Decluttering Tips and Support

Dear Reader,

In September 2022 I started the Moms Overcoming Overwhelm Podcast to help moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts. Yesterday I celebrated the 250th episode! We've come a long way in (almost) 4 years:
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🎙️ 364,000 downloads
✉️ 3400+ e-mail subscribers (Thank you!)
📺 800+ YouTube subscribers
👩🏼‍🍼 980+ moms in the Facebook group​

Thank you for your support!

On the Podcast

In honor of 250 episodes I shared my top 25 decluttering questions. If you want to hear a bit more about them, you can listen on your favorite podcast app or watch on YouTube.

If you want more questions or other free resources, check out my Resources page on my website.
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​5 Questions for Before You Buy:

1. Does this item bring freedom or burden to my life?
2. Where will it live?
3. Does it align with my values?
4. Can I borrow it instead?
5. Do I need to buy it now, or can I pause and check in later?
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​5 Mental Clutter Busting-Questions:​
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1. Is this thought serving me?
2. Is this thought absolutely true?
3. How would I feel without this thought?
4. What is a true thought that could replace this negative thought?
5. Do I have to think about this now, or can I choose another time to think about it?
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​10 Decluttering Mindset Questions:
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1. Does this item reflect my values?
2. Do I have the capacity to manage this item in this season?
3. Does it support my current self in my current season of motherhood, or is it aspirational? (focusing on past or potential future)
4. Would I buy this again, if I didn’t own it already?
5. How would I feel if this item spontaneously combusted?
6. If I were moving, would I bubble wrap it and pack it, AND unpack it when I arrived?
7. Can I recognize this item has value AND I can let it go to experience something better?
8. If I were to pass away unexpectedly, would I want my family members to have to go through these items?
9. Am I keeping this “just in case” (which likely means never) or am I keeping it “just for when” with a specific timeframe/season in mind?
10. Am I keeping this out of guilt or obligation? Why am I feeling guilty? Is it my perception?
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​5 Questions to Get Started:​
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1. Is perfectionism causing me to put off decluttering? Am I afraid about doing it “wrong”?
2. If time is my biggest barrier, what is one activity that currently doesn’t serve me that I can replace with decluttering for 10-15 minutes?
3. When is the ideal time for me to declutter based upon my energy levels and current schedule?
4. Can I commit to a weekly donation pickup (or drop-off) at a place I feel good about, knowing that I can be more discerning later on?
5. Does the boundary I’ve selected for this category reflect the value I place on it, and my capacity to manage it?
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BONUS: How do i want this space to feel, function, and flow?
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Any questions you'd add? Hit reply and let me know!

What I'm Loving Right Now

✨ My decluttering/organizing tool of the week is a simple notebook where I keep today's to-do's only. No post-it notes on every surface or writing on scraps of paper here and there. For things that are longer-term, I use Apple Notes as well as Meistertask.
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✨ My decluttering/organizing resource is a workshop my friend Grace Rehman is holding on Thursday, August 20 at 4 PM PST about letting go of old papers. It's a "guided 1‑hour session where you bring one box or stack of papers, and we work through it together in real time. You will learn a simple, repeatable rhythm for sorting, releasing, and keeping what matters without overwhelm."

✨ My favorite recipe of the week is English Muffin Pizzas - a quick kid-friendly meal (or snack) when you've run out of meal planning creativity.
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What things are you loving right now? Hit reply and let me know.

On the journey with you,

Emily
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P.S. Skipped to the end? No problem! This week I shared my top 25 decluttering questions!​

​*Note- affiliate links may be included, which means I get a small commission if you use my link - thanks!​