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. 🙌

You’ve tried every checklist. You’ve sorted, purged, and folded your clothes KonMari-style. You’ve even whispered sweet nothings to your donation bin. 😅

So why does decluttering still feel so hard?

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what’s really happening beneath the surface when you struggle to let go of stuff—no, it’s not that you’re lazy or too sentimental. It’s science.

From survival wiring and dopamine hits to something called the “endowment effect,” I’m breaking down the biological and psychological reasons your brain resists decluttering—and how to finally work with it instead of against it.

This is the episode you need if you’ve ever asked:
“Why can’t I just get rid of this stuff already?!”

Let’s drop the shame, ditch the guilt, and simplify in a way that actually makes sense for your real life and real brain.

• Why your brain resists letting go of “perfectly good” stuff

• The psychological trick your brain plays (and how to break it)

• How to stop guilt-based decluttering in its tracks

• Why shopping gives you a dopamine rush—and what to do instead

✨ Join the 14-Day Decluttering Challenge
Get fast wins and big results—in just 20 minutes a day. This isn’t another checklist. It’s a total nervous-system-safe, progress-over-perfection approach.
🎉 Get $20 off with code PODCAST: https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercrusherchallenge

🎯 Come Hang Out on Instagram
You’ll find more simple tips, behind-the-scenes moments, and messy real life at https://www.instagram.com/katyjoywells

Pick one item in your home that’s never used but you’ve been holding on to “just in case.” Ask yourself: “If I didn’t already own this, would I pay to bring it into my home today?”
If the answer’s no? Time to let it go.

If this episode felt like a lightbulb moment 💡, would you share it with a friend or leave a review? You never know who needs to hear this message today.

You know what to do…
Ready. Set. Simplify. 💛