Today, Explained Your clutter is holding you back
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Mar 8, 2026 
Mary Dozier, a clinical psychologist who treats hoarding, offers a therapeutic take on when possessions become harmful. Randall O'Reilly, a neuroscience professor, explains brain drives, decision avoidance, and memory’s role in keeping stuff. Emily Stewart, a reporter on consumer trends, traces mass consumption, minimalism, and cultural forces behind accumulation. They explore practical decluttering approaches and values-based letting go.
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Couples Clash Over Clutter In A Tiny NYC Apartment
- Haley and Pernoy manage clutter in a 600 sq ft NYC apartment by compromise and necessity.
- They negotiate keep vs. toss: one partner purges on kicks while the other saves boxes for shipping or future use.
Clutter Drives Repeat Purchases
- 71% of Americans buy duplicates because clutter prevents finding originals.
- Emily Stewart cites this statistic to show how excess stuff increases waste and repeated purchases.
Why Decluttering Feels Exhausting
- Decision fatigue makes discarding feel costly because ancient brain systems avoid hard choices.
- Randall O'Reilly explains uncertainty (keep or toss) drains motivation and pushes the brain to postpone decisions for easier rewards.