Simplicity - It's About Reducing your Mental Load and Making Room for What Matters
minimalism, simplicity, declutter, lover your life , freedom, family
6/5/20267 min read
In a world that constantly tells us to do more, buy more, achieve more, and keep up with more, simplicity can feel almost rebellious. Today's world is full of things made with pennies and treated as valuable but lose their value quicker then the shipping times.....
Many of us carry not only physical clutter but overflowing schedules, endless to-do lists, decision fatigue, guilt about unfinished projects, and the mental weight of trying to manage it all.
The real issue is not clutter itself. It is the cognitive and emotional load created by accumulated decisions, unfinished tasks, and constant environmental cues that signal “something still needs to be done.”
From a psychological perspective, chronic clutter increases cognitive load, meaning the brain must continuously process visual reminders of incomplete decisions. This contributes to decision fatigue, reduced executive functioning, and a persistent background sense of overwhelm.
Emotionally, clutter often becomes associated with guilt, self-criticism, or perceived failure to maintain control. Over time, the nervous system can begin to interpret the environment as “unfinished,” which can keep the body in a low-level stress response even in moments of rest.
Behaviourally, this often shows up as avoidance cycles—delaying organization, feeling temporarily overwhelmed, attempting large-scale cleanouts, and then returning to the same accumulation pattern when energy is depleted. The issue is rarely a lack of motivation; it is often an overwhelmed system that has too many inputs and too few simple structures for processing them.
At Rooted Rowan Counselling, I often see how overwhelm affects our mental health. When life feels chaotic, our nervous systems can stay in a constant state of stress. While decluttering isn't a cure for anxiety.. it can sure help with stress, burnout and creating simpler systems at home. let's work together to reduce some of the daily friction that drains our energy.
Start Small: The Power of One Space ( physical or not)
One of the most helpful principles shared by minimalist is that you don't have to declutter your entire home in a weekend.
Instead, focus on one small area:
One drawer
One shelf
One bathroom cabinet
One basket of toys
Small wins build momentum. Every item you remove is one less thing to clean, organize, maintain, or think about. Really this works for any new habit you want to develop small steps equal big wins when consistent.
Other ways you can make small wins:
Declutter 5 objects a day or against a timer.
Get the family involved in the decluttering.
don't judge your children in preventing them from decluttering things they don't use or want. Let them let it go, and you can practice letting it go too,
Realize you don't have time for everything, chose only to finish projects that are important to you, let the others go. Accept your not ever going to get to scrap booking.. leave room for the things you actually do.
Realize creativity grows with less, you don't need the string you have not touched since your wedding Susan...bless the seniors home with it.
Children are also more creative with less. Montessori philosophies promote six toys for optimal development!
Progress matters more than perfection. you will realize how much more time you have in a day by just getting rid of a few things it is surprising!
Some Items stay in our homes because:
We believe we might need them someday; but let's be real the past is the biggest predictor of the future... if you haven't used it you likely won't. If you do need it, Amazon same day delivery ... or Dollartree $1.25. What costs more your peace of mind or carrying endless stuff around with you throughout life. Chances are you won't need it and if you do there is an over abundance of stuff on this earth. Believe in yourself enough to know you will find a way to get what you need.
We spent money on them. Remember we already spent the money and keeping the item does not bring our money back. If you are scared you might need to rebuy the item trust that you know what you need. In the one off chance you did need it I am sure you can get to know your neighbour and borrow it.
We feel guilty getting rid of them. Is it our responsibility to carry all of late aunty Marie's china? Or can we keep one really special item that brings back fond memories of her? Is it us that wants to keep that item or is it someone else's " shoulds" over our own home and peace of mind?
We don't know where they belong. Find a place for it, throw away something else to make room for it or really evaluate if we are truly using it. Remember we only have the space we have and rearranging things might help a little but the truth is we only have the space we have.
When we recognize clutter as unfinished decisions, we can approach it with curiosity rather than shame we can ask ourselves why.
Ask yourself:
Would I buy this again today?
Does this support my current life? Not your future home, children or career. Not past sporty self that no longer has time.. but today me.
Is this adding value or adding stress?
let's be real.. does someday ever come?... The money has already been spent keeping it doesn't undo our spending... if it doesn't serve our life why are will guilty? is that someone else's guilt getting into our head?
Create Systems That Match Your Personality
One of the most valuable lessons from Clutterbug is that organization isn't one-size-fits-all. Check out her quiz here to see what type of bug you are ! Take the Quiz - What Clutterbug are you? - Clutterbug
The main points are some people love detailed systems with labels, categories, and containers.
Others need simple, visible systems where items are easy to see and access.
If you've tried organizing methods that never seem to stick, the problem may not be you. The system may simply not fit how your brain works.
The best organizing system is the one you can maintain on your busiest day. Know yourself and what works for you. Are you someone who will take a lid off the container every time to put it away, i know I am not, or do you need somewhere to toss it quick?
Reduce Decisions Through Simple Meals
Decision fatigue is real.
By the end of a long day, deciding what to cook can feel overwhelming. Creating a simple meal routine can reduce stress significantly.
Some easy ideas include:
Choose Theme Nights
Taco Tuesday
Pasta Wednesday
Soup Thursday
Sheet Pan Friday
Having a basic structure eliminates dozens of small decisions each week. I swear that half of the work of cooking meals is figuring out what to make every... single.. day.
Keep Simple Staples Available
Stock ingredients that can create multiple meals:
Rotisserie chicken
Frozen vegetables
Rice
Potatoes
Pasta
Canned beans
Greek yogurt
Eggs
Simple meals don't have to be boring. They simply remove unnecessary complexity.
Lower the Standard
Not every meal needs to look like something from social media.
A balanced dinner can be:
Grilled chicken, vegetables, and potatoes
Soup with bread and salad
Eggs, toast, and fruit
Pasta with a simple sauce and protein
Feeding your family consistently is more important than creating elaborate meals every night.
I find when I take time ahead to plan even a couple meals in the week it lessens my scrambling last minute. What can I make? I didn't take anything out of the fridge... just take two minutes to semi- chose. Take our some meat and make sure you have the ingredients . If you have time you can take a few extra steps like chopping or setting out the spices or whatever other ingredient prep you feel would help.
I found the busier my life gets the more I need to throw out in order to keep up. Honestly it is my ultimate mom hack. Toys on the floor?.... throw them out, papers on the desk... throw them out. Obviously you can't just throw away everything but attempting to throw away everything that is not super important is so stress relieving. You will never have to pick it up or think about it again. Your mind will be more clear so you can play with your children or take care of your grandpa!
Declutter Your Calendar Too
Physical clutter often gets the most attention, but schedule clutter can be equally exhausting.
Consider:
Which commitments are draining you?
What activities no longer align with your priorities?
Where are you saying yes out of guilt?
Get clear on your core goals. Does it support those core goals?
Creating margin in your schedule allows room for rest, connection, and spontaneity.
Sometimes simplicity means removing obligations, not just possessions.
The Hidden Mental Load of "Someday"
Many homes contain boxes, bins, and closets filled with "someday" items.
Someday I'll fix it.
Someday I'll learn that hobby.
Someday I'll wear that.
Someday I will finish that.
Someday I'll organize that room.
While some future plans are worthwhile, too many unfinished intentions can create a constant feeling of being behind. Look around your room. Do you see piles of to do lists or peace that leads inspiration to be creative or relax? Does the objects in your home remind you to exercise or make you feel guilty because you haven't lately? That is the difference between clutter and mindful kept possessions.
Giving yourself permission to release items connected to an old version of yourself can be incredibly freeing.
Make Your Home Easier to Reset
One practical goal of decluttering is reducing the time it takes to tidy your space.
Imagine being able to reset your main living areas in 10–15 minutes instead of spending hours cleaning. It is a high goal... but possible even with kids!
Some helpful strategies include:
Keep surfaces as clear as possible.
Limit duplicate items.
Create donation boxes that stay accessible.
Follow a "one in, one out" rule for certain categories.
Store frequently used items where they're easiest to reach.
Simple homes are often easier to maintain because there is simply less to manage.
Simplicity Creates Capacity
The goal of simplicity is not to own the fewest things or live in a perfectly organized home.
The goal is to create more capacity for the things that truly matter.
More time with family.
More space to rest.
More energy for meaningful work.
More room for joy.
When we remove what isn't serving us, we make room for what is.
At Rooted Rowan Counselling, we believe that healing and growth often begin with creating space—both internally and externally.
If life has felt overwhelming lately, consider choosing one small area today. One drawer. One shelf. One decision.
Small changes can create meaningful momentum.
And if meal planning feels like one more overwhelming task on your list, stay tuned for our upcoming 20-Minute Meal Series, where we'll share simple, family-friendly meals designed for busy lives, limited time, and real-world schedules.
Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is make life a little simpler.