Professional organizer Ingrid Jansen, co-author of Reset Your Home, explains why clutter is more about Emotions than “stuff,” why decluttering is a process (not a project), and how to start small—think kitchens, cupboards, and daily resets—to build your “decluttering muscle” over time.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- Process over project: Decluttering is never “done”—as things come in, things must go out.
- Start in the kitchen: Fewer emotions than books/photos; clear storage first, then put surfaces away.
- Daily resets: 10–30 minute habits (dishes, bins, wipe counters, a load of laundry) that prevent weekend pileups.
- “If in doubt, keep it”: Build capacity with easy wins; you’ll be ready to let go on a later pass.
- Don’t buy more bins: The problem isn’t storage—it’s volume; work with what you have.
- Decide by favorites: Pull everything out, match lids, pick what you use and Love first; the rest gets easier.
- Clutter personalities: From “harassed housekeepers” to “nostalgic knee-deeps”—self-awareness beats shame.
- Why this pays off: Less hunting, faster cleaning, smarter grocery runs—time and Money saved.
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Erik Fisher is the producer and host of the Beyond The To-Do List Podcast for over 11 years. Erik has talked with productivity experts as they share how they implement productivity strategies in their personal and professional lives. His mission is to explore all aspects of productivity as a means towards the true end goal: living a meaningful life.
