easier 16:42 – What Science Teaches Us About Clutter & Mental Health 24:15 – How Life Transitions Show Up in Our Spaces 26:55 – Creating an Elevated, Peaceful Space (Without “Luxury” Budgets) 35:21 – Letting Go of the “What-If” Items 43:22 – Rapid Fire: Clutter-Free, Happiness & First Steps

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If your home feels heavy or chaotic lately, you’re not imagining it. Studies from UCLA and Harvard show that clutter increases stress hormones, drains focus, and fuels burnout, especially for women.

In this final episode of the EMPOWERING Life series, Deanna breaks down how clutter blindness sneaks in, why “stuff” silently steals your energy, and how to finally feel at ease in your own space.

You’ll walk away with six practical ways to reclaim your calm, one corner at a time and a few mindset shifts to help you release guilt and redefine what “home” really means.

You’ll learn:

What clutter blindness is and why it happens How science proves clutter raises stress levels Why decision fatigue starts at home The simple 15-minute habit that changes everything Six practical ways to reclaim calm and reset your space How to let your home evolve with you

📌 Resources Mentioned:

Full show notes:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.wannabeclutterfree.com/282⁠

UCLA Study

Harvard Study

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wannabeclutterfree/⁠⁠ Join the Wannabe Minimalist Community on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/wannabeminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠

Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or leave a review.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome + Series Wrap-Up

02:50 What “Home Environment” Really Means

04:45 Clutter Blindness Explained (and the science behind it)

06:00 UCLA Study: How Clutter Raises Stress

07:10 Harvard Research: Decision Fatigue & Mental Load

10:00 Why Clutter Competes for Your Attention

12:00 Client Story: Rachel’s 15-Minute Reset

15:30 Mini Home Peace Assessment

18:00 Six Practical Ways to Reclaim Calm

26:30 Permission to Redefine Home

28:30 Final Thoughts & Next Week’s Episode

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
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Feeling overwhelmed by wellness advice? Learn how to uncomplicate your health and build simple, clutter-free systems that fit real life with Jenn Trepeck, author of Uncomplicating Wellness.

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Resources Mentioned:

Uncomplicating Wellness Mini-Summit & Book Launch Party ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/281⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Jenn Trepeck

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jenn's Website ⁠⁠Salad with a Side of Fries Podcast⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Feeling like wellness has become another thing on your to-do list?

Jenn Trepeck is here to change that. She’s an award-winning health coach, podcast host, and author of Uncomplicating Wellness, and she’s helping us make wellness simple, sustainable, and stress-free.

In this conversation, we’re talking about how to let go of perfection, rebuild trust with your body, and create systems that make wellness feel natural (not another chore). You’ll learn why “you’re not the problem, the system is,” and how to make small, intentional changes that lead to big results.

If you’re ready to un-complicate your health and your home, this episode will help you reconnect to what really matters and take consistent action. All without burnout.

We Cover:

Why wellness feels overwhelming and how to simplify it The mindset shifts that make self-care easier and guilt-free How to create “bio stacks” that truly move the needle Ways to build systems that support your wellness automatically How decluttering and health habits work hand in hand

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Episode Overview 00:42 – Special Announcement: Uncomplicating Life Mini-Summit 02:17 – Meet Jenn Trepeck 03:57 – The Problem with Wellness Systems 08:38 – Making Wellness Fit Real Life 10:37 – How Decluttering & Health Intersect 14:00 – Defining Wellness Beyond the Physical 17:00 – Biohacking vs. Bio-Stacking 21:23 – Building Better Wellness Habits 24:00 – Making Good Habits Easier to Keep 29:00 – Rebuilding Self-Trust with Your Body 35:45 – Staying Consistent During Chaotic Seasons 38:48 – How to Uncomplicate Wellness in Your Own Life 41:00 – Rapid Fire: Jenn’s Tips for Living Simply

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feeling overwhelmed by stuff? Learn how to downsize with purpose as organizer Tracy Hoth shares practical steps to keep what matters and live a more intentional, clutter-free life.

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Resources Mentioned:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/280⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Tracy Hoth

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tracy's Momentum Builder ⁠The Organized Coach Podcast⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠

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What if downsizing wasn’t about “getting rid of stuff” but about creating space for the life you actually want?

In this episode, host Deanna Yates chats with Tracy Hoth, a professional organizer and certified life coach, about how to downsize with purpose. Tracy shares her powerful SPACE method, mindset shifts for letting go, and the importance of having a clear vision before you even start decluttering.

They also talk about navigating emotional downsizing—especially when helping aging parents or moving through big life transitions—and how to make peace with what you choose to keep or release.

This is the perfect listen for anyone craving a calmer, more intentional, and clutter-free life.

We Cover:

Why downsizing with purpose is more freeing than restrictive Tracy’s SPACE Method for decluttering and organizing effectively How to decide what’s worth keeping (and avoid regret later) The mindset shifts that make lasting change possible How to navigate emotional clutter and family conversations

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Introduction & Episode Overview 00:07 – Meet Tracy Hoth: Professional Organizer & Life Coach 00:23 – What “Downsizing with Purpose” Really Means 01:41 – How to Start When You Feel Overwhelmed 02:30 – Why Sorting Comes Before Decluttering 09:19 – How to Decide What Truly Matters 13:25 – Tracy’s SPACE Method for Organizing 18:00 – How Life Stages Affect Downsizing 20:55 – Talking to Parents About Decluttering 24:23 – How Mindset Shapes Your Clutter Habits 29:41 – The Unexpected Benefits of Downsizing 31:23 – Letting Go Without Regret 36:49 – Practical Tips for Getting Started 38:21 – Final Thoughts & Next Steps

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Learn how to declutter your finances with the Budget Besties’ “set it and forget it” system. Simplify your money, automate your spending, and start living intentionally, without giving up life’s little joys.

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Resources Mentioned:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn to be Bougie on a Budget at https://budgetbesties.com/deanna/ Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/279⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Shana & Vanessa

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Financial Coaching for Women Podcast

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠

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Ever feel like you make good money but have nothing to show for it? You’re not alone.

In this fun and practical episode, Deanna sits down with Vanessa and Shana, best friends and master financial coaches known as the Budget Besties, to break down their “Bougie on a Budget” system—a simple, clutter-free approach to money that works automagically.

Together, they share how to create a set-it-and-forget-it budget that feels effortless, organized, and totally doable. You’ll learn how to separate your money into purposeful “buckets,” automate your spending, and finally feel in control of your finances (without cutting out your pumpkin spice lattes).

Whether you’re tired of tracking every expense or want to bring the same calm to your finances that you’ve brought to your home, this conversation will show you how to make your money work for your intentional life.

We Cover:

Why most traditional budgets fail and what to do instead. How to build a “set it and forget it” budget that runs automagically. The five simple categories every clutter-free budget should include. A new way to look at saving, spending, and planning for life’s “expected surprises.” The mindset shift that makes managing money feel empowering (not restrictive).

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Welcome and episode overview 02:37 – Meet Shana & Vanessa, the Budget Besties 04:00 – Why women who make good money still feel broke 06:00 – Why most budgets fail (and how to fix it) 08:30 – The “Bougie on a Budget” one-page system 13:00 – What “automagical” budgeting really looks like 16:00 – Organizing your bank accounts for effortless spending 20:30 – The curling iron story: a surprising budgeting analogy 25:00 – Modern money management tools that simplify your life 27:30 – The credit card debate: rewards vs. reality 33:00 – Compromise strategies for couples and families 37:00 – Can you really automate it and forget it? (real-life proof) 40:30 – How best friends built a business around financial freedom 43:00 – Overcoming shame and clutter (at home and with money) 46:00 – Where to find the Budget Besties and their system 50:00 – Final thoughts and a simple financial action step

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tired of decluttering on repeat? Learn how to create a clutter-free home that lasts with author Meggie Mangione. Real talk, practical systems, and zero judgment for busy, modern women.

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Resources Mentioned:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/278⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Meggie Mangione

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Meggie’s Website⁠⁠⁠ Give Clutter the Middle Finger: A Chingona's Guide

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠

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Are you tired of organizing the same spaces over and over again?

In this episode, Deanna sits down with Meggie Mangione, author of Give Clutter the Middle Finger and creator of Organized Life Design, to talk about what it really means to get organized and how to stay that way.

Meggie shares why true organization isn’t about perfection or Pinterest-worthy bins, but about creating a home that feels calm, functional, and aligned with who you are.

We Cover:

Why focusing on how your space feels leads to more freedom How to declutter without guilt (even sentimental stuff!) Small mindset shifts that make big organizing progress Neurodivergent-friendly strategies that actually work Using “fed-up energy” to finally make change stick

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
02:01 Meet Meggie Mangione
02:42 The Birth of 'Give Clutter the Middle Finger'
06:27 Decluttering During the Pandemic
09:36 The True Test of Being Organized
16:47 Minimalism and Personal Preferences
24:55 The Emotional Challenges of Closets and Keepsakes
26:16 Dealing with Guilt and Finding Donation Avenues
29:12 The Importance of Pacing Yourself with Keepsakes
30:54 The Role of Support in Organizing
33:16 Organizing for Neurodivergent Individuals
41:30 Using Fed Up Energy to Spark Change
44:42 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Does clutter make you feel guilty, drained, or “less than”? In this episode, Deanna Yates explores the deep connection between clutter, self-worth, and spiritual well-being.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

How clutter affects your sense of worth and self-talk

Why clutter creates spiritual disconnection

Mindset shifts to release guilt and shame tied to possessions

A simple action step to align your home with your deeper “why”

📌 Resources Mentioned:

Full show notes:⁠ ⁠⁠www.wannabeclutterfree.com/277⁠⁠

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wannabeclutterfree/⁠ Join the Wannabe Minimalist Community on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/wannabeminimalist⁠⁠⁠

Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or leave a review.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Update

00:33 EMPOWERING Life Recap

02:56 The Importance of Worth and Why

09:37 Personal Story: Clutter and Motherhood

15:26 Clutter and Self-Worth Connection

24:30 Practical Guidance and Mindset Shifts

32:42 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Discover Amanda Jefferson’s simple strategies to declutter your digital life. Learn to streamline emails, photos, and passwords with her FOCUS Method and reclaim calm, clutter-free living.

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Resources Mentioned:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/276⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Amanda Jefferson

Get Amanda's Tech Survival Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amanda's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Good Enough-ish Podcast

⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room

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Technology is supposed to make life easier—but often it leaves us drowning in emails, overflowing photo libraries, and password chaos. If your phone or laptop feels like a black hole, this episode is for you.

I’m joined by tech and productivity coach Amanda Jefferson, who shares her Tech TRAPS framework (the five biggest digital clutter culprits) and her FOCUS Method for reducing mental load. We dive into practical tips for managing emails, organizing photos, and simplifying your digital tools. Amanda also opens up about how staying organized online helped her family navigate one of life’s toughest seasons.

If you’ve been craving a calmer, clutter-free digital life, you’ll leave this episode with quick wins and inspiring new habits you can start today.

We Cover:

The 5 biggest Tech TRAPS causing digital chaos Amanda’s FOCUS Method to reduce overwhelm and mental load How to streamline emails, passwords, and photo libraries Why digital organization matters for your well-being and even the environment Practical tools to get your tech working for you, not against you

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Amanda’s intro 04:00 – What digital clutter really is 06:45 – The 5 Tech TRAPS explained 08:00 – Simple tech tips that save time instantly 10:00 – Where to start when everything feels overwhelming 12:53 – The FOCUS Method to reduce mental load 17:30 – Tackling photo overload without guilt 22:00 – How digital organization supported Amanda during her father’s illness 25:30 – The environmental cost of digital storage 28:00 – Email decluttering tips (delete vs. archive) 34:00 – Why digital clutter adds to mental load 38:00 – Amanda’s Busy Woman’s Tech Survival Guide 41:00 – Final rapid-fire Q&A with Amanda 45:00 – Outro + preview of next week with Meggie Mangione

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Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Sponsors:
* Check out 1-800-GOT-JUNK and use my code 1800gotjunk.com for a great deal: https://www.1800gotjunk.com
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy