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Summary

Can’t get through the door of your room of doom, never mind start decluttering it? This episode answers one of the questions from DeclutterCon that we didn’t get time for on the day: what do you do when you can’t even get into the room, and where on earth do you start?

You might be surprised by where the first step actually is (and it isn’t decluttering). I share the one thing you should never do when you’re faced with piles you can’t get past, the simple trick that makes hundreds of little things feel far less overwhelming, and why you might be about to trap yourself in the room without realising it. We also get into the big furniture question that comes up in so many spare rooms, and why one of the best moves you can make might not feel good straight away.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and the importance of starting small
02:24 Handling items safely and avoiding hazards
04:42 Transforming clutter into manageable categories
06:08 Managing rubbish and quick wins outside the room
07:23 Deciding the room’s purpose and furniture considerations
09:13 Removing bulky furniture for space and clarity
10:38 The importance of proper, long-lasting decluttering
12:00 Defining the room’s identity and long-term use
13:26 The step-by-step decluttering process
14:21 Upcoming events and feedback request

More information

If you want to work through the whole process step by step, my book Reclaim Your Room of Doom is available now on all Amazon sites, taking you from getting through the door all the way to having a room you can actually use.

DeclutterCon 2027 tickets are on sale now, with one ticket covering everything whether you join us in the room or virtually from anywhere in the world, and you can swap between the two if your plans change. If you’d like to spread the cost, you’ve only got until the end of October to grab a ticket on the payment plan.

I’d also love your help with something new I’m working on for the Untangled Life membership. What are the stress points in your kitchen? Is it the sink that’s never empty, the worktops covered in stuff, or the cupboards that greet you with a Tupperware avalanche every time you open them? Send me a message, an email or a DM, and if you’re brave enough, a photo (the worse the better, honestly, I get genuinely excited by them).

If this episode helped, please leave a rating or review so more people can find the podcast. Thank you! xx

Support the show

If you'd like to say 'Thank you', by buying me a virtual coffee (it'll actually buy me a cup of tea!), you can do so HERE. It will mean I can afford to continue to give help for free and continue with this podcast.

Get started with my Zoning and Getting Started Workshop, everything you need to know on how to get started and have the best success when decluttering.

Join my free Declutter Community for real support, tips and advice from Heather and other Untanglers that are just like you!

Follow me on Facebook

Buy my Declutter Your Home Planner from Amazon to start to declutter your home yourself! (affiliate link)

Grab my current freebies to support a cleaner, tidier home.

Follow me on instagram

Feel free to email me: help@untangledbytingle.com
Please note, I may not be able to reply, but do read all emails to me and appreciate them massively.

Send me a text message about this podcast

Summary

In this episode, Heather Tingle answers common questions about organising zones in the home, focusing on whether doubling up on zones like bedding and tech causes problems or offers benefits. She provides practical advice on system consistency and how to decide the best approach for your space.

Key topics

• The importance of choosing a system for organising zones
• Pros and cons of having multiple zones for the same items
• How to decide whether to keep items in one or multiple locations
• The significance of clear zone differentiation to avoid confusion
• Tech organisation: splitting items into work and home tech zones
• Avoiding the pitfalls of mixed zones and duplicate storage
• Strategies for maintaining an efficient and accessible system
• The impact of system consistency on decluttering success
• Upcoming DeclutterCon 2027 and new resources from Heather Tingle

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to doubling zones and common questions

02:24
Pros and cons of having bedding in each room versus one central location

03:21
The pitfalls of mixed zones and scattered storage

04:16
Organising tech: splitting into work and home zones

05:31
The importance of keeping zones distinct to avoid confusion

06:29
Why separating towels and bedding can cause issues

07:23
Benefits of keeping guest bedding and towels in one place

08:14
How a well-organized system saves time and reduces stress

09:11
Summary: how to effectively double up zones without chaos

09:39
Upcoming DeclutterCon 2027 and new resources from Heather Tingle

My New Mini Book: Reclaim your Room of Doom:

USA Amazon Store Affiliate Link HERE

UK Amazon Store Affiliate Link HERE

Buy your DeclutterCon 2027 Tickets HERE

Find out more/join the Untangled Life Membership for Unlimited* 1:1 Whatsapp Support, strategy sessions and group body doubling zooms. Link HERE. (*within reason)

Support the show

If you'd like to say 'Thank you', by buying me a virtual coffee (it'll actually buy me a cup of tea!), you can do so HERE. It will mean I can afford to continue to give help for free and continue with this podcast.

Get started with my Zoning and Getting Started Workshop, everything you need to know on how to get started and have the best success when decluttering.

Join my free Declutter Community for real support, tips and advice from Heather and other Untanglers that are just like you!

Follow me on Facebook

Buy my Declutter Your Home Planner from Amazon to start to declutter your home yourself! (affiliate link)

Grab my current freebies to support a cleaner, tidier home.

Follow me on instagram

Feel free to email me: help@untangledbytingle.com
Please note, I may not be able to reply, but do read all emails to me and appreciate them massively.

Send me a text message about this podcast

Summary

In this episode, Heather Tingle shares practical tips and personal insights on how to make packing and unpacking less stressful, especially for neurodivergent travellers. She discusses strategies to simplify the process, reduce decision fatigue, and create routines that make travel easier.

Key topics

• The emotional and practical challenges of packing and unpacking
• Creating a standard packing list to reduce decision fatigue
• Gamifying packing and unpacking to save time
• Organising travel essentials for quick access
• The importance of decluttering your wardrobe for easier travel
• Strategies for managing travel-related stress and fatigue

Chapters

00:00 The Evolution of Packing and Unpacking
03:50 The Challenges of Unpacking
07:36 Strategies for Easier Packing and Unpacking

Support the show

If you'd like to say 'Thank you', by buying me a virtual coffee (it'll actually buy me a cup of tea!), you can do so HERE. It will mean I can afford to continue to give help for free and continue with this podcast.

Get started with my Zoning and Getting Started Workshop, everything you need to know on how to get started and have the best success when decluttering.

Join my free Declutter Community for real support, tips and advice from Heather and other Untanglers that are just like you!

Follow me on Facebook

Buy my Declutter Your Home Planner from Amazon to start to declutter your home yourself! (affiliate link)

Grab my current freebies to support a cleaner, tidier home.

Follow me on instagram

Feel free to email me: help@untangledbytingle.com
Please note, I may not be able to reply, but do read all emails to me and appreciate them massively.