Self-Improvement Make Space for Happiness With Decluttering Expert Tracy McCubbin By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. Learn about our editorial process Published on December 12, 2022 Print Verywell / Julie Bang Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Meet Tracy McCubbin Why Tracy McCubbin Is Mentally Strong What You’ll Hear on the Show What You’ll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength Quotes From Tracy More About the Podcast Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Amazon Music Meet Tracy McCubbin Tracy McCubbin has always loved to create clutter-free spaces, so she turned her organizational skills into a full-time business called dClutterfly, where she helps people organize their homes. She’s also the author of two books. Her first book, "Making Space, Clutter-Free" teaches readers how to get rid of the clutter once and for all. Her newest book, "Make Space for Happiness," describes the link between clutter and emotional wellness. Why Tracy McCubbin Is Mentally Strong Tracy says she was raised by a “hoarder.” This experience helped her realize how getting rid of things can be so emotional for many people. It inspired her to start teaching people about how getting rid of clutter can improve their mental health as well as how the inability to clear clutter may signal a deeper emotional issue. What You’ll Hear on the Show How clutter creates more stress The real reason we find it so difficult to part with items that get in our way How clutter can lead to feelings of shame How clutter affects so many areas of our lives, from our relationships to our finances How clutter affects your time Why your home doesn’t have to be completely organized How decluttering your space will make you happier and less stressed A step-by-step guide to decluttering one step at a time How to know if you have too much stuff in a room What to do with the stuff you aren’t going to keep How keeping too many sentimental things can keep us stuck in the past The best way to get started with decluttering your home What Causes Someone to Not Clean Their House? What You’ll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength Your environment plays a huge role in how you feel. And sometimes, we assume being surrounded by a lot of stuff is a good thing—especially if it’s all sentimental things or fun items. But, having too much clutter can take a toll on your well-being. Discarding items or donating things you don’t need can be quite emotional for a lot of people. You might have trouble getting rid of a shirt that no longer fits because it reminds you of a happier time in your life. Or you might feel bad getting rid of an item because you paid a lot of money for it. The things you surround yourself with can actually tell you a lot about yourself. And a willingness to clear the clutter can help you break free from things that might be holding you back in life. If you’re really struggling to get rid of things and your clutter is impacting your well-being, seek professional help. There’s help available for people who find it tough to get rid of clutter. Quotes From Tracy Tracy McCubbin Time is our most important commodity. If you figure out that every day I hang my keys in the same spot, and I don't have to go looking for them, then I'm saving all this time. — Tracy McCubbin "I want you to be happy. I want you to be successful. I want your home to support you.""Clutter is a time suck. You're constantly dealing with it. You're constantly moving it around.""I think people don't realize how much having a house full of sort of sentimental stuff keeps us stuck in the past. One of the things I see when people have their closets full of clothes that they can't fit into anymore, that it's reminding them that, ‘Oh, your best days are behind you.’""Time is our most important commodity. If you figure out that every day I hang my keys in the same spot, and I don't have to go looking for them, then I'm saving all this time." The Negative Impact of Clutter on Mental Health More About the Podcast The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too. Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors. Thank you. For media or public speaking inquiries, contact Amy here. Download the Transcript Links and Resources Check out Tracy’s website: dClutterfly Tracy’s book: Make Space for Happiness Follow Tracy on Instagram: @Tracy_McCubbin Tracy’s Five steps for Deciding What to Keep If You Liked This Episode, You Might Also Like These Episodes Friday Fix: 3 Ways to Declutter Your Mind How to Create Positive Changes in Your Life With Author James Altucher Friday Fix: Create Your Own 30-Day Challenge The Connection Between Decluttering, Cleaning, and Mental Health By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit