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The Mental Weight of Clutter Guest Post: Susie Marsh, LBSW instagram.com/susiesorg2 linkedin.com/company/susie’s-organization-solutions-llc  This is the second blog post a two-part series honoring Mental Health Awareness Month (May). While maintaining an organized home can be challenging for anyone, it can feel especially overwhelming when navigating mental illness, neurodivergence, grief, trauma, or major life transitions.
In this piece, professional organizer and licensed social worker Susie Marsh explores the often-overlooked psychological weight of clutter—and why disorganization is not simply a matter of motivation or willpower. Drawing on nearly two decades of client experience and her clinical background, Susie offers insight into anxiety, visual overwhelm, decision fatigue, and the invisible mental load that can make organizing feel inaccessible. Her approach reframes organizing as a supportive, compassionate process designed to reduce stress and help individuals create environments that truly support their well-being. Have you ever walked into your home and immediately felt tense, distracted, or overwhelmed—even when nothing specific was wrong? It may be the piles of clutter scattered about your home causing the underlying feeling. Many people describe cluttered spaces as feeling “mentally loud” or heavy. That description is surprisingly accurate from what many of my clients have shared with me over the almost 19 years I have been a professional organizer. I have seen the effects clutter has had on individuals from as young as 5 years old to 95 years old. Clutter doesn’t just affect how a home looks. It affects how our brain functions, our energy levels, and our emotional well-being. Let’s look at why this happens—and how supportive organizing can help create more calm in everyday life. Why Clutter Can Make a Space Feel “Mentally Loud” When we are in a space, our brains are constantly processing visual information. Every item in view sends a signal. It may be
That’s a lot of input going into your brain and it can be exhausting and overwhelming. Even when we try to ignore clutter, the brain continues working in the background. Instead of allowing rest, the environment keeps our mind in a subconscious and conscious state of alertness. This mental overload can lead to
A cluttered space becomes mental clutter, not just physical clutter. I’ve had clients share with me that having all of the “To-Do’s” around them constantly makes them feel guilty and pressured to “work on the house” even though they don’t seem to make any progress. They don’t feel like they deserve to relax or have fun when they have a mess around them. Some clients have also shared that they tend to churn items (move items from one space to another) and make more chaos. This causes a sense of failure and more of a tendency to procrastinate any more attempts. How Too Many Choices Drain Energy and Focus It might seem like having more options would make life easier—but the opposite is often true. Every item requires a decision
Mental health professionals call this decision fatigue. The more choices we face, the faster our mental energy drains. I explain to clients that limiting the number of choices they have in a day (a challenge for many people in the world we live in) will in the end help to boost their energy and focus. I will give a client a concrete example such as, “Instead of 10 types of coffee to choose from in the pantry, let’s reduce that down to your 3 favorite types. And each morning be sure to give yourself some time to enjoy and celebrate that cup of coffee! You deserve it!” When spaces contain too much clutter
Reducing excess isn’t about deprivation. It’s about freeing your brain from constant decision-making. What Organizing Looks Like for an Anxious or Overwhelmed Mind Organizing isn’t about perfection or magazine-worthy spaces. While I do love a beautifully organized pantry, there is more to it than that. It’s about being mindful and conscious about how a space functions and what the items in that space mean to the person. Supportive organizing focuses on how a space feels to live in. When someone feels anxious or overwhelmed, organizing should
The goal is not perfection but rather a home that supports your nervous system. Simple Ways to Reduce Visual Noise and Feel Lighter Every Day Small changes often create the biggest emotional relief. Try starting here
Organizing is not about being more disciplined or more productive. It’s about creating a home that feels
When visual noise decreases, many people notice something powerful. Many clients over the years have shared with me that after supportive decluttering, downsizing and organizing, they can think more clearly, feel lighter and their homes begin to feel restful again. Reach out to a NAPO organizing professional near you to learn about how you can get started on your organizing journey! Additional Resources Brain-Based Conditions Specialist Certificate Organizing the Invisible: Women, ADHD, and Emotional Labor How Executive Function or ADHD Challenges Manifest in the Workplace (and How YOU Can Help) Household Management Specialist Certificate I Guess I Should Do It: Help Clients Deal with Ambiguity & Ambivalence Overcoming Overwhelm, Learn to Reflect, Refresh and Refocus Meet Susie's Organizing Solutions from Michigan Susie Marsh is a professional organizer (18+ years) and licensed social worker (35+ years) helping people simplify their lives and create functional, peaceful spaces. Since founding Susie’s Organization Solutions LLC in 2007, she has blended her social work expertise with organizing strategies to guide clients through life’s challenges and transitions. A long-time member of the organizing & productivity leader NAPO National (2008) & NAPO Michigan (2013), she has served in many volunteer roles including the board of directors. Susie also has a long-standing relationship with the AAAWM/ Caregiver Resource Network for over two decades. She holds Level 1 certifications in ADHD, Hoarding, Aging, and Life Transitions from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization which she has been a member since 2010 and serves as an Ambassador at Large. Susie has been featured in the GR Savvy Seniors Series as a speaker and/or Educational Partner since 2019. She has also featured in The Empowered Wellness Series Podcast, Redfin, Senior Perspective Magazine, Grand Rapids Business Journal, FOX 17 and as a team member on two episodes of A&E’s Hoarders: Family Secrets season 7. She frequently speaks to local groups and nationwide about organizing, downsizing, chronic disorganization, and more! Susie is passionate about helping everyone no matter their age, background or community to find peace with their possessions, find functionality and renew their joy in their spaces! Comments are closed.
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