Declutter Your Chaos - Mindful Minimalism

393 | Neuroscience of Decluttering - Two Strategies to use today

Declutter Your Chaos - Mindful Minimalism

Show Notes

Hey Guys, Have you ever held on to something you don't need, want, or even particularly like, simply because it's yours? Neuroscience may help explain why. In this episode of Declutter Your Chaos, we're exploring the endowment effect,,,our brain's tendency to assign greater value to things simply because we own them. Inspired by Dr. Emily Falk's New York Times article, The Neuroscience of Decluttering, and her book What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change, we'll look at fascinating research into how ownership influences our sense of self and why that matters when we're decluttering. You'll learn two simple, neuroscience-informed strategies to help you make more intentional decisions about your possessions: Think like a buyer, not an owner. Instead of asking, "Should I get rid of this?" ask, "Would I buy this today?" Borrow someone else's perspective. Imagine the object belongs to a friend. Would you encourage them to keep it?Understanding how our brains work can help us let go of things we no longer need—without all the second-guessing. The goal isn't just to get rid of stuff. It's to change our relationship with it. Mentioned in this episode Dr. Emily Falk — The Neuroscience of Decluttering, The New York Times, October 11, 2026 What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change by Dr. Emily Falk Find me at @amber.cammidge on Instagram. About Amber Amber Cammidge is the creator of The Mindful Home Technique, a science-backed approach to decluttering and and has helped hundreds of women declutter their homes. She is host of Declutter Your Chaos, a top ranking podcast approaching 2 million downloads, and hundreds of raving reviews, where a she helps women stop fighting their clutter by understanding the psychology behind it. Blending behavioral science, neuroscience, practical decluttering strategies, and mindfulness - informed by her training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and immersion in the teachings of Joe Dispenza, Jon Kabat Zinn, and Tich Nhat Hanh - Amber teaches that your home isn't just where you live - it's where you practice becoming the person you want to be. Her work is about creating space for clarity, confidence, and a life that allows you to become the best version of you.

More from Declutter Your Chaos - Mindful Minimalism

Oct 27, 2026

Have you ever started decluttering, only to feel completely exhausted five minutes later? Where do I start? Should I keep this? What if I need it someday? Where does this go? Before you know it, you've made a hundred decisions and barely made a dent in the clutter. Here's what you might not realize: You're not necessarily exhausted from decluttering. You're exhausted from deciding. In today's episode of Declutter Your Chaos, we're exploring the neuroscience behind decision overload and how one simple rule can make decluttering feel so much easier. Drawing on insights from neuroscientist Daniel Levitin's book The Organized Mind, I'll explain why too many decisions can leave you feeling overwhelmed, how to work with your brain instead of against it, and the one small shift that can help you finally get started. You'll learn how to: Reduce the mental exhaustion that comes with decluttering.

Oct 13, 2026

Hey Guys, What if the biggest thing standing between you and the home you want is the story you've been telling yourself? In this episode of Declutter Your Chaos, we're talking about how our thoughts shape our behavior, why confidence comes from taking action, and how mindfulness helps us move forward even when we don't feel motivated. You'll learn how to stop treating your thoughts as facts, take ownership of your choices, and build self-trust through small, consistent actions. Your challenge: Choose one thing you've been avoiding. Spend 15 minutes working on it. Notice your thoughts, take a breath, and keep going. You're more capable than you realize. Hope this helps, Amber

Oct 7, 2026

Hey Guys, In this episode, I'm joined by Cristell Jewell, founder of Rejeweled Gives. Crystal is knowledgeable,passionate and talented in the world of thrifting. Here, we talk about thrifting, finding value in what already exists, and giving usable items another life through gifting, donating, and reselling. We also explore how letting go can create space for more intentional living, and how sustainability and generosity can go hand in hand. Her mission is simple: give things a second chance and use that opportunity to create good in the world. Connect with Cristell at RejeweledGives.com, shop her treasures on Poshmark, and follow her on Instagram @rejeweledgives.

Oct 1, 2026

Hey Friends, The bathroom is one of those places where clutter can pile up—old lotions, half-empty bottles, forgotten samples, gifts we never used, and products we keep simply because they're small enough to tuck away. In this guided episode, we will mindfully declutter the bathroom while practicing something deeper: noticing what's happening inside of us as we make decisions. When you feel rushed, distracted, judgmental, or overwhelmed, come back to the breath. Let the breath bring you back to yourself, then return to what's in front of you. Because the object isn't really the practice. You are. One breath. One object. One decision. Find me at @amber.cammidge on Instagram. About Amber Amber Cammidge is the creator of The Mindful Home Technique, a science-backed approach to creating a home with less overwhelm. She is host of Declutter Your Chaos, a top ranking podcast with almost 2 million downloads, and hundreds of raving reviews, where a she helps women stop fighting their clutter by understanding the psychology behind it. Blending behavioral science, neuroscience, practical decluttering strategies, and mindfulness - informed by her training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and immersion in the teachings of Joe Dispenza, Jon Kabat Zinn, and Tich Nhat Hanh - Amber teaches that your home isn't just where you live - it's where you practice becoming the person you want to be. Her work is about creating space for clarity, confidence, and a life that allows you to become the best version of you.

Sep 23, 2026

Hey guys, Online shopping can feel like self-care—but sometimes what we really need is rest, pleasure, autonomy, or a little time that belongs entirely to us. In this episode, I talk about why we buy things that represent the person we want to become, why doing "nothing" can feel harder to justify than scrolling, and how to separate shopping from self-care without guilt or deprivation. I'll also share a simple three-step experiment to help you figure out whether you really want the thing—or just the feeling you think it will give you. And if you still want the pants? Buy the pants. Find me at @amber.cammidge on Instagram. About Amber Amber Cammidge is the creator of The Mindful Home Technique, a science-backed approach to creating a home with less overwhelm. She is host of Declutter Your Chaos, a top ranking podcast with almost 2 million downloads, and hundreds of raving reviews, where a she helps women stop fighting their clutter by understanding the psychology behind it. Blending behavioral science, neuroscience, practical decluttering strategies, and mindfulness - informed by her training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and immersion in the teachings of Joe Dispenza, Jon Kabat Zinn, and Tich Nhat Hanh - Amber teaches that your home isn't just where you live - it's where you practice becoming the person you want to be. Her work is about creating space for clarity, confidence, and a life that allows you to become the best version of you.

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