If you’ve ever looked around your home and felt that something just isn’t working, you’re not alone. So many people tell me they’re frustrated with their space, but they can’t quite put their finger on why. And when you don’t know what the real problem is, it’s almost impossible to find a solution that actually sticks.

That’s exactly why I’ve created a simple, three-part framework I call What’s Your Problem? It’s designed to help you diagnose what’s going on beneath the surface so you can finally move forward with confidence, clarity, and a whole lot more breathing space.

Over years of working with clients, I’ve noticed that clutter almost always comes back to one of these:

1. A Quantity Problem – there’s simply too much stuff.

2. A Systems Problem – things don’t have clear homes or logical flow.

3. A Habits Problem – the daily rhythms that keep things running just aren’t in place yet.

Most of the time, the first layer we need to peel back is quantity. And I want to encourage you gently here: if you’re not sure what your problem is, start by assuming it’s this one. It usually is.

A quantity problem doesn’t mean you’ve “failed” or that your home is too small or too messy. It simply means you have more items than your space, your routines, or your season of life can comfortably hold.

Maybe your kids’ toys spill across the floor every day and the room never feels tidy, no matter how much you organise. Maybe your wardrobe feels overwhelming or your kitchen benches never seem clear. Those are classic signs of too much inventory — not a lack of containers, not “lazy kids,” and not poor habits.

And the Solution? Decluttering — Gently and Intentionally

When you reduce quantity, everything else becomes easier. You don’t need to declutter your entire house in one go. Just start with the space that’s bothering you most and ask:

What’s rubbish? What can I donate? What can leave my home and lighten my load?

You don’t have to get it perfect. You don’t even have to finish it. Every little bit of reduction creates more calm, more space, and more breathing room for your life to happen.

But for now, start here: If your home feels overwhelming, it’s very likely a quantity problem. And the good news? Quantity problems are absolutely solvable.

Next week, we’ll move into systems — the part where everything starts to click into place.

You may also like to listen to these episodes:

What's Your Problem?... Systems

What's Your Problem?... Habits

Enough

Letting Go

FOTO: Fear of Throwing Out

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One of the biggest challenges in organising isn’t the sorting or the tidying — it’s that moment when you’re holding something in your hand thinking, “But where should this actually live?”

If you’ve ever felt that, you’re not alone. And I want to share a little framework I use that might make things instantly clearer for you: I call it Sisters and Cousins.

Sisters: Same-Same Items

When I say “sisters,” I’m talking about items that are exactly the same. Think about all your teaspoons, or all your bed sheets, or all your scissors. These are sisters — the same family, the same purpose. Sisters belong together, usually in the same drawer, the same shelf, or the same container.

And here’s the beautiful part: you already do this without thinking. When you bring home a new teaspoon, you don’t wander around wondering where it should live. You automatically place it with its sisters. The system already works for you — you just may not have had language for it before.

Cousins: Same-Same, But Different

Cousins are items that aren’t identical, but they make sense together in real life. Scissors and sticky tape. Light bulbs and batteries. Towels and sheets. These aren’t sisters… but they definitely belong in the same neighbourhood because your brain naturally looks for them together.

When you think in cousins, you make your home work for you. If you use sticky tape and scissors together all the time, keeping them side-by-side isn’t just logical — it saves you time and reduces frustration.

Your Use Determines the Cousin Group

This is the part I love most: cousins can change depending on your lifestyle. A camping chair might belong with camping gear… unless you use it weekly at kids’ sport, or for beach days, or for picnics. The best home for something is the place where you look first — not where the item “should” go.

Try Asking Yourself Two Questions

Next time you’re stuck deciding where something lives, pause for just a moment and ask:

Where are its sisters?

Where are its cousins?

You might be surprised how quickly the answer comes. And with that clarity, your home becomes easier to maintain, easier to navigate, and ultimately… so much more freeing.

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This week we learn about the incredible power of body doubling! Whether you’re an ADHDer like me, or not, body doubling can supercharge your time management and follow through in getting any task done.

Body doubling is about having someone alongside you for motivation and accountability when you’re doing a job. You might know the right thing to do, have the necessary skills and mastery to do it… but for some reason are unable to just get it done on your own… you’re not alone!

Heaps of people tell me that they use this podcast as their body double. they pop it on while they declutter, organise, tidy, clean etc and because they’re familiar with me and my voice it acts as a body double. That makes my heart sing – I’m always happy to be your body double 💪🏼

If you’re interested in booking a virtual session with me, I’d love to work with you! Check out our virtual session types here and submit an intake form if you’re keen: https://www.theartofdecluttering.com.au/decluttering-services/virtual-sessions/

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Are you stuck on some non disposable, non single use stocking stuffers or small gifts? Thanks to our listeners who helped me with this episode with their great ideas!

Don't be caught up with Black Friday sales, cheap plastic stocking stuffers or items that will end up in landfill after one use. Think creatively, intentionally, personally and environmentally instead!!

Join the 12 days of Christmas declutter challenge and discover how simple, thoughtful choices can make your Christmas joyful, intentional, and clutter-free.

Listen Next...

12 Days of Christmas Invitation

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Ever started a decluttering project with great intentions, only to end up overwhelmed, exhausted, and surrounded by more mess than when you began?

In this episode, Amy explores why we often bite off more than we can chew when decluttering — and how to avoid it. She shares practical strategies for breaking projects into manageable chunks, staying motivated, and creating lasting success without burnout.

If you’ve ever felt defeated halfway through a clean-up, this episode will help you find your rhythm and rediscover the joy in decluttering.

Listen Next...

Broad vs Narrow

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Have you ever wondered how two people can look at the exact same object and see something completely different? In this episode, we’re exploring object classification — the unconscious way our brains decide what something is and what should happen to it, basically... why we see the same things so differently.

Take, for example, a glass left on the kitchen bench. Is it a dirty cup that needs to go in the dishwasher, or a glass someone left there to remind them to stay hydrated? The way we classify that glass can vary wildly between people — and often causes tension in households.

Unpack how internal classification systems shape our daily routines, from 'half-worn clothes' to kids’ ongoing play setups, and why these small differences can lead to big misunderstandings. Amy shares real-life examples and practical hacks — like colour-coded cups, designated zones for in-between clothes, and clearer family communication — to reduce confusion and frustration.

Ultimately, understanding object classification helps us see that what looks like clutter or laziness might actually be logic — just not our kind of logic.

Listen Next...

Object Permanence

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When you look around a space and feel like the clutter is EVERYWHERE reducing the volume is a great hack to reduce overwhelm so you can tackle your clutter in an intentional and ordered manner. 

Use like with like boxes, or intentional doom boxes to reduce the volume (amount of space the clutter takes up or is spread over). Tackling clutter once you know what you're actually dealing with is so much easier than looking at spread out clutter and trying to figure out where to start. 

These tips work well for kids and teenagers too! 

Listen Next...

Doom Boxes

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Living with ongoing medical needs often means living with a lot of stuff — from syringes and wound care items to tube feeds and mobility aids. In this episode, I dive into practical ways to organise medical supplies so they don’t take over your home.

Hear real-life examples, clever storage strategies, and thoughtful tips for managing expiry dates, ordering cycles, and bulky deliveries. Whether you’re caring for yourself or a loved one, this conversation will help you create calm, accessible systems that make everyday life easier — and free up space for living, not just storing.

As this is such a personal topic to what supplies you need to keep and the layout of your home, you may also benefit from booking a virtual session so I can help you create a plan specifically for you - reach out, I'd love to help 

Virtual Sessions with Amy

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How does clutter make you feel? What emotions? What thoughts do you have about your clutter... or about yourself as a person with clutter? Untangling your thoughts and emotions to that you can experience freedom from the overwhelm of clutter is possible!

Tracy is a certified life and organizing coach on a mission to help women simplify their homes and their lives. She is the creator of Organized Life Academy and hosts the Organized Coach Podcast and is my guest on the show today.

Learn how to identify your emotions and reduce the power they have over you. Get curious about your thought life and the impact it has on the actions you take, the habits you develop and the person you're becoming. 

Follow Tracy Hoth

Website: https://simplysquaredaway.com/

Declutter Challenge: https://training.simplysquaredaway.com/declutter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracyhoth/

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Overstimulation.

Can you relate to your home being overstimulating?

Is clutter and disorganisation the main cause of this for you?

Sometimes it's because you have too much stuff... but often it's also due to lack of organisation.

Looking into a toy space where the toys are strewn all over the floor is more overstimulating than a toy space with containers/ storage and order.

If you open the pantry and can't easily find ingredients because it's disorganised, you're less likely to cook dinner and more likely to have cereal or get uber eats.

Overstimulation effects us mentally, emotionally and physically, learn some simple tips to combat this in todays episode

You might also like to listen to

Might As Well

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