I was invited to speak on CBC Radio’s On The Coast with Gloria Macarenko about a topic that reliably resurfaces every January: decluttering your home and getting organized for the new year.
What made this conversation especially meaningful was the opportunity to go beyond quick fixes. Instead of focusing on dramatic cleanouts or rigid resolutions, we explored what’s really behind clutter, why it feels so emotionally charged, and how people can create organized homes that genuinely support their lives over the long term. Instead of framing organization as a dramatic overhaul or a race to “start fresh,” the conversation positioned it as an ongoing relationship with our homes, our energy, and our evolving lives.
Clear Space, Clear Mind
We talked about how clutter affects our mental and emotional well-being. As highly visual beings, we respond to what we see around us. When our homes are filled with piles, unfinished projects, and items we can’t easily access, our nervous systems stay on alert.
Everyday tasks become more stressful. We spend time searching for things, lose track of what we own, and begin to experience our homes less as places of rest and more as reminders of everything we haven’t done yet. That’s often why the urge to declutter feels strongest at the start of a new year. It’s about wanting relief.
Where to Start When Everything Feels Like Too Much
Gloria asked a question many people struggle with: Where do you begin when everything feels like too much?
My advice is to start with the area causing the most grief. Common spaces like kitchens, living rooms, dining areas, and entryways tend to have the greatest impact on daily life. Addressing just one of these areas first can immediately reduce friction and create a sense of momentum.
Equally important is understanding why you want to declutter. Doing it because you feel pressured by trends or because it’s something you “should” do rarely leads to lasting change. Decluttering in service of feeling settled, finding things easily, hosting others comfortably, or enjoying your space creates motivation that supports thoughtful decisions.
It’s Never Really About the Stuff
A significant part of our conversation focused on emotional attachment. Decluttering is rarely about objects alone. It’s about identity, expectations, and former versions of ourselves.
We hold onto clothes for a future version of ourselves, supplies for hobbies we never pursued, and items tied to intentions from another season of life. Letting go can feel uncomfortable because it asks us to acknowledge where we are right now. Yes that honesty is also what allows our homes to reflect our current lives and support what truly matters moving forward.
Decluttering vs. Organizing: Understanding the Difference
We also discussed the important distinction between decluttering and organizing. They’re often used interchangeably, but they serve different purposes.
Decluttering is about deciding what belongs in your life. Organizing is about creating systems that allow you to find what you need in a reasonable amount of time, with as little stress as possible.
If you’re constantly rebuying items because you can’t locate them (batteries, paperwork, everyday essentials) that’s no longer about volume. It’s systems that no longer match how you live. Effective organization should reduce time spent searching, mental fatigue, and everyday friction.
Creating Systems That Evolve With Your Life
Toward the end of the conversation, we talked about why organization needs to be revisited regularly. Systems are designed for a specific moment in time. When life changes, systems need to change too.
Rather than aiming for perfection, I encouraged listeners to think in terms of simple maintenance rhythms, such as seasonal resets, annual paperwork reviews, and post-holiday reassessments.
Natural moments like tax season, after the holidays, or before summer routines begin offer opportunities to reassess and adjust. These regular check-ins help prevent clutter from accumulating again and make organization feel supportive.
What I Hope Listeners Took Away
What stood out most about this conversation was the shared understanding that organization doesn’t need to be rushed, extreme, or rooted in shame.
Sometimes it’s simply about:
- noticing what feels heavy in your home
- acknowledging emotional attachments with compassion
- creating systems that reflect how you live today
I’m grateful to CBC Radio: On The Coast and Gloria Macarenko for creating space for a thoughtful, human conversation about decluttering and organizing. If there’s one message I hope listeners took away, it’s this:
A calm home is built through awareness, intention, and giving yourself permission to move at a human pace. When approached this way, your home begins to support you, rather than quietly asking more of you than you have to give.
Get a glimpse of what it’s all about here. For more insight, listen to the full interview on CBC Radio or watch it on YouTube. For thoughtful and hands-on support, connect with Out of Chaos for a consultation.