If there’s one thing I know intimately, it’s how one moment my house is spotless. And then the next second there seems to be towering piles of clutter. In every room. You probably notice them right before the doorbell rings. Or you finish a big project for work.  And you can’t take on more minute of the mess. But where do you begin clearing the clutter from your home?

Especially when, frankly, you’re feeling frustrated and wonder why this always happens to you. Why does your house go from tidy to hot mess seemingly overnight?

Sister, I feel you. As I write this blog post, I am hiding in my office. Away from the tiny puddles of clutter throughout my house. Yes, even after knowing that my life is always better when my house is neat and clean, I still have my moments. Those times when the last thing I want to do is begin clearing clutter from my house.

Like right this moment. JB is traveling for work and I have been home alone for almost two weeks.  My list of projects is a mile long. And since none of those projects involve decluttering, my house is a bit of a disaster zone. Well, except my office, which is perfectly neat and tidy.

Of course, I’m laughing at myself since the article I am writing is about “how to begin clearing the clutter from your home.”  Unlike the past, though, I’m not stressing out about the clutter.

What has been key to me being able to have a tidy house most of the time? And not stress out when the house naturally gets a little (or a lot) messy?

Knowing your clutter personality type opens the door to understanding how to begin clearing the clutter from your home.

Like any kind of awareness, knowing why you tend to be messy allows you to find that deeper motivation for tackling clutter once and for all. Or, at least, knowing how to get a quick handle on things when things pin out a bit.

Do any of these sound familiar? And if so, does it help you understand why clearing the clutter from your home is challenging?

When it comes to clearing the clutter from your home, which one (or combination) are you?

The Hustler: Not only do you have a full-time job, you also have a passionate side gig. You love working and are always on the grind. Unfortunately, that leaves little time for clearing the clutter from your home on the regular. You have too much stuff you’d rather be doing.

The Treasure Hunter: You are seeking a way to fill a hole in your life and shopping does that for you. And, sure, a new sweater or purse makes you feel better. For a little while. Stuff builds up, and you spent a lot of money on it, so you keep it. Clearing the clutter from your home would force you to come face to face with all the ways you still are seeking love and satisfaction.

The Overnight Success Seeker. You find yourself searching for the next big thing. You buy exercise programs, workout equipment, and special kitchen appliances for the perfect body. Only to abandon them all when it doesn’t work. You honestly never tried that hard

The Consummate Saver: You save practically everything. You know, because you might need it again. Sometimes you worry you have too much stuff stashed away. And just when you think you should begin clearing the clutter in your home, you can’t seem to do it. Because you are equally worried that if you ditch anything, that will be the moment you need it.

The Social Butterfly: Not only are you working, you have Activities. You know: yoga class, book club, and a regular bunco night. And, of course, your kids are just as booked (over-booked) as you! The only time you consider clearing the clutter from your home is when you are hosting book club. Or you kid’s girl scout troupe.

The Super Busy & Overwhelmed: You are not just busy all time. Nope, you are completely overwhelmed with everything: work, laundry, the kids. Well, just face it, you’re overwhelmed with life. Your house is a hot mess because you are unable to figure out a system of any sort. Like where to store stuff. And, if you’re honest with yourself, you end up buying items you already own because you can’t find the one you already have. Other than guilt, you try to ignore the mess. But deep down, you know life would be easier if you would tackle the hot mess before you.

The Creative: You are enthusiastic about life. And you love creating things: art, meals, and crafts. Cleaning isn’t very creative to you at heart. So you create and play, often leaving a path of destruction behind.

Let’s be honest here, sugarplum: no matter what your personality type? Clearing the clutter from your home will provide blessed relief.

Remember, if you’re like me, you probably identify with more than one of these types. Because a lifetime of being messy means you’ve probably cycled through many of them. And, darling, here’s what I’ve learned during all the years of battling my natural tendency to be messy. Clutter distracts us from the life we most desire to live. It manifests in different ways, yet physical clutter always leads to mental clutter.

The good news, though, is that if you begin to focus on the physical clutter, all other kinds of clutter become easier to conquer. So, make the decision to begin clearing the clutter from your home.

Here’s where to begin clearing the clutter from your home based on your personality type.

If you’re The Hustler, remind yourself that there’s no space for new to enter your world without making space for it. Not only does physical clutter make your house untidy, it makes your mind cluttered, too. When you understand that clearing the clutter from your home makes you even more successful? You’ll be more motivated to get started.

If you are the Treasure Hunter, make peace with this fact: the true treasure in life is YOU. That beautiful mind and soul of yours that in order to success, you need space for your ideas.

If you’re the Overnight Success Seeker. Darling, there is no such thing as overnight success. However, if you want to make major project towards your goals, clear what’s in the way. Beginning with your physical world can be the key to sticking to those goals of yours. So, begin by clearing the clutter from one space in your home in one key space. Try one of these: your closet, your kitchen, or your bedroom.

If you are the Consummate Saver. Oh honey. I feel you to the North Pole and back. I used to save everything. What cured me of this was having to clean out my mother’s closet after she died. I didn’t want my own children to have to do that.

The Social Butterfly: Of course you want to welcome folks warmly into your house. But isn’t it best if you can expect someone in without notice? Begin by clearing the clutter in your living room and entry hall. Being able to open the door without embarrassment has always been a great motivator for me.

The Super Busy & Overwhelmed: I’m going to be honest with you, sugarplum. You have got to cut some things out of your schedule. Tidy up your closet, your bedroom, and your kitchen. And for the love of all that is holy, hire someone to clean your house. Getting ready for your house cleaner will be just the motivation you need to begin clearing the clutter from your home.

The Creative: Now, this, my dear, is the type I identify with the most! My secret to making it work: setting boundaries for myself. I create to my heart’s content during my work hours, and then give myself 30 minutes at the end of each day to tidy up. This is the time of JB’s commute. And when JB is coming back from a longer trip, I set aside an hour. And hire my cleaning lady to come in the day before he comes home.

Darling, the one thing I know is that if you want to live a life you love, you must begin clearing the clutter from your home.

And the beauty of awareness and honesty – by knowing your clutter personality type, it allows you to understand why you tend to be messy. Or, like me, leave a path of destruction behind me. It also allows you to find just the right motivation to finally clearing the clutter from your home. Or finding a system that works for you. Yes, fabulous, amazing YOU.


Does knowing your clutter personality type help you find motivation to begin clearing the clutter from your home?

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that you cannot welcome new things into your life if you don’t release some of the old stuff. You need to begin to purge things from your life. Getting clear in your life by dealing with your physical clutter (big clutter and small clutter) will allow you to direct your precious energy towards creating the clear path to living your best possible life.

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  • Before the Holidays: Beginning Sunday, October 30, 2022

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Course Investment: $21.

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