Why Your Clutter Is Stressing You Out (And What to Do About It)

Ever feel drained just looking around your home? You're not imagining it — your environment has a real impact on your stress levels and mental clarity. In this week's episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Tina O'Keeffe, professional organizer and Chief Organizing Officer of Stow and Behold, to talk about what clutter is really costing you — and what you can do about it.

With over a decade of experience and a background that includes communications, copywriting, and even a stint in the Peace Corps in Ukraine, Tina brings a uniquely empathetic approach to organizing. She shares why disorganization is one of the most overlooked sources of stress, how to move past the shame of clutter, and why a truly organized space isn't about Pinterest-perfect aesthetics — it's about creating systems that actually work for you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The surprising connection between clutter and mental health
• Tina's "purge, assess, return, exit" method for getting started
• Why buying containers before organizing is the #1 mistake people make
• How to build simple systems that reduce daily stress (hello, mail pile!)
• When it might be time to bring in a professional — and how to find one near you

Whether you're dealing with a junk drawer or years of accumulated stuff, Tina's message is clear: you don't have to do it perfectly, you just have to start.

🌐 Find Tina at stowandbehold.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @StowandBehold 🔍 Find a professional organizer near you at napo.net