That Hoarder: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding #203 How to declutter when you can't reach your shelves
Nov 7, 2025
27:12
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If you’re facing the frustration of knowing where your things belong but just can’t access your shelves or cupboards because there’s too much in the way, this episode is for you. I break down why piling things up with good intentions doesn’t actually solve anything, why decluttering comes before organising, and share honest strategies for making actual progress when your home feels overwhelming.
- Barriers to Organising Due to Inaccessible Shelves
- E.g. wanting to keep clothes but can’t access the wardrobe
- Emotional impact: frustration and the cycle of blocked organisation
- Layers and spread of clutter that block storage areas
- The Vicious Cycle of Clutter and Organisation
- How inaccessible shelves lead to piles that further compound the problem
- The emotional fallout: self-blame and shame
- Reframing the struggle as a symptom of hoarding disorder’s progression, not personal failure
- Coping Strategies & Common Pitfalls
- Temporary solutions (bags/boxes for items meant for inaccessible areas) and associated risks (forgetting what’s inside)
- The “out of sight, out of mind” issue
- Overestimating the capacity of designated spaces for stored items
- Imperfect Progress and Starting Where You Are
- Importance of starting without perfect access or planning
- Emotional and practical aspects of starting with what’s immediately available
- The danger of over-planning and the value of taking imperfect action
- Building Momentum: Small Steps and Accessibility
- Clearing even small spaces leads to broader clearing efforts
- How minor improvements enable further progress
- Core Issue: Volume Over Organisation
- Identifying excessive possessions as the root problem, not lack of organisation
- Emphasis that organising without decluttering only rearranges clutter
- Professional advice: dehoarding and decluttering must come before organising
- The Trap of Reorganisation Without Decluttering
- The concept of “churn”—moving items around versus actual removal
- How adding more storage increases clutter, not solves it
- Real progress comes from discarding items and opening spaces
- Regaining Access and Realistic Organisation
- Regaining access to storage areas requires reducing overall volume
- Setting realistic expectations for what storage spaces can hold
- Organising solutions are secondary to decluttering
- Practical Strategies for Decluttering
- Picking a strategic spot or simply starting wherever you are
- Focusing efforts (entrances, exits, specific goals, categories)
- Opening neglected bags/boxes and revealing new priorities
- Breaking down overwhelming tasks and celebrating small wins
- Safety Considerations
- Avoiding dangerous physical manoeuvres to reach blocked areas
- Importance of asking for help and maintaining physical safety
- Mindset and Momentum
- Recognising and celebrating progress, no matter the size
- Positive reinforcement to build motivation for ongoing decluttering
- The Hard Truth: Volume Reduction is Essential
- Acknowledging that reaching shelves requires lowering the overall volume
- Practical details (where to put items temporarily) less important than reducing quantity
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