Less Clutter, More Clarity – Andrew Mellen – Ep 143

Andrew Mellen walked away from his role directing plays off-Broadway when he realized he had a unique talent for making people’s lives happier in a totally different way: becoming a professional organizer.

Andrew is known for his transformative approach to decluttering physical and inner mental spaces. He shares the value of taking small, manageable steps to create a more organized, stress-free life.

We discuss how you can be in the most creative state and why your cluttered physical world impacts your emotional, spiritual, and psychological health. Less clutter leads to more clarity.

Andrew shares his creative path back to his art—and how he let his intuition lead the way—in this episode of the Art2Life Podcast.

Listen if you are interested in…

• Choosing organizing over theater [8:01]
• External clutter leads to feeling stressed [16:07]
• Procrastination is time mismanagement [17:12]
• Having processes frees your mind to be more creative [20:39]
• Stop stealing time from yourself by avoiding repetition [24:44]
• How to sign up for Spark to reconnect with what brings you alive [27:56]
• Art and life both have tension tangles [29:05]
• Clearing clutter creates positive momentum for success [33:08]
• Evaluate necessity and value, consider emotional attachment [35:19]
• Keep what you use, and let go of excess [38:56]
• Don’t undervalue your time and possessions [43:49]
• Focus on living aligned with your values [47:39]

Mindfulness in Creativity

In our conversation, Andrew says that, “The most efficient way to spend your time is to be doing fully whatever it is that you’re doing when you’re doing it.” We discussed the link between mindfulness and efficiency and why decluttering your internal and external environment helps you in your daily life and creative pursuits.

Andrew notes there is value in fully engaging in the present moment to maximize productivity and avoid the negative consequences of procrastination. I want to connect the dots between intentionality and the creative process, and why being present is essential for achieving a state of flow and creating meaningful work.

By staying mindful and fully immersed in their craft, artists can avoid the distractions and pressures of externalities and reconnect with their internal creative wellsprings.

Focusing on Values Over Material Possessions

We explore why you should focus on yourself and make choices that align with personal values instead of being driven by material possessions. I loved our conversation about prioritizing experiences, relationships, and moments of genuine connection over accumulating inanimate objects.

It’s just like creating art that resonates with others and adds value to their lives. When you clear out your physical environment and create space, you’ll have more energy for the things that matter: your creativity, your art, and what you’re dreaming of.

Practical Steps to Decluttering

I also ask Andrew for his practical tips for decluttering starting with small, manageable tasks you can take care of now. These “quick wins” give you immediate gratification and the momentum to tackle more overwhelming areas.

Andrew suggests key questions to ask when deciding whether to keep an item, such as “Do I really need this?” and “Am I keeping this just because it’s still good?”

By challenging the scarcity mentality and reframing our relationship with possessions, we can make deliberate choices to let go of items that no longer serve a practical or emotional purpose.

These decluttering principles are so similar to the artistic process—let go of art materials you’re not using anymore; they don’t have any energy for you anymore, so don’t let them stifle your creativity!

Resources & People Mentioned

• Sign up for Art2Life’s SPARK 2024 Program
• Joe Dispenza

Connect with Andrew Mellen

• Andrew Mellen on LinkedIn
• Calling Bullshit on Busy by Andrew Mellen
• Unstuff Your Life by Andrew Mellen
• Declutter Your Life Podcast
• Questions to Ask When Decluttering

Connect with Nicholas Wilton and Art2Life

Get the Free COLOR TIPS PDF here

• Follow the Sunday Art2Life Vlog here
• Follow Nicholas Wilton’s Art on Instagram
• Follow Art2Life on Instagram
• Subscribe on Youtube

Subscribe to Art2Life on
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts