Oh, the messy room. Chunking to the Rescue!

In this pep talk, I help you tackle the all-too-familiar frustration of a cluttered space—be it your room, your office, or that dreaded corner you pretend doesn’t exist. You know the one. Instead of freaking out or running for the hills, I introduce my favorite magical method: chunking! 🎉

Messy Room Madness: Conquer Chaos One Chunk at a Time (with Help from Bob's Burgers and a Timer)

Oh, the horror… the clutter… the mountain of laundry that’s become more sculpture than necessity. Welcome to the War Zone, also known as: Your Room.

If you've ever stood in the middle of your bedroom or office and thought, “I can’t even deal right now,” congratulations—you are not alone. In fact, I’ve had so many coaching clients hit that point of exasperated overwhelm that it might as well be a rite of passage into adulthood.

Here’s how it usually goes:

They stare around, wide-eyed.They whisper, “This place is making me nuts.”They insert an adjective of choice: gross, stressful, cluttered, explosive...They consider lighting a match and starting over.

But wait! Before you file for a name change and move to a tidy cabin in the woods, let’s talk about the magic—yes, magic—of chunking.

Chunking: Not Just a Weird Word, But a Way of Life

Chunking is the act of breaking your scary, anxiety-inducing disaster zone into tiny, manageable tasks. Think of it like turning your giant stress-monster into a bunch of friendly little gremlins you can actually handle.

Start with this:👉 Look around your room and jot down a bullet list of everything that's screaming at you.

Example:

• Dirty dishes glaring at you from your nightstand?

• Laundry—both clean and dirty—forming a complicated relationship on your floor?

• An Amazon box that’s been part of the décor for… a month?

• Mysterious papers that may or may not include your 2022 tax return?

Write. It. All. Down.

Choose Your Chaos

Now, look at your list and ask: Which ONE thing would make me feel 37% better if it disappeared right now?

Maybe it’s the paperwork avalanche on your desk. Cool. That’s where we start. Not the entire room. Not the laundry that has achieved sentience. Just. The. Papers.

The Secret Weapons: Music + Timer = Motivation Gold

Here’s the fun part—grab your favorite feel-good soundtrack. It could be your top Spotify playlist, a true crime podcast, or the latest episode of Bob’s Burgers (Linda’s voice has real “clean your room” energy, if you ask me).

Then, set a timer for 15 minutes. That’s it. Fifteen. Uno cinco. The amount of time it takes to reheat pizza and scroll Instagram.

For 15 glorious minutes, tackle just that one area. When the timer goes off? Boom, you’ve done it. You’ve made a dent. You’re officially winning.

Bonus Round: Plan the Sequel

Still got energy? Great, keep going. But don’t burn yourself out in one go. Instead, open your planner or digital calendar and schedule your next 15-minute session. Treat it like a date with your future, more organized self. (She’s thriving, by the way.)

Maybe next time it’s the laundry. Or that Amazon box. Or figuring out if what’s under your bed is a pair of socks or an actual raccoon.

Final Thoughts (and Confetti)

Cleaning doesn't have to be an all-day, soul-crushing event. When we break it down, add a dash of music, and stop trying to be a superhero, it becomes something… almost fun?

Okay, maybe not fun-fun... but rewarding. And that feels pretty darn good.

So grab your timer, turn up the tunes, and remember: progress, not perfection. 🎉

Catch you later, clutter conqueror!—Your Friendly Chunking Coach