Does the word “organization” strike fear into your heart, or does it energize you? In midlife, it often feels like more stuff is coming in than going out. We are dealing with kids moving out, inheriting items from parents, or just trying to manage the daily influx of paper. It can feel completely overwhelming!
If you’ve been thinking about decluttering but just can’t seem to follow through, you aren’t alone. On a recent episode of the Mind Your Midlife podcast, I sat down with Tracy Hoth, a certified life and organizing coach. We talked about why everything comes down to our mindset—and how we can finally get our spaces in order.
You Cannot Outperform Your Identity
Tracy brought up a brilliant point: we cannot outperform our identity. If you constantly tell yourself that you are “messy,” “a piler,” or “too sentimental,” you will continue to create a space that proves that belief is true. We use these labels as reasons why we can’t get organized.
But here’s the good news: there is somewhere in your life where you are organized and do make great decisions. Do you meticulously plan vacations down to the detail? Do you make your bed every single morning? Are you amazing at sending birthday cards on time? Find that evidence of your organized self and bring that identity into your home projects.
Quick aside… I decided that 2026 was going to be my year of remembering to send card by mail to people for birthdays and whenever. So far, I’m doing so-so with the habit – and I’m thrilled about how much joy it’s bringing!
What Clutter Really Is (And How It “Helps” Us)
We need to redefine what it means to be organized. Being organized simply means you know what you have and you can find it when you need it. It doesn’t have to look like a Pinterest or Instagram photo!
Clutter, on the other hand, is just delayed decisions. We leave things laying around because our brain is protecting us from the emotions of letting them go. Especially with our parents’ belongings or our kids’ old toys, making decisions can bring up feelings of guilt, disloyalty, or fear.
Tip: Ask yourself, “How is this clutter helping or protecting me right now?” Acknowledging the underlying fear and allowing those emotions to come up can help you finally let go.
Easy Action Steps to Declutter Your Space
Ready to tackle that junk drawer or pile of mail? Try these tips from the episode:
- Treat Organizing Like a Project: Don’t try to organize the whole house at once. Pick one area a month (like your bedroom) and give it a firm start and end date with specific goals so you don’t jump from task to task.
- Try the 15-Minute S.P.A.C.E. Method: Take 15 minutes and tackle a small area, like a drawer or your purse, using Tracy’s 5-step process:
- Sort: Do not try to make keep, donate, or sell decisions yet! Just put all similar items in a pile together (e.g., all paper in one pile, all jeans in a pile).
- Purge: Now, choose your favorites first and make decisions on the rest of the items.
- Assign Homes: Decide exactly where the category of items will live.
- Contain: Shop your own house for containers, like old iPhone boxes, before buying anything new at the store.
- Energize: Over-celebrate finishing your 15 minutes to build energy for maintenance.
- Tie Maintenance to an Existing Habit: Keep your space tidy by linking it to something you already do, like tidying your sock drawer every time you do laundry.
Ready for More?
We often put so much artificial stress and pressure on ourselves when it comes to keeping a perfect home. Remember, midlife is your time to take a little bit better care of yourself.
To hear my full, fascinating conversation with Tracy Hoth, click below!
And just for fun, head over to cherylpfischer.com/menopausequiz to see if you are smack dab in menopause or just navigating the general mayhem of midlife. 🙂