Clutter Free Academy

612 - How to Deal with the Mental Load Part 2

Do you feel like you are the only person in your house who understands the amount of strategic planning it takes to do the grocery shopping? You are not alone, my friend! Join us for How to Deal with the Mental Load Part 2, as Tonya Kubo and Kathi Lipp explore the balance of insourcing and outsourcing daily tasks to manage burnout. Discover creative solutions for family involvement, the mental load battle, and how to negotiate for change without guilt. This episode offers insights into m...

611 - How to Deal with the Mental Load Part 1

Do you ever feel like you have to be the woman who does it all and are failing miserably? Join Kathi and her guest, Clutter Free Academy champion Tonya Kubo, as they discuss the concept of mental load and working that “third shift.” They’ll talk about: Why lack of available brain bandwidth is not the same as laziness The reason “I should” isn’t really helpful Dividing household responsibilities without resorting to outdated stereotypes Sign up here to be notified when the second part o...

610 - Why "I Work Better Under Pressure" Doesn't Really Work

In this continuation of last week’s episode, Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory dig into the process of procrastination and how it is hurting all of us. In addition to defining the procrastination responses of Freeze and Fawn, they discuss the difference between working under pressure and pre-deciding. Kathi and Cheri describe how they use the concept of pre-deciding to live a life that reflects their values instead of living a life of fear. That’s what they want for you too! Listen for the steps ...

609 - The Myth of Productivity Under Pressure

Do you find yourself putting off uncomfortable tasks? Maybe you tell yourself that you work better under pressure...but does the work you produce under stress turn out better, or is it just done? In this episode, Kathi and her three-time co-author Cheri Gregory discuss the “pressure paradox.” Listen in as they rethink the myth of productivity under pressure, as well as discussing: Is procrastination based in fear? Priming your brain for your project How to avoid living in a state of...

608 - Should You Declutter When Life is Just too Much?

A life-changing event happens like a new job, a new baby, a change in health, or any number of circumstances. You find yourself struggling with what to do with items in your space and wondering if this is a typical response. If you have ever felt like that, this episode has the encouragement and strategies you need. Join Kathi Lipp and her co-host and Clutter-Free Champion Tonya Kubo as they deep dive into decluttering when life feels overwhelming. Tonya recently lost two family members ...

607 - Super Practical Strategies for Decluttering

Are decluttering decisions breaking your brain? Are perfectionist tendencies keeping you from making progress? Tune in as Kathi and her guest, Clutter Free Academy cheerleader Tonya Kubo, discuss: Overcoming the overwhelm Making your minutes work for you Sign up here to be notified when the next episode is released. Meet Our Guest: Tonya Kubo Favorite Links: Sign up here for Kathi's newsletter or here to receive her Clutter Free Basics Kit! Clutter Free Resources: Learn more abo...

606 - The Container Principle

We all have stuff we want to keep, whether for daily use or for posterity. The question is, do we have room for it? How much is too much? Don't let your abundance take over your abode. Tune in to hear Kathi and Roger as they discuss: How to contain t-shirts, tech goo, and other treasures What qualifies as a container, anyway? Sign up here to be notified when the next episode is released. Meet Our Guest: Roger Lipp Links Mentioned:  Sign up for our newsletter and receive the Con...

605 - Why Your Perfectionism is Keeping You Stuck in Clutter (and What You Can do About it) Part 2 (Feb 20)

When you bring a new item into your space, do you struggle with where to put it? Have you ever uttered a sentence like this to yourself? “Why don’t I know where this goes?” Kathi Lipp and three-time co-author, friend, and frequent co-host Cheri Gregory are here to help. In this episode, they finish a two-part conversation about the straight line between perfectionism and clutter. Cheri speaks from an HSP (highly sensitive person) perspective and someone who struggles with perfectionism. ...

604 - Why Your Perfectionism Is Keeping You Stuck in Clutter (And What You Can do About it) Part 1

Do you hesitate to start a decluttering project because you feel like you don’t have the time or resources to finish it? You might be struggling with an underlying cause of clutter which is perfectionism. Kathi Lipp and three-time co-author and frequent co-host Cheri Gregory start a two-part conversation about the straight line between perfectionism and clutter. Cheri speaks from an HSP (highly sensitive person) perspective and someone who struggles with perfectionism. Listen in as Kathi...

603 - The Great Freezer Cleanout

When it’s time to make dinner, do you fall prey to the game of “Freezer Roulette?” Do you find yourself pulling out a container of presumably edible, yet completely unidentifiable frozen food, wondering: What is that? How long has it been there? Do I really want to eat that? Join Kathi and Roger Lipp for tips and tricks to organize your freezer and save yourself time, money, and hassle. Sign up here to be notified when the next episode is released. Meet Our Guest: Roger Lipp Fav...

602 - How to Sort Through a Loved One's Belongings After They're Gone Part 2

Have you ever had a loved one pass and had to navigate the delicate and nuanced situation of going through the items left behind? Sweet friend, you are not alone. Listen to How to Sort Through a Loved One’s Belongings After They’re Gone Part 1 and then join Kathi Lipp and her guest Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, author of the book Breathing Through the Grief, A Devotional Journal for Seasons of Loss. Nine years ago, Dorina and her young daughters lost their 40-year-old husband and father to...

601 - How to Sort Through a Loved One's Belongings After They're Gone Part 1

The loss of a loved one is a complicated road to travel. There are many layers to the grief. One of those layers is what to do with the belongings of that loved one once they are gone. In today’s episode, Kathi interviews the author of the book Breathing Through the Grief, A Devotional Journal for Seasons of Loss. Nine years ago, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young and her young daughters lost their 40-year-old husband and father to cancer. In this part 1 episode, Kathi and Dorina talk about this ...

600 - Unpacking Money and Clutter: Exploring the Deep Connection Part 2 with Coach Stefania Mariaa

We all have a limited amount of our three greatest resources: time, energy, and money. Do you feel like you could be doing a better job making decisions about how to use those resources? Welcome to the conversation, friend! In Part 2 of Unpacking Money and Clutter: Exploring the Deep Connection, Kathi and Coach Stefania Mariaa continue the conversation about wanting to put every dollar, every bit of energy, and every bit of time into something that gives us a return. But what do those re...

599 - Between Scarcity to Abundance: Understanding the Spectrum of Financial and Clutter Mindsets with Coach Stefania Mariaa Part 1

We all have a common struggle with clutter and how it makes us feel – but did you know those same emotions apply to our relationship with money? Kathi Lipp and her guest, multidisciplinary coach and TikTok star Stefania Mariaa, have innovative and imaginative answers to the questions, “What is financial intimacy and why do I need it?” In this episode, Kathi and Stefania discuss ways to manage your personal finances and spending habits more deliberately and thoughtfully. Tune in to learn:...

598 - 7 Ways to Buy Less in 2024

Are you ready to start the year with less clutter? This is the episode for you, my friend. As you put away the holiday decorations and look around, you may feel like it’s time to start fresh with some decluttering for the new year. Kathi Lipp and her partner in life and decluttering Roger Lipp give us 7 perfectly practical ways to declutter by buying less in 2024. They’ve looked at their personal practices and come up with some fabulous ideas for you to implement to start 2024 a bit more...

597 - 5 Things I Do the Day After Christmas to Stay Clutter Free

You made it through the holiday…but your living room didn’t! Are you wondering how to deal with all that Christmas clutter? In this episode, Kathi and Roger Lipp share five timely tips for taming the mayhem left behind after all the merriment. Listen in for their hints and hacks on: Knowing whether to return, recycle, or donate stuff left over from the festivities. Sharing out of your abundance. Saving your after-Christmas sanity! Sign up here to be notified when the next episode i...

596 - Your Holiday Gameplan When You're Low on Money

Do you feel like Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year…until you look at your bank account? Kathi Lipp and her co-host Deanna Day Young have clever, creative, and clutter-free answers to the question, “How can I celebrate the holidays and not overspend?” In this episode, Kathi and Deanna gift us with ten tips to keep the cost of Christmas down and the enjoyment up. They have ideas to help enjoy the holidays such as: How to use experiences as gift ideas. How to involve those y...

595 - Your Holiday Gameplan When You're Low on Energy

Kathi and her guest Deanna Day Young are returning for part three of their discussion on how to design your holiday gameplan! This week they are helping us know what to do when we are low on energy. Listen in as they share ten ideas that will help us all to: Think through what is most important. Set realistic expectations. Divide responsibility among family members. Take care of ourselves. Use our resources wisely. Next week Kathi and Deanna will finish the series by talking abou...

594 - What I Learned About Clutter in 2023 that Will Change My Relationship with Stuff in 2024 Part 2

Do you struggle with trusting yourself when it comes to living clutter-free? Kathi Lipp and her cohost Tonya Kubo are here for you! In part 2 of "What I Learned About Clutter in 2023 that Will Change My Relationship with Stuff in 2024," Kathi and Tonya give us tips #2 and #3 for your clutter-free journey. Listen in and learn: The importance of community Kathi and Tonya’s personal challenges with clutter Kathi’s solution to the problem that plagues so many of us! Kathi mentions the ...

593 - What I Learned About Clutter in 2023 that Will Change My Relationship with Stuff in 2024 Part 1

Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo have been decluttering their own homes and teaching others to do the same for many years. But there are always new things to learn! In this two-part series, this decluttering duo discusses what they have been learning this year about their clutter and about themselves. Listen in and learn: What kind of language can we use to talk about clutter with those we live with? How can we focus on our own stuff without building up resentment toward others? Ways to disc...

592 - Your Holiday Gameplan When You're Low on Time

Do you feel like there is too much to do and not enough time to do it during the holidays? You are not alone, friend! Kathi Lipp and her favorite elf Deanna Day Young talk about strategies to keep your holidays less stressful so you can take care of the future you. In Part 2 of a three-part series, they lay out ten time-saving and preplanning tips to keep you moving and merry during this season when time is a valuable commodity. Listen in as Kathi and Deanna each share five of their fa...

591 - Your Holiday Gameplan When You're Low on Space

Kathi and her guest Deanna Day Young love decorating for Christmas, but what do you do when you are low on space? Kathi and Deanna both have experienced living in small spaces, and in today’s podcast they share ten ideas for decorating for the holidays, no matter how much room you have to work with. Listen in and hear some helpful tips, including: What to consider when decorating for each season. Deanna’s trick for making cleanup extra easy! The best color choice for decorating a holi...

590 - Thrifting with Purpose: Tips and Strategies for Finding Gems and Reducing Clutter - Part 2

You might have heard of the Circle of Life but how about the Circle of Thrift? In this part 2 episode, Kathi interviews full-time Pinterest employee and thrifting enthusiast Erin Handley. Erin and Kathi both have a love for a great thrift find and share personal stories about how thrifting has been a real benefit to them and their families through the years. Listen in as she and Kathi laugh and discuss some tips and tricks they have learned about thrifting, such as: There are times of yea...

589 - Thrifting with Purpose: Tips and Strategies for Finding Gems and Reducing Clutter - Part 1

Can thrifting and staying clutter-free go hand in hand? Kathi Lipp and our podcast guest today say YES YOU CAN! Meet Erin Handley: San Francisco Bay Area resident, full-time Pinterest employee, and long-time thrifting enthusiast. Kathi and Erin discuss how thrifting is not acquiring a bunch of items you don’t need. Thrifting gives us a chance to give something a new life or at least a second look. Join them as they dive into three questions to ask before you purchase that thrift store tr...

588 - How to Eliminate 1000 Clutter Pieces in 30 Days: The Clutter Free Academy Method

What is Kathi’s favorite thing in Clutter Free Academy? The 30 Day 1K! What is the 30 Day 1K, you may ask? It is a challenge to eliminate 1000 pieces of clutter over 30 days. If this sounds daunting, listen in as Clutter Free Academy queen Tonya Kubo answers common objections to the 30 Day 1K.  Do any of these resonate with you? There’s no way I have 1000 things in my house to get rid of. I have so much clutter that 1000 things won’t even make a dent! I don’t have time to declutter 10...

587 - Taking Organization to the Next Level: Advanced Tips for Accessibility and Aesthetics

Can our spaces be organized and look great at the same time? Yes, they can! Clutter Free Academy's own Deanna Day Young joins Kathi Lipp today in this continuation of last week's episode. (Haven't listened to Episode 586 Unlocking the Power of Organization: Expert Tips from Deanna Day Young yet? Click here! ) This week is all about the Double-A: accessibility and aesthetics. Meaning it is easy to access but looks pretty sitting. Deanna and Kathi chat and laugh their way through the Three ...

586 - Unlocking the Power of Organization: Expert Tips from Deanna Day Young

Several years ago, Deanna Day Young joined Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free Academy. Deanna felt pretty confident about her organizational skills, but she realized there is always more to learn and thought she could learn some good strategies for organization. However, what she actually realized is that she had previously been trying to organize a bunch of clutter! Since then, Deanna has strengthened her decluttering muscles, and on today’s podcast Kathi asks Deanna to share her best advice for som...

585 - Designing for Decision Fatigue: Minimal Choices, Maximum Freedom

Welcome to Part 3 of the Abundant Home Conference series! In this segment, Kathi and her guest Amy Betters-Midtvedt talk about having a neurodiverse family and how having a brain that processes differently affects how people declutter. Together they discuss: The process of body doubling: helping someone complete a project like decluttering by completing pieces of that project for them while training them to take over the entire process eventually Why it's important to decide on systems li...

584 - Fear, Finances, and Finding Peace: Decluttering Your Mind and Home

Welcome to Part 2 of the Abundant Home Conference series! In this segment Kathi and her guest Amy Betters-Midtvedt face the fears and hidden perfectionism that often sabotage our decluttering efforts. Together they discuss: How can you avoid a scarcity mindset and start to think differently about your stuff? How do you combat the feeling that the things you have are not enough? How can you challenge the idea that your stuff is protecting you and instead realize that it is limiting you? ...

367 - WCCW Promo with Susy Flory

583 - Why "Just in Case" is a Trap: Your Guide to Living Clutter-Free

Do any of these sound like you? I’m afraid to get rid of things, because what if I need it in the future and don’t have money to replace it? My kids’ notes and artwork are all so special and I can’t part with any of it! I better buy three of those, that way I’ll always be able to find at least one. If so, then today’s podcast is for you! In this session Kathi chats with self-proclaimed “pack rat” Amy Betters-Midtvedt about her process of digging out from under all the clutter. They tal...

582 - Garden Or Grocery Store: Eating Like a Homesteader No Matter Where You Call Home - Part 2

Have you ever read the ingredients on the bread you buy from the grocery store and thought, “I can’t even pronounce these words! What are they?” Maybe you’d like to take control over what you put into your meals but don’t know where to start? Start here! In this episode, Kathi and Roger Lipp discuss what they have learned on their homestead journey about getting closer to the source of their food and what goes into the meals they prepare. As they continue to celebrate the release of Kath...

581 - Garden Or Grocery Store: eating like a Homesteader No Matter Where you Call Home - Part 1

Is it possible to eat like a homesteader even if you live in an apartment? Yes, it is! Eating like a homesteader is really about being more purposeful and thoughtful about what you eat and where you source your food. In this episode, Kathi and Roger Lipp discuss what they have learned on their homestead journey about growing their own food in the garden as well as the non-gardening ways they source their food. For example: The satisfaction of growing your own food Start with a salsa ga...

580 - Accidental Homesteader: How To Plan Like a Homesteader No Matter Where You Call Home Part 2

Would you like some tips and tools to help you move from last minute scrambler to organized planner? Welcome to Part 2 of How to Plan Like A Homesteader where Kathi and her co host in life and on the mic Roger Lipp discuss strategies for advanced planning. You might not need to worry about your snow blower not working like they do out in the wilderness they call home, but there are so many things you can plan in advance for to make your life run more smoothly. For example: Pet and animal ...

579 - Accidental Homesteader: How to Plan Ahead

Would you consider yourself a natural planner, or is it challenging for you to plan ahead? If you think planning doesn’t come easily, then you share that trait with Kathi and Roger Lipp, but moving to the Red House has forced them to plan ahead. In today’s podcast they share their hard-won wisdom with all of us. Even if you don’t live on acres in the wilderness, you can still apply these lessons to lessen the stress in your life. For example: Are you prepared for extreme weather events or...

578 - Accidental Homesteader: The Magic List

Have you ever been working on a project and had to run to the store to buy something you needed? How about run to the store multiple times to buy what you needed? You might be in need of what Kathi and Roger Lipp call the Magic List! Kathi and Roger are starting a series titled Accidental Homesteader, where they take some of the principles they’ve learned about homesteading and applied them to everyday life. In this episode it’s all about creating effective, precise, time and money saving ...

577 - How to Thrive When Your Life is Just too Overwhelming with Author Jennifer Cowart

What happens to your time when you have a rare moment, and nothing is scheduled on the calendar? Does it immediately get full of all the things that aren’t on your to-do list, but could be? Jen Cowart, a pastor, Bible teacher, and author, recently experienced a season with extra margin, and she chose to be intentional with her time instead of letting others fill up her calendar. (Can you even imagine?) In today’s episode, Kathi and Jen discuss how to thrive when your life is just too overw...

576 - Subscription Boxes, Clutter and Why We Buy

Do you love the excitement and intrigue of that the arrival of a subscription box brings? We do too! But are all subscription boxes equal? Can subscription boxes become just one more thing to declutter? Join Kathi and her Tik Tok famous guest Meredith Lynch as they discuss decluttering and the world of subscription boxes. Meredith started out as a beauty influencer but pushed back on the fast fashion/fast beauty culture. She is not afraid to speak her mind and has the cease and desist lett...

575 - Best of Series - Back to Basics: How to Declutter Your House Fast

Welcome back to the basics! Kathi Lipp is joined by Roger, her husband and fellow declutterer, and they are here to recap some of the best tips they have discovered about decluttering. How do you declutter quickly? Kathi has an easy to follow decluttering system for you and it only takes 15 minutes. Step 1 - Gather your tools. Kathi likes to use 3 tote bags. One bag is "give away," one bag is "put away," and one bag is "other rooms." The 2 additional bags Kathi adds to the mix are a garb...

574 - Best of Series-Back to Basics: Asking Yourself the 3 Clarifying Questions as You Declutter

In this Best of Series episode, Kathi and her best friend, Roger Lipp, are taking the clutter free journey back to the basics. Do you need specific criteria to guide your decision making for what to keep and what to get rid of? Kathi and Roger are here to remind us of the three clarifying questions we should be asking ourselves as we declutter. Join in the conversation to learn the art of how to keep the best and get rid of the rest by knowing and practicing these three questions as you decl...

573 - Best of Series - 5 Reasons Your Home is MORE Cluttered

Do you ever look around your home wondering why it feels more cluttered, despite your decluttering efforts? In this "Best Of" episode, Kathi and her decluttering partner Roger are uncovering this mystery by clueing us into five reasons our homes may be more cluttered: You don’t know what you have, so you keep buying more. You have backups for your backups. (We’re looking at you, broken can-opener in the garage!)  You are storing things for other people, with no limit or deadline. You ...

572 - Best of Series-Clutter and Creativity – How Decluttering Helps the Creative Process

In this Best of episode, Kathi Lipp is talking with Clutter Free community leader, friend, and screenwriter, Grace Church, about how decluttering and creativity can actually help one another. Have you ever struggled to balance decluttering time and creative time? You are not alone. In this episode, Kathi and Grace share how they have found that balance by: Shifting their mentality Doing a little bit every day Establishing routines If you’ve ever found your creativity blocked by the clu...

571 - How to Succeed with No Buy July

On this very special podcast Kathi Lipp is joined by Clutter Free queen Tonya Kubo to get all of us excited about the month-long celebration we call No Buy July! Some may think that No Buy July sounds crazy, after all - it is fun to spend money. But this challenge is meant to be a kind of retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Let's put all our creative energy into doing something that is going to help our houses and our budgets breathe a little easier! Listen in for all th...

570 - Urge to Splurge? How to Manage Your Impulsive Shopping - Part 2

Did you know the “urge to splurge” is a brain chemistry response and can last from 7 - 12 MINUTES? No wonder it can be a difficult mindset to break! In this Part 2 episode, Kathi and spending coach Paige Pritchard talk about brain chemistry and the way it affects our behavior. Today they finish discussing Paige’s five tools to managing your impulsive shopping. The conversation is fascinating. Here are just a few of the many highlights: How to use an Urge Jar to change your behavior (and may...

569 - Urge to Splurge? How to Manage Your Impulsive Shopping - Part 1

Have you ever struggled with impulsive spending or another “urge to splurge” mind set? You are not alone, friend. Kathi and spending coach Paige Pritchard are digging into the root cause of our impulsive shopping and how to change those behaviors. Today they discuss the first of Paige’s five tips to managing your impulsive shopping, plus answer questions like: Why are you shopping? What is a de-influencer? What is an Urge Jar? As promised in the episode, here’s a link to Paige Pritchar...

568 - Responding Responsibly to a “Waste Not, Want Not” Mentality - Part 2

How do you start a conversation with someone who says that absolutely everything is valuable and should be cherished? Especially when that means that you, not they, should be the person to make space for it?  Kathi and her friend Cheri Gregory are returning today for the second part of their discussion on how to respond responsibly to another person who has a “waste not, want not” mentality. Here are their tips for how to keep the peace without keeping all the stuff: For people living in ...

567 - Responding Responsibly to a “Waste Not, Want Not” Mentality - Part 1

Sometimes we hear sayings like “waste not, want not” and we assume they are true all the time and in every circumstance. Or we may want to get rid of something, but someone else in our life expects us to keep it. What to do then? Today Kathi is discussing this very issue with her friend and co-author, Cheri Gregory. Cheri tells the tale of some big items she has recently decluttered and shares how her mindset about those items has changed over time. Some of those shifts in her thinking inc...

566 - How to Reclaim a Space In Your Home - Part 2

Have you ever dreamed of creating a space just for YOU? This is your episode! Today Kathi Lipp is joined by fellow book lover Amy Betters-Midtvedt. On the daily, Amy uses humor to share her expertise in all things home and parenting but today, they talk about decluttering to create a sacred space. For Amy, it’s for her beloved books. Listen in as Kathi and Amy discuss: Managing the push and pull of deciding what stays and what goes The benefit of having a reward at the end of your project...

565 - How to Reclaim a Space In Your Home - Part 1

Have you ever longed for a space to call your own? Welcome to your tribe! Today Kathi Lipp is joined by fellow book lover and Abundant Home Conference speaker Amy Betters-Midtvedt. Amy is an expert in all things home and parenting stirred with a super sized spoon of humor but today they talk about Amy’s decluttering path to carve out a space for something she loves: books. Listen in as Kathi and Amy discuss: Creating small goals to decluttering bins of treasures from the past Knowing when...

564 - How to Go from Full House to Living Light

Want to go from full house to living light? Today, we have a case study that will help you get there. Kathi is interviewing author Barb Raveling, who has a history of over-stuffing her closets and hiding things under the bed. The result? Feeling overwhelmed and stressed by clutter. (Can you relate?) She tried to get organized, made piles and sorted donations, and - nothing changed. “What if I need this in the future?” she cried. In the meantime, her present self was distracted by all the s...