Lingering

Lingering

From The Art of Decluttering by Amy Revell

March 8, 2026 · 18 min · Season 5 · Episode 9

About this episode

This episode emphasizes the importance of pausing before decluttering to gain clarity and make intentional decisions about your space.

Before you jump into decluttering, what if you paused—just for a moment? That small pause, or “linger,” can completely change the way you make decisions in your home. Instead of rushing straight into tidying, stand back and observe the space first. Notice what’s actually being used, what keeps becoming clutter hotspots, and what systems might not be working. When you linger, even for five seconds, you give yourself the clarity to solve the real problem rather than repeatedly tidying the symptoms. You might walk into a playroom and realise the mess isn’t the issue—there’s simply too much for your kids to manage. Or you might see that clean clothes piling up on a chair aren’t about laziness but about a system that doesn’t suit your household. That pause helps you respond intentionally instead of reactively. Lingering also allows you to check in with your emotions before decluttering. If you’re feeling frustrated, rushed, or overwhelmed, that emotional state can influence your decisions. Recognising how you feel helps you choose what to tackle and what to leave for another day. It also helps you plan realistically. Instead of pulling everything out and getting stuck midway, you can…

People in this episode

Host: Amy Revell

Topics covered

  • decluttering
  • mindfulness
  • decision making
  • emotional awareness
  • home organization

Keywords

  • decluttering
  • lingering
  • home organization
  • emotional state
  • intentional living

More episodes of The Art of Decluttering

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Art of Decluttering podcast page.