Decluttering for Messy People

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Hey there,

I have a confession: I’ve always been an organized person.

So much so that my mild OCD is rubbing off on our two-year-old—she already puts her books back on the shelf.

But I know I’m an outlier.

For 54% of people, clutter is overwhelming, and 78% have no idea how to tackle it.

Clutter is the default setting for most, and without a system, homes inevitably turn into disaster zones.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

The secret is to cut the excess, set up systems, control the influx of stuff, and build routines. Even the messiest among us can finally get their act together.

I hate clutter.

Okay, that’s an understatement—I’m obsessed with avoiding it.

But the benefits of getting rid of clutter are real: more time, mental clarity, and no looming piles of chaos in the background.

I’ve developed a process that keeps things under control, and it comes down to four simple steps.

Step one: Get rid of your stuff. (You knew this was coming, right?)

The average American home has ballooned in size by 62% since the ‘70s, and the amount of stuff inside has exploded.

Studies say we have over 300,000 items in our homes. That’s... a lot.

If something hasn’t added value or joy in the past year, it’s time to let it go.

Start small—a drawer, a closet, a room. Momentum builds quickly.

And a pro tip: reduce your surface areas. If there’s an empty table, we’ll put something on it.

Minimize surfaces, minimize clutter.

Step two: Systematize your things. 

The Instagram version of minimalism is great, but real life includes kids, hobbies, and, well, stuff. Organization is about systems.

Use bins and bags for cables, cable clips for chargers, and drawer organizers for clothes.

In our home, we store seasonal items in bins and share a shoe rack (and by “share,” I mean I have two pairs, and my wife Mel has the rest).

Another confession: since moving earlier this year, I’ve ignored my toiletry drawer.

It’s a black hole of floss wrappers, an unnecessary stockpile of razor blades (pretty sure I fund Harry’s entire business), and travel shampoos hoarded like rare Pokémon cards.

The fix, though, has been simple kitchen utensil organizer. Boom—instant order.

Mel, on the other hand, thrives in chaos. (Some people just want to watch the world burn…)

Step three: Control the flow of new stuff.

Decluttering means nothing if the floodgates stay open.

Therefore, cancel mail flyers, delay purchases by a week, and, if Amazon Prime is your weakness, consider a breakup.

Your social media feed is also a sneaky clutter enabler—unfollow the people fueling your shopping habits.

And if the comparison game is getting to you, try a social media detox — less screen time means fewer temptations and more space for what really matters.

Step four: Build routines.

Small habits prevent chaos. Make your bed, clean the kitchen at night, and pick up after your kids (or spouse — okay, Mel is definitely not going to be pleased with me when she reads this…).

If you wait for a once-a-month deep clean, you’ll always be drowning in a mess.

The key to an uncluttered life isn’t a one-time purge—it’s daily habits that keep things in check.

Decluttering isn’t about perfection; it’s about reclaiming your time, space, and sanity.

And trust me, finding your shoes on the first try is an underrated life upgrade.

Have a wonderful week, all.
Now go take on that junk drawer you’ve been avoiding! - Scott (@motivatedscott).

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