Decluttering: Because You Can't Manifest Your Best Life Under a Pile of Junk

How to Banish Clutter, Reclaim Your Sanity, and Actually Find Your Keys

As the seasons change, so does my tolerance for clutter. Once upon a time, decluttering felt like a months-long excavation of chaos, but now? It’s a well-oiled quarterly routine. Why? Because I finally figured out that if I just spend a few minutes each week tidying up, I don’t have to dedicate an entire weekend to questioning my life choices. Revolutionary, right? Turns out, small, consistent efforts keep my home (and sanity) intact. An organized home equals a clear headspace, and this seasonal purge reminds me how freeing it is to live with only the essentials. Out with the old junk, in with new possibilities—or at least a little more breathing room.

What is Clutter, Anyway?

Clutter is basically anything in your home that’s just loitering around, not paying rent. That t-shirt you haven’t worn since 2012? Clutter. The stack of unread books you swore you’d get to? Clutter. That drawer full of takeout menus when you know damn well you use your phone to order? You guessed it—clutter.

Clutter is sneaky. It piles up, taking up space and dragging your mental energy down with it. It’s the villain that prevents you from fully enjoying your home, hiding the things you actually love under layers of "just in case" nonsense. The solution? Be ruthless. If it’s not useful or sentimental, it’s got to go. Your home will feel lighter, cleaner, and way more peaceful without the extra baggage.

The Mess-Stress Connection

Ever walked into a messy room and instantly felt overwhelmed? That’s not just you being dramatic—science backs it up. Cluttered spaces are linked to increased anxiety, fatigue, and brain fog. Your mind sees the mess as unfinished business, and suddenly, focusing on anything else feels impossible.

Even worse, clutter cranks up your stress hormone, cortisol, which can mess with your sleep, mood, and even your waistline. That’s right—your junk drawer might actually be sabotaging your health. And let’s not forget the daily treasure hunt for lost keys, important papers, or that one shoe. Wasting time searching for things you just had is exhausting.

Break the cycle. Start small. Even tackling one corner of your home can make you feel lighter and more in control.