Is clutter really just about stuff?

In this episode of Beyond the Checklist, we’re unpacking the deeper story behind clutter—especially for neurodivergent folks. If you’ve ever felt ashamed for not being able to “just throw things out,” or wondered why common decluttering advice doesn’t seem to work for your brain, this one’s for you.

We’ll explore:

• Why clutter is not a moral failing—or a sign of laziness
• How decision fatigue, emotional processing, and nervous system overload contribute to disorganization
• The pressure to conform to minimalist or maximalist trends (and why neither works for everyone)
• What I’ve seen firsthand with clients who feel buried by their belongings
• Practical, body-first tools to approach your space with more compassion and clarity

✨ Key Takeaways:

• Clutter is often a symptom of overwhelm, not a lack of willpower
• Your stuff might carry emotional weight, identity, or history—and that matters
• You don’t need to organize for aesthetic perfection; you need systems that actually work for you
• There are gentle, supportive ways to get started—without the shame spiral

📌 Whether you’re dealing with a cluttered room, a messy desk, or the internal pressure to “get it together,” this episode offers a new lens: one rooted in nervous system awareness, lived experience, and practical compassion.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about 1:1 support, workshops, and free tools at simplifyspaceandsoul.com
• Subscribe to the Space & Soul Digest for monthly organizing tips and ND-friendly resources
• Read: Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Randy Frost & Gail Steketee
• Related Episode: Ep 3 – What Clutter, Burnout, and Executive Dysfunction Have in Common

💬 Loved this episode?

Share it with a friend, tag @beyondthechecklist.pod, or leave a quick review to help more folks find support that meets them where they are.

Next up: we’re talking about time—and why it’s rarely the real problem.

A short and supportive primer on regulation, overwhelm, and sensory cues.

Not sure what I mean when I talk about “nervous system support”? This short episode is for you. I break down what regulation and dysregulation look like, why it matters, and how small, simple cues can help you return to center.

💡 Understand what the nervous system actually is

🌊 How dysregulation can show up (and how common it is)

🧘 What real nervous system support can look like—no yoga mat required

💬 A reminder that your body isn’t wrong for responding the way it does

This is your nervous system 101—for ND folks, sensitive humans, and anyone craving steadiness.

If this helped clarify something for you, save this episode to revisit anytime you need to ground yourself—or send it to a friend who’s curious about regulation too.

A 5-minute reset to reconnect with your body, breath, and space.

Today’s episode is a short, guided sensory check-in—no yoga mat or quiet room required. This practice is here to help you regulate gently, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed or untethered.

👀 Sight. 👂 Sound. ✋ Touch. 👃 Smell. 👅 Taste.

You’ll move through each of the five senses, one by one, and return to presence—without pressure, performance, or perfection.

You can return to this episode anytime as a nervous system reset. Let it meet you where you are.

Save this episode to your favorites so you can come back anytime you need a reset. And if it helped, share it with someone else who might need 5 minutes of calm.

A peek at what’s ahead in the podcast—and the bigger picture.

This episode wraps up our Welcome Week with a preview of what’s ahead in Beyond the Checklist and how it connects to the work I do across coaching, organizing, and therapeutic yoga.

🎧 Future episode themes: time blindness, rest, routines, and regulation

💡 Why this podcast weaves together nervous system care, executive function, and real-life tools

🧘 How my work blends coaching, organizing, and yoga into holistic support

📝 What offers are coming later this year—and how to get involved

If you’re ready to ditch shame and build support that fits, you’re in the right place.

Curious about something specific or have an idea for an episode? Reach out on Instagram or my website—I’d love to hear what support you’re craving most right now.

Systems that shift are systems that support.

Ever wonder how someone who teaches organizing actually organizes their own life? In this episode, I share a behind-the-scenes look at my current systems—and why I don’t expect them to stay the same forever.

🌀 Why changing systems isn’t a sign of failure

📆 How I use ClickUp, a paper planner, and flexible routines

🧠 The mindset shift that helped me ditch perfectionism

🌤️ A gentle framework for building systems that actually reflect your energy

You don’t need the perfect system—you just need one that fits for now.

After you listen, I’d love to know: what’s one piece of your system that could shift to support you better? DM me @beyondthechecklistpod and let’s talk about it.

They’re not failures—they’re data.

Let’s reframe the story. If your space is chaotic, your brain is foggy, and your motivation is MIA, this episode is for you. Today we talk about the deep connection between clutter, burnout, and executive dysfunction—and what they’re really trying to tell you.

🔸 Why your clutter might be a nervous system signal

🔸 How burnout can mask as laziness or procrastination

🔸 What executive dysfunction actually is (it’s not a moral failing)

🔸 Gentle strategies to begin shifting—even if you're overwhelmed

You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. You’re responding to something real.

Take a moment after this episode to check in with yourself. What’s one small shift or bit of support that might help today? And if this helped, send it to someone who needs the same reminder.

Support shouldn't require you to mask or explain your pain.

In this episode, I share the heart of why I do this work—and why Beyond the Checklist centers neurodivergent support. From my early days as a professional organizer to now as an ADHD coach and yoga teacher, one truth has stayed clear: systems aren't broken—people just need support that actually fits.

🔹 Why traditional strategies don’t work for many ND folks

🔹 How shame and masking show up in organizing and life

🔹 What I’ve learned from working with clients who feel like they’re “too much”

🔹 A reminder that you don’t need to prove your pain to be worthy of help

Whether you’re diagnosed, self-identified, or just tired of one-size-fits-all solutions, this episode is for you.

Because your brain, your body, and your systems deserve support that actually fits.

This short and spacious first episode is your official welcome to Beyond the Checklist. I'm Shannon—Certified Professional Organizer, ADHD coach, and yoga teacher—and this podcast is a gentle space for those of us who’ve tried the traditional systems and found… they just didn’t work.

If you're neurodivergent, burned out, overwhelmed, or just tired of advice that feels like it was written for someone else—you're in the right place.

In this episode, I share:

• Why I started this podcast
• Who it’s for (hint: people like you)
• What to expect from future episodes
• A bit about my own journey with organizing, coaching, and nervous system work

You won’t find one-size-fits-all checklists here. Instead, you’ll find real, compassionate tools for organizing your space, your time, and your life—designed for brains and bodies that don’t always follow the “rules.”

🧠 Expect short, focused episodes on:

• Executive function and real-world organizing
• Gentle yoga and breathwork for nervous system regulation
• Flexible routines that adapt instead of constrain
• And what to do when everything just feels like too much

Whether you’re folding laundry, on a walk, or taking a much-needed break—thank you for being here. This is just the beginning.

👉 Hit follow to stay connected, and tune into the next episode where I share why I chose to focus on neurodivergent support—and what that really means in practice.

Hi, I’m Shannon Reilly — Certified Professional Organizer, ADHD coach, yoga teacher, and the founder of Simplify Space & Soul — and I’m so glad you’re here.

Beyond the Checklist is a podcast for neurodivergent folks who are done trying to fit into systems that were never built with them in mind. If you’re tired of one-size-fits-all advice and burned out by endless to-do lists, you’re in the right place.

In this short teaser, I’m sharing what you can expect from the podcast, who it’s for, and why I created it.

Each week, I’ll bring you:

• Practical organizing and time management strategies
• Body-based tools that support your nervous system
• Honest conversations about living and thriving as a neurodivergent human

This is support for your real life — not just your checklist.

🎧 Subscribe now to Beyond the Checklist and join me each week for tools, insights, and encouragement that make space for how you actually work.

✨ Learn more at simplifyspaceandsoul.com