Clearing the Fog: Why Decluttering Isn’t the Point

It’s January—the season of clean closets, organized drawers, and freshly emptied garages. In this episode, Bob ’n Joyce look beyond the annual cleanup ritual to ask a more interesting question: Does decluttering actually change anything, or does it just make us feel productive for a while?

Yes, clearing clutter feels good. It can be energizing and even cathartic. But as we explore, the real value of decluttering—whether in our personal lives or in organizations—doesn’t come from an occasional burst of cleaning. It comes from making decluttering a deliberate, ongoing practice.

When clutter builds up—physical, mental, or organizational—it often goes unnoticed until it slows us down or gums up the system. Done well, decluttering releases energy, sharpens focus, and clears the way for a fresh start by helping us see what truly matters.

Some takeaways from today’s conversation:
• Decluttering feels good, but it can also postpone work on what matters most.
• One-time cleanups offer short-term relief; the benefits rarely last.
• A daily cadence of doing just two things that genuinely make a difference may be far more powerful than an occasional cleanup surge.

Individuals and organizations both benefit from clearing the clutter that slows them down. The challenge is that clutter often hides in plain sight. For leaders and OD practitioners, the work is learning to see it—and engaging people in periodically clearing the air so real progress can happen.

So let’s get to it.
Come on in.
Grab a snack.
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