When the Overwhelm Finally Lifts
This afternoon, I met with a client who is an absolutely outstanding professional woman. She’s a department head for a large corporation, someone who gets a tremendous amount done every single day. She’s been traveling constantly, juggling high-level responsibilities, and caring for people and projects far beyond what would ever fit neatly into a job description. And her home reflected that pace.
When I arrived, she looked at me and said, very quietly, “I’m so embarrassed. I’m just stuck. I’m so overwhelmed.” She couldn’t even really answer questions about where to start or what she wanted things to look like. Her thoughts felt tangled, and you could see the weight she’d been carrying.
Starting Where She Was, Not Where She Thought She Had to Be
So we slowed things down. We didn’t ask her to do more than she had the capacity for. We worked one section at a time, one category at a time, gently and methodically. She participated when she could—maybe about 30 percent of the time—and that was more than enough. She had work calls to take, decisions to make, and a lot still pulling at her attention.
Our job was to bring the strategy and the structure. Her job was simply to be present when she could. That’s an important distinction. Organizing doesn’t require perfection or constant engagement. It requires support that meets you where you are.
What Three Hours Can Really Do
After just three hours—three hours with two organizers, six staff hours total—she took a deep breath and said, “Oh my gosh. I feel like this wave of overwhelm is just gone.” She shared that when we arrived, she couldn’t even put coherent sentences together. That’s how overloaded she felt.
Her space looked like someone who had been traveling nonstop, managing multiple projects, and trying to hold everything together without a clear system to support her. What she needed wasn’t just decluttering. She needed thoughtful strategy paired with very specific, hands-on help. And once that was in place, her nervous system finally had room to rest.
You Deserve Support Too
I share this because I see it every day. Most women I work with have far too much on their shoulders. Many men do as well. But so often, the women I meet are eager—almost instinctively—to help everyone else before they help themselves.
Your home matters. It should feel like a sanctuary, a place that supports you and acts as a strong launch pad for the important work you do outside of it. When it doesn’t feel that way, it’s not a personal failing. It’s simply a sign that you need support.
Every small shift toward calm matters. Every space that functions better gives something back to you—energy, clarity, and a sense of relief you may not even realize you’ve been missing. If your home doesn’t feel like it’s doing that for you yet, I want you to know that help is available, and you don’t have to do it alone.
Pinky Jackson is a Decluttering Specialist and Home Organizing Expert. If you need expert organizing help, don't hesitate to reach out. Pinky and her team would love to help you. Onsite Organizing services are available in the Louisville, KY area and Virtual Organizing services are offered for clients in other locations and for those who prefer to work online. Visit pinkyjackson.com to learn about our services and schedule a free assessment.
Photo: Julia Avamotive @stockphotoartist
