I’m just going to say it.
I had “clean out my closet” on my to-do list for OVER A YEAR.
Like… multiple seasons. Holidays. Entire personality eras.
I would start cleaning, get halfway through, create three new piles, get distracted, and suddenly I was sitting on the floor trying on old outfits instead of actually finishing anything.
Classic.
I kept telling myself I’d do it “when I had more time” or “when I felt motivated.” Spoiler alert: motivation is a flaky friend.
The moment my brain did a plot twist
Recently I went to a workshop called JoyX hosted by my friends at The Zest Zone. Their home is beautifully curated — calm, intentional, the kind of space where you walk in and instantly feel like your nervous system unclenches.
And my first thought was:
I can’t wait to do things like this when I have a house.
But then my inner Vibrant Badass kicked in and was like…
Girl. You have a pretty badass apartment RIGHT NOW.
Why are you waiting for some future version of your life to create the vibe you want?
So I asked myself:
What would it take for me to feel proud to host something here?
Enter: The Great Apartment Reset
I started picking things up off the floor.
Cleared random clutter piles.
Did alllll the laundry (the emotional-support laundry included).
And slowly… the space started breathing again.
And honestly? So did I.
Because there are multiple pages in Let’s Be Less Stressed about environment because it connects to your brain. Clutter is basically background noise your nervous system is constantly trying to process. I wasn’t taking my own advice in this area.
When your space feels chaotic, your brain stays slightly on edge.
When your space feels calm? Your brain finally gets to exhale.
Outer order = inner calm. It’s real.
The closet that haunted me
Eventually I faced the final boss: the closet.
The thing that had been quietly judging me for A WHILE. No joke, it collapse twice from too much stuff.
And here’s the funny part, it didn’t actually take that long once I started. The hardest part wasn’t the cleaning; it was the mental drama I built around it.
When it was done, I felt LIGHT. Like I had closed an energy leak I didn’t even realize was draining me.
Now my closet only has pieces that fit who I am today and that bring me joy.
The unexpected truth
This wasn’t about becoming a perfectly organized person.
It was about deciding my current life deserves to feel good — not just my future dream life.
I don’t need a house to host workshops.
I don’t need perfect decor.
I just needed to stop waiting and start creating the environment I wanted now.
And honestly? That’s very Vibrant Badass energy.
How I’m keeping the chaos from creeping back in
Because we’re not aiming for Pinterest perfection here. We’re aiming for sustainable calm.
My new low-pressure maintenance rules:
- Vacuum regularly (before it becomes a personality crisis)
- Wash the sheets weekly because sleep hits different when they’re fresh
- One load of laundry every few days instead of Mount Laundry
- Put things away instead of creating “temporary” counter piles
- Sort mail immediately so it doesn’t become a paper monster
- Clean the kitchen before bed so morning me feels loved
- Run essential oils diffusers to keep it smelling fresh
Small things. Big difference.
The real takeaway
If you’ve been feeling stressed or stuck lately, look around your space.
Not with judgment — with curiosity.
What’s one tiny thing you could reset today that would make your environment feel better?
Because sometimes being less stressed doesn’t start with a mindset shift.
Sometimes it starts with picking your damn clothes up off the floor and realizing you already have everything you need to create a life that feels good.
Here are some fun before/after photos to show you the difference!
