Moms Overcoming Overwhelm | Decluttering Tips, Declutter, Systems, Routines for Moms, Home Organization

It’s the 250th episode of Moms Overcoming Overwhelm! To celebrate, I’m sharing 25 questions to ask yourself to help you live a clutter-free life!

Thanks for all your support over the (almost) four years I’ve been doing this podcast.

 

5 Questions for Before You Buy:

1. Does this item bring freedom or burden to my life?
2. Where will it live?
3. Does it align with my values?
4. Can I borrow it instead?
5. Do I need to buy it now, or can I pause and check in later?

5 Mental Clutter Busting-Questions:

1. Is this thought serving me?
2. Is this thought absolutely true?
3. How would I feel without this thought?
4. What is a true thought that could replace this negative thought?
5. Do I have to think about this now, or can I choose another time to think about it?

10 Decluttering Mindset Questions:

1. Does this item reflect my values?
2. Do I have the capacity to manage this item in this season?
3. Does it support my current self in my current season of motherhood, or is it aspirational? (focusing on past or potential future)
4. Would I buy this again, if I didn’t own it already?
5. How would I feel if this item spontaneously combusted?
6. If I were moving, would I bubble wrap it and pack it, AND unpack it when I arrived?
7. Can I recognize this item has value AND I can let it go to experience something better?
8. If I were to pass away unexpectedly, would I want my family members to have to go through these items?
9. Am I keeping this “just in case” (which likely means never) or am I keeping it “just for when” with a specific timeframe/season in mind?
10. Am I keeping this out of guilt or obligation? Why am I feeling guilty? Is it my perception?

5 Questions to Get Started:

1. Is perfectionism causing me to put off decluttering? Am I afraid about doing it “wrong”?
2. If time is my biggest barrier, what is one activity that currently doesn’t serve me that I can replace with decluttering for 10-15 minutes?
3. When is the ideal time for me to declutter based upon my energy levels and current schedule?
4. Can I commit to a weekly donation pickup (or drop-off) at a place I feel good about, knowing that I can be more discerning later on?
5. Does the boundary I’ve selected for this category reflect the value I place on it, and my capacity to manage it?

BONUS: How do I want this space to feel, function, and flow?

Resources Mentioned:

Check out my podcast playlists

For mental clutter questions, I got several from The Work by Byron Katie.

Check out my freebie 50 Questions Minimalists Ask and my other free resources.

 

Related Episodes:

Episode 85: 23 Things I Learned About Decluttering in 2023

Episode 100: We Made it to 100! Here’s the Top 10 Most Downloaded Episodes of All Time

Episode 182: Declutter Your Life by Simplifying These 10 Things

***

I help moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts.

Contact - > info@simplebyemmy.com 

Podcast -＞ https://momsovercomingoverwhelm.podbean.com/

Learn -＞ https://www.simplebyemmy.com/resources

Connect -＞ Join our free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Instagram -＞ @simplebyemmy and @momsovercomingoverwhelm

 

*** Don't Know Where to Start? ***

5 Steps to Overcome Overwhelm -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/5steps/

5 Mindset Shifts for Decluttering -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/mindset/
Get podcast playlists for decluttering mindset, tactical decluttering tips, ADHD, getting kids & family on board, and more! https://www.listennotes.com/@momsovercomingoverwhelm/playlists/

 

Wanna work with me to kick overwhelm to the curb, mama? There are three options for you!

Step 1: Join a supportive community of moms plus decluttering challenges to keep you on track at the free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Step 2: Sign up for the weekly Decluttering Tips and Resources for Overwhelmed Moms Newsletter and see samples here: https://pages.simplebyemmy.com/profile

Step 3: Get more personalized support with virtual OR in-person decluttering and organization coaching (in-person coming soon- Pittsburgh, PA)! https://www.simplebyemmy.com/workwithme

Decluttering can be hard because it seems like a constant tension between two things: holding on and letting go. But there is one mindset shift that has helped me break free of the prison of this dichotomous thinking.

Resources Mentioned:

5 Mindset Shifts to Help You Let Go of Clutter

Related Episodes:

Episode 204: Hate to Feel Wasteful? 3 Ways You Brain Tricks You Into Keeping What You Don’t Need

Episode 223: Become Unstoppable in Decluttering with These Critical Mindset Shifts - with Tracy Hoth from The Organized Coach Podcast

Episode 238: Three Common Decluttering Roadblocks (and How to Overcome Them)

***

I help moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts.

Contact - > info@simplebyemmy.com 

Podcast -＞ https://momsovercomingoverwhelm.podbean.com/

Learn -＞ https://www.simplebyemmy.com/resources

Connect -＞ Join our free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Instagram -＞ @simplebyemmy and @momsovercomingoverwhelm

 

*** Don't Know Where to Start? ***

5 Steps to Overcome Overwhelm -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/5steps/

5 Mindset Shifts for Decluttering -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/mindset/
Get podcast playlists for decluttering mindset, tactical decluttering tips, ADHD, getting kids & family on board, and more! https://www.listennotes.com/@momsovercomingoverwhelm/playlists/

 

Wanna work with me to kick overwhelm to the curb, mama? There are three options for you!

Step 1: Join a supportive community of moms plus decluttering challenges to keep you on track at the free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Step 2: Sign up for the weekly Decluttering Tips and Resources for Overwhelmed Moms Newsletter and see samples here: https://pages.simplebyemmy.com/profile

Step 3: Get more personalized support with virtual OR in-person decluttering and organization coaching (in-person coming soon- Pittsburgh, PA)! https://www.simplebyemmy.com/workwithme

I’m so excited to air my conversation with Shannon Leyko on her podcast Paring Down all about Swedish Death Cleaning.

The crux of Swedish death cleaning is taking care of your stuff and your affairs now so your loved ones aren’t burdened with it after you pass. It’s an act of love that we can do now, even if we’re not towards the end of our lives.

Shannon and I discuss:

• What types of things to declutter and organize today in the off chance we pass away unexpectedly

• What is "the sign up list" and how does it preserve your family's relationships?

• What book do we recommend to help you through the process?

Resources Mentioned:

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson

5 Simple Steps to Start Swedish Death Cleaning

Related Episodes:

Episode 65: Could Swedish Death Cleaning Be the Decluttering Motivation You Need? 5 Simple Steps to Get You Started

Episode 61 - 5 Questions to Get You Unstuck on Your Decluttering Journey

Episode 232: The Secret to Finding Decluttering Motivation That Sticks - with Shannon Leyko from Paring Down

***

I help moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts.

Contact - > info@simplebyemmy.com 

Podcast -＞ https://momsovercomingoverwhelm.podbean.com/

Learn -＞ https://www.simplebyemmy.com/resources

Connect -＞ Join our free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Instagram -＞ @simplebyemmy and @momsovercomingoverwhelm

 

*** Don't Know Where to Start? ***

5 Steps to Overcome Overwhelm -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/5steps/

5 Mindset Shifts for Decluttering -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/mindset/
Get podcast playlists for decluttering mindset, tactical decluttering tips, ADHD, getting kids & family on board, and more! https://www.listennotes.com/@momsovercomingoverwhelm/playlists/

 

Wanna work with me to kick overwhelm to the curb, mama? There are three options for you!

Step 1: Join a supportive community of moms plus decluttering challenges to keep you on track at the free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Step 2: Sign up for the weekly Decluttering Tips and Resources for Overwhelmed Moms Newsletter and see samples here: https://pages.simplebyemmy.com/profile

Step 3: Get more personalized support with virtual OR in-person decluttering and organization coaching (in-person coming soon- Pittsburgh, PA)! https://www.simplebyemmy.com/workwithme

Clutter is fraught with emotions - especially guilt - which makes it incredibly difficult to let things go. Combined with aspirations of who we “could” be if we only had the time and energy, it’s a wonder we can get rid of anything.

 

In my interview on the No Guilt Mom podcast, host JoAnn Crohn and I chat about:

 

Why we have so much more stuff than previous generations — and why it just keeps coming

The real reason decluttering gets put off again and again (hint: it's not that you don't care)

How to handle the guilt of getting rid of a gift — especially when the gift-giver asks where it went

 

…and much more.

Related Episodes:

Episode 14: Is Your Family Pressuring You Into Holding Onto Stuff You Don’t Want? Say Goodbye to Guilt with These 3 Tips

Episode 59: Your 5-Step Plan to Declutter Unwanted Gifts Guilt-Free

Episode 233: Listener Question: What Do I Do With Gifts I Don’t Want From Loved Ones Who Guilt Me Into Keeping Them?

 

***

I help moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts.

Contact - > info@simplebyemmy.com 

Podcast -＞ https://momsovercomingoverwhelm.podbean.com/

Learn -＞ https://www.simplebyemmy.com/resources

Connect -＞ Join our free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Instagram -＞ @simplebyemmy and @momsovercomingoverwhelm

 

*** Don't Know Where to Start? ***

5 Steps to Overcome Overwhelm -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/5steps/

5 Mindset Shifts for Decluttering -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/mindset/
Get podcast playlists for decluttering mindset, tactical decluttering tips, ADHD, getting kids & family on board, and more! https://www.listennotes.com/@momsovercomingoverwhelm/playlists/

 

Wanna work with me to kick overwhelm to the curb, mama? There are three options for you!

Step 1: Join a supportive community of moms plus decluttering challenges to keep you on track at the free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Step 2: Sign up for the weekly Decluttering Tips and Resources for Overwhelmed Moms Newsletter and see samples here: https://pages.simplebyemmy.com/profile

Step 3: Get more personalized support with virtual OR in-person decluttering and organization coaching (in-person coming soon- Pittsburgh, PA)! https://www.simplebyemmy.com/workwithme

I’m excited to bring you this bonus episode with my friend Michelle Byrd from The Busy Vibrant Mom podcast and a regular guest on Moms Overcoming Overwhelm.

It’s the 15th episode of Coffee and Tea with M&E!

Grab your coffee or tea, pull up a chair, and join us as we chat about:

✨ How to navigate BIG transitions like moving and see it as a “blank slate” for strategic family

✨ Navigating a packed summer as a busy mom

✨ Making a fun summer “bucket list” without stressing out about doing all the things

…and more!

Hope you enjoy this honest conversation between two moms who GET IT!

 

***

I help moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts.

Contact - > info@simplebyemmy.com 

Podcast -＞ https://www.simplebyemmy.com/podcast

Learn -＞ https://www.simplebyemmy.com/resources

Connect -＞ Join our free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Instagram -＞ @simplebyemmy and @momsovercomingoverwhelm

 

*** Don't Know Where to Start? ***

5 Steps to Overcome Overwhelm -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/5steps/

5 Mindset Shifts for Decluttering -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/mindset/

 

Wanna work with me to kick overwhelm to the curb, mama? There are three options for you!

Step 1: Join a supportive community of moms plus decluttering challenges to keep you on track at the free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Step 2: Sign up for the weekly Decluttering Tips and Resources for Overwhelmed Moms Newsletter and see samples here: https://pages.simplebyemmy.com/profile

Step 3: Get more personalized support with in-person decluttering and organization coaching (coming soon to Pittsburgh)! https://www.simplebyemmy.com/workwithme