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If you’ve ever looked around your home or office and thought, I don’t even know where to begin, you’re not alone.

Most of the women I work with don’t lack motivation. They lack clarity. They’re tired, busy, emotionally invested in their homes—and overwhelmed by the sheer number of decisions clutter demands.

In a recent conversation on the Faith and Family Trailblazer Podcast, I shared one of the simplest principles I use with clients:

Start where you’re stuck—not where you think you “should.”

Why Clutter Feels So Heavy

Clutter isn’t just stuff.
It’s a mountain of decisions that need to be made.
Mental noise that never fully turns off and literally raises our cortisol levels.

When every surface is full and every drawer is stuffed, your brain is constantly working—whether you realize it or not. That’s why clutter often shows up alongside overwhelm, fatigue, and a sense that you’re always behind.

And here’s the compassionate truth I want you to hear:

Nothing has gone wrong.
Your home simply needs a system. A system that supports YOU and your family.

The G.R.A.C.E. Method: A Gentle Starting Point

When someone feels stuck, I don’t tell them to just go organize the whole house! I guide them through my G.R.A.C.E. Method, beginning with the first step:

G — Gather

Gather your why before you touch the stuff.

Ask yourself:

• Why do I want this space to feel different?

• How do I need this room to function to support me right now?

• What would “calm” look and feel like in here?

Then gather a few practical things:

• Donation bags

• Sharpies, post-it notes

• A clear surface to work on

• A realistic time window (even 20–30 minutes counts)

Then gather ALL the items in the space or category you are working in. If that’s overwhelming to you, break it down:

• Gather by category i.e. pots & pans, spices, shorts, shoes, etc.
• Gather by one section of the room
• Gather by one closet, one room, one area

Start Small—and Start Where It Bothers You Most

Close your eyes and mentally walk through your home.

Which space makes you sigh?
Which area do you avoid?
Which one stresses you out every single day?

That’s your starting point.

The space that’s stealing your peace right now.

For many women, that’s:

• Their primary closet (where every day begins and ends)

• The kitchen (the heart of the home)

• A single drawer that no longer closes

To start don’t worry about a full house reset.
Just start on the area that is stressing you out, one item at a time.

“Start small. Start where you’re stuck. When you feel momentum in one small space, it creates a cascading effect.”

Releasing Clutter Without Guilt

One of the biggest reasons decluttering stalls is guilt:

• I spent money on this.

• Someone gave this to me.

• I might need it someday.

R = Release

Releasing items gets easier when you decide where they’re going next.

That might look like:

• A local charity you trust

• A Buy Nothing group

• Passing items directly to someone who needs them

Letting go doesn’t erase gratitude for the item and how it served you and your family.
It redirects it. It gives the item a new home and a chance to bless someone else.

Organizing That Supports Your Real Life

After you release what no longer supports your life or the life you want to be living, organization becomes much simpler.

This is where we:

• Create homes for what remains

• Use or ACQUIRE (A = Acquire) containers intentionally (not excessively)

• Place items based on how you actually live—not how you wish you did

I call this “Cultivate”. We cultivate an organizing dance that matches your lifestyle. So, C = Cultivate.

Then comes the part most people skip…

Enjoy the Space You Just Reclaimed!

E = Enjoy!

Organizing isn’t just about productivity—it’s about presence.

Pause.
Sit in the space.
Say a prayer of thanks.
Notice how your body feels when the room finally supports you.

That moment matters. The “why” you gathered first, is here. ENJOY it!

“Organizing our physical space allows room for new opportunities—physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.”