99. The Weight of Clutter: Why Your Space Impacts Your Eating Habits and Emotional Health with Shannon Leyko of the Paring Down Podcast
Welcome to Episode 99 of the Emotional Eats Podcast!
Have you ever felt like the clutter in your home is adding to your mental load, making it harder to focus, relax, or even stay on track with your health goals?
I could so relate to this. Walking by the bills on the counter or the clothes on the dresser every day can create mental fatigue.
In this episode, I sit down with Shannon Leyko, the powerhouse behind Paring Down, to explore how decluttering is deeply connected to emotional eating, stress, and mental well-being.
Shannon is a former Miss New York, a professional vocalist, and an author who never expected to build a career in the world of decluttering. But after moving to Alaska, writing a book, and navigating motherhood with three kids under four, she found herself drowning in stuff—and realized she wasn’t alone. Sharing her journey on social media, she quickly discovered that so many of us struggle with accumulation, attachment to belongings, and decision fatigue. Before she knew it, her Paring Down podcast and Instagram exploded, and she became a sought-after expert in realistic minimalism.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
-How societal and psychological factors drive us to overconsume—not just food but belongings
-The scarcity mindset—how growing up with little or experiencing financial insecurity can lead to hoarding behaviors
-How decision fatigue plays a role in both clutter and emotional eating
-Why self-worth is often tied to the things we own and how to shift that mindset
-Practical first steps to start decluttering without overwhelm
-Tips for supporting a loved one (like an aging parent) through the decluttering process with compassion
If you’ve ever walked past a cluttered corner of your home and felt instantly stressed but overwhelmed at the thought of dealing with it, this episode is for you. Shannon brings a blend of science, psychology, and heartfelt understanding to the topic, making the process of paring down feel empowering rather than stressful.
About Shannon Leyko:
Shannon Leyko is the host of Paring Down, a podcast dedicated to realistic minimalism and decluttering. She’s also a former Miss New York, an author, and a professional speaker. Shannon’s journey from performing on stage to helping people reclaim their spaces has been an unexpected but powerful one. She specializes in helping people understand the emotional and mental aspects of decluttering and how to create a more peaceful home and mind.
Connect with Shannon:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paring_down/
Podcast: Paring Down Podcast (available on all major platforms)
YouTube: @paringdown (https://www.youtube.com/c/ShannonOliver/videos)
Book: You're Completely Normal – Available on Amazon
Join the Conversation and Community
Continue learning, talking, and getting support around emotional eating, midlife women’s health, and menopause by joining the Emotional Eats Community.
Click here to join: https://kimhynes.com/emotional-eats-community-sign-up
Love the Emotional Eats Podcast?
If you enjoy The Emotional Eats Podcast, please subscribe, follow, and give us a 5-star rating and review. Tag us on social media—I would be so grateful!
Disclaimer:
The information in this podcast and blog is not intended to replace working with your doctor, other medical practitioner, or mental health professional. This content is for conversation, information, and entertainment purposes only.
If this post resonated with you, share it with a friend who might need to hear it. And remember—awareness is the first step to freedom. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review.
Connect with Kim:
https://www.instagram.com/kimhyneshealth
Free Guide – Stress Eating Tips: https://kimhynes.com/stress-eating-tips-optin
99. The Weight of Clutter: Why Your Space Impacts Your Eating Habits and Emotional Health with Shannon Leyko of the Paring Down Podcast
Welcome to Episode 99 of the Emotional Eats Podcast!
Have you ever felt like the clutter in your home is adding to your mental load, making it harder to focus, relax, or even stay on track with your health goals?
I could so relate to this. Walking by the bills on the counter or the clothes on the dresser every day can create mental fatigue.
In this episode, I sit down with Shannon Leyko, the powerhouse behind Paring Down, to explore how decluttering is deeply connected to emotional eating, stress, and mental well-being.
Shannon is a former Miss New York, a professional vocalist, and an author who never expected to build a career in the world of decluttering. But after moving to Alaska, writing a book, and navigating motherhood with three kids under four, she found herself drowning in stuff—and realized she wasn’t alone. Sharing her journey on social media, she quickly discovered that so many of us struggle with accumulation, attachment to belongings, and decision fatigue. Before she knew it, her Paring Down podcast and Instagram exploded, and she became a sought-after expert in realistic minimalism.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
-How societal and psychological factors drive us to overconsume—not just food but belongings
-The scarcity mindset—how growing up with little or experiencing financial insecurity can lead to hoarding behaviors
-How decision fatigue plays a role in both clutter and emotional eating
-Why self-worth is often tied to the things we own and how to shift that mindset
-Practical first steps to start decluttering without overwhelm
-Tips for supporting a loved one (like an aging parent) through the decluttering process with compassion
If you’ve ever walked past a cluttered corner of your home and felt instantly stressed but overwhelmed at the thought of dealing with it, this episode is for you. Shannon brings a blend of science, psychology, and heartfelt understanding to the topic, making the process of paring down feel empowering rather than stressful.
About Shannon Leyko:
Shannon Leyko is the host of Paring Down, a podcast dedicated to realistic minimalism and decluttering. She’s also a former Miss New York, an author, and a professional speaker. Shannon’s journey from performing on stage to helping people reclaim their spaces has been an unexpected but powerful one. She specializes in helping people understand the emotional and mental aspects of decluttering and how to create a more peaceful home and mind.
Connect with Shannon:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paring_down/
Podcast: Paring Down Podcast (available on all major platforms)
YouTube: @paringdown (https://www.youtube.com/c/ShannonOliver/videos)
Book: You're Completely Normal – Available on Amazon
Join the Conversation and Community
Continue learning, talking, and getting support around emotional eating, midlife women’s health, and menopause by joining the Emotional Eats Community.
Click here to join: https://kimhynes.com/emotional-eats-community-sign-up
Love the Emotional Eats Podcast?
If you enjoy The Emotional Eats Podcast, please subscribe, follow, and give us a 5-star rating and review. Tag us on social media—I would be so grateful!
Disclaimer:
The information in this podcast and blog is not intended to replace working with your doctor, other medical practitioner, or mental health professional. This content is for conversation, information, and entertainment purposes only.
If this post resonated with you, share it with a friend who might need to hear it. And remember—awareness is the first step to freedom. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review.
Connect with Kim:
https://www.instagram.com/kimhyneshealth
Free Guide – Stress Eating Tips: https://kimhynes.com/stress-eating-tips-optin
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