Women’s Well-being: My True Passion Behind Rock Star Residential Services
Rock Star is an inclusive company, and we, with our whole heart, serve folks from all walks and seasons of life. While I have a passion for using my services to minimize the societal impacts on women (carrying a higher mental, physical, and emotional load for their families, businesses, and communities that cis men typically do not), that passion is for anyone who identifies with our values and methods!
When people hear professional organizer, they often picture Pinterest-perfect closets, color-coded bookshelves, and those minimalist spaces that look like nobody lives there. Sure, those transformations are lovely to look at (and equally unrealistic and unsustainable), but honestly, that’s not why I do this work.
But if we are talking about what really lights me up? It is helping women escape the never-ending hamster wheel of household overwhelm. I am here for the burned-out stay-at-home moms who cannot remember the last time they sat down, the overworked corporate moms whose laundry has permanently taken over the couch, and the defeated feeling women feel when wondering why running a household feels like a full-time job (spoiler alert: because it often is).
My passion is not just about making spaces pretty (though this can be a pleasant side effect); it is about giving women back time, energy, and money while increasing their well-being, so their home finally works for them instead of feeling like a demanding boss they can never please. It’s about their health and getting off a path towards chronic health issues.
The Real Motivation: Reducing Overwhelm and Increasing Time Freedom
Life moves fast; for many women, it feels like their homes are moving even quicker, straight into chaos. Between the piles of laundry, the never-ending to-do lists, and the fact that no one else in the house seems to know where the scissors live, it is no wonder so many women feel like they are drowning in clutter, disorganization, and an unfair share of the household workload. Let’s be honest; this is not just about a messy house. It is about stress, burnout, raised cortisol levels, and the constant feeling that there are not enough hours in the day.
That is where I come in. My mission is to help exhausted women stop feeling like the default household manager by using decluttering, functional organizing, a fairer division of labor (so you are not the only one who knows how to change the toilet paper roll), and household systems that make life easier. Because you do not need another chore; you need a break. When your home works for you instead of against you, you get something priceless: more time, more peace, and maybe even a hot cup of coffee that you do not have to reheat three times.
A Focus on Women’s Mental and Physical Health
Why am I exceptionally dedicated to helping women enhance their mental and physical health with our services? Studies have consistently shown that women disproportionately bear the brunt of household responsibilities, even when they are also engaged in full-time employment. This imbalance leads to increased stress, anxiety, and a host of health issues.
For instance, research indicates that mothers who shoulder a disproportionate share of cognitive household labor report higher levels of depression, stress, and burnout.
USC Dornsife: Moms Cognitive Burden Chores
Additionally, women in the U.S. spend about double the amount of time on chores compared to men, dedicating approximately 4.5 hours per day to family and home care, while men spend about 2.8 hours.
ABC News: Women Spend Double the Amount of Time on Chores Than Men Do
A study by UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives and Families found that the more cluttered a home is, the higher a woman’s stress levels tend to be. Researchers discovered that moms who described their homes as messy or full of stuff had elevated cortisol levels: the hormone linked to stress. In other words, the more stuff we see around us, the more our brains and bodies can feel overwhelmed.
BeWell Stanford: A Clean, Well-lighted Place
This unequal distribution of labor, and being the only one worried about the state of the home, not only strains relationships but also takes a significant toll on women’s health and well-being.
My Journey: From Overwhelm to Time Freedom
My passion for this work is deeply rooted in my personal experiences. Years ago, I was an overwhelmed partner, step-parent, and business owner, managing every facet of our household while juggling a seven-day workweek with my cleaning business and an additional part-time job. My partner at the time was unwilling to collaborate on an equitable division of labor, leaving me to carry the entire mental and physical load.
The relentless cycle of endless to-do lists, pleading for assistance, and ultimately resigning myself to handle everything alone led to severe fatigue, hair loss, insomnia, depression, and escalating anxiety. I existed in a perpetual state of fight or flight for years, which wreaked havoc on my marriage and my mental and physical health. After countless unproductive doctor visits and days when I couldn’t even get out of bed due to pain, I was eventually diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases. My well-being had become collateral damage to a chaotic and exhaustive existence.
During this challenging period, I was introduced to the LEAN methodology, commonly used in manufacturing and healthcare to streamline processes and eliminate waste. I assisted a team in decluttering and organizing a manufacturing plant and discovered a deep passion for this work.
I used this method on my cluttered, messy home and was floored by the life-changing results. I wasn’t embarrassed, so I had more people over. I had more time, and I started going outdoors more often. I slept better in a room that wasn’t screaming at me with “to-do” piles. My credit improved over time as I could find my bills and pay them on time.
I then started incorporating 5S/LEAN principles into my cleaning business, and I focused more on helping clients reduce clutter and create organized, functional spaces. Over time, this endeavor evolved into offering organizing services for years to come.
The Broader Impact: Empowering Women Through Organization
The work I do extends far beyond creating aesthetically pleasing spaces. It’s about fostering environments where women can thrive without being weighed down by disproportionate household responsibilities. The traditional expectation that women should manage the bulk of domestic tasks, even while pursuing careers, is both outdated and detrimental.
Eve Rodsky’s book, “Fair Play,” delves into this issue by highlighting the unequal division of labor in households and its impact on women’s mental health and relationships. Rodsky introduces a system designed to promote sustainable change and equitable task distribution, moving beyond resentment and towards collaboration.
Implementing such systems can lead to significant improvements in household dynamics. Research suggests that adopting the Fair Play Method can enhance the division of mental and physical labor within households, subsequently improving the health and well-being of mothers. As a licensed Fair Play Facilitator, I can help you navigate this system with your partner.
USC Dornsife: Fair Play Project
The Consequences of Inaction
Ignoring the imbalance in household responsibilities has tangible repercussions. A recent study revealed that 68% of U.S. women experienced burnout in the previous seven days, a stark contrast to 50% of men reporting the same.
Forbes: Women Are Suffering From an ‘Exhaustion Gap’ According to New Study
This burnout is often exacerbated by the “mental load” women carry; the invisible, cognitive labor of managing household tasks and schedules. Mothers who disproportionately shoulder this mental load report higher levels of depression, stress, and relationship dissatisfaction.
Moreover, the unequal distribution of domestic labor can strain partnerships. When one partner consistently bears the majority of household responsibilities, it breeds resentment and erodes the foundation of the relationship. Addressing this imbalance is not just a matter of fairness; it’s essential for the health and longevity of both individuals and their partnerships.
A Call to Action: Reclaiming Your Space and Well-Being
If you find yourself overwhelmed by household chaos, burdened by an inequitable division of labor, and feeling the adverse effects on your mental and physical health, know that you are not alone and are not failing. It’s imperative to recognize that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
At Rock Star Residential Services, I aim to collaborate with you to create a home environment that serves as a sanctuary where you can nourish your body, rest, decompress from the world’s demands, and nurture your most important relationships. By implementing tailored decluttering strategies, functional organizing systems, and equitable divisions of labor, we can transform your home into a space that works for you, not against you.
Remember, you deserve a home that works for you, not against you. Let’s work together to make that a reality.