Ways To Start Decluttering when feeling overwhelmed
If clutter stresses you out, then these easy ways to start decluttering when feeling overwhelmed will help you remove the overwhelm and get back on track.
Work your way down the list and take another step towards living a simple life today.
Are you stuck in a home that is full of clutter? Do you feel completely overwhelmed by the mess and you don’t know where or how to start? Then, this post is for you and will help you learn how to start decluttering when feeling overwhelmed.
First, you need to know that you are not alone. There are so many other stressed and overwhelmed people standing right where you are today. And maybe learning how to declutter one day at a time sounds too good to be true.
I used to feel that exact same way more often than I care to admit. I hated my messy house and I avoided it by staying out and shopping, buying more and more only to make my situation worse.
But there is good news because I was able to dig myself out. I went from a messy embarrassing home to a neat on the surface with utter chaos underneath home, to a (finally) cleaned out, cleaned up, and organized once and for all home.
Believe it or not, most of us have clutter in our homes. There is healthy clutter like that pile of magazines on the coffee table and the unhealthy clutter like 47 water bottles scattered around the family room.
To remove the clutter takes decisions. Lots and lots of decisions and just the thought of all those decisions is enough to stop us dead in our tracks.
We only have so much motivation and we are fearful we might waste it on things that won’t make a dent in the mess. So, instead of just starting and hoping for the best, we shut the door and pretend the stuff isn’t really as bad as it actually is.
But today is different.
Today you and I are going to tackle this clutter thing head-on. In a simple get ‘er done approach that will remove the mess in a steady non-overwhelming way that will have you patting yourself on the back before you know it.
So, if you’re ready….let’s do this thing!
Read: Simple Decluttering Tips When you are Freaked out by the Mess
10 Simple Ways to Start Decluttering When Feeling Overwhelmed
Before you get started, I want to encourage you to just focus on one step at a time. Looking at the big picture can be scary, whereas a step….not so much.
One step at a time and watch your room and your home take shape.
#1 Take that first step
Okay, so not what you wanted to hear but actually just starting is the most important step on the list. To make it easier, countdown if you have to.
3-2-1
Stand up and get one of those small plastic shopping bags that we all seem to have hundreds of. Walk around the room you are in right now and start putting things into it.
Right now. No more excuses.
I promise that you will feel better once you do. And even better news, once you actually start moving, things will get easier and you might just surprise yourself at how many shopping bags you fill up.
Not sure what is clutter?
No worries, I have 3 steps you can take to help you uncover what is clutter and it might not be as bad as you think. Read more here.
#2 Start declutter with the simple
One of the biggest hurdles with any project is our tendency to overthink things. It’s pretty amazing how we can quickly and easily talk ourselves out of just about anything and decluttering is no different. To fix this, find a simple way to make a dent so you are staying on track.
And how do we do this?
Oh, I am so happy you asked!
- Try: Rather than decluttering the entire kitchen instead clean off the counter.
- Try: Faced with a cluttered-filled bedroom? Begin with 1 dresser drawer and work your way from there.
- Try: Is your car an absolute disaster? Tackle the back seat.
These small wins will motivate you instead of exhaust you. And that motivational train is something you can ride for the next hour cleaning out and cleaning up as you go.
#3 Give yourself an easy win
Whenever I am helping a client declutter the very first place we start is gathering up all the trash. It is simple, requires no decision-making whatsoever, and you can widdle down the clutter to a much more manageable project. Don’t believe me? Try it out and see!
Take a large black trash bag and simply take a stroll around your room. Grab anything and everything that can be tossed. Like to recycle? No problem! Take a second stroll or carry two separate bags. One for trash and one for recyclables.
You might just be amazed at how much you remove and how little clutter you actually have.
#4 Come up with a decluttering plan
Having a plan in place to deal with the stuff is the key to less overwhelm. When you know what you are doing, when you are doing it, and just how long it will take. You can pretty much kiss that overwhelm goodbye.
Don’t have a plan? Try this.
Set a goal to work on removing the excess for just 10 minutes each day. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but when you add it all together you will have worked 5 hours in a month. And you might just be surprised at how much you can accomplish in 5 hours.
#5 Find a focused distraction
Hmmmm, that might not make a lot of sense, so let me explain.
Burnout happens when we let our thoughts rampant in our heads. Thoughts like:
- This is too hard.
- There is no way I can finish this.
- I am messy and there is no way I will ever change that.
We also run the risk of getting distracted. Let’s face it, so many other things need our attention that we might just find ourselves getting pulled somewhere else without even realizing it. You start out making a bed and the next thing you know you are raking leaves in the yard without any idea of how you got there.
Staying focused is crucial to making progress with the clutter in our homes and if you want to stay focused, then you need to drown out the thoughts in your head.
The best way to do that is either with music or a good book.
Download 5 of your favorite upbeat songs and you will have a 20 minutes work session all timed out and ready to go.
If you need a bigger distraction you can try audiobooks. This is my favorite decluttering distraction because it works so amazingly well. Nothing will get your home cleaned out faster than an incredibly great story. This is actually my insider secret and one I use myself anytime I am tackling a project I don’t want to.
I have an Audible membership from Amazon and it is a game-changer for me! I am able to download to my smartphone full unabridged books that I only listen to when I am cleaning or decluttering. This little treat actually GETS me moving and KEEPS me moving if the book is really really good. Nothing will get my house cleaned up faster than a heart-pumping horror from Stephen King!
#6 Start decluttering in your bedroom!
I cannot stress the importance of this step enough.
Having a neat, inviting, uncluttered place to rest, and rejuvenate is key to getting your entire life clutter-free. And since you are doing the work, you deserve to get the very first reward. An organized and inviting place to lay your head.
There is no such thing as a peaceful night’s sleep in a messy, cluttered, and chaotic room. Take the time to tackle this area first so you can end and begin every single day on the right foot. Well rested and full of the energy you need to keep removing the stuff without any of the overwhelm.
Great Containers to Control Clutter:
- Large basket to hold blankets and pillows.
- Sturdy jute bins to hold movies or books.
- Soft lightweight bins to hold clothes.
- Hanging organizers for shoes, gloves, toys, and pantry items.
#7 We are not looking for perfection here
We are just looking for progress.
When you start decluttering, it’s like ripping off a band-aid, you want to do it fast and quick so it doesn’t hurt. Start out easy and get the crap out.
- Torn or stained clothes
- Old magazines or newspapers
- Broken toys, or dishes, or electronics
- Ugly knick-knacks
Get it out fast and don’t overthink it.
Worry about organizing and making things pretty later. Right now we are in clutter removal mode. Your goal is to get it gone so you can create a home you love. One that is pretty and inviting and a place you love to be in.
Step #8 Get it gone right away
Another incredibly important tip is to remove it as you go.
No making piles of bags and boxes by the back door. I want you to fill it up, tie or tape it closed, and put it into the trunk of your car RIGHT AWAY! This step is crucial when you are dealing with stress and overwhelm.
Out of sight is definitely out of mind. You need to SEE results this early in, so get the stuff out of your house just as soon as you fill up a bag or a box.
Then every time you are in your car make a point to stop by a donation drop-off and get those bags and boxes out of your car. No, it doesn’t matter one bit if you are going every single day to drop off one box.
Actually, it is better if you do! Every time you remove a bag from your car it’s like a weight of things is being lifted from your shoulders. By doing this frequently you will enjoy that feeling again and again.
#9 Create clutter-free habits
This might just be easier said than done, but it doesn’t have to be.
A clutter-free habit is basically a way to look at your things differently. So many clutter bugs tend to see their things as treasures. Paid for rewards for a hard worked life. Instead, try looking at your things as tools. Tools you use to live a life you love in a home you enjoy.
When you see your things as tools, then you find it easier to let go of the 5 extra spatulas that you avoid as you are reaching for your favorite 3. Sure you paid money for those things at one point, but now you are paying a price for too much stuff and that is a much more expensive price to pay.
#10 Keep goals short and sweet
I am all about keeping things simple, trust me it’s easier that way.
Let’s set a goal right now to remove just 5 things every day for the next month.
5 things. Sounds is easy, right?
- Easy enough to take no time at all.
- Easy enough to do it no matter how busy you are.
- Easy enough to handle no matter how overwhelmed you are.
Too easy?
Maybe so, but look at it this way.
If you remove just 5 things a day at the end of a month you will have removed 150 things. Crazy, right?! Those little things all add up to something pretty incredible. Your motivation for getting even more clutter gathered up and out of your home once and for all.
Clutter can take away not only our motivation but our energy and focus. Life in a chaotic home filled with too many things can keep us from being truly happy.
Tackle these steps to start Decluttering when feeling overwhelmed and you might just be surprised at the progress you can make.
