Clutter Made Me Overwhelmed—So I Did Something About It—My Story and Why I Started EHO

You don’t need more time. You don’t need more motivation.

If you feel constantly overwhelmed at home, there’s a good chance the real problem is sitting right in front of you.

Clutter.

Not just the obvious piles—but the constant visual noise, the unfinished decisions, the stuff that doesn’t have a place.

I know this because I’ve lived it.

I Grew Up in a Cluttered Home (And It Affected Me More Than I Realized)

Yes, I’m a naturally organized person.Yes, I actually enjoy it.

But this didn’t come out of nowhere—and it definitely wasn’t always easy.

I grew up in a cluttered home. And honestly, I think that was pretty normal for a lot of Gen X kids with Boomer parents. My parents weren’t great at keeping things tidy. My mom was amazing in so many ways—but organization just wasn’t her thing.

And I felt it. The clutter made me overwhelmed, and I was unable to control it.

I remember always being frustrated—never being able to find anything, the dining room table buried in papers, mail, and schoolwork, and a couch you couldn’t actually sit on because it had become a drop zone for everything coming in the front door.

It didn’t seem to bother anyone else. Or if it did, no one said anything.

So I took control of the only space I could—my bedroom. It was always clean, always organized. It gave me a sense of calm I didn’t get anywhere else in the house.

When I moved out at 22, I finally had control over my whole space—and I loved it.

But then another life transition happened...

How Clutter Made Me Overwhelmed as a Mom

I had kids! And like it does, life got louder, busier… and way more cluttered. One kid brings a lot of stuff. Two kids? It multiplies fast. Suddenly, my home started to feel like it was being taken over.

I swear all the toys ever made were in this room at the same time

The Moment I Realized Clutter Was Affecting My Mental Health

At first, I managed. But over time, I noticed something else creeping in—I was constantly overwhelmed. On edge. Easily frustrated. Yelling more than I wanted to.

And I started to ask myself a hard question:

Is it the clutter?

So I decided to find out.

What Happened When I Started Decluttering (It Wasn’t Just My Home That Changed)

I made decluttering and organization a priority—not a one-day purge, but an ongoing process. And pretty quickly, I noticed a shift.

I felt calmer.Less anxious.Less overwhelmed.

And most importantly—I wasn’t snapping at my kids all the time.

So I kept going.

How I Stopped Feeling Constantly Overwhelmed at Home

I became more intentional about what we allowed into our home. I created simple systems. I built habits that made staying organized feel manageable—not exhausting.

Now, my kids are 19 and 16, and yes—I still declutter regularly. But it doesn’t feel like a chore anymore, because it never gets out of control.

What I’ve learned is this:

Clutter overstimulates me.

Why Clutter Feels So Overstimulating (And Why You’re Not Crazy for Feeling This Way)

All the visual noise—the piles, the randomness, the things without a place—it keeps my brain on high alert. When everything is picked up and put away, my brain can finally relax.

And when my brain relaxes… I can actually enjoy my home.

For some people, it’s crowds. For others, it’s noise.

For me—and for a lot of people—it’s stuff.

Real Life: My Home Still Isn’t Perfect (And That’s Not the Goal)

That doesn’t mean my house is perfect. It means I have systems that make it easy to reset. I don't need a pinterest perfect house to be happy. I just need a home that supports me and my family.

I feel better walking into this family room. It's not a showpiece but it's livable

Why I Became a Professional Organizer (And Started EHO)

When I learned that organizing wasn’t just something I was good it, but also something that helped save my sanity, I decided I wanted to help other people do the same thing.  I wanted to be an organizer decades ago but when I was 25 I didn't realize it was even a thing.  But I learned it really was a job, and one I would really be good at, and would be truly rewarding.  So here I am helping people reclaim their sanity and their homes at the same time!

Text me so we can chat about your decluttering and organizing needs and how I can help you.