This is NPR's Life Kit. I'm Andy Tagle, a reporter for this show.

And also, I'm a bit of a mess.

Literally.

Looking at my desk, I see reminder post-its in every color lining my computer screens,

hair ties hanging off the pens in my trusty pen cup,

dusty photo booth pictures from a wedding last spring,

a leftover candy wrapper from yesterday's afternoon snack, and four.

Yes, four. Different water cups and water bottles,

amazingly all-haven't-y, in or around my immediate space.

I share this embarrassing overly cluttered truth with you,

because I could use some help. Are you ready to jump into it?

I am, yeah.

Lucky for me?

Star Hansen specializes in fresh starts.

I'm a certified professional organizer and clutter whisperer.

Star's decluttering philosophy has been featured everywhere from HGTV

to the own network to a TED Talk.

She's all about understanding the story behind the messes we make for ourselves.

And getting to the why of the things that take up space in our lives.

Clutter does speak to us.

Clutter is talking to us because we are talking to ourselves through our clutter.

And so what becomes clutter and where your clutter accumulates

...