Rita Wilkins Decluttering and minimalism blog
Woman gently sorting clothing on a bed during a quiet moment of deciding it is time to declutter and downsize

When You Know It’s Time to Downsize and Declutter

But You’re Still Afraid to Begin: Why Smart Women Get Stuck and How to Move Forward By Rita Wilkins, The Downsizing Designer™ There’s something I hear again and again from women who know they’re standing at a turning point in life. “I know I have to downsize, but I don’t ...
Three confident women of different ages standing side by side indoors with arms crossed and smiling, representing capable women navigating life transitions such as downsizing, decluttering, and intentional living.

Why Downsizing Feels So Hard for Smart and Capable Women

By Rita Wilkins, The Downsizing Designer™ Have you ever wondered why downsizing feels so hard, even though you are a smart, capable woman who has handled far more complex challenges in life? This is one of the most common questions I hear from my audience. Many women tell me, “I ...
A thoughtful midlife woman gazes out a sunlit window at sunrise, reflecting quietly on identity, life transitions, and who she is becoming after 50.

Who Am I Now? Discovering Who You Are After 50 and Reimagining Life After Loss

There’s a quiet question many women begin to ask after 50.After the children have left home.After a career has ended or shifted.After a loss reshapes life in unexpected ways. The question is simple, but profound: Who am I now? It isn’t dramatic.It doesn’t arrive with urgency.It often comes softly, in ...
Person walking outdoors holding multiple colorful shopping bags in both hands, suggesting excess shopping and consumer overwhelm.

When Shopping Becomes a Substitute for What We’ve Lost

There’s a moment many women don’t want to talk about—or are afraid to name. It’s the moment you realize you’re buying things you don’t really want or need.Not because you’re careless, but because something is missing.There’s a void you’re trying to fill. The house is quieter now.The roles have changed.The ...
Woman sitting on the floor beside moving boxes in a bright, uncluttered room, symbolizing a fresh start and a new year commitment to decluttering and simplifying life.

Why 2026 Feels Different And How to Finally Change Your Relationship With Clutter

Most people don’t start decluttering because they feel motivated.They start because they reach a breaking point. It’s the moment a closet door opens, and everything spills out.Or when you stand in the middle of your home and think,“I can’t live like this anymore.” That moment doesn’t come from laziness or ...
Rita Wilkins smiling in her red dress holding a small framed card with the number one, seated at a table with a white daisy in a glass vase beside her. The words “Thank You” appear in soft pink script on a light background.

A Year of Letting Go and Leaning In

Rita Wilkins’ Most Loved Blogs and Videos of the Year As this year comes to a gentle and meaningful close, I want to pause. Not to count accomplishments or track numbers, but to honor people. The ones who arrived tired yet hopeful. The ones who quietly admitted, “I’m ready… I ...
A woman holding a box filled with children’s toys and keepsakes while decluttering her home, symbolizing emotional decluttering and letting go of sentimental clutter.

Stuff Is Never Just Stuff

Why Decluttering Feels So Hard—and How It Shifts From Painful to Powerful You probably didn’t expect decluttering to make you cry. Maybe you thought it would be about boxes and trash bags, donation piles, and finally getting your home under control—especially after the holidays. But somewhere between emptying your closet ...
Woman sitting backward on a chair, resting her arms and chin, looking overwhelmed in a cluttered room with piles of colorful clothes spilling over a sofa and hanging from a rack, symbolizing decluttering stress and decision fatigue.

Why Decluttering Feels So Hard and the One Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

Before we begin, let’s clear something up. If decluttering feels hard, it’s not because you lack discipline, motivation, or follow-through.And it’s certainly not because you’re doing it “wrong.” Decluttering feels hard because it’s not just about stuff. If it were only about things, you would have finished years ago. You’re ...
Woman in her 50s looking overwhelmed while standing in a cluttered home, illustrating emotional stress caused by clutter and failed organizing attempts.

You Can’t Organize Yourself Out of Clutter

Why Organizing Hasn’t Worked—and What Finally Will There’s something about the days between Christmas and New Year’s that feels different. The decorations are still up. The gifts are still out. The house feels fuller… but not in a good way. One client once told me,“I love my family… but after ...