Ever feel like you know what matters to you, but the way your life looks day to day doesn’t reflect that?

You believe in health, but you’re running on caffeine and fumes.
You believe in peace, but your home feels chaotic.
You believe in connection, but you’re snapping at the people you love.

That’s the Belief–Behavior Gap, and if you’re stuck in it, this episode is your compass back.

In this honest conversation, I’m breaking down why we often feel off even when we’re trying hard, what psychology says about the misalignment between our values and actions, and how to gently get back on track without shame, guilt, or overhauling your life overnight.

If you’ve been living on autopilot and wondering why things feel heavy or disconnected, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken. Let’s reconnect the direction you want to go… with the road you’re actually walking.

• What the Belief–Behavior Paradox is and why it causes so much mental and emotional clutter
• Why good intentions aren’t enough (and what to do when your actions don’t match your values)
• How our brains sabotage our best efforts with short-term fixes like scrolling, shopping, or staying busy
• What “false norths” are and how culture pulls us off course without us noticing
• Why some seasons of life require survival mode (and why that’s okay!)
• The 3-step framework to gently realign your values and habits without starting from scratch

1. Name your compass. Out loud. What do you believe matters most right now?
2. Notice the gap. Where are your actions veering away from what you say you value?
3. Take one small step. Something tiny that realigns your road with your compass. Then… celebrate it.

Join Clutter Cure Club
Ready to declutter your home, simplify your habits, and live more aligned with what matters most? Inside CCC, we turn powerful mindset shifts (like today’s episode) into tiny, doable steps that actually stick.
👉 Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club (https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page837548)

Join the Ready, Set, Simplify Newsletter
Over 35,000 women read it weekly for clutter-busting tips, tiny mindset shifts, and practical steps to simplify your home and your life.
👉 Sign up here (https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify)

Come Say Hi on Instagram
Behind-the-scenes and real-life simplicity @katyjoywells

If this episode hit home for you, forward it to a friend or share a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more women find the show and build a life they actually want to be living.

Ready, Set, Simplify.

Let’s talk about something that affects literally all of us, but rarely gets named.

You declutter your home, try to simplify your life, create calmer spaces…
But then you reach for your phone and instantly feel anxious, scattered, or drained.
Why does that happen? And more importantly: what can we do about it?

In this eye-opening conversation, I’m joined by Jenny Wise Black, a licensed therapist, mom, and pioneer in the movement for digital wellness and media trauma recovery. Jenny shares how modern screen habits are rewiring our brains, eroding our ability to focus, and deeply impacting the way we connect to ourselves, our kids, and our peace.

We dive deep into what it means to have an anxious attachment to your phone, why downtime has become screen time, and how to reclaim the kind of joy and presence we had before we were tethered to a screen 24/7.

You’ll leave this episode with the clarity (and practical steps!) to start shifting your habits without guilt or overwhelm, even if you're a busy mom with zero desire to go off-grid.

• What “media trauma” is and how it might be impacting your mental health without you realizing it
• How screen time affects your nervous system and your home life (yes, even that innocent Instagram scroll)
• The real reason we feel anxious without our phones and why it’s not a willpower problem
• Simple, science-backed steps to reduce phone-induced anxiety (without needing a digital detox retreat)
• Why going grayscale and setting screen boundaries may change your life more than any decluttering tip ever has
• How to model healthier tech habits for your kids without shame or perfection
• A powerful reframe for moms: you’re not failing, you're operating in a system that was never built to support you
• What “predatory media” is, how to spot it, and how to break the consumption cycle

Jenny’s Book: Vintage Therapy (https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Therapy-Practical-Wisdom-Modern/dp/B0FPMR7FK9) – free digital version available on her Substack!
Visit Jenny’s site + get her screen detox tools: https://mediatalks.substack.com

Join the Ready, Set, Simplify Newsletter
Over 35,000 women read it weekly for clutter-busting tips, tiny mindset shifts, and practical steps to simplify your home and your life.
👉 Sign up here (https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify)

Loved this episode? Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club (https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page837548) — where we take conversations like this even deeper, and I help you simplify everything.

Come Say Hi on Instagram
Behind-the-scenes, real-life simplicity, and lots of laughs.
💛 @katyjoywells

Turn your phone screen to grayscale.
It takes 30 seconds. It lowers your stress.
And it may just change how you relate to your phone forever.

Remember:
You don’t have to do a full digital detox to reclaim your life.
Start small. Be intentional. And watch your capacity (and calm) grow.

Ready. Set. Simplify.

Ever finally sit down at the end of a long day, kids in bed, body aching, brain fried, and your eyes land on that cluttered pile in the corner?

And suddenly, that peace you were hoping for is swallowed up by guilt and overwhelm?

You’re not alone, and more importantly, you’re not failing.

In this episode, we’re talking about what decluttering really looks like when you’re exhausted, overstretched, and juggling all the things. Whether you’re working full-time, navigating survival mode, or just plain burned out, this episode will help you redefine progress in a way that actually works for your real life.

We’ll shift from hustle to healing, all-or-nothing to good-enough, and perfection to peace. ✨

This one’s part pep talk, part practical strategy, and 100% for the overwhelmed mom who still wants to create a home that feels light, even if she’s tired.

• Why your exhaustion isn’t a personal failure, it’s a systems issue
• What it really means to declutter in “survival mode”
• How to redefine progress so it finally feels doable
• Why “good enough” isn’t settling, it’s sustainable
• The mindset shifts that create long-term simplicity
• Tiny, high-impact decluttering actions that don’t require hours or energy
• How to start where you are, even if that’s standing in a messy kitchen with zero motivation

14-Day Decluttering Challenge: Your next best step if you want to simplify without the stress.
Tailored for your energy level and real life—just 20 minutes a day. Use code PODCAST for $20 off!
👉 Join the Challenge Here (https://www.katyjoywells.com/email-clutter-crusher-challenge234546)

📱 Follow me on Instagram for bite-sized decluttering tips & real-life encouragement:
@katyjoywells (https://www.instagram.com/katyjoywells)

🎧 Loved this episode? Forward it to a friend who's feeling overwhelmed—she needs this reminder too.

Look around the room you’re in and pick one item to let go of.
Don’t overthink it.
Just choose, release, and let that tiny win carry you forward.

You don’t need more energy. You need a gentler plan.
And around here? That’s exactly what we do. 🙌