This week we’re diving into Week Three of our “What’s Your Problem?” series — and I can’t tell you how important this one is. If you’ve worked through your quantity issues (too much stuff) and your systems issues (no real organisation), then your next hurdle isn’t about things or storage at all. It’s about you. It’s about habits.

Once the clutter is gone and the systems are in place, the problem shifts from your stuff… to your behaviour. And that’s good news, because habits are changeable with the right tools and a little intention.

One of our core sayings at The Art of Decluttering is: “Don’t put it down. Put it away.”

It’s simple. It’s powerful. It cuts straight through the temptation to procrastinate — because procrastination is sneaky. It convinces you that “later” is harmless, when in reality “later” is the thing making your home feel harder than it needs to.

Take the jacket example. You walk in the door. You’re tired. You drop your jacket on the bed instead of hanging it up. No big deal, right? But then you walk past it three more times. Your partner dumps their jacket next to yours. Suddenly the job feels bigger and you’re annoyed at yourself. And all of this drama could have been avoided if you’d taken the 10 seconds to hang it up straight away.

This is where phrases like “just do it now” or “might as well” become game-changers. They short-circuit the internal debate and remove the option to procrastinate. If you’re going to have to do it eventually, you might as well do it now.

Sometimes, though, you’ll notice that a system you created isn’t working because you’re not using it. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed — it simply means you might need to refine it. If your keys always end up on the bench instead of in the bowl by the door… maybe the bench needs to be the home. The best system is the one you’ll actually use.

Habits aren’t glamorous. They don’t give you the buzz that decluttering or organising does. But they are the quiet, consistent force that keeps your home functioning smoothly. And more importantly — habits bring freedom. Freedom to enjoy your space, your people, your time, and your life.

You may also like to listen to these episodes:

What's Your Problem?... Quantity

What's Your Problem?... Systems

Close the Loop

Rejecting Busy

Three Times a Day

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This week we’re diving into one of my favourite topics: systems.

If quantity is the outer layer of the onion, systems are the next layer in. Maybe you’ve decluttered and reduced your possessions, but something still isn’t working. You look around and think, I’ve kept the right things… so why does my home still feel hard?

That’s a classic systems problem.

A systems problem shows up when items don’t have clear homes, when tidying feels complicated, or when things you genuinely need end up in piles on every flat surface. It’s not about too much stuff anymore — it’s about giving what you do have a simple, logical place to live.

The good news? Systems problems are fun to solve.

This is where organising comes in — not the Pinterest-perfect, colour-coded kind (unless that brings you joy), but the functional, sustainable kind that’s easy for your whole household to follow. When a system works, tidying stops feeling like a battle and starts feeling like… well, life just flowing.

I always come back to three organising foundations:

1. Like with like. Keep similar items together. It saves you time, brainpower, and frustration. No more chargers in eight different rooms.

2. Set limits. Containers — drawers, baskets, shelves — help you define “how much is enough.” Limits create boundaries that keep systems working over time.

3. A home for everything. If you can answer “Where does this belong?” you’ve solved 80% of your systems problem.

Once these are in place, your home becomes easier to use, easier to tidy, and easier to enjoy.

So if you’ve decluttered and you’re still feeling stuck, you’re likely in the systems stage. And that’s a beautiful place to be — because from here, everything starts to click.

Next week, we’ll talk about maintenance and how habits keep your space working long-term.

You may also like to listen to these episodes:

What's Your Problem?... Quantity

What's Your Problem?... Systems

What's Your Problem?... Habits

Out or Away

Location Location Location

Logical Organising

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If you’ve ever looked around your home and felt that something just isn’t working, you’re not alone. So many people tell me they’re frustrated with their space, but they can’t quite put their finger on why. And when you don’t know what the real problem is, it’s almost impossible to find a solution that actually sticks.

That’s exactly why I’ve created a simple, three-part framework I call What’s Your Problem? It’s designed to help you diagnose what’s going on beneath the surface so you can finally move forward with confidence, clarity, and a whole lot more breathing space.

Over years of working with clients, I’ve noticed that clutter almost always comes back to one of these:

1. A Quantity Problem – there’s simply too much stuff.

2. A Systems Problem – things don’t have clear homes or logical flow.

3. A Habits Problem – the daily rhythms that keep things running just aren’t in place yet.

Most of the time, the first layer we need to peel back is quantity. And I want to encourage you gently here: if you’re not sure what your problem is, start by assuming it’s this one. It usually is.

A quantity problem doesn’t mean you’ve “failed” or that your home is too small or too messy. It simply means you have more items than your space, your routines, or your season of life can comfortably hold.

Maybe your kids’ toys spill across the floor every day and the room never feels tidy, no matter how much you organise. Maybe your wardrobe feels overwhelming or your kitchen benches never seem clear. Those are classic signs of too much inventory — not a lack of containers, not “lazy kids,” and not poor habits.

And the Solution? Decluttering — Gently and Intentionally

When you reduce quantity, everything else becomes easier. You don’t need to declutter your entire house in one go. Just start with the space that’s bothering you most and ask:

What’s rubbish? What can I donate? What can leave my home and lighten my load?

You don’t have to get it perfect. You don’t even have to finish it. Every little bit of reduction creates more calm, more space, and more breathing room for your life to happen.

But for now, start here: If your home feels overwhelming, it’s very likely a quantity problem. And the good news? Quantity problems are absolutely solvable.

Next week, we’ll move into systems — the part where everything starts to click into place.

You may also like to listen to these episodes:

What's Your Problem?... Systems

What's Your Problem?... Habits

Enough

Letting Go

FOTO: Fear of Throwing Out

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.