Why Your Clutter Is Draining Your Energy (And How to Fix It Fast)

In this powerful conversation on Essential Alchemy, Heather Aardema reframes decluttering as far more than cleaning up your space—it’s a deeply personal, emotional, and even physiological process that directly impacts your health and well-being. 

She explains how clutter—whether physical, mental, or emotional—acts as a constant drain on your energy, often rooted in past experiences, identity attachments, and unconscious patterns. 

Instead of overwhelming yourself with massive cleanouts, Heather introduces a gentler, more sustainable approach: regulate your nervous system first, take small intentional steps, and use a simple but transformative filter—does this feel light or heavy? 

Through this lens, decluttering becomes less about getting rid of things and more about reclaiming clarity, alignment, and a life that feels genuinely lighter.

Key Takeaways:

• Clutter isn’t just physical It includes thoughts, emotions, and habits that distract you from your true potential.

• Your “someday self” is keeping you stuck Holding onto items tied to a future identity creates guilt and disconnect from your current life.

• Decluttering fails when you overwhelm your nervous system Small, manageable steps (not massive cleanouts) are the key to lasting progress.

• Clutter is a symptom, not the root cause Emotional patterns, past experiences, and trauma often drive why we hold onto things.

• Use the “light vs. heavy” rule If something feels light, keep it. If it feels heavy and you don’t have the energy to fix it—let it go.