"The Silent Machine Behind Your Clutter: How Advertising Fuels Clutter and Stress" and 5 ways you can push back!
- melora johnson
- Apr 30
- 7 min read
Clutter Isn’t Your Fault—It’s the Consumer Industry’s Playbook: Reclaim Your Time, Space, and Sanity
The clutter in our homes mirrors the clutter in our minds
We’re up against a relentless machine that constantly tells us we need more—often without even realizing we’re in the fight. And the stakes couldn’t be higher. But take a breath: you’re doing great. Truly. Just making the time to read this says a lot.
I choose to believe most people are doing the best they can with what they’ve got. That includes you. We all want to do right—by ourselves, our families, our communities, and the planet. It’s challenging, and it’s easy to feel like we’re falling short. But that’s just the negative self-talk talking, and it’s not the truth.
So here’s a well-deserved High Five for showing up and navigating life in these wild times. You’re not alone, and you’re not failing.
If you’re feeling stretched thin, buried in to-dos, or like you’re constantly putting off what truly matters—join the club. For many of us, the clutter in our homes mirrors the clutter in our minds: relentless, overwhelming, and exhausting. It’s not just the stuff—it’s the weight of managing it all.
The toys, the laundry, the piles, the projects—it can feel like we’re living inside an endless to-do list. But maybe the problem isn’t you. Maybe it’s the corporations that have targeted us since birth to keep buying, while they pollute, overproduce, and profit. And maybe we can blame our politicians and policies that allow this to happen—unchecked—while we carry the burden.
Living with too much stuff can take a serious toll on our mental health
Living in the chaos of too much is quietly brutal on our mental health. It fuels anxiety, resentment, and insecurity—especially when we’re constantly asking ourselves, why can’t I keep up? Here is a great article outlining the toll clutter takes on our mental health. https://www.calm.com/blog/clutter-mental-health
As a parent of three boys, when they were young I remember feeling constantly overwhelmed and angry—resentful of the mess, frustrated with my kids, mad at my partner, and ashamed of myself. Looking back, so much of that pressure was self-imposed (I say this without self blame or guilt- ok maybe a little). But I know I wasn’t alone. I missed countless chances to simply be with my children and enjoy time with my partner—because our stuff was always demanding attention, and I was stuck chasing the next best thing. I wanted to be the perfect wife, mother, entertainer...
We can all relate to these scenarios—whether you're juggling kids at home or navigating life after they’ve left. There’s always something to clean, declutter, organize, or deal with.
It’s never-ending. You wake up on a Saturday, hoping for a break after a busy week, but there’s more stuff to tackle and to buy. At the end of a long day, all you want is to unwind with a book, but instead, you’re drowning in clutter. And even when you’d love to spend a day with your kids, you’re buried under piles of things that demand attention.
And then, when your children have moved out, the weight of it all only gets heavier. Now, you're left with the task of dealing with all that accumulated stuff you will NEVER need and maybe never did and storing it, moving it, worrying about what to do with it—without the excuse of being too busy to deal with it.
What is all this stuff? Where did it come from—and why is it here?
The baskets and bins bursting with toys that migrate from room to room. The mountains of laundry waiting to be wrangled into drawers that are already overflowing. Sports gear, tangled cords, obsolete remotes and chargers. Small kitchen appliances you never use. Piles of magazines you meant to read. Multiple sets of towels, sheets, utensils—when you only ever reach for one. All of it needs sorting, managing, cleaning, and storing constantly. Sound familiar?
This level of chaos isn’t natural—it’s manufactured. It’s the result of a relentless system built to convince you that more stuff equals a better life. It's so obvious it doesnt, and we are being manipulated!! You can take back your time, your space, your energy. It may take a mindset shift, a little patience, and a willingness to challenge the status quo—but the life you imagine is within reach. Quiet weekend mornings. Unhurried time with your children. Easy, joyful meals with friends in a home that feels like you. Surrounded not by clutter, but by clarity and things that bring you joy not heartache.
Push Back on Clutter—Without Shame or Guilt
Let’s be real: clutter doesn’t just sneak in—it barrels through the front door with a smile and a receipt. If you’re looking around your home wondering how did all this get here?, you’re not alone. We live in a culture designed to push us into buying more, faster, and with less thought. But you’re allowed to push back. Here’s how.
1. Get Curious About How It All Got Here Before you even start decluttering, pause and get honest. Take a look at the things you don’t use and ask: Why did I buy this? Was it retail therapy after a stressful week? A “deal too good to pass up”? A fantasy version of yourself who cooks five-course meals or dehydrates their own fruit? (Hey, no judgment.) Understanding what drives the clutter is the first step to stopping it at the source. It’s not about shame—it’s about awareness. When you know what’s really going on, you’ll be less likely to make the same choices on autopilot.
2. Start With the Stuff That’s Clearly Not Serving You Not all clutter is emotional. Some of it is just... excess.Grab a box and spend 10 minutes today removing anything that’s clearly not earning its keep:
Toys your kids outgrew
That third garlic press
Guest linens no guest has ever used
Decor that doesn’t spark anything but dust
Books no one in the house is going to read
Donate what’s clean and functional—someone out there will be GLAD to have it. And skip the guilt trip about sunk costs. You already paid the price. Now it’s time to reclaim your space.
3. Make Decluttering a Habit, Not a One-Time Event. Decluttering isn’t a one-and-done thing—it’s a lifestyle shift. Keep a donation bin by the door and commit to filling it regularly. Each week, challenge yourself to let go of 10, 20, even 50 items. (Yes, it’s possible. Your junk drawer alone is probably hiding at least 12.). Scan your home like a detective: broken items, duplicates, long-abandoned hobbies, mystery cords, expired products. When in doubt, let it out. The more you release, the lighter your home—and your mind—will feel.
4. Pause Before You Purchase. Want to avoid bringing more clutter in? Practice the power pause. That flash of “I need this!” is often just clever marketing. Step back. Breathe. Ask:
Do I really need this?
Will I use it more than once?
Am I buying it because it’s on sale?
To imress someone?
Where will it live?
Pausing for even 24 hours can short-circuit the impulse and save you from future regret. Bonus: You’ll start to feel more in control, not less.
✨ Pro tip: Look into the No Buy Movement (or its trendier cousin, Project Pan https://www.vogue.com/article/the-beauty-community-that-just-wants-you-to-finish-your-makeup). These movements are about using what you have, resisting consumer pressure, and opting out of mindless spending. People are joining in for reasons from environmental activism to financial sanity.
5. Stop Blaming Yourself—We are all being gamed!
Here’s the truth: this isn’t all your fault.The average person is bombarded with up to 10,000 ads per day. That’s not a failure of willpower—it’s a deliberate business model. Add in government policies that allow unchecked overproduction, zero accountability for waste, and little regulation of advertising, and it’s no wonder our homes are overflowing and our planet is a wreck. If you feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or even angry—you should. It means you’re waking up. Pushing back on clutter isn’t just good for your home—it’s a quiet act of rebellion against a system designed to keep you stuck. It can make you feel powerful! https://www.globalwitness.org/en/blog/how-can-we-hold-companies-responsible-damage-they-cause/
Letting go of excess isn’t about deprivation—it’s about reclaiming your time, space, and peace of mind in a world that constantly bombards us with advertising and products we don’t need. The pressure from big business and government policies that allow unchecked overproduction can make it feel impossible to escape. Imagine weekends no longer swallowed up by endless cleanouts or toy purges, but spent doing what you love with the people you cherish (or simply enjoying quiet time alone). This life doesn’t require a massive overhaul—just a steady, consistent shift. Start small, stay committed, and with every bag, box, or bundle you release, you take another step toward the lighter, calmer, and more intentional life you deserve. Plus, remember that even though you don’t want or need the stuff, someone else does—and that’s a win for both you and them. Less isn’t a punishment—it’s a luxury, and by exercising your power, you not only improve your life but also contribute to a healthier planet.
Where to donate your stuff in Fairfield County Ct and Westchester County in NY
A few wonderful and worthy donation spots in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. You can donate all sorts of things to various charities and organizations in Norwalk, Darien, Greenwich, Stamford and New Canaan Ct. Also make donations in Port Chester, Rye, Mamaroneck and Harrison Ny. Check out their sites for what they need and accept and when you can drop off. And remember, if you would not put in on your child or have it in your house, it goes to the dump. Only clean items in good condition!
https://pickupplease.org these guys will come to you!
If you need more help you can reach out to me at melora@sustainablystyledbymelora.com
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