Decision Fatigue Is Wiping You Out—Here’s How Organizing Can Give You Your Brain Back

Let’s be honest: most of us aren’t drowning in clutter because we’re lazy. We’re drowning because every single object, task, and choice in our home is silently asking us a question.

Where does this go?
Should I keep this?
When will I use it again?
What’s for dinner?
Where did I even put the scissors?

That’s decision fatigue—and it’s stealing your energy faster than your group text blowing up while you’re just trying to fold a towel.

If your brain feels fried by 10 AM and even simple tasks like putting away laundry or deciding what’s for breakfast make you want to scream… you're not broken. You're just making 10x more decisions than your brain has capacity for. And that’s where organizing comes in—not as a Pinterest-perfect goal, but as a kind, sustainable solution to give your mind some peace.

Organizing Isn’t About Perfection—It’s About Reducing Friction

The internet (and let’s be real, a lot of home organization shows) can make it seem like being “organized” is about matching bins, rainbow drawers, and a label for every last q-tip. And if that helps you feel calm—go for it!

But that’s not what I mean when I say organizing can give you your brain back.

What I’m talking about is default systems. The kind that don’t rely on motivation. The kind that reduce friction so future-you doesn’t have to think so hard.

Think of it like this: when your keys always go in the same bowl by the door, you don’t have to ask “where are my keys?” every morning. That’s one less decision. Now imagine 30 tiny decisions like that being taken off your plate each day. That’s the kind of freedom we’re building.

Hidden vs. Visual Organizing (And Why the Right One Reduces Decision Fatigue)

Here’s where things get personal. Not everyone’s brain organizes the same way—and forcing yourself into a system that doesn’t match how your mind works will just add friction, not remove it.

Visual organizers need to see their things to remember they exist. Think open shelves, clear bins, file folders turned front-facing. If your stuff is hidden, it may as well not exist—which leads to duplicates, overwhelm, or that infamous “I know I bought it but can’t find it” spiral.

Hidden organizers, on the other hand, feel calm when their space looks clear. Too many visible items = visual clutter = brain static. They do best with tucked-away systems and clear categories behind closed doors.

The trick? Know which one you are, and organize for that, not what you saw on social media. Right system = fewer micro-decisions = more brain space.

“Good Enough” Routines: They Save More Than Time

One of the biggest game-changers in my own home was letting go of the pressure to do everything perfectly and instead focusing on systems that were “good enough.”

Good enough means:

• Having 3 go-to breakfasts so you’re not reinventing the wheel at 7am.

• Folding laundry in categories (or not at all) instead of Marie Kondo-ing every sock.

• Doing a 10-minute tidy at night even if it’s not everything.

These routines don’t look glamorous. But they work because they lower the number of decisions you have to make in the moment. Every little piece of structure is a gift to your future tired self.

Structure Is Self-Love (Especially When You’re Burnt Out)

If you're overwhelmed and overbooked, organizing might feel like the last thing you have energy for. But here’s a mindset shift I live by:

Organizing is a love letter to your future self.

It’s saying, “Hey, I know you’re going to be tired tomorrow. Let me set something up that helps you move through the hard moments with more ease.”

That could look like:

• Choosing an outfit “uniform” for workdays so you don’t stare at your closet for 20 minutes.

• Prepping your coffee station to be one-step grab-and-go.

• Setting up a donation bin in your closet so you don’t have to make decluttering a huge task later.

You’re not organizing because life is calm—you’re organizing because it isn’t.

Organizing Isn’t About Aesthetic. It’s About Access.

Let me say this louder for the perfectionists in the back: Pretty doesn’t make life easier. Access does.

The goal isn’t to make your space look like it belongs on the cover of a magazine (unless you really want it to).

The goal is to find what you need when you need it. To move through your day with fewer interruptions. To quiet the background mental noise so you can use your energy on what actually matters—like showing up for your people, your work, your rest.

If you have ADHD, chronic illness, little kids, or a mountain of stress… you don’t need a prettier system. You need one that holds you without requiring you to be on your A-game.

Small Space, Big Functionality: Systems That Work Hard

You don’t need a bigger house. You need smarter zones.

Some of my favorite space-saving, decision-reducing ideas:

• Over-the-door organizers for grab-and-go categories (like meds, sunscreen, or snacks).

• Drawer dividers so you don’t have to dig for the one thing you actually use.

• Command hooks and baskets by the front door for “drop zones.”

• One labeled bin per family member for daily “stuff” instead of a cluttered counter.

Again, the magic here isn’t the look—it’s the clarity. Systems like these reduce the number of decisions you have to make every day. And that, my friend, is the real aesthetic: a calm nervous system.

Want My New Sticker For Free?

As a thank-you for being part of this community, I’m sending out my newest sticker (Did My Best, Time to Rest) for free to anyone who’s purchased a product from my shop and is willing to leave honest feedback.

It’s my way of saying thank you—and of celebrating progress over perfection.
Look out for Monday’s email where I’ll share the link to claim yours!

And if you’re not on the list yet, now’s a good time to join. I’ve got more realistic, judgment-free tips for reducing decision fatigue coming your way.

TL;DR: You Don’t Need Less Stuff. You Need Fewer Decisions.

You deserve peace even if you’re messy.
You deserve structure even if you’re tired.
You deserve systems that make life easier especially when things are hard.

So no, organizing isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about making space for the version of you that already exists—and already deserves rest.