Difficulty with decluttering is often explained as a lack of motivation or discipline. Research in behavioral psychology suggests a different explanation. This blog post explores how cognitive load, capacity limits, and decision fatigue contribute to avoidance, and why readiness usually emerges only after action has already begun.

Visual noise is the constant stream of cues our brain receives from cluttered or unfinished spaces. Even small amounts of excess input raise cognitive load and makes it harder to rest or focus. This post explains why visual clutter feels heavier than we realize, and how clearer systems create immediate relief.

The hardest part about perfectionism isn’t the standard itself but the pressure that comes with it. When it all feels like a test you might fail, it’s just easier not to start at all. Over time, that pressure builds into shame: “I should be able to handle this,” “I should have fixed this by now.” What I’ve learned? Perfectionism doesn’t protect us from failure, it keeps us in it.

Shame creeps in when we start connecting our surroundings to our worth. A messy kitchen becomes "I'm failing at being a mom." But clutter is just stuff in the wrong place, or too much stuff for the space it's in.

Sometimes, when we try to make organizing decisions right away, it gets overwhelming fast. Instead of sorting and decluttering and figuring out where things go... let’s just start by grouping similar items together.

The hardest part isn't always deciding what to let go of, it's following through on where it all goes. To make this step easier, I've put together a Moncton area directory for all your past loved items. With this guide, you'll know exactly where each type of item can go, so you don't get stuck with an unfinished project.