Liz Jenkins on Clearing Clutter Both Externally and Internally

Liz Jenkins on Clearing Clutter Both Externally and Internally

People often hire a professional organizer to help declutter their homes, believing the problem lies exclusively with managing physical STUFF. Liz Jenkins, owner of the thriving organizing business A Fresh Space, knows that the relationship between physical and mental clutter is way more than drawer-deep. đŸ€“

In this episode of the pod, Liz shares about how she views organizing not just as a logistical process, but a holistic one that is deeply embedded in the preferences, fears, insecurities, and desires of the people living in or sharing the space.

As she explains, organizers are not focused on dictating how you “should” use your spaces or making them look like something out of the pages of Magnolia. Rather, they facilitate a collaborative process of taking inventory, categorizing in a meaningful way, and exploring potential solutions that FIT the life of the person/people in the space and how they want to interact with it.

Once the external spaces feels more fully tended to and taken care of, their clients often experience the sense of an emotional burden being lifted.

This conversation was one of my favorite to-date, and I agree with Liz that the relationship between our internal and external spaces is incredibly insightful and impactful. I’m also fascinated with the ways we interact with and manage our spaces, nested within the larger context of interacting with our cohabitants— both those under the same roof, and those with whom we share the wider world.


About Liz

Liz Jenkins, owner of A Fresh Space in Nashville, TN, and her team specializes in creating gorgeous and organized spaces since 2005. In addition, they provide move concierge services with decluttering, home styling and full service unpacking. Liz’s ‘side hustle’ is a thriving consulting venture where she helps small business owners streamline their systems and processes so they can be more productive and profitable. Learn more at https://www.afreshspace.com/ and on Instagram at @afreshspace.


This episode covers:

  • [0:00] Intro

  • [0:50] Reading, Watching, Loving

  • [6:13] January Challenge

  • [9:59] What got Liz into organizing to begin with

  • [12:26] Organization is more than just making things look tidy

  • [17:32] Asking for help even if you have organizational skills

  • [21:34] Getting caught up on things needing to look a certain way vs, what works for your life

  • [23:55] Do people freeze or feel judgment when they hear the words ‘professional organizer’

  • [26:55] Archetypes of hoarders and trashers, plus the physical clutter leading to mental clutter for some

  • [34:11] The relational work of systems

  • [38:36] Kitten fostering

Resources + Stuff Mentioned in This Episode:

  • High Performance Habits 5-Day Challenge: Running LIVE January 1-5, 2024!
    If you’re listening to this before January 6, 2024, it’s not too late to join— you can jump in (it’s free!) over at bit.ly/badbitchhabits.

  • WATCHING: Greek

  • READING: The Atlantic December 2023 print issue (articles also available for online subscribers - support quality journalism!)

  • LOVING: TickTick


Connect with Liz:


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DISCLAIMER: None of my online content or coaching services are to be considered as therapy or a substitute for individualized mental health treatment or healthcare. These offerings are created for entertainment and educational purposes. For full disclaimer, visit https://badbitchtherapist.co/disclaimer .