Why You’re Exhausted All the Time
And the hidden clutter to blame
Dr. Randy Carlson
Have you ever ended your day feeling exhausted—but not because you accomplished something meaningful? Maybe you’re drained by work, relationships, or the constant noise of life, yet you can’t quite put your finger on why. I believe the answer may be clutter.
Clutter is so much more than piles of papers or a messy closet. It’s anything in your life that sidetracks you, creates procrastination, or keeps you from experiencing life the way God intended. And when we allow clutter—whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual—to take over, we lose the very freedom God desires for us.
God really intends for us to have freedom in our lives. At the end of the day, we may be exhausted, but we’re not exhausted because of clutter. We’re exhausted because we’ve really fulfilled our purpose.
But if your exhaustion is coming from something else—if it’s from stress, distractions, or worry—then it may be time to identify the unseen clutter that’s weighing you down.
1. The clutter you can’t see is more dangerous than the mess you can.
The interesting thing about clutter is that we think about the physical first. We think about our car, the basement, the garage. But it’s really the things we don’t see that can be more serious—mental clutter, relational clutter, spiritual clutter.
So, what does this hidden clutter look like?
2. Mental clutter comes from the thoughts that weigh you down.
Our thinking can either be smooth sailing for us, or it can be a pothole in our life. Many times, we can be driving along, and suddenly our thoughts take us down. Something happens in your marriage, and all of a sudden you get a thought—it’s negative, it’s not true, and it drags your whole relationship in the wrong direction.
God calls us to take control of our thoughts. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells us to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (NIV). If you find yourself stuck in negative thinking, ask yourself:
- Is this thought even true?
- Is it leading me closer to God or further from Him?
- What does scripture say about this?
3. Relational clutter occurs when people weigh you down.
Not everybody’s good for us. Some relationships need an expiration date—just like milk in the refrigerator. Some people are toxic. They drain you, discourage you, or even lead you away from God’s purpose.
Proverbs tells us, ‘Don’t hang around with an angry person unless you become like them’” (NIV).
Of course, this doesn’t mean cutting off every difficult relationship. But it does require us to set boundaries. Ask yourself: Are the people in my life building me up in Christ, or are they pulling me away?
4. Spiritual clutter happens when we let religion—rather than relationship—define our faith.
If we allow tradition to drive our spirituality, we miss the relationship. Maybe you’ve been hurt in church, disappointed by leaders, or let down by people. But church is full of sinful people—we’re all just human beings needing a Savior. Focus on Christ, not on people.
God calls us into a relationship with Him, not just religious obligations. Don’t let past hurt or traditions keep you from the joy of truly knowing Christ.
5. Digital clutter can become the silent thief of your time.
Perhaps the most deceptive clutter today is digital clutter—the endless scrolling, notifications, and distractions that consume our time and attention.
How many times do we see a couple sitting at a restaurant, both on their phones, texting instead of talking? Your phone never reminds you, “Hey, you’ve been on here long enough; go do something important.” It’s designed to keep you hooked.
Our devices are meant to serve us, not control us. Try setting limits, taking digital sabbaths, and making space for real conversations with God and others.
Freedom Comes When You Let Go
The Bible says God is not the author of confusion. The universe is in order. The planets are in order. God is a God of order. So when we think about decluttering, it seems to me that if we’re made in God’s image, trying to declutter our lives seems like a pretty smart thing to do.
Life is too short to drag around the weight of unnecessary clutter. Freedom isn’t found in having more, doing more, or even organizing more. Freedom comes when we remove what’s holding us back so we can fully step into the life God has for us. Are you ready to let go of the clutter and step into freedom?
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Want to see Dr Randy Live?
PHOENIX, AZ
Friday, June 6, 2025 at 7pm
Haven Church – Glendale