Declutter Your Home & Mind: Mental Health Resources That Helped Me Find Calm
Finding calm and mental clarity often starts with slowing down and creating space—both in your mind and your home.
Healing resources for a calmer mind, more intentional life, and an organized home
As a home organizing professional in Houston, I think about the connection between mental health and decluttering every day - both for myself and my clients. I often tell folks that I do "hands-on" therapy because by helping clients sort through their belongings, I am helping them sort through their mind, memories, feelings, and intentions. Together, we gently walk down memory lane to put the past in order and clear the way for the bright future ahead. I believe that clutter can be a reflection of our minds; thus, by helping my clients tackle their clutter, I hope to bring them to a more peaceful and positive place.
Looking back at my own mental health journey so far, I have a lot of people to thank for my healing. My steadfast family, protective friends, helpful colleagues, and even kind strangers all helped me get through the toughest day-to-day moments. But most of all, I would like to thank those who refined their craft, organized their thoughts, and had the courage to put their voices out into the world for the benefit of others. To these healers, authors, artists, and true earth angels, thank you for all that you've done for me and all that you continue to do for the world. This is my note of gratitude to you and a recommendation to anyone looking to continue their healing journey.
Note: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Of course use your judgement, take what resonates, and reach out to a qualified medical professional for guidance if needed.
Managing anxiety and overwhelm is often about taking one careful step at a time.
Mental Health Resources for Anxiety and Overwhelm
1. Calm app - link to site
At the height COVID, my anxiety peaked - I woke up crying, I couldn't breathe, the whole ten yards. Somewhere along the way, I realized that listening to calming sounds was the key to getting some peace in my head. If you find that sounds can significantly affect your mood, this might be for you.
The app is fantastic because it has soothing music, soundscapes, sleep stories, and breathing exercises. When my anxiety is rising and I begin to struggle to take a full breath, I go to Calm app to do a 3-min breathing exercise, and it is AMAZING how well it works.
Ages ago, I purchased a lifetime subscription and never looked back. I use the app almost daily for peaceful sleep stories.
2. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix - Netflix link and KonMari site link
I'd be absolutely nowhere without Marie Kondo, and that is the truth. Simply put, she has changed my life, so much so that I became a Certified KonMari® Consultant to keep sharing her method that transforms homes and lives.
COVID times were almost unbearable. So much fear, so much was out of control. And that's when I found her show. Marie disarmed me with her peaceful and quiet way of folding clothing, caring for the home, and enjoying the process. Before I watched it, I hated laundry; afterwards, I loved it. But if that's not enough, keep reading.
She taught me to put joy at the center of my decision-making. As someone who has been in fear most of my life, this was earth-shattering. I have both achieved and suffered much with fear-based decision making, avoiding consequences and appeasing the powerful. Unsurprisingly, I found myself more scared than ever and in a dead end in my career and relationships. I was a doormat, so unobtrusive yet always waiting for the lightning to strike me for some wrongdoing. But Marie offered another way - joy. Her simple and radical idea of putting joy at the center of my daily decisions catapulted me into a different reality. I began to see myself as powerful, as an active creator of the life I lived, as someone who could take action towards feeling and being better.
In summary, I watched her show, did my own tidying festival, and underwent a series of unbelievable transformations in my home, career, relationships, and understanding of self. Highly recommend, to say the least.
3. My therapist Lauren Kane with Arrow Counseling - link to site
It's one thing to have an epiphany; it's a whole different thing to keep implementing the lesson through daily battle. After my transformative experience with KonMari Method®, I knew I wanted fear gone but it has had a hold on me and my family probably for many generations. I found Lauren at such a pivotal time in my life that I can only call it fate. We began working together when the pace of change became hectic-fast. As positive as it was, change was not easy to endure, and Lauren was fantastic at holding space and helping me through the maze of emotions. And she continues to do so all the time!
4. Other things that worked wonders
Valerian - Do you ever get into a crying fit that can't stop? Add some valerian to your tea and go to sleep. My mom taught me this herbal remedy, and it really works for me.
Magnesium - I randomly stumbled upon Dr. Tracey Marks talking about the role of magnesium in anxiety, see link here. After taking magnesium supplements, I was able to tap into anger more easily. While previously I would feel fear, I found myself getting more angry. This was a very welcome change for me because of the empowering effect that feeling had on me and how it helped me stand up for myself at work. If you very rarely get mad and suspect that you have trouble tapping into emotion of anger, even when the situation warrants it, this might be for you.
Rock climbing - Do you want some rest from the loops in your head? Try rock climbing at a gym. You are safe and strapped in but your body is still trying to hang on for dear life. Because you are so focused on hanging on the wall, there is no room for irrelevant thoughts. Your brain is completely focused on the present. If you just want for the noise to stop for a bit and enjoy being active, this might be for you.
Running or Self Defense - Give that flight or fight chemical something to work on! I now begin every morning by running because it really does a wonder on my mind by evening out my mood, making me feel more settled. I like walks as well but I find that the positive mental effects of a run last longer. Practicing self-defense also helped me by increasing my confidence. It was fun telling some bullies at work what I did in my spare time, and I enjoyed seeing their faces when they learned that I do Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu.
Switching/quitting a job - My opinion is that one should choose a manager as carefully as one chooses a life partner. But I didn't always understand that fully, and it is not always possible. Some of my biggest bounds and leaps in mental health improvement have been after switching/quitting a job. It allowed me to compare and reflect how I was treated, how I felt, how I reacted, my role in my suffering, and my powerful nature in changing my circumstances. My mom says that life is known through comparison, and I think she is right.
Healing often includes gently revisiting the past and deciding what we want to carry forward.
Healing Childhood Patterns and Building Healthier Relationships
1. Home Coming: Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child by John Bradshaw - YouTube Link
A powerful 4-hr listen, like a long guided meditation, to help you face and move forward from painful childhood experiences.
I cried all the way through and felt significantly lighter at the end and more at peace with my childhood.
It is available as a book but I actually listened to it as an audiobook. I think it is most helpful when you can listen, close your eyes, and visualize along.
I heard about it from YouTube creator Patrick Teahan, who does great educational videos on childhood trauma and family systems. His videos really spoke to me -YouTube channel link
2. Crappy Childhood Fairy - YouTube channel link
This is the channel of Anna Runkle that the algorithm recommended to me, and I was blown away by how relevant her content was to my relationship struggles. By listening to Anna's videos, where she reads letters from viewers and helps to identify unhealthy relationship dynamics, I realized that my struggle had a name - co-dependency! I first heard of Co-Dependents Anonymous (CODA) group from this channel. If your family has a history of alcoholism, substance abuse, or narcissism, this might be for you.
3. Co-Dependents Anonymous - link to site
A 12-step program that teaches you about common co-dependent dynamics/symptoms, helps you feel less alone because you are sharing in a group, and encourages you to release control and lean on spirituality.
I joined a virtual group, and it has been so incredibly healing for me. I felt found and seen, like all the struggle and intensity in my heart had a name and I didn't have to endure it. It raised my awareness of my own co-dependent behavior and how I am sometimes complicit in my own suffering. This also helped me reflect and heal from a prior romantic relationship and set me up for more success in the next one.
4. Other things that worked wonders
Allowing a relationship to end - I used to come home from a mess at work and deal with more mess at home with my partner. I hung onto that relationship for so long but after he ended it, I suddenly felt relief. I kept going back and forth, between grief and relief. But as time went on, I got more time and space to breathe, reflect, and dream again about something more healthy and loving. Every day I woke up in peace, my mood lifted by just a couple of degrees. I felt better and better, one morning dew drop at a time, until I smiled, laughed, and felt myself the winner.
Exploring spirituality in my way - Gaining spirituality has allowed me more daily peace. When I was growing up, we did not have any organized religion in my family. My mom and grandmother definitely believed in something but nothing concrete that was passed onto me. And for this I am thankful, because it has allowed me to explore spirituality on my own terms when I was ready. When I was still in a lot of grief over my past relationship, I found tarot and oracle readings online that really spoke to me and where I was. For someone naturally fearful and craving control, it has given me so much internal peace to believe in something bigger than myself. Below are some wonderful readers that I trust:
Intuitive psychic and medium Leslie Slade - site link
Past life regression reader Lorna Wilson - site link
Akashic reader Alesha Rogers - site link
Favorite YouTube readers - Anita Sirene, the Gem Goddess, White Feather Tarot, Divine Kelcie, and Shea Pila
Professional Home Organizing Services in Houston
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you don’t have to go through it alone. The connection between mental health and our physical space is real, and sometimes the best way forward is with guided, hands-on support.
As a Certified KonMari® Consultant, I work with clients across Greater Houston area, including Cypress, Spring, The Woodlands, Katy, and Sugar Land, to declutter and organize their homes in a way that feels thoughtful, sustainable, and aligned with the life they want to live. Together, we move through your home step by step, keeping what truly sparks joy and letting go of what no longer serves you.
The goal isn’t just an organized home—it’s a calmer mind, more clarity, and a space that supports you.