Hey Guys,
Have you ever held on to something you don't need, want, or even particularly like, simply because it's yours?
Neuroscience may help explain why.
In this episode of Declutter Your Chaos, we're exploring the endowment effect,,,our brain's tendency to assign greater value to things simply because we own them.
Inspired by Dr. Emily Falk's New York Times article, The Neuroscience of Decluttering, and her book What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change, we'll look at fascinating research into how ownership influences our sense of self and why that matters when we're decluttering.
You'll learn two simple, neuroscience-informed strategies to help you make more intentional decisions about your possessions:
Think like a buyer, not an owner. Instead of asking, "Should I get rid of this?" ask, "Would I buy this today?"
Borrow someone else's perspective. Imagine the object belongs to a friend. Would you encourage them to keep it?Understanding how our brains work can help us let go of things we no longer need—without all the second-guessing.
The goal isn't just to get rid of stuff. It's to change our relationship with it.
Mentioned in this episode
Dr. Emily Falk — The Neuroscience of Decluttering, The New York Times, October 11, 2026
What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change by Dr. Emily Falk
Find me at @amber.cammidge on Instagram.
About Amber
Amber Cammidge is the creator of The Mindful Home Technique, a science-backed approach to decluttering and and has helped hundreds of women declutter their homes. She is host of Declutter Your Chaos, a top ranking podcast approaching 2 million downloads, and hundreds of raving reviews, where a she helps women stop fighting their clutter by understanding the psychology behind it. Blending behavioral science, neuroscience, practical decluttering strategies, and mindfulness - informed by her training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and immersion in the teachings of Joe Dispenza, Jon Kabat Zinn, and Tich Nhat Hanh - Amber teaches that your home isn't just where you live - it's where you practice becoming the person you want to be. Her work is about creating space for clarity, confidence, and a life that allows you to become the best version of you.
