If you’re feeling overwhelmed by clutter and not sure where to begin, you’re not alone. The thought of diving into an overflowing closet or a cluttered kitchen counter can be daunting. But here’s the thing-decluttering doesn’t have to be overwhelming! All you need is a simple, step-by-step approach to break down the task into manageable blocks of work. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the essential tips and strategies on how to start decluttering when overwhelmed.
We’ll walk through actionable steps, emotional support, time-saving hacks, organization strategies, and even mindset shifts. Plus, we’ll recommend some high-quality guides, tools, and products to make the process easier.
Practical Steps On How to Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed.
1. Break It Down: Overcome overwhelm by starting small.
When you are staring at a room full of clutter, it’s easy to want to fix everything at once. Decluttering your whole house in one day is a recipe for burnout. If you’re overwhelmed, the best place to begin decluttering is by starting small.
Pick One Area
Start small, choose one small area to start with. It might be a single drawer, a corner of your bedroom, or even your nightstand. Starting with one spot gives you momentum, and keeps you from feeling so paralyzed by the scale of the task.
Action Step: Work on that one small area for 15–30 minutes and set a timer. Stop when the timer goes off. If you feel motivated to continue, great! And if not, you’ve made a dent, that’s progress.
2. Make Decisions Easier with the “Box Method”
All the decisions you have to make can make decluttering emotionally taxing. For example, What do you keep? What do you toss? To make everything simple, use the Box Method.
Label four boxes as:
- Keep
- Donate
- Trash
- Relocate
This method works because it turns the emotional weight of decision-making into a simple process. Instead of thinking too deeply, you’re making a quick call on where something belongs.
Recommended Tool:
• Declutter Workbook: The Essential Guide to Organize and Declutter Your Home and Life With Exercises and Checklists on amazon
This highly-rated guide helps you work through tough decluttering decisions. With checklists, exercises, and motivational tips, it’s designed to help you stay focused and organized.
3. Declutter by Category, not by Room.
The biggest mistake when trying to declutter is to focus on an entire room. When you declutter by rooms, it’s easy to feel like you’re not making progress because clutter can move from one space to another. Instead, declutter by categories—such as clothes, books, kitchen gadgets, or papers.
Tackling categories gives you a better idea of what you actually own. For instance, if you collect all your books in one place, you can see how many books you own making it easier to decide on which ones you’d like to keep.
Marie Kondo’s Method: You can follow Marie Kondo’s advice from the bestselling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, which encourages decluttering by category to transform your space and mindset.
4. Learn to overcome Emotional Attachments with a Plan.
When you’re decluttering, it can be difficult to deal with all the emotions. Especially, if you’re handling sentimental items such as family heirlooms, gifts, or memorabilia. The key is to separate the memory from the item. Remember that just because you keep an item doesn’t mean you keep the memory.
Create a Memory Box
If there are some items that are totally sentimental but don’t have practical use in your life, then create a small ‘memory box.’ Limit the size of the box so that it forces you to choose only the most meaningful items.
5. Time-Saving Hacks: Quick Decluttering Challenges
If you don’t have a lot of time but still want to make some progress, consider a quick decluttering challenge. These are fun and can get you noticeable results without spending hours on the task.
The First Rule is The 12-12-12 Rule
Find 12 items to donate, 12 items to throw away, and 12 items to relocate. This quick challenge is a great way to declutter different areas and give you that instant sense of accomplishment
The Second is The 5-Minute Sweep
Dedicate five minutes at the end of each day to clear clutter in the place where you spend the most time, such as your living room or kitchen counters. Over time, this habit keeps clutter from building up again.
6. Decluttering Tools and Products will help you to Stay Organized.
It’s important to keep things organized after you declutter. Here are some products that can help streamline the process:
- Seville Classics Stackable Bin Organizer(amazon): Great for storage under the sink or in small pantries. It’s sturdy and adjustable making it ideal for tight spaces.
- SimpleHouseware Closet Organizer(amazon): This best-selling hanging organizer is great for keeping your clothes, shoes, and accessories in check, especially when space is limited.
- Foldable Storage Boxes(amazon): These are perfect for organizing and reducing home or office clutter.
If you are looking for something more than tips and hacks, the Decluttering School has a lot of online guides, courses and checklists for different parts of the house. Users love these guides for their practical and easy to follow structure.
7. How to Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed: Stay Motivated by Shifting Your Mindset.
Tossing stuff out isn’t the only thing decluttering is about. It’s also about shifting your mindset so you can create a space that supports your lifestyle and reduces stress. Being around a lot of clutter can hurt your mental health contributing to anxiety and a sense of chaos. To overcome this, remind yourself that decluttering is an investment in your well-being.
Instead, focus on How You Want Your Space to Feel.
As opposed to thinking about what you’re giving up, think about how you want your home to feel. Do you wish it to be peaceful, spacious, and easy to manage? Having that vision will keep you motivated.
8. Decluttering Guides and Checklists Will Keep You On Track
If you’re looking for guides and workbooks to help you stay organized and stay motivated during your decluttering journey, there are plenty of them out there. Here are some top picks:
- The Declutter Workbook: The Essential Guide to Organize and Declutter Your Home and Life With Exercises and Checklists (Decluttering Mastery Book 2) on amazon. This is a complete, step-by-step guide to help you through the process of decluttering. It has a great reputation for its practical exercises and motivation tips.
- Unstuffed: This book goes beyond just decluttering physical items and addresses the emotional and mental clutter that can weigh you down.
- For digital guides, A Slob Comes Clean offers fantastic resources for managing overwhelming messes with a humourous and down-to-earth approach.
9. Donating is the best way to Get Rid of Things Without Guilt.
Guilt is one of the reasons people struggle to declutter. They feel guilty for throwing something away that they spent money on or that they were given. The best way to get rid of this guilt is to donate your items to someone who needs them. It can make it easier to let go if you know that your stuff is going to a good home.
Find Local Donation Centers
Instead of throwing everything in the trash, find local donation centers, women’s shelters, or second-hand stores that will take gently used goods. Some organizations like Goodwill and The Salvation Army have pick-up services to make it easier for you to donate without having to leave your home.
10. How to Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed: Stop Clutter from Returning.
Decluttering is only half the battle. If you want to keep your newly organized space clutter-free, you have to prevent clutter from building up again. The “one-in, one-out rule” is a great strategy—”—for every new item you bring into your home, one item has to leave.
Create Clear Zones
Create and organize the items into designated spots of certain categories,like mail, keys, or shoes. Having a designated space ensures that things don’t pile up in random areas.
Stay on Top of Paper Clutter
One of the biggest culprits for clutter is paper. To prevent paper from taking over your home, deal with mail and documents immediately. Invest in a simple filing system like the Vaultz locking File Chest(amazon) to keep important papers organized and secure.
Conclusion: You Can Do This!
These essential tips and strategies on how to start decluttering when overwhelmed will make a peaceful,stress-free home a possibility for you. Remember to Start small, employ practical tools such as the Box Method, and keep motivated by thinking about how you want your space to feel. Along the way, helpful products and guides will make the process a little easier, and before you know it, your home will be a peaceful, organized sanctuary.
So, grab a timer, start with that one drawer, and take it step by step. The calm, clutter-free home you’ve been dreaming of is just a few decluttering sessions away!
Resources Mentioned:
- The Declutter Workbook: The Essential Guide to Organize and Declutter Your Home and Life With Exercises and Checklists (Decluttering Mastery Book 2) on amazon.
- Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
- Seville Classics Stackable Bin Organizer(amazon)
- SimpleHouseware Closet Organizer(amazon)
- Foldable Storage Boxes(amazon)
- Vaultz locking File Chest(amazon)
- Decluttering Guide:Unstuffed(amazon)
- Digital Guides: A Slob Comes Clean
With Love
-Dolorese
