How to Organise a Cluttered Wardrobe: 7 Mistakes to Fix
I go into a lot of wardrobes for work, and I see the same handful of mistakes again and again. None of them are about being messy or lacking discipline. They’re just habits nobody ever questioned, and each one adds a small amount of friction to a task you have to do every single day. […]
How to Store Your Paperwork at Home
Not all of us are going digital. And that is perfectly fine. If paper is part of your life, the question is not whether to file it but how. Here is a proper, no-nonsense look at every major system, with clear pros, cons, and my honest recommendations. Sound familiar? The average household generates a surprising […]
Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria and Clutter
Do you experience intense anxiety when you feel someone is criticising or rejecting you? It may be that you have Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria is a common aspect of ADHD and related neurodivergent traits, many of which have a strong correlation with a tendency to struggle with clutter. My focus here is […]
Ten ADHD hacks I didn’t know I’d built into my decluttering process
I recently watched an episode of the Late Bloomers podcast called THE ADHD Hackers: 10 unhinged hacks that actually work for your brain. It was full of practical, slightly chaotic-sounding tricks that ADHD brains use to get things done when willpower alone doesn’t cut it. And as I watched, I found myself nodding along, not […]
How to Declutter Books and Organise Your Bookshelves
Books are one of the trickiest categories to declutter. They carry memory, identity and aspiration in a way that, say, a kitchen drawer never quite does. But the same psychological principles that apply to any decluttering job apply here too, and once you understand them, sorting out your bookshelves becomes a much more manageable task. […]
Daily decluttering habits that can change your relationship with your home
Clutter does not appear overnight. It builds up as the result of many small decisions that were never quite made, and actions that were left for another day. So if you have a significant amount of disorder in your home that has accumulated over years, you will need substantial, focused blocks of time to clear […]
Bedtime habits for a tidy home: why evenings shape your space
Do you ever wake up already feeling behind? Before you have even made a cup of tea, are you mentally scanning the kitchen, the hallway, the chair with yesterday’s clothes draped over it? Do you find yourself starting the day in reaction, dealing with what was left unfinished? That feeling of being behind before the […]
Ancient wisdom for decluttering as you step into the new year
What does your plan or vision for this year look like? Some people choose a word for the year, or perhaps a project, theme, or gentle intention. Others resist the whole idea altogether. There is no right way in, but I’d like to offer you this question: What do you want more of in your […]
Worried about landfill when decluttering?
It is wonderful – and vitally important – to be concerned about the environment. The choices we make about what to keep, what to let go of, and how to dispose of things really do matter. That’s why this blog shares some advice on making your decluttering project as environmentally friendly as possible. Could being […]
Keeping spares: the hidden cost and why we do it
Most of us like the idea of being prepared, and keeping spares can feel like a great way to do this. A spare light bulb in the drawer, an extra toothbrush in the bathroom, a back-up phone charger in case the first one breaks. But what happens when one spare becomes five, and your cupboards […]
Why it’s so hard to let go of childhood toys – and how to start
If you’ve ever opened a box in the loft and found your old Lego sets, dolls with straw hair, or that once-beloved teddy bear, you’re not alone. Many of us hold on to childhood toys long after we’ve grown up – sometimes for decades. Even when you’re actively trying to declutter or simplify your life, […]
When order overwhelms: autism and the hidden challenges of clutter
For some people, a cluttered home is just a sign of a busy life. But for many of my clients with autistic traits or on the autism spectrum, clutter carries a much deeper story – one of overwhelm, protection, meaning, and sometimes even pain. If you’re autistic (or think you might be), and you struggle […]
ADHD and decluttering: the untapped strengths you may not realise you have
Over the years, I’ve worked with many clients who live with ADHD. Time and again, I’ve seen how frustrated they feel — not just by the clutter in their homes, but by the stories they’ve absorbed about themselves: I’m just not organised… I can’t do this… my brain doesn’t work that way. And while yes, ADHD […]
Riding the waves of decluttering momentum
How to stay on course when the energy dips We often start decluttering with a burst of energy. We start with something easier. The decisions come easily. The bags fill. Space opens. You feel lighter. Energised. Motivated. But after a while, that momentum naturally dips. The initial wave passes, and you may find yourself getting […]
ADHD and clutter: why it is so hard — and how change is possible
Clutter is rarely just about stuff. For many people with ADHD, it’s deeply emotional, tangled up with identity, past experiences and the constant juggling of an already overloaded mind. One of my clients, Sally, illustrates this perfectly. Sally’s home was full — not just of things, but of meaning. Every object carried a story: unfinished […]
Why you need to declutter and organise your home – and not leave it for others to sort out
Decluttering your home is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give your grown-up children or relatives. When you leave behind a house full of possessions, the responsibility of sorting through everything—yes, everything—often falls to them. This means making decisions you’ve put off, all while navigating their grief. The process can be emotionally overwhelming […]
Four questions to ask when decluttering
Asking yourself questions is an essential part of the decluttering process. I believe that clutter is decisions that haven’t been made. Therefore, reflecting on a good question will help you make those decisions and liberate yourself from clutter. 1. What are the positive consequences of decluttering? This is a good place to start. Decluttering is […]
The one a day decluttering method might do more harm than good
The one-a-day cleaning or decluttering method has been quite popular recently. But while it sounds like a good idea – and appeals as it seems like less work – just decluttering one item a day rarely helps. If you have a significant clutter problem, here’s why it might not be the best approach for you. […]
Hacking your brain’s natural chemistry to help you declutter
Did you know that you can hack your brains natural chemistry in order to tackle clutter and disorganisation? Here’s how. The brain has a natural ‘reward system’. It functions by releasing a chemical called dopamine when you anticipate or receive rewards. (You may well have heard of this.) This release of dopamine, often referred to […]
Decluttering and organising your kid’s rooms
Decluttering and organising your kid’s rooms is great for you and them. A clear, harmonious space really helps them be calmer and more focused, especially helpful if they struggle with ADHD, autism or dyslexia. But let’s face it, everyone can do with more calm in their life. Plus, teaching them to let go of things […]
Now is a good time to clear out your wardrobe
Mindful decluttering: the way to a nurturing and stress-free home
Does the way you use your home help or hinder you to live the kind of life you want? In this blog, prompted by my appearance the Mindful Living Show in 2020, I talk about the difference between mindful and automatic behaviours in the home. I also share some practical ways to get on top […]
Decluttering and the environment
I have been very moved by the actions of the inspirational Greta Thunberg, and I’ve been thinking about the fact that I work in an industry that essentially generates heaps of waste! I can’t tell you how many bags of rubbish we remove from people’s houses in a year. Increasingly my clients say to me that […]
Goodbye paper, hello desk – declutter your paperwork
It’s time to take back control of your desk and declutter your paperwork. It not only clutters up your drawers and surfaces but also drains a lot of mental energy and demands attention. Here are my suggestions for maintaining manageable levels of paperwork in your home. One: reduce the amount of paperwork coming in. The […]
Time to contain the paper monster!
Without a good system, paperwork will invariably pile up and clutter your surfaces and more importantly your headspace. Not only that, when you need something it’s often hard to find and you spend ages sorting through piles of junk. It helps to try and to go ‘paper free’ when you can and reduce the amount […]
Transformation Time! 7 Tips For Getting The Best From Your Home Declutter Kit
Sleeves rolled up? Home Declutter Kit cards laid out? Binbags at the ready? Let’s do it!! With my kit, I wanted to provide a method that’s simple for anyone to follow and that really works. Hopefully, I’ve succeeded! Here are a few tips to make sure your own declutter project is an absolute success. 1 […]
Why it can be so hard to let go of clutter
I’m excited that an article I wrote was recently published on welldoing.com. It’s a look at different ways we can be attached to our possessions and homes and how that relationship can be healthy or hazardous. My particular interest centres around the time we begin separation from our main caregiver. You may know from your […]
Decluttering Boosts Energy – FACT
When our surrounding environment is calm and uncluttered, we invariably feel more energetic, positive and in control. Why? So many reasons! Clutter means unfinished business. It represents decisions that haven’t been made and things that need to be dealt with – which you may not want to face – and indicates a general lack of […]
Overcoming eight obstacles to a clutter-free creative space – pt 2
Welcome back to part two of my blog. In part one I shared some expert tips for dealing with four common barriers that can stop people creating a supportive and inspiring space that will help them fulfil their creative potential. These barriers are: feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start; distraction and procrastination; lack of […]
Overcoming eight obstacles to a clutter-free creative space – pt 1
As a creative person, you see things differently to other people. You’ve lots of ideas, a great imagination and loads of energy to start things. The downside is you can sometimes be chaotic and not great at completing and finishing projects. The result: you often have a home or workspace that is piled high with […]