Wannabe Clutter Free | Declutter, Simplify, Find Freedom

Deanna Yates | Professional Organizer, Decluttering Coach, Wannabe Minimalist
  • 4.5 (374)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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

    4D AGO

    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
  2. 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
  3. 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. How to Declutter Sentimental Items Without Guilt (The Joy Anchor Method)

    APR 15

    How to Declutter Sentimental Items Without Guilt (The Joy Anchor Method)

    If you’ve ever held onto something not because you need it but because of what it means to you, this episode is for you. I’m teaching you the Joy Anchor Method, a simple way to keep what matters and let go of what’s weighing you down. What you’ll learn: the reframe that makes it easier to know what sentimental items to keep the step-by-step method for handling sentimental collections How to use the Photo Bridge for items you can’t keep but can’t release A simple question I asked my client to help her get unstuck Comment PHOTOS on my latest Instagram post (@wannabeclutterfree) to get the link to Photo Freedom Formula. Next episode: The Motivation Cliff – Why You Quit Decluttering at Day 7 (And How to Not) Resources mentioned: ⁠Photo Freedom Formula Course ⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram @WannabeClutterFree⁠⁠ 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 Emotional Weight of Sentimental Clutter 03:01 Understanding the Joy Anchor Method 10:34 Implementing the Joy Anchor Method 21:30 Creating a Photo Bridge for Memories 31:34 Navigating the Motivation Cliff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    36 min
  5. How to Declutter When You Don't Know Where to Start (15-Minute Method)

    APR 8

    How to Declutter When You Don't Know Where to Start (15-Minute Method)

    If you’ve ever said “I want to declutter but I don’t know where to start,” this episode is your answer. I’m breaking down the sequencing mistake that makes decluttering feel impossible, the 15-minute pulse check method you can use in any room today, and a reframe that changed how I think about letting go. Plus, I’ll tell you about Effortless Home, my room-by-room system for busy families who want a clutter free home without the weekend overhaul. What you’ll learn: Why starting with the hardest room is the #1 reason people quit The 15-minute pulse check method (three categories, one timer, done) How to reframe “letting go” so it feels like a gain, not a loss The room-by-room system inside Effortless Home Next episode: How to Declutter Sentimental Items Without Guilt (The Joy Anchor Method) Resources mentioned: Effortless Home Course ($27) ⁠Instagram @WannabeClutterFree⁠ 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 Decluttering 00:23: Identifying the Problem - "You have a sequencing problem." 01:41: Where most people go wrong with decluttering 4:29: Step One - Where to Start for Decluttering Success 07:23: Step Two - 15 Minute Pulse Check 08:51: The Sorting Categories to Get You Moving Quickly 15:41: The Mindset Shift that Flips Decluttering Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    25 min
  6. Why Routines Are the Secret to Making Room for Joy

    APR 1

    Why Routines Are the Secret to Making Room for Joy

    Do you feel like you're constantly managing your home instead of enjoying it? Like no matter how much you declutter, the chaos just keeps coming back? In this solo episode, Deanna breaks down why routines are the missing piece and how building the right ones can completely change the way your home feels. Resources mentioned: Effortless Home Course ($27): comment HOME on any Instagram post at @WannabeClutterFree and Deanna will send the link straight to your DMs, or grab it in the show notes Finish by Jon Acuff Join the email list to be the first to hear about something exciting coming soon Links: Effortless Home Course Join the Email List Instagram @WannabeClutterFree In this episode you'll learn: Why decluttering without routines is like mopping the floor with dirty water The real reason your mental energy is gone by 4pm (hint: it's not laziness) Why most routines fail on day two and what Jon Acuff calls "the day after perfect" The STICK framework: five steps to building routines that actually last Why fewer things in your home makes your routines easier to stick to 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 02:15 — Why decluttering without routines doesn't work 05:00 — Decision fatigue and why your brain is exhausted by 4pm 09:30 — Jon Acuff's "the day after perfect" and why day two is the danger zone 13:00 — The STICK framework: five steps to routines that last 20:00 — Why decluttering and routines work together 22:30 — Effortless Home + how to get the link 24:00 — Something exciting is coming soon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    37 min
  7. Discover the Secrets to an Organized and Joyful Home with Ea Fuqua and Meg DeLong

    MAR 25

    Discover the Secrets to an Organized and Joyful Home with Ea Fuqua and Meg DeLong

    Professional organizers and sisters Meg DeLong and Ea Fuqua share practical, sustainable strategies for organizing your home based on function and intention rather than perfection. Discover how to create spaces that support your lifestyle and embrace real-life solutions without pressure. **************** ⁠⁠⁠RESOURCES⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/302 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tidy Up Book on Amazon⁠ ⁠IKEA Storage ⁠⁠Solutions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Meg & Ea: The Tidy Home Nashville Instagram Facebook Pinterest TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ **************** What does it actually look like when a professional organizer walks through your front door for the first time? Spoiler: it probably doesn't look like what you're imagining — and it definitely doesn't require a Pinterest-perfect pantry. Meg DeLong and Ea Fuqua are sisters and the founders of The Tidy Home Nashville. In nearly seven years of professional organizing, they've seen it all. And their message? Refreshingly real. Function first. Perfection never. And for the love of all things tidy, stop organizing your fridge. They also just released their first book, Tidying Up, and today they're breaking it all down for us. In this episode, you'll learn: What actually happens during a first consultation (everyone hides stuff in closets, yes, everyone) Why organization has to fit how you actually live, not how you think you should live The fridge organizing myth and why they're unapologetically anti-fridge How to create systems that grow and shift with your family over time Why the junk drawer is the best place to start (every. single. time.) What Tidying Up is really for (hint: it's not for people who already have it together) How to get your whole household on board without becoming the organization police Their evolution from perfection → function → intentionality, and what that means for your home Time Stamps: 00:00 - Meet Meg & Ea: sisters, professional organizers, and the story behind The Tidy Home Nashville 01:33 - What a first consultation actually looks like (and why you don't need to pre-clean) 09:20 - Function over pretty: building systems that fit how you actually live 22:30 - Why big decluttering sessions backfire — and what to do instead 32:07 - Their new book Tidying Up: room-by-room, no perfection required 44:30 - The anti-fridge stance + intentional living as an organizing philosophy 55:55 - Getting the whole family on board + where to find Meg & Ea **************** 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 7m
  8. The Art of Bending Time: How to Beat Burnout and Get More Done with Michelle Niemeyer

    MAR 18

    The Art of Bending Time: How to Beat Burnout and Get More Done with Michelle Niemeyer

    Feeling burned out and stretched too thin? Former attorney turned burnout expert Michelle Niemeyer shares her "bending time" framework to help you find clarity, fill your energy reserves, and get more done in less time without losing yourself in the process. **************** ⁠⁠RESOURCES⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/301⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michelle Niemeyer: ⁠⁠Michelle's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Free clarity meditation: text CLARITY to 33777 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ **************** What if the reason you can't get it all done isn't a time problem but an energy problem? Michelle Niemeyer is a speaker, consultant, and former attorney who burned out after 20+ years in law. That burnout led to an autoimmune diagnosis and became the wake-up call that changed everything. She shares The Art of Bending Time, a framework that helps you expand what you can accomplish by getting clear on what matters, cutting the junk, and filling your energy reserves. The conversation also explores burnout warning signs, why women struggle with guilt around self-care, and how families can function as a team. In this episode, you'll learn: The burnout sign Michelle ignored for years that eventually made her body shut down How one dad doubled his sales in a single week by changing just one thing about his morning The simple clarity exercise that reveals what actually fills your cup (most people have never done this) Why the phrase "work-life balance" might be the very thing keeping you stuck and overwhelmed What 80 unused boats on a Miami dock taught Michelle about the clutter we're killing ourselves to maintain Time Stamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:20 Who is Michelle Niemeyer and what she does 2:16 What is "bending time" and how it works 3:54 The 80/20 rule and why we waste time on busy work 5:51 Flow state and why physical health matters for productivity 7:11 Why "work-life balance" can actually be destructive 9:25 Signs of burnout: Michelle's personal story 13:56 The clarity exercise: finding what lights you up 17:47 How to weave your "sparks" into daily life 21:06 The power of small moments of connection 26:31 Why women feel guilty taking time for themselves 27:30 Treating your family like a team 33:51 Burnout to autoimmune disease: Michelle's health wake-up call 38:45 Bending time revisited: cutting junk, expanding capacity 41:38 Stop chasing a lifestyle that doesn't light you up 43:29 The boat dock story: things we own but never use **************** 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

    53 min
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4.5
out of 5
374 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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