Declutter Your Space, Reclaim Your Life: How the KonMari Method Supports Midlife Reinvention

Is your closet bursting at the seams? Garage overflowing with mystery boxes? Are you hanging onto clothes from 20 pounds ago or gifts you never liked, but still keep out of guilt? You’re not alone.

On our latest episode of the No Expiration Date podcast, we sat down with Amelie, a certified KonMari Consultant and professional organizer, who helps everyday women ditch the chaos and create spaces that actually spark joy—without the shame, overwhelm, or pressure to throw everything away.

From TLC Obsession to Professional Organizer

Amelie’s love for organizing started years ago while watching “Clean Sweep” on TLC. But it wasn’t until she picked up The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (twice!) that she realized helping others tidy their lives was her calling.

After completing her own full “tidying festival” and feeling transformed, she became a certified KonMari professional and now guides others through their own organizing journeys—without judgment and with a whole lot of compassion.

What Is the KonMari Method?

You’ve probably heard the phrase “spark joy,” but there’s more to the KonMari method than that. According to Amelie, it’s a structured, life-altering process of tidying up your home—by category, not by room—and keeping only the items that help you live your ideal life.

It’s not about throwing things away. It’s about choosing what to keep.

"We don’t focus on what you're getting rid of—we focus on what you want to keep and why," Amelie explains.

Where Do You Even Start?

If you’re drowning in clutter and don’t know where to begin, Amelie recommends starting with your closet. It’s the first thing you see each day, and how you feel in your clothes can set the tone for your entire day.

Start small. Even just 15 minutes a day can make a difference.

Pro tip: Begin with one category at a time—t-shirts, dresses, bras, etc.—and pull everything out so you can actually see what you have. The visual impact is often a powerful motivator.

Emotional Roadblocks and Guilt

Decluttering isn’t just physical. It’s deeply emotional. From jeans we wore on vacation to heirlooms that belonged to loved ones, Amelie sees it all.

Two big blocks she sees:

1. Hanging on to a former version of yourself

2. Keeping things out of guilt or obligation

Her advice? Release the guilt. Feel gratitude, not shame. That sweater served you, but if it’s no longer part of the life you want to live, it’s okay to let it go.

“A gift’s purpose is to be received,” she says. “Once it’s made you or the giver happy, it’s served its purpose.”

Junk Drawers, Closets & Cluttered Corners

Everyone has that drawer. (Okay, maybe three.) Amelie recommends redefining it: don’t call it a junk drawer—give it a purpose. A utility drawer. Use drawer organizers to create space boundaries, and let that be the limit.

Also? You don’t need a full weekend or Pinterest-worthy bins to get organized. Just start. One box, one shelf, one item at a time.

The Mental Weight of Stuff

There’s science behind the stress of clutter. Amelie shares that UCLA researchers found that clutter raises cortisol (stress hormone) levels—especially in women. Our homes should be where we recharge, not feel overwhelmed.

Tidying can actually give you more time, more peace, and more clarity.

“Clutter occupies space in your brain—even when you don’t realize it.”

Reinvention Begins at Home

For many midlife women, reinvention starts with reclaiming their environment. Whether you're recently divorced, an empty nester, or just ready to start fresh, Amelie says your surroundings should reflect who you are becoming—not who you were.

The KonMari method helps you reset, not just your drawers, but your direction.

Final Thoughts + How to Get Started

You don’t have to do it all at once.

Here are a few takeaways to remember:

• Start small. 15 minutes a day is enough.

• Focus on what to keep, not what to throw away.

• Write the story of sentimental items if you can't keep the item itself.

• Decluttering is not a one-time event. It’s a mindset shift.

• Your stuff should serve you—not the other way around.

Connect with Amelie

Ready to get started? You can find Amelie at:
🌐 amelieorganizes.com
📸 Instagram & Facebook: @amelieorganizes

If you’ve been feeling the urge to clear your space—and your mind—this is your sign. You don’t have to do it perfectly. You just have to start.

Because there's no expiration date on fresh starts.