Parenting

If you’ve ever stood in the middle of your house and thought, “Where do I even start?”… you are absolutely not alone.

Decluttering can feel like one of those projects that requires a full weekend, a burst of motivation, and maybe a completely different personality. And if you’re a busy parent, that kind of time and energy just doesn’t magically appear.

But what if the problem isn’t your lack of discipline… it’s your approach?

In this conversation, I sat down with Ingrid Jansen from The Declutter Hub, and she completely reframed how I think about clutter. We didn’t just talk about getting rid of stuff. We talked about why it feels so hard in the first place—and how to make it feel doable (even in the middle of real life).

Because here’s the truth: clutter isn’t just about things. It’s about emotions, habits, identity, and sometimes even guilt. And once you understand that piece, everything starts to shift.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why “decluttering your whole house” is actually the fastest way to get stuck
• The simple mindset shift that makes decluttering feel lighter and more positive
• Why starting with what you want to keep (not what to throw away) changes everything
• How to break any space into small, manageable chunks you can tackle in minutes
• The surprising advice Ingrid gives about what to do when you feel unsure about an item
• What the “messy middle” is and why so many people quit right there
• How clutter and emotions like guilt, stress, and overwhelm are deeply connected
• The hidden ways new clutter keeps sneaking into your home (and how to stop it)

There were several moments in this conversation where I realized I’d been making decluttering way harder than it needs to be, and one tip in particular completely changed how I’m going to approach my own closet (hint: it does not involve doing the whole thing at once).

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your home, short on time, or just tired of starting over again and again… this episode will meet you right where you are.

Let’s dig in.

Money fights are rarely about the money.

They usually start somewhere small. A decision. An assumption. A moment that feels harmless at the time.

And then suddenly you are on a honeymoon, of all places, realizing you are not actually on the same financial page at all. That is exactly where this conversation begins.

Amanda shares a story that many couples will recognize: a beautiful life moment that quietly turned stressful because expectations were never spoken out loud.

Because money is not just math! It is emotion, trust, and more.

In this interview, we dig into what happens when financial communication falls through the cracks and why those cracks often appear during big life events when we least expect them.

You will see how:

• silence around money can create conflict even in strong relationships
• credit cards can blur the reality of spending in stressful moments
• surprise expenses often show up when emotions are already high
• assumptions about “who is paying for what” can quietly derail connection
•  financial stress spills into relationship dynamics faster than we think
• talking about goals early can prevent hurt later
• planning together creates more peace than planning alone
• mistakes around money can become powerful growth points

This is not a conversation about budgeting apps or spreadsheets. It is about what happens when two people carry different money stories into the same experience.

And it might leave you wondering:

Where are the unspoken expectations in your own relationship?

What conversations are you assuming will just “work themselves out”?

And what would change if you talked about money before the moment arrives instead of during it?

Have you ever looked at a box in your house and felt like it was… talking to you?

Not literally. But emotionally.

Because in this second half of my conversation with decluttering expert Katy Wells, we go deeper than surface clutter. We talk about the hidden reasons we hold onto things. And friends, it is not about storage bins or label makers.

It’s about stories.

Stories about who we used to be. Who we hoped we would become. Stories about guilt, failure, scarcity, and expectations we didn’t even realize we were carrying.

And once you see that, you cannot unsee it.

In this episode, Katy unpacks the three hidden forces that keep people stuck in clutter cycles. These are not the things most organizing shows talk about. But they are the exact things that determine whether decluttering actually works long term.

Here’s what we cover:

• Why decluttering is emotional work disguised as a logistics problem
• The hidden stories your belongings might be telling you
• How guilt and fear silently control what you keep
• The three pillars that shape your personal “stuff story”
• How childhood beliefs influence adult clutter habits
• The connection between procrastination and clutter
• Why some habits are not problems but personality clues
• The simple 5-second trick that can break overwhelm instantly

You’ll also hear one client story that might stop you in your tracks. Because once you recognize your own version of that box in the garage, you may never look at clutter the same way again.

And the best part?

You do not have to fix everything today. You just have to start.

What if the stress you feel at home is not just about your schedule… but about your stuff?

I know. That sounds almost too simple.

But when Katy Wells came back on the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast, we did not just talk about decluttering. We talked about cortisol. About magnets for your attention. About why walking into your own kitchen can change your mood in seconds.

And friends, this one hit close to home.

Because if you are trying to raise independent kids, teach life skills, keep up with meals, laundry, school, sports, and somehow protect your own nervous system… your environment matters more than you think.

Here is what we dig into in this episode:

• The surprising research linking clutter and elevated cortisol levels
• Why the average American home may be holding over 300,000 “magnets for your attention”
• How clutter quietly fuels anxiety (even if you think it does not bother you)
• What a “nightly reset” looks like in real life with kids
• How to pass ownership of the home to your children without nagging
• The difference between modeling and inviting kids into responsibility
• Why action creates motivation (and not the other way around)
• The simple starting point that breaks the clutter and anxiety cycle

We also talk about something that might sting a little: why systems alone will not save you.

If you have ever walked into a messy kitchen and felt your shoulders tense… or walked into a clear counter and felt yourself exhale… this episode is for you.

Let’s talk about how simplifying your home can actually strengthen your parenting.