A warning to all hoarders. Living in a cluttered space could be stopping you from achieving what you really want to in life. This is the message from life coach - and professional declutterer - Juliet Landau-Pope.

A member of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers (APDO), Ms Landau-Pope tells People that "clutter - anything that gets in your way - could be holding you back." She visits clients in their home and advises them on how best to sort, select, reuse, recycle, donate or discard their belongings. "People should think carefully about what they want to achieve, visualise their goals and make the transition gradually. It's all about learning new habits."

What's more, she says decluttering is also a powerful metaphor for clarifying priorities, managing time and honouring core values. "My aim is to help people overcome procrastination and define goals."

A member of Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London, Ms Landau-Pope was recently a guest speaker at the inaugural national convention of the APDO, which took place in London last month.

She has worked in adult education for 25 years and teaches social sciences at The Open University, London. She also runs workshops for personal and professional development. Apparently, common clutter includes "too many clothes, books, kitchen equipment and wardrobes full of handbags." Whoops.