For acclaimed actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore, the seemingly ordinary act of tidying her surroundings has taken on a much deeper significance than simply maintaining order in her home. She frames cleaning and decluttering not merely as physical chores but as essential practices for cultivating clarity of mind and emotional balance. During a recent interview with *Real Simple,* published on a Wednesday, Barrymore opened up about the personal philosophies she actively imparts to her two young daughters, whom she co-parents with her former husband, Will Kopelman. Her reflections offered both intimate anecdotes from her home life and broader lessons she hopes to pass on to the next generation.
Barrymore emphasized that beyond teaching her children the fundamental principle of treating others with kindness and respect—a value she holds dear—she also highlights the importance of nurturing and caring for the spaces they inhabit. She explained to the publication that she has consistently shared with her daughters an important truth she herself once learned: keeping one’s environment clean and orderly directly influences one’s inner state of mind. According to her, when clutter accumulates or when mess is allowed to spread unchecked, the resulting chaos often mirrors a person’s internal sense of confusion or stress. Recalling advice someone once gave her that resonated profoundly, Barrymore explained that the condition of a room can reflect the state of one’s mind, and hearing this shifted her perspective on cleanliness permanently.
Although she acknowledged that a certain degree of disorder—such as scattered toys, books, or belongings—can occasionally feel playful, quirky, or even endearing, she believes it ultimately requires resolution. The temporary charm of messy spaces inevitably reaches its limit, at which point tidying up becomes necessary for restoring a sense of peace. Offering a personal example, Barrymore noted that one of her daughters appears to embody a natural inclination toward extreme neatness, often surpassing her own ability to maintain order. Conversely, her other daughter leans heavily in the direction of messiness. At first, she admitted, she found herself frustrated by the contrast. But upon reflection, she remembered that during her own childhood and adolescence she was far from tidy. This memory encouraged her to reconsider her expectations. She laughed as she realized she had been unconsciously holding her young daughter to the exacting cleanliness standards of a fifty-year-old adult woman—standards that even she herself did not meet at the same age.
Expanding on the lessons she wants to instill, Barrymore conveyed that her parenting philosophy extends far beyond physical tidiness. She is equally committed to normalizing therapy as an accessible and constructive tool for her daughters. In her words, therapy is not something distant, shameful, or reserved exclusively for times of crisis; instead, it should be valued as an ongoing resource that aids personal growth and strengthens relationships. Barrymore expressed that she regularly encourages her daughters to understand that when individuals commit to working on themselves, they inevitably experience more happiness, richer friendships, and a stronger ability to manage life’s challenges. By modeling openness to therapy, she hopes to underscore that seeking assistance is not a weakness but a profoundly empowering step toward resilience.
The actress elaborated further by drawing an analogy between therapy and physical exercise. Just as people generally view going to the gym as a normal, even admirable, form of self-care, Barrymore believes therapy should be regarded in the same way. She explained that no one stigmatizes a person’s desire to engage in physical workouts to keep their body healthy and strong, yet a lingering cultural bias continues to unfairly frame therapy as unusual or indulgent. For Barrymore, therapy is as basic and beneficial as stretching one’s muscles or improving cardiovascular health. With her characteristic humor, she pointed out that while she may contend with cosmetic imperfections like cellulite, her efforts in therapy ensure that her mental and emotional wellness remain steady, and for her, that is far more meaningful.
From a broader perspective, experts affirm the psychological relevance of Barrymore’s insight. Clinical psychologist Dawn Potter, in commentary published by the Cleveland Clinic, has explained that decluttering can, indeed, be a powerful method for distress reduction. Not only does organizing one’s space restore a fundamental sense of control in environments that may otherwise feel overwhelming, but it also provides the individual with a palpable sense of achievement. When a person takes action to restore order in their surroundings, they often experience a rewarding reassurance that they are also capable of managing other aspects of their life.
However, this beneficial practice is not universally experienced in the same way. Neuroscientist Dr. Daniel Levitin has cautioned, in an interview with *Business Insider* dating back to 2019, that large-scale decluttering approaches, such as those promoted by the viral KonMari method, can inadvertently trigger anxiety for certain individuals. For some, the process of discarding or parting with objects brings discomfort rather than relief. Levitin illustrated this by noting that there are people who find genuine psychological comfort in the simple knowledge that they own a little-used tool—a hammer, for instance—even if it has not been handled in five years. Knowing it remains available if ever needed provides them with a reassuring sense of preparedness. For these individuals, pressure to discard such items could create unnecessary stress rather than harmony.
Taken together, Barrymore’s reflections and the perspectives of experts emphasize a broader truth: the ways in which we care for our spaces and our minds are deeply intertwined. For Barrymore, instilling these lessons in her daughters means helping them navigate not just the external clutter of daily life but also the internal complexities of emotional well-being. In her view, both tidying one’s room and engaging in therapy are acts of self-care that normalize the need for balance, resilience, and compassion in navigating the world.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/drew-barrymore-decluttering-calmness-tidying-mental-health-2025-9
