In this powerful conversation on Essential Alchemy, Heather Aardema reframes decluttering as far more than cleaning up your space—it’s a deeply personal, emotional, and even physiological process that directly impacts your health and well-being. 

She explains how clutter—whether physical, mental, or emotional—acts as a constant drain on your energy, often rooted in past experiences, identity attachments, and unconscious patterns. 

Instead of overwhelming yourself with massive cleanouts, Heather introduces a gentler, more sustainable approach: regulate your nervous system first, take small intentional steps, and use a simple but transformative filter—does this feel light or heavy? 

Through this lens, decluttering becomes less about getting rid of things and more about reclaiming clarity, alignment, and a life that feels genuinely lighter.

Key Takeaways:

• Clutter isn’t just physical It includes thoughts, emotions, and habits that distract you from your true potential.

• Your “someday self” is keeping you stuck Holding onto items tied to a future identity creates guilt and disconnect from your current life.

• Decluttering fails when you overwhelm your nervous system Small, manageable steps (not massive cleanouts) are the key to lasting progress.

• Clutter is a symptom, not the root cause Emotional patterns, past experiences, and trauma often drive why we hold onto things.

• Use the “light vs. heavy” rule If something feels light, keep it. If it feels heavy and you don’t have the energy to fix it—let it go.