You open a cupboard and are hit with a wave of overwhelm. You walk into a room and instantly feel deflated and useless. You may even have a history of being organized and thriving, but now life has hit you and the stress has left you struggling to maintain your space. You look around and wonder, “What’s wrong with me?” You desperately want to have your peace back, but it’s so much safer and easier to doom-scroll on the couch…
Sound familiar? Then you’re a totally normal human. As humans, we crave order, we crave creativity and the space to exercise it. But we can’t be creative when our space is chaotic, so we doom-scroll or add items to our cart to try to curb that innate need. It makes sense. We want to feel better, even if it's just for a moment.
It’s a brutal cycle. It usually starts with stress (maybe even stemming from childhood, but that’s a whole other topic), which can turn into anxiety, depression, and burnout. These in turn reduce energy, motivation, and focus. Now, tasks like putting things away or washing the dishes become overwhelming and feel pointless. Procrastination and decision fatigue set in. Perfectionism, shame, and fear paralyze us and keep us from even starting.
To try to soothe our panic and low self-esteem, we put band-aids on the problem. We bring new items into the home because it feels good for a second to buy something new. We numb the pain by staring at a screen. We mope in a pity-spiral. We feel stuck and ashamed, so we shut down further.
This is how clutter and mental health get locked into a loop. And if this is where you find yourself, I promise you’re not alone. The important thing is recognizing that it isn’t about laziness or a personal failure. It’s about survival, and your brain has been trying its best to help you cope.
But there is hope. And it doesn’t require a marathon cleaning session or a magical burst of motivation. What it does require is compassion, dedication, and time. The goal here isn’t to fix you, it’s to care for you.
Let’s start with one habit that sneaks up on so many of us: shopping.
Buying something new can feel amazing for a few seconds. It gives your brain a little hit of dopamine. But if we’re not being intentional, that new item
just adds to the overwhelm.
So instead of rushing to buy another shiny water bottle, skein of yarn, or unbelievably soft blanket, try this: hold it in your hand for 30 seconds, 2 minutes, or however long it takes to really soak in the dopamine hit. Feel how soft it is, see how sparkly it is… Then pause. Ask yourself:
Even if you still buy it, just having paused to ask those questions is a win. You’re taking back control. You’re being thoughtful. You’re showing up for yourself.
And if shopping isn’t your thing, maybe doom-scrolling or zoning out is. That’s okay too. Those habits serve a purpose; they give your brain a break, especially when everything feels too heavy. But sometimes, even just a little shift in action can begin to turn the tide.
Try a one-minute tidy; set a timer and see what happens when you give just sixty seconds to address your space. Clear off just one surface, like a nightstand or a corner of the kitchen counter, and let that be enough for today. Let yourself make just one small decision, like donating one thing you don’t love, or throwing out one item that's broken or expired.
These actions might seem tiny, but they add up. Each small choice chips away at the mental fog and sends your brain a new message: "I can do this. I'm not stuck.”
Setting up organized systems that work for you takes time. It takes daily attention, ongoing maintenance, and perspective shifts. These systems don’t appear overnight; they’re built, tested, and adjusted over time.
You may find that your original plan needs tweaking, or that what worked last month isn’t working anymore. That’s normal. Giving yourself permission to adapt and rework your systems can be the difference between feeling defeated and feeling empowered. And remember, you might need to adjust your expectations about how quickly change will happen. Sustainable organization is a journey, not a quick fix.
Progress doesn’t have to be fast. It just has to be kind. Your home doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to start feeling more like yours again.
When your space supports your peace, it’s not just about cleanliness, it’s about freedom.
And you deserve that.
May 14, 2025
Hi, I’m Becca! I moved to the 757 with my boyfriend and our dog, Beaver, in 2022. It’s very different from the small town where I grew up, which had only one main road, one grocery store, and no road-ragers, but I’ve learned to love it here!
I started Tidy Peaceful Homes because I want to make a real difference in people’s lives. I’ve always been passionate about mental health, and when I was a teenager, I dreamed of becoming a psychologist. That dream didn’t come true in the traditional sense, but I’ve spent years reading, researching, and practicing what I’ve learned in my own life. Now, I hope to share that knowledge in a way that feels real and helpful to others.
I have a background in customer service, which I genuinely enjoy and am proud to be good at, but there’s only so much I could do to help people while working under someone else. I had to stay within the bounds of company policy, whether I agreed with it or not. While I respect the need for structure, I longed for the freedom to help others in ways that felt more personal and meaningful.
I also know firsthand how much my environment affects mental health. I’ve found so much joy and clarity in shaping my home around what fits comfortably, instead of trying to fit more and more into the space I have. When my space feels cluttered, I’m more likely to feel depressed, unsettled, and unmotivated. Creating a calm, tidy home has made a huge difference for me, and I love helping others experience that same kind of peace.
I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all organizing. I take the time to listen, understand your goals, and work with your pace and preferences. I know it’s not always easy to let someone into your home when things feel messy or overwhelming, and I never take that trust for granted. Whether you’re feeling stuck, stressed, or just ready for a fresh start, I’d love to help you create a space that feels calm and truly yours.
May 11, 2025
May is full of birthdays in my family, including my mom’s. This past weekend, I had the chance to visit her and spend some time celebrating, and I walked away with more than just cake and memories. I left feeling genuinely inspired by the transformation she’s made in her home.
As I settled in and we were visiting together, I began to notice that things were different than they were a few months ago. Every room felt calmer, more spacious, and more intentional. Closets were tidy with neatly organized and labeled containers. Bedrooms no longer had miscellaneous items tucked into corners. It turns out, over the past few months my mom has been on a quiet mission: to organize her entire home, one space at a time.
But this wasn’t just a spring-cleaning project; it’s part of something bigger.
A few years ago, my mom went through a major life shift that left her without the emotional foundation she had built her entire life on. Since then, she’s been slowly finding herself again; learning what truly makes her feel happy, grounded, and at peace. This organizing journey was one of the ways she started reclaiming her space and her sense of calm. It came from a place of self-discovery, not pressure.
She excitedly gave me the tour, showing how she stores tool boxes and bead organizers full of meticulously sorted Legos under the beds. In the guest closet, craft supplies are neatly stored in empty envelope boxes, labeled, and shelved. Scarves, hats, and gloves are now stored in the coat closet, right where she grabs her coat, because, as she put it, “that just makes sense.” The closet in the room with her grandchildren’s toys now has shelves filled with games, play-sets, and old Disney VHS tapes that are easy to see and access. The hand tools are stored in a filing cabinet and old kitchen cupboards because that’s what she had on hand, and they fit in the space.
She told me how much less stressful it is to have guests over now that everything has a designated place. In the past, she used to do what so many of us do, the last-minute “hide and dash,” tucking clutter into the nearest drawer or cabinet just to make things look presentable. But now, those moments of panic are gone. She knows where things go, and more importantly, she knows they have somewhere to go.
What really moved me was how she talked about the process itself. It wasn’t just about cleaning or tidying, it was about creating a home that felt good to live in. She didn’t go out and buy tons of new bins or shelving units. She used what she already had, created smart zones for different activities, and took her time labeling things so they’d be easy to maintain.
The project took her several months, and she said she actually enjoyed it; something I don’t think she expected at the beginning. And now, she says she feels more peaceful at home. Less frantic, less pressured to live in any way other than the way that makes her happy.
As someone who helps people organize their homes for a living, I am so inspired by my mom and her journey. Organizing isn’t about perfection. It’s about peace. It’s about making your space work for you, so you can stop feeling overwhelmed and start enjoying your life more fully.
So here’s to my mom, for showing me that transformation is possible at any age, and that with a little time and care, we really can create spaces that support and reflect who we are. 💛
May 6, 2025
