Yes, I’m a Life Coach and yes, I have helped people declutter wardrobes, spare rooms, cupboards, paperwork and various corners of their homes that have reached the point where shutting the door and pretending they don’t exist feels like the most sensible option.

And yes… I can do it on Zoom.

Decluttering is actually a very good example of the sort of practical problem that can benefit from having somebody else involved.

Not necessarily somebody physically standing in your bedroom holding up jumpers and asking whether they bring you joy. Sometimes what you need is somebody to help you work out where on earth to start and how to turn “I really need to sort that out” into something you might actually get done.

And that is where I come in.

So how does decluttering coaching actually work?

Firstly, I don’t arrive on Zoom and tell you to throw half your belongings away but if you tell me you have far too many pairs of shoes and want some help deciding which ones need to go, then yes, we can absolutely do that.

We can work through what you use, what you genuinely want to keep and what you’re ready to part with.

And we can work out what happens to the things that are leaving – charity shop, selling, recycling, passing them on or, occasionally, admitting that something really does just need to go in the bin.

There is NO judgement involved.

Even when we get to the drawer containing seventeen charging cables for devices you probably no longer possess.

Then, if you tell me, “I really need to sort out the spare room”, I’m probably going to want to know what you actually want to use the spare room for.

What’s in there now?

What needs to stay?

Where will the things you don’t want actually go?

And, importantly, how much time do you realistically have to spend on it?

Because “sort the house out” is not a plan and neither is “declutter the wardrobe”.

They’re enormous, vague jobs with no obvious starting point which is often why they remain on the list for months.

So perhaps we’re not sorting the wardrobe. Perhaps we’re sorting the clothes hanging on one rail.

Perhaps we’re not dealing with the entire kitchen. Perhaps we’re starting with one cupboard.

Much more manageable and considerably less likely to end with you standing in the middle of your bedroom surrounded by everything you own and wondering why you started.

Yes, zoom really does work……

I’ve had clients pick up their laptop or phone and take me on a tour.

Sometimes I get shown a wardrobe.

Sometimes it’s a cupboard.

Sometimes we arrive at a spare room accompanied by the words, “Right. Don’t judge me.”

I don’t.

What do we do?

We have a look at what’s actually going on and often, that’s when it becomes clear that the problem isn’t simply “too much stuff” but perhaps the storage doesn’t work?

Perhaps clothes no longer fit the life you have now? Perhaps paperwork has accumulated because nobody has ever decided what actually needs keeping? Perhaps things belonging to grown-up children are still occupying half a room?

Perhaps a cupboard is annoying you simply because the things you use most often are inexplicably stored behind the things you haven’t touched since 2017. Or perhaps the spare room has gradually become the place where everything without an obvious home gets deposited.

Once we know what the actual problem is, it’s much easier to decide what to do about it.

And of course, there’s one other advantage to having me involved – if you’ve told me you’re going to sort that cupboard before we next speak, I will remember.

Not the whole kitchen.

One cupboard.

Sometimes better is enough.

There’s something disproportionately satisfying about finally sorting out something that’s been mildly annoying you for months.

It might not be considered life-changing or transformative. Just better.

The cupboard opens without three things falling out.

You can actually find the paperwork.

Getting dressed is easier because you can see what’s in the wardrobe.

The spare room has a floor again.

And you can finally cross “SORT THAT CUPBOARD” off the list.

Sometimes that’s a perfectly good result for a Tuesday.

And if you’re still not sure about the seventeen unidentified charging cables, put them in a box.

We’ll deal with those another day.

The post Yes, I can help you declutter your house on Zoom appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.

The light has changed, windows are open more often, winter coats are no longer needed every day and somewhere along the way, an urge appears to sort things out!

We all get it (least I think we do!)

 After months of winter living, fuller cupboards, heavier routines and homes working hard to carry us through darker days, you’re ready for things to feel lighter again.

We all need breathing space.

Spring decluttering isn’t really about cleaning.

It’s about creating space.
Space to move more easily through your home, space to think clearly. Space to feel refreshed rather than surrounded by unfinished jobs.

The good news is that you don’t need a full house overhaul to feel that shift. A few focused changes can quickly bring a sense of calm and renewed energy.

 Start with what you wear every day.

Your wardrobe is often the easiest place to begin.

After winter, many of us are holding onto clothes that feel tired, uncomfortable or no longer quite right for how we live now. When wardrobes are overcrowded even getting dressed can feel harder than it needs to be.

Try a simple seasonal reset:

• pack away heavier winter items
• remove anything that no longer fits or feels good
• keep clothes you actually reach for now

A clearer wardrobe makes mornings easier and often gives an immediate sense of refresh.

Clear the everyday clutter zones.

Decluttering works best when it focuses on real life rather than perfection.

Look at the areas that quietly collect daily build-up:

• kitchen worktops
• hallway surfaces
• bags and paperwork
• children’s school items
• work-from-home spaces

You’re not aiming for spotless, just enough breathing room so your home feels easier to manage day to day.

Clear surfaces often lead to clearer thinking.

 Let go of “Just in Case”

Many homes hold onto items out of habit rather than usefulness, things kept because they were expensive, given as gifts or saved for a future situation that never quite arrives.

A helpful question to ask is:
Would I choose this again today?

If the answer is no, it may be time to let it go.

Decluttering isn’t about waste. It’s about choosing what supports your life as it is now.

 Reset one practical system

Sometimes overwhelm comes less from clutter and more from disorganisation.

Mid-April is an ideal moment to reset one small system that makes everyday life run more smoothly:

• a family diary or noticeboard
• meal planning basics
• paperwork storage
• your workspace or digital files

Simple systems reduce daily decision-making and free up valuable mental energy.

Notice how space changes energy

Decluttering isn’t only visual, it’s emotional too.

A cleared drawer, organised wardrobe or calmer workspace often brings:

• quicker mornings
• fewer decisions
• less background stress
• a greater sense of control

You’re not just tidying your home.
You’re removing friction from everyday life.

Ready to create a little more space?

If April has sparked the urge to have a clear-out or fresh start, it can help to have somewhere simple to begin.

I’ve created a practical decluttering workbook designed to guide you step by step through the areas that make the biggest difference to daily life — from wardrobes and paperwork to everyday systems that help your home run more smoothly.

There’s no expectation to do everything at once. You can start small, dip in where you choose, and work at a pace that suits your home and your energy. Click here – https://www.katetilston.co.uk/shop-practical-coaching-tips-and-workbooks/

My final thought…….

Spring doesn’t have to be about perfection or transformation. Sometimes all it takes is opening a window, clearing a surface or letting go of what no longer fits your life. Creating space around you often creates space within you too and that’s where renewed energy begins.

Small, practical changes can make everyday life feel lighter.

The post Clearing space at home & in your head. appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.