Monuments of Shame: Why Clutter Drains Your Battery + The 5-Minute Reset
Tue Jan 27 2026
Have you ever walked into your kitchen, looked at a pile of mail, and felt an immediate sense of dread? It’s not because the mail is hard to open; it’s because of what it represents.
In this episode, Rhonda breaks down the biology behind why you can’t relax in a cluttered room. We explore the concept of "Visual Competition" and how your brain is treating every object on your counter like an open browser tab that is draining your battery. Rhonda also shares a vulnerable story about her own office "shame monument" and how she realized she was using clutter to punish herself for financial guilt.
If you are tired of being the "clutter police" in your marriage or feeling like you are living under a dark cloud, this episode provides a simple, "unfancy" 5-minute tool to help you find your oxygen again.
In This Episode:
(03:12) - The "Ants in Your Pants" / Flight Response
(05:27) - Rhonda’s realization: Using piles to punish ourselves
(09:06) - The "Us Plan": How to stop being the Clutter Police
(11:37) - The Tool: The 5-Minute Reset
Resources Mentioned:
Concept: Visual Competition
Concept: Decision Fatigue
This Week's Challenge:Don't look at the whole house. Find just one surface (a square foot of granite or a corner of a desk). Set a timer for 5 minutes and clear that one spot so your eyes have a place to rest.
🔗 CONNECT WITH RHONDA
Website: rhondalavoie.com
The Paced App: getpaced.app
Instagram: @rhonda.lavoie
Facebook: Rhonda Lavoie
TikTok: @rhonda.lavoie
Music for The Rhonda Lavoie Podcast written and recorded by Wade and Tan Fehr.
#VisualCompetition #DecisionFatigue #HomeOrganization
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Have you ever walked into your kitchen, looked at a pile of mail, and felt an immediate sense of dread? It’s not because the mail is hard to open; it’s because of what it represents. In this episode, Rhonda breaks down the biology behind why you can’t relax in a cluttered room. We explore the concept of "Visual Competition" and how your brain is treating every object on your counter like an open browser tab that is draining your battery. Rhonda also shares a vulnerable story about her own office "shame monument" and how she realized she was using clutter to punish herself for financial guilt. If you are tired of being the "clutter police" in your marriage or feeling like you are living under a dark cloud, this episode provides a simple, "unfancy" 5-minute tool to help you find your oxygen again. In This Episode: (03:12) - The "Ants in Your Pants" / Flight Response (05:27) - Rhonda’s realization: Using piles to punish ourselves (09:06) - The "Us Plan": How to stop being the Clutter Police (11:37) - The Tool: The 5-Minute Reset Resources Mentioned: Concept: Visual Competition Concept: Decision Fatigue This Week's Challenge:Don't look at the whole house. Find just one surface (a square foot of granite or a corner of a desk). Set a timer for 5 minutes and clear that one spot so your eyes have a place to rest. 🔗 CONNECT WITH RHONDA Website: rhondalavoie.com The Paced App: getpaced.app Instagram: @rhonda.lavoie Facebook: Rhonda Lavoie TikTok: @rhonda.lavoie Music for The Rhonda Lavoie Podcast written and recorded by Wade and Tan Fehr. #VisualCompetition #DecisionFatigue #HomeOrganization