Energize and Organize: Why We Keep Too Much Stuff- and How Small Steps Toward Organization Can Transform Daily Life

Why We Keep Too Much Stuff- And How Small Steps Toward Organization Can Transform Daily Life
​Guest Post:  Nicole Ramer, CPO®,  SMM-C®,  Senior Home Coach

Most of us never intend for clutter to take over our homes. Yet slowly—overstuffed drawers, “just for now” piles, boxes we plan to revisit “one day”—belongings accumulate until they begin taking more from us than they give. As a Certified Professional Organizer® and Certified Senior Move Manager®, I’ve walked beside hundreds of people who feel overwhelmed by their stuff, and I can assure you: Clutter isn’t a character flaw. It’s a human experience. 

Getting organized isn’t about minimalism for the sake of minimalism or maintaining a picture-perfect home. It’s about crafting a space that supports your wellbeing, your routines, and the season of life you’re living right now. 

The Real Impact of Clutter—What Research Shows 
Clutter affects far more than square footage. 

• Clutter affects our focus. Research from the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute shows that visual clutter competes for our attention, making it harder to focus and increasing mental fatigue. 
  (Source) 
• Clutter costs us time—and money. A national survey found that Americans spend 2.5 days each year looking for lost items, costing more than $2.7 billion annually in replacements. 
  (Source) 
• Clutter increases stress levels. A UCLA study of 32 families found that a high volume of household clutter was strongly associated with elevated cortisol levels, especially in women. 
  (Source) 
• A significant portion of what we own isn’t useful. In a survey of 2,000 Americans, participants reported that 34% of the items in their homes were non-functional, and 13% were “pure junk.” 
  (Source) 
• Most Americans feel overwhelmed by their clutter. A Decluttr + NAPO survey found that more than half of Americans feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in their homes. 
  (Source) 

Together, these findings paint a clear picture: Clutter drains our energy, elevates stress, interrupts our routines, and makes daily life more difficult than it needs to be. 


Why We Hold On: The Emotional Side of Stuff 
Clutter is rarely about the objects themselves—it’s about what they represent. 

• Memory and identity: Objects connect us to people, accomplishments, and previous chapters of life. 
• Loss aversion: Our brains resist letting go because avoiding regret feels safer than clearing space. 
• Emotional comfort: Belongings can provide comfort when life feels uncertain or change feels overwhelming. 
• Decision fatigue: Every “keep or donate?” decision drains mental energy. Multiply that by hundreds of items, and overwhelm is inevitable. 

These deeper realities are why organizing requires compassion, not judgment. 


​When “Less” Becomes More: A Lesson from Less Is Now 
In the documentary The Minimalists: Less Is Now, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus highlight a profound truth: 

Clutter isn’t the problem—it’s a symptom. 
Clutter can be a symptom of one or more of the following: 

• overwhelm 
• emotional attachment 
• consumer culture 
• stress 
• or simply a lifetime of “just in case” decisions 

Their message mirrors what I see every day as a professional organizer: Choosing to own fewer belongings doesn’t mean deprivation—it means clarity, relief, and freedom. 
One of their most memorable lines is: “Love people, use things. The opposite never works.” 

Remove what’s weighing you down so you can make room for what actually matters. 

Organization as an Act of Care—For Your Present and Future Self 
Organizing isn’t really about having a tidy home—it’s about supporting the life you want to live every day. Our environments influence our mood, our stress levels, our productivity, and even our relationships. When our spaces feel chaotic, it’s harder to think clearly, rest fully, or stay present with the people around us. 

No matter your age or stage of life, simplifying your surroundings creates room for: 

• clearer thinking 
• smoother routines
• better focus 
• more energy 
• greater ease in daily living 

This theme echoes throughout Aging in Place Conversations: The Caregiver’s Edition, the book I co-authored with the National Aging in Place Council. Although the book speaks to family caregivers, its message applies to all of us: The spaces we create today will either support us--or burden us--tomorrow. 

Organizing is one of the most meaningful acts of care we can offer ourselves and the people we love. When we shape our homes to reflect the life we’re living now, we set ourselves up for more relief, more clarity, and more freedom moving forward. 


Three Gentle Ways to Begin
Start with One Easy Win. Clear something low-emotion: expired items, worn linens, old cords. Quick wins build momentum. 

Use the “Now Life” Question. Ask: “Does this item support the life I’m living today?” If not, let it go with gratitude. 

Try The Minimalists’ 30-Day Challenge: 

• Day 1: one item
• Day 2: two items
• Day 3: three items        ​                                                                                                                 By Day 30, you’ve released 465 items—without overwhelm. 

       
Organization isn’t a one-time project. It’s a gift you give yourself again and again—a lighter home, clearer mind, and more supportive environment. 
What’s one small space you can organize this week that would make your daily life feel easier? 


Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366
Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth
​Find a NAPO professional near you to accelerate your decluttering and organizing journey.