The 3 mental blocks keeping your home cluttered (and how to break them)
You look at the overflowing drawer, the packed bookshelf, or the mountain of toys, and you genuinely want to declutter. You know a calmer home creates a calmer heart. But every time you try to start, you freeze up.
The truth is, clutter isn't just a physical problem, no, dear friends, it’s a mental and emotional problem.
Let me break that down, before we can manage the stuff, we have to manage the thoughts that keep us chained to it. In this post, let’s identify the three most common mental blocks that keep you from having the peaceful, intentional home you desire, and learn how to break them down with simple shifts in perspective.
Block 1: The "maybe someday" trap
This block is the voice that whispers: "Don't get rid of that! You might need it one day. Or what if you regret it?".
This is the trap that forces us to keep old cables, half-finished craft supplies, and clothing that doesn't quite fit. It’s driven by a subtle fear of scarcity… a worry that what you have now isn't enough, or that you won't be able to easily replace something later.
💡 Instead of focusing on a hypothetical future lack, it’s up to you to choose to focus on the present abundance you’ve been given. When you look at an item and hear that "maybe someday" voice, challenge it:
The "20/20 rule": Professional organizers often suggest that if an item can be replaced for less than $20 and in less than 20 minutes, you should let it go. The cost of storing it (in space, energy, and mental load) is often much higher than the cost of replacing it.
Make room for the present: Keeping things you might need is taking up space for things you do need and use right now. By releasing the "maybe," you create room for the clarity and usable space you need today.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about ridding your home of everything under $20, each 20 adds up if you are having to replace everything all the time. We are simply talking about items that we don’t use daily or even often enough but we choose to store or find a place for them in our homes and garages. Use this block next time you find yourself thinking “maybe someday I will find a use for it” or “I may need it someday soon”.
Block 2: The "guilt & obligation" block
This block shows up when you try to declutter gifts, family heirlooms, or things a loved one gave you. It’s that tiny voice that says: "Aunt Susan will be hurt if I get rid of this," or "It was a gift, I have to keep it.!”
We often confuse the item with the love or memory it represents. The clutter isn't love; it's just stuff. Let me tell you a hard thing to hear, but I feel it needs to be said out loud": holding onto the item out of guilt actually dishonors the relationship *GASP! and here is why, because it contributes to a stressful environment.
💡 You can honor the person without housing the object they have given you. Yes, it can be done.
Practice gratitude and release: Hold the item and genuinely thank the person who gave it to you (either in your heart or aloud). Acknowledge that the love and intention behind the gift has already been received. Now, you are free to bless someone else with the item.
The photo memory: If an item is deeply meaningful but takes up too much space, simply take a beautiful photo of it and save the picture. Then, confidently pass the item on. Your memory is stored safely in your heart, not in a dusty corner.
Block 3: the "identity" block
This is one of the trickiest blocks because it's tied to who we were, or who we hope to become.
The past you: Keeping five years of college notes, your old professional suits, all of you high school memorabilia, or clothes you wore before becoming a mother.
The future you: Keeping supplies for a hobby you haven't started (yet!), clothes for a body size you may or may not reach, or parenting books for stages your children have already passed.
The voice here says: "This item is who I am," or "I need this to prove I was/will be [that person]."
💡 You are a mom on a journey of intentional living right now. The most important identity you have is the one you are living in today.
Acknowledge the season: It’s okay to acknowledge that your season of life has changed. Release the items that belonged to the past version of you (the law student, the traveler, the single professional) with gratitude for that time.
Invest in the present: If you haven't touched a hobby or a project in six months (or a year!), give yourself permission to let the supplies go. If that future self is real, she will enthusiastically buy new, fresh supplies when she is ready to commit. For now, let your current self enjoy the extra space.
Breaking these mental blocks requires courage, not time. When you face the thought behind the item, you free yourself to make an intentional choice that serves your family and your peace today.