115: Decluttering Emergency Supplies While Still Being Prepared
View Transcript
Episode Description
Are you actually prepared for an emergency—or just surrounded by emergency clutter?
In this episode, I take a clear-eyed look at emergency supplies and why so many of us over-prepare for rare, dramatic scenarios while under-preparing for the things most likely to happen.
We unpack how common cognitive biases—like the availability heuristic, denominator neglect, and “dread risk”—shape our fear-based stocking habits and quietly lead to clutter, overwhelm, and false security.
I walk through five realistic categories of emergency preparedness:
1. Evacuation
2. Getting trapped at home
3. Obscure emergencies
4. Everyday sickness
5. First aid
and explain how to pare each one down so it’s usable, accessible, and actually helpful when stress is high.
If emergency prep has ever felt overwhelming—or like another excuse to hold onto too much—this episode will help you rethink what safety really looks like!
MENTIONED THIS EPISODE:
Ep 76: Is Celebrity Self-Help Advice Useful? with my brother, Jim Oliver
Ep 19: Decluttering as a Couple with my husband, Aaron Leyko
PARING DOWN RESOURCES:
Free Decluttering Checklist
10 Life-Changing Decluttering Hacks (free)
Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas
Free Gift Request Email Template
SPONSORS:
Storyworth Memoirs to capture your loved one's life— get $10+ off: www.storyworth.com/paring
20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING
Convenient therapy that’s covered by insurance: Rula.com/PARING
20% off Longevity Mitopure Gummies for Urolithin A at timeline.com/PARING
25% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to Prolon’s 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet. *remember this is for metabolic health, not simply a weight loss hack*: prolonlife.com/paring
Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!
High-quality, eco-friendly activewear at fabletics.com/PARING - sign up as a VIP and get 80% off everything.
10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm
$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices