In this candid Clutter Free Academy episode, Kathi and Roger share how a sudden shift to long COVID reshaped their energy, rhythms, and home—and the simple, grace-filled systems helping them keep life peaceful and clutter free. Listeners will learn:

• How to reframe success when your “plate” gets smaller and energy is limited

• The “energy budget” mindset that helps you spend your effort where it matters

• Meal strategies that don’t require chef-level energy (hello, rotisserie chicken + prepared foods)

• Easy home adaptations that save steps: snack stations, overbed tables, and a shower stool

• The emotional shift from guilt to acceptance—and how gratitude lightens the load

• Why decluttering brings immediate peace in a tough season

• How to reset holiday expectations and ask for help without shame

If you’re navigating illness, caregiving, burnout, or just a low-energy chapter, this episode will help you simplify plans, protect your energy, and find beauty in a smaller, saner life—one small doable step at a time.

In this Clutter Free Academy episode, Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo invite listeners into a simple, quick-win challenge: the junk drawer. Using the Ulysses rule (pre-commitment plus accountability), they guide you to post a before photo in the Clutter Free Academy Facebook group, do short sessions throughout the week, and share your after on Friday—so you can finally get that satisfying progress you can see.

Listeners will learn:

• Why the junk drawer is the perfect place to start (everyone has one, and it’s a fast win)

• How before-and-after photos retrain your brain to notice progress

• Easy systems to keep it tidy: involving zip top bags, Sharpie marker and Post-it notes

• How to ‘outsmart your future self’ with simple habit swaps (try a morning reset if evening resets fail) and pre-commitment strategies that hold steady when life gets stormy.

Jump into the community challenge, get accountability, and walk away with a drawer that finally works for your real life.