355 | How to Create a Sanctuary Within Your Home

Hey Friends!  This episode is meant to serve as a reminder to create a space within your home that can serve as your place to come back to when you need a little peace, a little alignment.  And it will also be that space from which you will find the order and the spaciousness that can eventually extend to the rest of your home. If you are interested in hearing the guided decluttering mediation I mentioned in the episode click HERE.  If you would like more information about my guided decluttering program email me at [email protected] or click HERE. 8-Hour Declutter Self-Guided Course Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect: 📸 Instagram: @declutteryourchaos 🛑 Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified mental health provider for more helpful tips and updates. Sponsored Content Disclosure: Some episodes include references to products I genuinely use and love. When I partner with a brand, I may receive compensation for sharing it here. I only talk about products I've personally chosen to bring into my own home and life, and I never recommend anything I wouldn't use myself. XO, Amber      

Hi Friends!  If you are ready to start making real lasting change in your home I have two ways to help you.  My self guided course called the Eight Hour Decluttering Course and my year long program called Your Decluttering Year.  In my year long program we go through your entire house and evaluate your unique home, patterns, and needs.  For more information on that feel free to email me or check out my website: https://declutteryourchaos.com/ 8-Hour Declutter Self-Guided Course Your Decluttering Year Group Program Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner This episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth. Visit cozyearth.com and use code DECLUTTER for up to 20% off Let's connect: 📸 Instagram: @declutteryourchaos 🌐 Website: www.declutteryourchaos.com 🛑 Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified mental health provider for more helpful tips and updates. Sponsored Content Disclosure: Some episodes include references to products I genuinely use and love. When I partner with a brand, I may receive compensation for sharing it here. I only talk about products I've personally chosen to bring into my own home and life, and I never recommend anything I wouldn't use myself. XO, Amber      

Hey Guys!   Our outer world is a reflection of our inner world, but what happens when your inner world evolves faster outer world.  It takes longer for our clutter to shift than it does our internal energy.  But when we keep showing up in our most elevated state, we make progress, our home starts to change, and we then see the physical reflection of our internal upgrade.  Your Decluttering Year Program This episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth. Visit cozyearth.com and use code DECLUTTER for up to 20% off March is an invitation to step out of the race — not to abandon your life, but to re-enter it differently. Internal shift first.  The house will follow. If you would like more information about my year long decluttering program click HERE. Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect: 📸 Instagram: @declutteryourchaos 🌐 Website: www.declutteryourchaos.com 🛑 Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified mental health provider for more helpful tips and updates. Sponsored Content Disclosure: Some episodes include references to products I genuinely use and love. When I partner with a brand, I may receive compensation for sharing it here. I only talk about products I've personally chosen to bring into my own home and life, and I never recommend anything I wouldn't use myself.      

Hey Friends, When do you get to stop doing and being everything for everyone else? In this episode, we talk about the exhaustion of constant striving — waking up every day trying to get through the list, hoping that if you just do enough, you'll finally feel settled. You built the life you were told would make you happy: The house. The family. The roles. The responsibilities. And yet something still feels incomplete. This episode is about that feeling. It's about the conditioning that taught many of us to come last. It's about how our homes filled up while we were busy trying to be everything for everyone. And it's about why organizing alone doesn't solve the deeper ache. When your identity is built on performance, achievement, and caretaking, the house becomes a reflection of that pace. It fills up while you are busy keeping up. The solution is not intensity. Reflection Questions Where in your life are you still standing in a line you don't actually want to be in? What expectation can you gently release this month? What is one small boundary you can create inside your home this week? A Gentle Reminder You are not behind. You are not broken. You are not missing a secret system. You may simply be overextended. March is an invitation to step out of the race — not to abandon your life, but to re-enter it differently. Internal shift first. The house will follow. Your Decluttering Year Program: If you would like more information about my year long decluttering program click HERE. Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect: 📸 Instagram: @declutteryourchaos 🌐 Website: www.declutteryourchaos.com 🛑 Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified mental health provider for more helpful tips and updates. Sponsored Content Disclosure: Some episodes include references to products I genuinely use and love. When I partner with a brand, I may receive compensation for sharing it here. I only talk about products I've personally chosen to bring into my own home and life, and I never recommend anything I wouldn't use myself.      

Your Decluttering Year Program: If you would like more information about my year long decluttering program click HERE. Primary Bedroom Decluttering: Process & Protect This episode is the final day of the primary bedroom focus. If you've ever decluttered a room, felt good about it, and then watched it slowly fall apart again, this episode explains why—and what to do differently. Today's focus is on finishing the work and holding the space. Supplies mentioned Post-its (to label destinations) A pen A task list or notebook A trash bag Optional but helpful: Boxes or bins Gallon and sandwich-size Ziploc bags for small items If this episode helped you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it. Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect: 📸 Instagram: @declutteryourchaos 🌐 Website: www.declutteryourchaos.com 🛑 Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified mental health provider for more helpful tips and updates. Sponsored Content Disclosure: Some episodes include references to products I genuinely use and love. When I partner with a brand, I may receive compensation for sharing it here. I only talk about products I've personally chosen to bring into my own home and life, and I never recommend anything I wouldn't use myself.    

Hey guys! Today we're continuing our special bedroom decluttering week and working on Zone Three of the primary bedroom — inside the furniture. This includes: nightstands dressers shelves This is part of the purge phase of our decluttering process. These are longer, contained sessions (about 2–3 hours), different from daily habit decluttering. The things that end up here are often: important unfinished something we don't want to forget or something we're not ready to deal with yet Today's episode focuses on learning how to stay present long enough to decide, without pushing or abandoning yourself. What we do in Zone Two This is not about organizing or creating perfect systems. It is about: categorizing sorting by destination reducing visual noise creating mental clarity You'll be guided through: how to set up your supplies how to regulate your nervous system before you start how to move through surfaces one item at a time how to stop when your timer goes off Supplies mentioned Post-its (to label destinations) A pen A task list or notebook A trash bag Optional but helpful: Boxes or bins Gallon and sandwich-size Ziploc bags for small items Your Decluttering Year Program: If you would like more information about my year long decluttering program click HERE. If this episode helped you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it. Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect: 📸 Instagram: @declutteryourchaos 🌐 Website: www.declutteryourchaos.com 🛑 Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified mental health provider for more helpful tips and updates. Sponsored Content Disclosure: Some episodes include references to products I genuinely use and love. When I partner with a brand, I may receive compensation for sharing it here. I only talk about products I've personally chosen to bring into my own home and life, and I never recommend anything I wouldn't use myself.    

Hey guys! Today we're continuing our special bedroom decluttering week and working on Zone Two of the primary bedroom — all the surfaces. This includes: nightstands dressers shelves the bed (if things collect there) any flat surface in the room This is part of the purge phase of our decluttering process. These are longer, contained sessions (about 2–3 hours), different from daily habit decluttering. Why bedroom surfaces fill up Bedroom surfaces tend to collect clutter because the bedroom feels private and protected. It's a space where decisions can be delayed without being questioned. The things that end up here are often: important unfinished something we don't want to forget or something we're not ready to deal with yet Today's episode focuses on learning how to stay present long enough to decide, without pushing or abandoning yourself. What we do in Zone Two This is not about organizing or creating perfect systems. It is about: categorizing sorting by destination reducing visual noise creating mental clarity You'll be guided through: how to set up your supplies how to regulate your nervous system before you start how to move through surfaces one item at a time how to stop when your timer goes off Supplies mentioned Post-its (to label destinations) A pen A task list or notebook A trash bag Optional but helpful: Boxes or bins Gallon and sandwich-size Ziploc bags for small items Your Decluttering Year Program: If you would like more information about my year long decluttering program click HERE. If this episode helped you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it. Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect: 📸 Instagram: @declutteryourchaos 🌐 Website: www.declutteryourchaos.com 🛑 Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified mental health provider for more helpful tips and updates. Sponsored Content Disclosure: Some episodes include references to products I genuinely use and love. When I partner with a brand, I may receive compensation for sharing it here. I only talk about products I've personally chosen to bring into my own home and life, and I never recommend anything I wouldn't use myself.    

Hey Guys! Welcome to the Purge. This episode is a guided decluttering session focused on Zone One, using a simple Ready → Set → Go structure so you can move through the space with clarity, momentum, and less mental exhaustion. Your Decluttering Year Program: If you would like more information about my year long decluttering program click HERE. Today's Decluttering Focus Zone One: The bedroom floor (bins, piles, boxes, and anything on the floor that isn't furniture) If your Zone One looks different, that's okay. This is just one way to break up the space so the work feels manageable. You'll want 2–3 uninterrupted hours set aside before you begin. The Ready → Set → Go Framework READY: Prepare to Start Before touching anything, make sure you have: Your decluttering supplies (bags, boxes, piles—whatever works for you) Post-its and a marker for labeling categories A task list (paper, journal, or phone notes) The Task List As you declutter, thoughts will surface: Things you need to return Appointments you need to schedule Calls, emails, or follow-ups you've been avoiding You are not meant to remember all of this. Your task list becomes a trusted place to capture those thoughts so you can let go of the object without losing the reminder. If it's on paper, take a photo when you're done—you'll be releasing the physical item that used to hold that information. SET: Regulate Your Nervous System Before you begin, you'll pause to set your energy. Decluttering often activates the stress response because the nervous system reads clutter as a threat. In that state, decision-making becomes harder and everything feels heavier. Slow, intentional breathing helps shift the body out of fight-or-flight and into a calmer, clearer state—before you touch a single item. In this episode, you're guided through a short breathing practice to help you: Settle your body Reduce overwhelm Create clarity before making decisions You haven't changed the room yet—but you've changed how you're meeting it. GO: Declutter the Zone Once regulated, you'll: Set a timer Stay in Zone One only Keep moving until the timer ends How to Move Through the Space Pick up one item at a time Place it into a clearly labeled category Write the destination on the post-it (donation, consignment, e-waste, a person's name, a room, etc.) If something belongs in another room, label it—don't leave the zone This keeps you focused and prevents derailment. You may pause briefly to: Breathe Write something on your task list Reset your focus But you keep going. When the Timer Goes Off Stop. Not because you're done, but because burnout doesn't help progress. End the session with: Clear categories A sense of structure A plan for your next purge day If you have time before the next session, you can take some categories to their destinations—but this is optional. There will be a full episode dedicated to processing everything later. After Day One If your space feels messier than when you started, that's normal. You've created structure inside the chaos. You're no longer avoiding it. You're in motion. This is progress. Coming Up Next Day Two: Furniture surfaces Day Three: Inside furniture and storage Your Decluttering Year Program: If you would like more information about my year long decluttering program click HERE. If this episode helped you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it. Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect: 📸 Instagram: @declutteryourchaos 🌐 Website: www.declutteryourchaos.com 🛑 Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified mental health provider for more helpful tips and updates. Sponsored Content Disclosure: Some episodes include references to products I genuinely use and love. When I partner with a brand, I may receive compensation for sharing it here. I only talk about products I've personally chosen to bring into my own home and life, and I never recommend anything I wouldn't use myself.  

Hey Guys, In this episode I explain how to prepare your time, zones, supplies and energy for decluttering your space. If you want deeper support, weekly guidance, and accountability, you can learn more about the Year-Long Program by clicking the link in the show notes. Episode Overview This episode kicks off Bedroom Week on Declutter Your Chaos. Throughout the week, you'll be guided through mindful decluttering sessions for the primary bedroom, with a clear plan so you're not guessing where to start or how to prepare. Before we declutter anything, today's episode focuses on preparation. You'll learn exactly how to set yourself up for success so the guided sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday feel doable, contained, and effective. The mindfulness theme for February is self-worth. If you haven't listened to Episode 346, start there—it explores how self-worth impacts buying habits and how mindfulness helps interrupt that cycle. Today's Focus: How to Prep for Bedroom Decluttering You'll walk through four non-negotiable prep steps that make the actual decluttering sessions work. 1. Choose Your Time These are full decluttering sessions, not quick resets. Guidelines: Block 2–3 hours per session Plan as many sessions as you need for the space. Schedule them within a two-week window Consider: When your energy is highest (morning vs. afternoon) Likely interruptions (kids, partners, responsibilities) Not spacing sessions too far apart—dragging it out leads to frustration and burnout These sessions have a beginning and an end. Think of them like a short race, not a lifestyle you have to maintain forever. 2. Choose Your Zones Break the bedroom into clear, contained sections so each session has a defined focus. This week's zones: Tuesday: Floor (including bins or random items on the floor) Wednesday: Surfaces (dressers, nightstands, vanities) Thursday: Inside furniture (drawers, cabinets, storage inside the bedroom) You can adjust zones to fit your space—left/right sides, under the bed, specific furniture—but each zone should reasonably fit into a 2–3 hour session. 3. Choose Your Supplies You don't need much. Required: Post-its A marker or Sharpie Optional: Bags, boxes, bins, or piles—whatever helps you move quickly Post-its are essential so you can label categories clearly and avoid decision fatigue while you're decluttering. 4. Choose Your Energy This is about physical, mental, and emotional readiness. Get enough sleep Start when you're reasonably energized Shift how you're relating to the space Approach this with curiosity instead of pressure. Treat it as an experiment: What might you learn about yourself? What space might open up? What could become possible once things are cleared? The items you're letting go of belong to the past. The work you're doing is happening in the present—to create room for what comes next. Tomorrow, you'll be guided step-by-step through Zone One. If this episode would help someone you know, share it with them. See you tomorrow. Your Decluttering Year Program: If you would like more information about my year long decluttering program click HERE. If this episode helped you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it. Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect: 📸 Instagram: @declutteryourchaos 🌐 Website: www.declutteryourchaos.com 🛑 Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified mental health provider for more helpful tips and updates. Sponsored Content Disclosure: Some episodes include references to products I genuinely use and love. When I partner with a brand, I may receive compensation for sharing it here. I only talk about products I've personally chosen to bring into my own home and life, and I never recommend anything I wouldn't use myself.    

Hey Guys, In this episode, I unpack the idea of outsourcing worth—the deeply learned pattern of looking outside ourselves for validation, safety, and permission to feel good. For many of us, this starts early, long before we ever think about buying things or organizing our homes. I share a story that shaped how I understood this pattern: watching someone's confidence and radiance disappear the moment another person disapproved. When you grow up learning that someone else can "turn off the light," you adapt. You manage. You perform. And eventually, you start giving your power away—to people, to perfection, and to stuff. This is the hidden reason decluttering feels so charged. Perfectionism, overbuying, and paralysis aren't character flaws. They're survival strategies rooted in fear and conditioning. The urge to replace the missing placemat, wait until everything is "just right," or avoid decluttering altogether isn't about aesthetics—it's about control and safety. Your Decluttering Year Program: If you would like more information about my year long decluttering program click HERE. If this episode helped you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it. Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect: 📸 Instagram: @declutteryourchaos 🌐 Website: www.declutteryourchaos.com 🛑 Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified mental health provider for more helpful tips and updates. Sponsored Content Disclosure: Some episodes include references to products I genuinely use and love. When I partner with a brand, I may receive compensation for sharing it here. I only talk about products I've personally chosen to bring into my own home and life, and I never recommend anything I wouldn't use myself.