Wannabe Clutter Free | Declutter, Simplify, Find Freedom

Deanna Yates | Professional Organizer, Decluttering Coach, Wannabe Minimalist

Ready to finally calm the overwhelm and create a home and life you actually enjoy? The Wannabe Clutter Free podcast is here to help you clear the clutter, simplify your routines, and find freedom in the life you’re building. I’m Deanna Yates, a busy mom who knows what it’s like to juggle family, career, and the never-ending piles of stuff. From selling 80% of what we owned to travel with our toddler, to managing the daily chaos of running a home with a school-aged kid, I’ve learned that living with less isn’t about deprivation. It’s about creating more space, more peace, and more joy. Each week, I share real-life stories, simple decluttering strategies, and mindset shifts that make it easier to let go of what’s weighing you down. You’ll also hear from inspiring guests who share practical tips and fresh perspectives on minimalism, home organization, intentional living, and building habits that last. If you’re tired of feeling buried in clutter and crave a home that feels calm, welcoming, and easy to manage, this show is for you. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress, freedom, and finding space for what truly matters to you.

  1. The Paper Clutter System That Took Me From 6 Piles to Zero

    1d ago

    The Paper Clutter System That Took Me From 6 Piles to Zero

    Paper doesn't ask permission. It just shows up in your mailbox, your kids' backpacks, and somehow on every flat surface in your home. And if the piles keep coming back no matter how many times you deal with them, it's not a discipline problem. It's a system problem. In this episode I'm sharing the exact system I use to keep paper from taking over, including what to do with everything that comes in, how to handle the stuff that's been piling up for months, and two bonus sections for the things nobody talks about: your kids' school papers and the one document organizer every family needs. In this episode you'll learn: Why paper piles keep coming back (it's not what you think) The Paper JAM System: three categories, every piece of paper, no exceptions How to set up a weekly processing routine that takes under 30 minutes The landing spot rule that stops paper from spreading during the week A simple system for kids' artwork and school papers that doesn't require keeping everything What an Emergency Binder is and the one document it cannot be missing Mentioned in this episode: Catalog Choice (opt out of paper catalogs for free) Digitized in a Day (go fully paperless) Episode 310: Your Phone Has 10,000 Photos Episode 314: Digital Declutter Ep 232: How Simplifying Your Home Can Improve Your Finances with Jill Sirianni Ep 174 Learning How To Spend Guilt-Free in a Clutter Free Home with Alli Williams Ep 243: Declutter Your Finances: Breaking Free from the Debt Cycle Without Budgeting Burnout with Germaine Foley Ep 260: Simplify Your Family Budget: The 5-Account System That Changes Everything with Brittany Flammer If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The Sneaky Clutter: Paper Invasion 01:47 Understanding the Paper Pile Problem 06:55 The Paper Jam System: Sorting Made Easy 16:26 Establishing a Weekly Processing Routine 23:16 Managing Kids' School Papers 27:18 Creating an Emergency Binder 30:16 Going Digital: The Future of Paper Management Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    35 min
  2. Why Your Schedule Will Never Work Until You Fix Your Home with Lori Oberbroeckling

    May 27

    Why Your Schedule Will Never Work Until You Fix Your Home with Lori Oberbroeckling

    Time management expert and Secrets of Supermom host Lori Oberbroeckling joins Deanna to talk about why energy runs out before time does, how clutter quietly sabotages your best-laid plans, and the small routine changes that actually stick. **************** ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESOURCES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Snag your ticket to Supermom Summer Camp⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the transcripts and more at wannabeclutterfree.com/311⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Lori: ⁠Secrets of Supermom Website⁠ Secrets of Supermom Instagram Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Effortless Home: DAILY Edition - 5 Steps to Run Your Home Like Magic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ **************** You bought the planner. You made the schedule. You had a whole plan. And then a super busy day happened. Sound familiar? This week Deanna sits down with Lori Oberbroeckling, a working mom of four, corporate project management leader, and host of the Secrets of Supermom Show. Lori has spent years helping busy, ambitious moms figure out why their best systems keep falling apart. Spoiler: it is almost never the plan. In this episode, Lori introduces her framework of energy bleeds, energy blocks, and energy boosts, and explains why your home environment plays a much bigger role in your daily productivity than most time management advice will ever admit. When your physical space is draining you before you even start your to-do list, even a perfect schedule cannot save you. Lori also shares the moment she and Deanna both recognized in themselves: we think we need a better planner, when really we need more energy boosts built into our days first. If you have ever felt like you are doing all the right things and still ending every day depleted, this episode is going to reframe everything. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Why a cluttered, chaotic home is an energy bleed that quietly tanks your whole day How to do a simple time and energy audit to figure out where your energy is actually going What to do when you hate a task but still have to do it Why routines fall apart and the one question to ask before you try to build one The small change that helped Lori's family of six stop tripping over shoes How to get your family actually on board with new home routines TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction to Lori Oberbroeckling 03:05 Why home environment matters to your schedule 08:25 Energy bleeds, blocks, and boosts explained 10:01 What to do when you have to do an energy bleed task 16:18 How to find your energy boosts when you do not know what they are 20:24 Flying trapeze and other energy boost revelations 21:32 Why routines fall apart and how to build ones that stick 24:11 Small changes that create big impact for the whole family 26:58 Getting family buy-in with carrots, not sticks 29:28 Why the planner is not the problem 32:27 Where to start when everything feels out of control 34:26 Rapid fire: what clutter free means, what is making Lori happy, and one takeaway **************** Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ **************** We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    41 min
  3. How to Declutter Thousands of Photos Without Losing Your Mind

    May 20

    How to Declutter Thousands of Photos Without Losing Your Mind

    Digital clutter doesn’t feel as obvious as a cluttered closet. But if you’ve ever had that pit-in-your-stomach moment of not being able to find a photo that matters, you know this isn’t small. In this episode I’m breaking down the three phases of getting your photos in order (Declutter, Organize, Maintain), the two specific starting points that build momentum without making any hard decisions, and the triple backup system that means you’ll never lose a photo again. In this episode you’ll learn: Why photo clutter is an emotional problem, not a storage problem The three-phase framework: Declutter, Organize, Maintain The burst photos trick that eliminates hundreds of photos in 20 minutes The calendar method for going through your entire catalog one day at a time The triple backup system that keeps your photos safe forever Resources mentioned: Snag Photo Freedom Formula ($37) ⁠⁠⁠Instagram @WannabeClutterFree⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Episode 304: The 15-Minute Declutter Method⁠⁠⁠ This episode is Part 5 of a series. Start with Episode 304 if you haven’t already. Next episode: The Paper Clutter System That Took Me From 6 Piles to Zero If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference. TIMESTAMPS 02:03 The Invisible Weight of Digital Clutter 04:56 Understanding the Emotional Impact of Photo Clutter' 07:30 Framework for Organizing Photos 09:54 Three Phases of Photo Management 12:31 Practical Tips for Decluttering Photos 15:41 Maintaining Your Photo Organization 18:24 Quick Wins for Photo Organization 20:45The Calendar Method for Photo Management Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    33 min
  4. The Real Reason Your Kids Aren't Helping Around the House (And How to Fix It) with Katie Kimball

    May 13

    The Real Reason Your Kids Aren't Helping Around the House (And How to Fix It) with Katie Kimball

    Your kids are more capable than you think. Katie Kimball, creator of Kids Cook Real Food and founder of the LifeSkillsNow summer camp, shares the practical systems that take kids from passengers to contributors -- and why cooking is the gateway to all of it. **************** ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESOURCES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Snag your ticket to the FREE #LifeSkillsNow Family Workshops ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the transcripts and more at wannabeclutterfree.com/309⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Katie: Raising Healthy Families Website Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Effortless Home: Run your home in less than 20 minutes a day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ **************** What if the key to a calmer home (and a lighter mental load) was already walking around your house asking for snacks? In this episode, Deanna Yates sits down with Katie Kimball of Raising Healthy Families, a former classroom teacher, two-time TEDx speaker, and mom of four. Katie created Kids Cook Real Food (named the best online cooking class for kids by the Wall Street Journal) and runs LifeSkillsNow, a virtual summer camp that teaches kids everything from cooking and budgeting to entrepreneurship and mending their own clothes. This conversation is all about kids as contributors, not passengers. Katie shares how her teaching background shaped the way she thinks about agency, choice, and raising the bar for what kids can actually do. She talks through the moment she realized her mental and physical load didn't have to fall entirely on her, the summer she intentionally taught her kids to cook, and the chore system her family is still using ten years later. You'll also hear why Katie calls cooking the gateway life skill, how the skills gap happened across generations, and the three-part framework she uses to help any parent hand something off to their kid in a way that actually sticks. If you have ever stood in your kitchen thinking it would be faster to just do it yourself, this episode is for you. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: The summer everything changed: how Katie went from "forgetting the faces of the children she was feeding" to building a family system that actually works What her classroom teaching taught her about agency, choice, and why raising the bar is always a good idea Why teenagers need even more autonomy than young kids -- and how she built Teens Cook Real Food around that The story of her 14-year-old vacuuming on a day off with no one asking him to Cooking as the gateway life skill: why starting in the kitchen spills over into everything else The three-part framework for handing something off to your kid: teach the skill, find the motivation, set the expectation TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 -- Katie's Parenting and Cooking Journey 04:37 -- What Teaching Taught Her About How Kids Learn 07:31 -- Raising the Bar: Kids Are More Capable Than We Think 10:33 -- Teaching Teens: Why Choice Is Everything 13:14 -- Cooking as a Pathway to Empathy 19:20 -- The Long Game: What It Looks Like When It Works 22:27 -- The Life Skills Gap: What Kids Are Missing 30:05 -- Values, Vertical Transmission, and Family Culture 32:36 -- Cooking Is the Gateway Life Skill 36:50 -- LifeSkillsNow Summer Camp and Where to Start **************** Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ **************** We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    55 min
  5. The Nightly 10-Minute Declutter Routine Every Busy Mom Needs (Ep 308)

    May 6

    The Nightly 10-Minute Declutter Routine Every Busy Mom Needs (Ep 308)

    You can declutter your entire home and still end up right back where you started. I know because I’ve lived it. This episode is the piece that makes everything permanent. I’m teaching you the closing shift, the exit bin, and why stacking habits beats scheduling them every time. In this episode you’ll learn: Why I went from owning almost nothing to filling up a house, and what finally broke the cycle The restaurant-inspired closing shift my family does every night What the Lightning Tidy is and how to make it fun for your whole family Why the one-in-one-out rule doesn’t work (and what to do instead) The habit stacking trick that makes routines stick forever Resources mentioned: ⁠Effortless Home Course ($27) ⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram @WannabeClutterFree⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Episode 304: The 15-Minute Declutter Method⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Episode 305: The Joy Anchor Method⁠⁠ Episode 306: The Motivation Cliff If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Clutter-Free Living 02:18 The Journey to Minimalism 04:45 Establishing a Daily Routine 07:13 The Closing Shift Explained 09:44 The Exit Bin Strategy 12:28 Habit Stacking for Success 14:23 The Invisible Weight of Clutter 21:03 Looking Ahead: Future Topics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    25 min
  6. The Science of Why Your Spaces Shape You (And How to Take Back Control) with Leidy Klotz

    Apr 29

    The Science of Why Your Spaces Shape You (And How to Take Back Control) with Leidy Klotz

    Behavioral scientist Leidy Klotz reveals how your home feeds or starves three core psychological needs, why clutter blocks connection, and how to make your spaces actually work for your family. **************** ⁠⁠⁠⁠RESOURCES⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the transcripts and more at wannabeclutterfree.com/307⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Leidy: ⁠In a Good Place by Leidy Klotz: Available wherever you get your books Subtract by Leidy Klotz Leidy's website: leidyklotz.com Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Effortless Home: Run your home in less than 20 minutes a day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ **************** What if the reason you feel stuck, distracted, or disconnected at home has less to do with your habits and more to do with your spaces? Leidy Klotz, an engineering professor at the University of Virginia, is the author of Subtract and his brand-new book In a Good Place. He has spent over a decade studying the relationship between our physical environments and our psychological well-being, and today he is breaking it all down for us. This conversation changed how I think about my home. We are not just talking about decluttering (although we do get into that). We are talking about why our spaces either feed or starve our deepest needs, and what we can do about it. In this episode you will learn: The three core psychological needs your home either supports or works against How clutter literally gets between you and the people you love Why you use your spaces the same way every day (and a simple research-backed way to break out of it) The renovation trap: when updating your home actually makes it less meaningful How to involve your kids in decisions about your home (and why it changes everything) The beautiful story of Josie's Way and what it teaches us about legacy and space Content note: Leidy shares openly about his daughter Josie, who passed away unexpectedly at four years old. Her story is woven throughout this conversation and is both heartbreaking and deeply beautiful. Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction and Leidy's background 05:40 The intersection of environment and behavior 11:24 The three core psychological needs: agency, growth, and connection 17:25 Agency and connection in the home (plus tips for renters) 20:30 How clutter literally blocks connection 26:50 Behavioral changes through environmental cues 32:23 The family that moved dinner outside 36:06 Functional fixedness: why adults are worse at this than kids 40:42 Nostalgia, the renovation trap, and protecting what matters 50:57 Josie's Way: remembering through spaces and stories **************** Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ **************** We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 6m
  7. Why You Quit Decluttering After One Week and 3 Tools to Fix It

    Apr 22

    Why You Quit Decluttering After One Week and 3 Tools to Fix It

    You started decluttering. It felt amazing. And then somewhere around day 7, your house felt just as cluttered as when you started, even though you know you did the work. That moment has a name. I call it the motivation cliff, and in this episode I'm explaining exactly why it happens and what to do about it. In this episode you'll learn: What the recalibration dip is and why your brain makes progress invisible The one metric that your brain can't trick you on How to make decluttering enjoyable enough to actually sustain The identity shift that turns you from a starter into a finisher Why motivation follows action, not the other way around This episode is Part 3 of a series. Start with Episode 304 (the 15-minute declutter method) and Episode 305 (the Joy Anchor Method for sentimental items) if you haven't already. Comment HOME on my latest Instagram post (@wannabeclutterfree) and I'll send you the link to Effortless Home. Resources mentioned: Effortless Home 19 for $19 Ultimate Decluttering Bundle (includes the 500 Item Challenge tracker) Decluttering Playlist on Spotify Episode 304: The 15-Minute Declutter Method Episode 305: The Joy Anchor Method If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Why the decluttering quit day hits around day 7 01:16 What the motivation cliff is and how to recognize it 04:01 The recalibration dip explained 08:37 Tool 1: Count items out the door, not how your home looks 13:04 Tool 2: Joy during the process, not after it 19:11 Tool 3: Finish what you start, even if it’s small 24:04 How Effortless Home and the 500 Item Challenge tracker can help 28:35 What’s coming next in the series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    29 min
4.5
out of 5
378 Ratings

About

Ready to finally calm the overwhelm and create a home and life you actually enjoy? The Wannabe Clutter Free podcast is here to help you clear the clutter, simplify your routines, and find freedom in the life you’re building. I’m Deanna Yates, a busy mom who knows what it’s like to juggle family, career, and the never-ending piles of stuff. From selling 80% of what we owned to travel with our toddler, to managing the daily chaos of running a home with a school-aged kid, I’ve learned that living with less isn’t about deprivation. It’s about creating more space, more peace, and more joy. Each week, I share real-life stories, simple decluttering strategies, and mindset shifts that make it easier to let go of what’s weighing you down. You’ll also hear from inspiring guests who share practical tips and fresh perspectives on minimalism, home organization, intentional living, and building habits that last. If you’re tired of feeling buried in clutter and crave a home that feels calm, welcoming, and easy to manage, this show is for you. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress, freedom, and finding space for what truly matters to you.

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