Hey Guys!
Welcome to the Purge.
This episode is a guided decluttering session focused on Zone One, using a simple Ready → Set → Go structure so you can move through the space with clarity, momentum, and less mental exhaustion.
Your Decluttering Year Program: If you would like more information about my year long decluttering program click HERE.
Today's Decluttering Focus
Zone One: The bedroom floor
(bins, piles, boxes, and anything on the floor that isn't furniture)
If your Zone One looks different, that's okay. This is just one way to break up the space so the work feels manageable.
You'll want 2–3 uninterrupted hours set aside before you begin.
The Ready → Set → Go Framework
READY: Prepare to Start
Before touching anything, make sure you have:
Your decluttering supplies (bags, boxes, piles—whatever works for you)
Post-its and a marker for labeling categories
A task list (paper, journal, or phone notes)
The Task List
As you declutter, thoughts will surface:
Things you need to return
Appointments you need to schedule
Calls, emails, or follow-ups you've been avoiding
You are not meant to remember all of this.
Your task list becomes a trusted place to capture those thoughts so you can let go of the object without losing the reminder.
If it's on paper, take a photo when you're done—you'll be releasing the physical item that used to hold that information.
SET: Regulate Your Nervous System
Before you begin, you'll pause to set your energy.
Decluttering often activates the stress response because the nervous system reads clutter as a threat. In that state, decision-making becomes harder and everything feels heavier.
Slow, intentional breathing helps shift the body out of fight-or-flight and into a calmer, clearer state—before you touch a single item.
In this episode, you're guided through a short breathing practice to help you:
Settle your body
Reduce overwhelm
Create clarity before making decisions
You haven't changed the room yet—but you've changed how you're meeting it.
GO: Declutter the Zone
Once regulated, you'll:
Set a timer
Stay in Zone One only
Keep moving until the timer ends
How to Move Through the Space
Pick up one item at a time
Place it into a clearly labeled category
Write the destination on the post-it (donation, consignment, e-waste, a person's name, a room, etc.)
If something belongs in another room, label it—don't leave the zone
This keeps you focused and prevents derailment.
You may pause briefly to:
Breathe
Write something on your task list
Reset your focus
But you keep going.
When the Timer Goes Off
Stop.
Not because you're done, but because burnout doesn't help progress.
End the session with:
Clear categories
A sense of structure
A plan for your next purge day
If you have time before the next session, you can take some categories to their destinations—but this is optional. There will be a full episode dedicated to processing everything later.
After Day One
If your space feels messier than when you started, that's normal.
You've created structure inside the chaos.
You're no longer avoiding it.
You're in motion.
This is progress.
Coming Up Next
Day Two: Furniture surfaces
Day Three: Inside furniture and storage
Your Decluttering Year Program: If you would like more information about my year long decluttering program click HERE.
If this episode helped you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it.
Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner
Let's connect:
📸 Instagram: @declutteryourchaos
🌐 Website: www.declutteryourchaos.com
🛑 Disclaimer:
I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns, please seek help from a qualified mental health provider for more helpful tips and updates.
Sponsored Content Disclosure: Some episodes include references to products I genuinely use and love. When I partner with a brand, I may receive compensation for sharing it here. I only talk about products I've personally chosen to bring into my own home and life, and I never recommend anything I wouldn't use myself.
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