Don’t let your feelings pile up like laundry.

Last year we redid our guest bedroom. I had visions of a blissful hotel room, always looking perfect and welcoming. You can probably guess what’s next . .

You know the clean laundry pile? The one that starts as a neat little stack you promise to yourself you’ll put away later, but somehow by the end of the week, it’s turned into a mountain of clothes you’re now dreading to tackle? That’s what’s usually sitting on our hotel-like bed in our welcoming guest room.

Our thoughts and feelings can pile up just the same.

Sometimes it feels easier to leave a feeling sitting there in the corner.

• That moment you felt hurt but brushed it aside.

• The frustration you didn’t express.

• The nagging worry you promised you’d think about “later.”

One by one, they don’t look like much. But when you don’t put them where they belong (process them, express them, or let them go) they quietly accumulate. Before you know it, you’re stepping over a heap of unaddressed emotions, wondering why you feel heavy or irritable.

What if you took a different approach?

What if, instead of letting feelings pile up until you can’t face them, you folded them as they came, tucking them where they fit?

Maybe that means:

• Having a conversation right after something bothers you instead of rehearsing it in your mind for days.

• Sitting down with a journal for ten minutes to sort out what you’re feeling.

• Allowing yourself to simply admit, “That was hard. I’m upset.”

It sounds small, but small is exactly how piles are prevented (it’s also how they’re created).

Keeping up with your laundry

When you keep up with your emotional laundry, life feels lighter. The little annoyances don’t spill into your relationships. The disappointments don’t fester into resentment. And you free up mental space for things that matter more than an unspoken grudge.

How to get started

If you’ve been stepping over your own piles lately—resentment, fear, indecision—you’re not alone. And you don’t have to sort it all on your own, either.

This week, pick one feeling you’ve been avoiding. Name it, and put it where it belongs. And see how much clearer everything looks when you don’t let it stack up.

If you’d like support as you start tackling the mental clutter, I’d love to help you. My 1:1 coaching is all about helping you move forward with less overwhelm and more ease. Click here to learn more about working together.