Professional organizer Ingrid Jansen, co-author of Reset Your Home, explains why clutter is more about emotions than “stuff,” why decluttering is a process (not a project), and how to start small—think kitchens, cupboards, and daily resets—to build your “decluttering muscle” over time.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- Process over project: Decluttering is never “done”—as things come in, things must go out.
- Start in the kitchen: Fewer emotions than books/photos; clear storage first, then put surfaces away.
- Daily resets: 10–30 minute habits (dishes, bins, wipe counters, a load of laundry) that prevent weekend pileups.
- “If in doubt, keep it”: Build capacity with easy wins; you’ll be ready to let go on a later pass.
- Don’t buy more bins: The problem isn’t storage—it’s volume; work with what you have.
- Decide by favorites: Pull everything out, match lids, pick what you use and love first; the rest gets easier.
- Clutter personalities: From “harassed housekeepers” to “nostalgic knee-deeps”—self-awareness beats shame.
- Why this pays off: Less hunting, faster cleaning, smarter grocery runs—time and money saved.
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