Maximized Minimalist Podcast

📚 PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK
Making Home Your Happy Place: The Real-Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm releases February 17th.
Pre-order now to receive exclusive bonus goodies — simple, supportive tools you can start using right away.
👉 Pre-Order wherever books are sold
🎯 TAKE THE FREE DECLUTTERING STYLE QUIZ
Discover your personal Decluttering Style and get a clear, realistic starting plan that actually fits your life.
👉 Take the free quiz
If you've ever felt like you're working twice as hard as everyone else just to keep your head above water… this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale.
Because when you're trying harder and harder—making more lists, getting more "disciplined," pushing yourself into new-year productivity mode—and it's still not working? That's not a character flaw. It's not laziness. And it's definitely not that you're "bad at adulthood."
In today's conversation, I'm joined by Brooke Schnitman, executive function coach and former special education teacher with 20+ years of experience helping adults with ADHD stop fighting their brains and start working with them. Brooke was diagnosed with ADHD at 35, so she understands this from the inside out—and she explains why willpower isn't the problem… regulation is.
We talk about the overwhelm/underwhelm cycle that keeps so many women stuck, how "all-or-nothing" thinking hijacks decluttering (and basically everything else), and the small, realistic shifts that help you build momentum—without burning out or spiraling into shame.
If decluttering (or even just managing life) feels harder than it "should," this episode will help you finally understand why… and what to do instead. 
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:
1) "Try harder" backfires because ADHD isn't an effort problem—it's a regulation problem
Brooke explains how ADHD brains can't reliably access willpower the same way, especially under stress. When you push harder, your nervous system floods, executive function shuts down, and the shame spiral kicks in.
2) Underwhelm can be just as paralyzing as overwhelm—and it's sneakier
Overwhelm looks like "too much." But underwhelm looks like "I'm bored, stuck, scrolling, restless… and I don't know why I can't start." Brooke shares how ADHD brains need the right level of stimulation to initiate action.
3) Momentum comes from tiny wins (the "1% step"), not marathon motivation
One small action creates a dopamine hit → which creates more action → which creates momentum → which creates confidence. You don't need a perfect plan. You need a next step you can actually do—and ideally, accountability to help you do it.
Mentioned In This Episode
Coaching with Brooke: https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/
Get Brooke's Book: https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/activatebook
Brooke's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithbrooke/
Ready to Simplify Even More? Start Here:
🗞️ 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. 👉 https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify
🧡 Loved this episode? Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club — where we take conversations like this even deeper, and I help you simplify everything. 👉 https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page837548
📲 Come Say Hi on Instagram Behind-the-scenes, real-life simplicity, and lots of laughs. 💛 @katyjoywells
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If this episode helped you, I'd be so grateful if you'd take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps this show reach more women who need a simpler way forward. 💛

📚 PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK
Making Home Your Happy Place: The Real-Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm releases February 17th.
Pre-order now to receive exclusive bonus goodies — simple, supportive tools you can start using right away.
👉 Pre-Order wherever books are sold
🎯 TAKE THE FREE DECLUTTERING STYLE QUIZ
Discover your personal Decluttering Style and get a clear, realistic starting plan that actually fits your life.
👉 Take the free quiz
When Decluttering Feels Impossible, It's Probably Decision Fatigue (Not Laziness)
Have you ever started decluttering with good intentions… and then your brain just shuts down? You're staring at a pile thinking, "Why can't I just make a decision?" and suddenly everything feels hard — even the easy stuff.
Most women assume they're unmotivated or undisciplined. But I want to offer a kinder explanation: your brain didn't run out of willpower — it ran out of decision-making energy.
In today's episode, I walk you through what decision fatigue actually is, why it hits so fast during decluttering, and three simple strategies you can use to prevent that "stuck" feeling before it starts — or get yourself unstuck when you're already in it.
January tends to bring fresh motivation… and also a lot of pressure. More goals, more tasks, more decisions, more everything. If you're already carrying a full mental load, decluttering can be the thing that pushes your brain over the edge.
This episode will help you work with your brain instead of fighting it — so you can make steady progress without burnout, overwhelm, or the "I'll just do it later" spiral.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:
Start with the no-brainers to build momentum Begin with superficial clutter — the items you already know you don't want (stained, broken, uncomfortable, mismatched). Quick wins give your brain proof and momentum before you tackle the "maybe" pile.

Give your brain one job at a time Decision fatigue gets worse when you keep switching gears. Choose one category or one question (like "Is this functional and usable?") and repeat it — your brain can handle rhythm far better than constant mental toggling.

Use scripts so you don't negotiate with yourself Open-ended questions lead to spiraling when you're tired. A simple pre-decided script gives structure and keeps you moving—especially with scarcity clutter, sentimental items, or aspirational "future self" pieces.

Use these strategies proactively and reactively Start your session with them to prevent shutdown — and if you hit a wall mid-declutter, switch back to no-brainers, narrow your job, or pull out a script to get moving again.

Progress comes from steadiness, not marathons You don't need to finish the whole closet today. You need a method that helps you stay clear-headed long enough to make consistent decisions — one small set at a time.

decisions easier.

Ready to Simplify Even More? Start Here:
🗞️ 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. 👉 https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify
🧡 Loved this episode? Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club — where we take conversations like this even deeper, and I help you simplify everything. 👉 https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page837548
📲 Come Say Hi on Instagram Behind-the-scenes, real-life simplicity, and lots of laughs. 💛 @katyjoywells
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If this episode helped you, I'd be so grateful if you'd take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps this show reach more women who need a simpler way forward. 💛

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "14017ad8-1256-4ec5-a7e0-ab049573a012" data-testid= "conversation-turn-6" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> 📚 PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK
Making Home Your Happy Place: The Real-Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm releases February 17th.
Pre-order now to receive exclusive bonus goodies — simple, supportive tools you can start using right away.
👉 Pre-Order wherever books are sold
🎯 TAKE THE FREE DECLUTTERING STYLE QUIZ
Discover your personal Decluttering Style and get a clear, realistic starting plan that actually fits your life.
👉 Take the free quiz
Why Letting Go Feels So Hard (And the "Stuff Story" That Explains It)
Have you ever looked around your home and thought, "Why is this still such a struggle for me?" You know what you want — more calm, more space, less mental weight — but every time you try to declutter, something in you freezes.
Most women assume they just need a better system… or more willpower… or a free weekend to finally tackle it all. But what if the real reason you're stuck isn't about the stuff at all?
In this episode, I read a powerful chapter from my new book that helps you uncover your Stuff Story — the invisible script that's been shaping what you buy, what you keep, and why certain items feel impossible to let go of. I walk you through how your upbringing, emotional attachments, and cultural pressure quietly influence your home (and your choices) more than you realize.
This matters so much right now because so many of us are trying to "reset" in January — new goals, fresh starts, a lighter year. But if you don't understand the story underneath your clutter, you'll keep repeating the same patterns, even with the best decluttering strategy in the world.
This chapter is meant to feel like someone finally turned the lights on. More clarity. More compassion. And a new kind of freedom that doesn't start with a trash bag — it starts with understanding.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:
Your clutter didn't come from nowhere Your "Stuff Story" was written over time by family patterns, personal experiences, and cultural messaging — and it silently shapes what feels hard to release.

Your brain is protecting you, not sabotaging you If you freeze or avoid decluttering, it's often because your nervous system prefers what's familiar (even if it's clutter). Awareness is the first step to change.

Some things are really placeholders for identity Aspirational clutter, sentimental items, and "just in case" backups often represent who you were, who you hoped to be, or what you've been afraid to lose.

"More" has been marketed as safety and success We've been taught that full equals good — and that empty equals lack. But space can be the beginning of peace, not proof you're missing something.

You can rewrite the script one belief at a time Letting go isn't wasteful or irresponsible when it aligns with your life now. Repeating new truths creates new mental pathways — and makes future decisions easier.

Ready to Simplify Even More? Start Here:
🗞️ 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. 👉 https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify
🧡 Loved this episode? Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club — where we take conversations like this even deeper, and I help you simplify everything. 👉 https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page837548
📲 Come Say Hi on Instagram Behind-the-scenes, real-life simplicity, and lots of laughs. 💛 @katyjoywells
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If this episode helped you, I'd be so grateful if you'd take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps this show reach more women who need a simpler way forward. 💛

📚 PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK
Making Home Your Happy Place: The Real-Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm releases February 17th.
Pre-order now to receive exclusive bonus goodies — simple, supportive tools you can start using right away.
👉 Pre-Order wherever books are sold
🎯 TAKE THE FREE DECLUTTERING STYLE QUIZ
Discover your personal Decluttering Style and get a clear, realistic starting plan that actually fits your life.
👉 Take the free quiz
The 25-Minute Decluttering Strategy That Actually Works When You're Short on Time
You know that moment when you want to declutter… but the idea of pulling everything out and losing your whole day makes you want to quit before you even start?
I get it. Most decluttering advice is built for someone with unlimited time, unlimited energy, and zero kids asking for snacks every six minutes. And if you've tried the "empty the whole closet" method before, you already know how that story ends.
In this episode, I walk you through my go-to method called 25 to Thrive — a simple, sustainable way to make real progress in a short window, without the overwhelm spiral (and without turning your house into a disaster zone).
Right now — especially in January — there's this pressure to go big or go home. Total home reset. Massive purge. Brand new you. But real change doesn't happen in one perfect Saturday. It happens in small, repeatable wins that build momentum and proof.
If your brain has been waiting for "the right time" to declutter, this is your gentle nudge: you don't need more time. You need a method that works with your life.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:
You don't need a full day to make real progress The belief that decluttering only "counts" if you do a marathon session keeps you stuck. A focused 25 minutes can create visible change and real relief.

20 minutes of decluttering is the sweet spot Short bursts help you avoid decision fatigue and overwhelm. You'll make faster, clearer choices when your brain isn't depleted.

The last 5 minutes are what make this strategy stick A quick reset (trash out, donations bagged, space returned to baseline) prevents the "piles on the floor" problem and leaves you feeling accomplished instead of frazzled.

Start smaller than you think you should One drawer, one shelf, one surface. Your brain can handle small spaces — and small wins build confidence and momentum.

Consistency beats intensity Doing 25 to Thrive once a week (or even once a month) is how you create lasting progress. This isn't about perfection — it's about showing up in a way you can repeat.

Ready to Simplify Even More? Start Here:
🗞️ 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. 👉 https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify
🧡 Loved this episode? Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club — where we take conversations like this even deeper, and I help you simplify everything. 👉 https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page837548
📲 Come Say Hi on Instagram Behind-the-scenes, real-life simplicity, and lots of laughs. 💛 @katyjoywells
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If this episode helped you, I'd be so grateful if you'd take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps this show reach more women who need a simpler way forward. 💛

📚 PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK
Making Home Your Happy Place: The Real-Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm releases February 17th.
Pre-order now to receive exclusive bonus goodies — simple, supportive tools you can start using right away.
👉 Pre-Order wherever books are sold
🎯 TAKE THE FREE DECLUTTERING STYLE QUIZ
Discover your personal Decluttering Style and get a clear, realistic starting plan that actually fits your life.
👉 Take the free quiz
If you've ever opened social media and instantly felt behind — about your body, your home, or your progress — you're not alone. I share a moment like that in this episode, and how quickly one image shifted how I saw myself without my permission.
That experience sparked a bigger realization: the heaviest things we carry aren't always the ones in our closets. They're the beliefs we've absorbed over time about what progress "should" look like, what our past says about us, and who gets to decide if we're doing it right.
In this episode, I walk you through three incredibly common beliefs that quietly keep women stuck — especially when they're trying to simplify their homes and lives — and how to start releasing them with compassion and clarity.
Right now, many of us are heading into a new year with good intentions and very full plates. The pressure to do more, fix everything, or finally "get it together" can feel overwhelming. This conversation is meant to be grounding — a reminder that you're not broken, you're not behind, and progress doesn't have to look like anyone else's version to count.
Key Takeaways From The Episode:
Your past is data, not a verdict-Previous attempts that didn't stick don't mean you can't change — they simply show you what hasn't worked yet and help you choose a better approach moving forward.

Small progress is real progress-Five minutes, one drawer, or a single decision still counts. Momentum comes from action, not waiting for the "perfect" time.

Perfection often disguises fear-Waiting for massive, all-at-once change can actually keep you stuck. Letting yourself start imperfectly creates movement and relief.

You get to define what success looks like-A functional, supportive home doesn't need to match anyone else's aesthetic. Your version of "good enough" is allowed to be enough.

Protect your definition of progress-Unfollowing accounts or standards that make you feel behind can be one of the most powerful decluttering steps you take.

Ready to Simplify Even More? Start Here:
🗞️ 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. 👉 https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify
🧡 Loved this episode? Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club — where we take conversations like this even deeper, and I help you simplify everything. 👉 https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page837548
📲 Come Say Hi on Instagram Behind-the-scenes, real-life simplicity, and lots of laughs. 💛 @katyjoywells
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If this episode helped you, I'd be so grateful if you'd take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps this show reach more women who need a simpler way forward. 💛