Declutter Your Life & Career After 40: The Perfect Time to Start Over

Midlife transitions often begin with a little chaos — at work, at home, and within. 

In Clear Space, Clear Mind, we approach the idea of getting organized with a twist. 

Inspired by Iyanla Vanzant’s In the Meantime, we explore what it means to live “in between” — the space between what was and what’s yet to come. 

In this episode, you’ll learn how to focus on what you can control, release what you can’t, and make room for what’s next. Because clearing the clutter — inside and out — creates space for a life that fits not only who you are now, but who you’re becoming. 

And that’s something to look forward to. 

Contact Cathy at https://www.moreformidlifers.com/contact/

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Hi, welcome back to more from Midlifers, the podcast that reminds you that it's never too late to reignite your purpose, rediscover your spark, and reimagine what's next. Today we're talking about something simple, but powerful. Clearing space. Yep, it's another word for decluttering. Not just the piles of a counter or the closet that's been calling your name, but also the inner clutter. Because sometimes the mess that we see around us is just a mirror of what's going on inside. Think about it like, you know, like you're walking through your own home, one room at a time. The basement holds what we've buried. Old fears, regrets, anger, resentment, and should-havebins. The living room might be where we entertain the stories that we tell about who we are. It's where we receive our guests. We talk about who we used to be, and we want to give a good impression. And the front door is where we welcome what's new or block it out, whichever. When we take time to clear out what no longer fits emotionally or mentally or even physically, we create room for fresh energy and new purpose, and the kind of peace that only comes from letting go. So today I invite you to look around, not with judgment, but with curiosity. Look around your room, your office, your workspace. What's taking up space that could be released, and what's ready to move out so that something better can move in. Because every bit of clearing, inside or out, brings you one step closer to clarity, to freedom, and to the life that's waiting for you. Hi, I'm Kathy Burns. And this is more. Have you ever looked around your home and workspace and thought, so much stuff? How did it all get here? Maybe it's the stacks of papers. The overflowing closet. Oh, I have some of those bulging. Or the inbox that just keeps filling up. Just never delete, right? You don't have the time. You may know what's in every single pile or every single drawer or every single closet. But face it, it's clutter, and you're beginning to feel the weight of unfinished projects and things that no longer serve you, and it's beginning to weigh heavy on you. But here's the thing sometimes the clutter in our space mirrors the clutter in our mind. And clearing one can help calm the other. So back in the day when I was going through a difficult time, I was a single mom. I had just lost a job due to outsourcing. I had to find a job really quickly because I needed to bring home a paycheck. I had kids at home. There was a lot going on. And somebody gave me a book. It was wonderful. I don't want to tell you about it. It's by Ayanla Vincent. And the book is called In the Meantime. She talks about that in-between season, you know, when you're not where you were, but you're not yet where you want to be. And she compares it to cleaning house, just like I had mentioned before, starting with the basement of your soul. Those dusty corners where we store all that muck. And the idea struck me. Before we can welcome something new, a job, a relationship, a new sense of purpose, we have to make space for it. Literally and emotionally. In the meantime. And instead of treating it like a waiting room, the author invites us to use it as a season designated to cleaning house. Think of it like walking through your house one room at a time, releasing what no longer serves you so that new energy can flow in. You know what I mean? You have a house full of stuff, you can't even think, and your stuff just collects. You don't even notice it until you suddenly have time to sit and observe your space and you realize all this stuff, kind of like during the lockdown when we were all forced to stay home and we saw all the little things that needed attention. And I thought, my gosh, when did all these closets start bulging out? You know, it's not just about stuff, it's about energy. It's not about tidying up, it's about creating room for new beginnings. When your environment feels chaotic, your mind often follows. But here's the good news. When you start clearing your physical space, you send your brain a new message. I'm ready, I'm creating order, I'm making room for what's next, and the momentum just builds. That's the heart of this episode, making room for peace, for clarity, and for possibility. You know, being organized helps reduce stress when you know where things are and you can accomplish more because you're not overwhelmed, you just know you're just doing things systematic, weeding out things and purging. In the workplace, it means that you can do more work, more high impact, make more decisions without feeling burnt out. When you can see all of your work in one place, it's easier to prioritize tasks, and you can make sure that the most important items get done. You know, like meetings and ballet recitals and talent shows at school. I mean, I don't know how many times, but just being disorganized caused me to almost miss these important times in my children's lives. When things are organized, you know where to find your daily to-dos. It just makes things easier. It improves mental and physical health because clutter is a burden. It steals brain power from you. By being more organized, you can be more reliable and free up quality time to spend with family and friends. It saves time and money being organized, allows you to locate things quickly. I can't even tell you how many times I thought I needed to buy something new. Only to find I had it in my closet all that time. I just didn't take the time to look for it. Was too cluttered to have to hunt for something that I thought I had but didn't know for sure it was easier to buy another one. I know you've been there before. It's terrible. Knowing where everything is gives you a sense of control that can really make you feel good about yourself. So here we go. Where do you start? You don't have to overhaul your whole house this weekend. You can just start small. Pick one space, a drawer, a desk, or even your car, and ask yourself, do I use this? Do I love this? Does it support who I'm becoming? And if the answer is no, just thank it for what it taught you and get rid of it. Let it go. Write down one thought, one habit or story that you're ready to release, something that's been taking up space in your head, and you'll be amazed at how freeing that could be. The author says, as we clean room by room, from the basement of our beliefs to the front door of our daily habits, we prepare ourselves for love, for opportunity, and for change to walk right in. So ask yourself today, what part of your house, physical or emotional, needs some attention? And what could you clear to make room for joy and peace and purpose? Remember, your outside environment and your inner world are partners. When one starts to feel lighter, the other one follows. Your meantime doesn't have to feel messy. It can be your moment to prepare for what's next, to rediscover your spark and welcome the life that's waiting for you. If today's episode reminded you that it's time to make space for something new, don't stop here. Come and visit more for midlifers.com and download a free plan of action worksheet. It's a very simple guide to help you clear that mental clutter, refocus your energy, and take this next small step towards what's next for you. You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to begin. Start now. I'm Kathy Burns, the voice of inspiration and action guiding you from process to relief and freedom. See you next time.