Inside: Check out these 15 simple tips to get started decluttering when you are overwhelmed by the total chaos of your home. These tips will help you learn how to start clearing overwhelming clutter from your home in a way that won’t take forever. These tips offer guidance for when you are drowning in clutter and want to know how to declutter a room full of everything. Keep reading to learn more…
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When you first think about decluttering your home you may have stuff all. over. the. house. And that is totally normal and expected!
The problem is that the overwhelming feeling that you are experiencing tends to stop people from taking that first step at all. Don’t let that happen to you! Don’t let the fear of not know what you’re doing or not having the perfect plan in place stop you from taking that first step towards cultivating a home that you love.
In this post, I am sharing 15 tips that will help get the decluttering ball rolling at your home, even when you feel overwhelmed!!
15 Tips to Declutter When You Are Overwhelmed
I know you are overwhelmed! I don’t want to add more overwhelm by saying you need to do all of these things on the list. No way! Think of this post more like a buffet of ideas to pick and choose from.
I encourage you to read through the list and then pick ONE tip to try, just one! Then, once you build up some momentum and confidence in yourself, pick another idea to try.
Alright, here we go!
1. Start super duper small.
Let’s say you have set the goal to declutter your home, which is amazing!! The same thought that got you excited and energized may leave you feeling pretty overwhelmed as well. As you start to declutter (or let’s be real, THINK about decluttering) it’s way too easy to be distracted by all the other things you need to do and ultimately give up before you even begin.
In order to avoid this tendency towards distraction, productivity gurus recommend breaking down the big project into bite-sized tasks that are as small as the thing distracting you.
So with the example of decluttering, pick just one shelf or one box and declutter that area first. Once you have this area cleaned out you’ll be able to see the benefits of your efforts which will help you build the momentum that you need to keep going.
Related Post: 100 Things To Declutter Today
2. Set a timer.
Set a timer for 10 minutes, grab a box or garbage bag and go around your house. Fill that bag or box with whatever you don’t need, want, or love anymore. This could be trash, old books, papers, whatever you see that you don’t want, grab it! You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can fill up a box when you are racing the clock!
Using a timer has several benefits, including:
- Working with more focus – You are able to avoid distractions easier because you know you have a deadline.
- Turning work into a game – We all want to beat the clock!
- Working faster – You are trying to beat the clock and have fewer distractions so you tend to work faster.
- Seeing the finish line – After the timer goes off you can either stop or see that you are almost done with the task and keep going until you are finished.
- Ultimately you make progress on huge projects!
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3. Next, focus on key surfaces.
When you walk into a room that has stuff piled on all the shelves and tables and chairs….how do you feel? I think most of us would say we feel overwhelmed and distracted!
There is scientific research that shows visual clutter is linked to our mental health and well-being [SOURCE]. Visual clutter in our homes has been linked to more stress in our lives, more distraction from our focus, and negative behavioral effects on ourselves or our families.
By focusing on key surfaces in the home (think the kitchen table, coffee tables, and chairs) you are starting to eliminate this visual clutter that is having such a negative toll on your well-being.
So, with this tip, spend a few minutes just focusing on the surfaces around your home. You probably don’t even realize all that stuff has been there for so long. Now is the time to take a look at everything piled up and make a decision. Don’t think too long, just make a quick decision if you want to keep something or toss it and then move on.
4. Use a checklist or have some kind of plan.
As I previously said, breaking a large decluttering project into bite-sized tasks will have an enormous impact on your ability to follow through and actually accomplish your goal.
I have created a few printable checklists to get you started:
Keep in mind everyone has a different home and different priorities. So if these checklists don’t work for you, tweak them until you have something that will work for you and your home!
5. Take before and after pictures.
This is a great tactic to inspire and motivate you! When you can see, side-by-side, how far you have come with a decluttering project, you will be so much more likely to move on to the next room or area of your home.
Related Post: Decluttering Books: Before and After
6. Tell a friend what you are doing.
The simple act of telling someone else what your goal is will skyrocket your chances of actually following through on that goal. In fact,
The American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) did a study on accountability and found that you have a 65% of completing a goal if you commit to someone. And if you have a specific accountability appointment with a person you’ve committed, you will increase your chance of success by up to 95%. [SOURCE]
To take it a step even further, ask them if they want to declutter WITH you! They could be decluttering their own home or sitting with you at your home for encouragement. Either way, this accountability will help you meet your goal of decluttering.
7. Make it more fun.
Play music, have a tv show playing in the background, listen to a podcast, or even ask a friend to help you (this is especially helpful when you are working on your clothes!). You could even complete a game like the Mins Game to connect with other folks doing the challenge as well.
By thinking of this project as more of a fun event, rather than a tedious chore, you will be more likely to want to follow through.
8. Set a reward for yourself.
You can have a reward for decluttering your first 100 items or after you completed the first room. Do whatever will motivate you to complete the project!
9. Look for inspiration.
Read encouraging books, blog posts or listen to a podcast about decluttering or minimalism. Listening to what it can look or feel like after you declutter can be very encouraging to help you declutter when you are overwhelmed.
Related post: Quotes to Inspire Simple Living
10. Choose what to keep.
Marie Kondo’s approach, the Konmari Method, is to look at every item and decide if it sparks joy or not. Essentially you are choosing the items you want to keep and curating a home full of items that you love.
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11. Use space as a limitation.
Use a space like a shelf or a drawer and say you will only use that space for a specific item. For example, you could have one shelf for books. Once that shelf is full you need to either donate some books to make room for new books or not allow any new books into the home.
This is a great visual reminder of what we have in the home. Everything that does not fit in the space, will then be donated or thrown away.
This strategy works great for kid items like toys and games. You can easily explain to your child they can only have as many cars as will fit in the box. Once the box is full, there is a visual indicator that the child needs to re-evaluate the cars that they are keeping and possibly get rid of some or not bring any more new cars into the home.
12. Worry about YOU first.
If you live with kids or a spouse, it can be really tempting to shift your focus onto their stuff and think “if only they would take care of their stuff, then we’ll have a more clutter-free home.” The truth is, we ALL have stuff that we need to work on.
By focusing on decluttering your own items first, you are setting the example. You are sending the message to others in your home that you want to curate a home with only items that you love. They are observing what you are doing and hopefully, they will jump in with decluttering their stuff too.
13. Stop the inflow of stuff.
Once you start to declutter, it may be tempting, and sometimes even habit, to fill the space right back up. Consider doing a shopping ban challenge until you can get your home under control so you’re not adding more stuff to space you have decluttered.
Related Post: How to Complete Your First No-Spend Challenge
14. Enjoy the space you just created.
Resist this urge to fill this new space back up!! The new space will likely feel strange, but I encourage you to settle into it and think about why it feels weird. Do you have shopping habits that you want to break? Do you buy home decor without really thinking about whether or not you really need it? Perhaps you like to shop the sale racks?
The next time you want to buy something, I encourage you to take a pause before you do so and really question whether or not you really need it.
15. Focus on Your Why.
When things get challenging (because they will!) always remember WHY you are decluttering in the first place. By clearly articulating why you want to curate a home you love, you will be so much more willing to put in the hard work and resist adding more stuff that you don’t need or really want.
Bonus Tip: Schedule it on your calendar.
There is research that shows what we put on our calendars is more likely to actually get done. When we put something on our calendar and treat it the same way as an appointment, we are more likely to follow through. So do that with decluttering if you need to! A great time to declutter is in the morning before everyone else is awake. I highly recommend Make Over Your Mornings as a starting point to develop a morning routine that serves you.
Related Post: Makeover Your Mornings
The Bottom Line: Just start!!
Lastly, just start somewhere! It doesn’t have to be perfect, but just starting somewhere and seeing the results of your efforts goes a long way!
How do you get started decluttering when you are overwhelmed by all the stuff?
Share your best decluttering tips with us in the comments below!
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13 Comments on How To Declutter Your Home When You Are Overwhelmed
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From time to time, it’s good to be reminded to review what we have in our homes. Your tips to declutter are great. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Sandra, I totally agree that decluttering is an ongoing process and not something we can do once and be done with it. Thanks for stopping by! I will check out your site as well!
I’ve read a few of these blog posts for decluttering. So far most have the same insights and ideas (which are great). My favorite different idea listed on yours is the taking a before and after picture. I’m in the very beginning process of decluttering (most of which is my parents stuff from the 70s and 80s) and it’s definitely been overwhelming and challenging when it has come to sentimental things. I appreciate all those who have posted helpful tips and advice on this topic. Thank you.
Hi Kayla! Thanks for taking the time to read my posts and leave a comment! Before and after pictures can be so helpful and motivating!! I tend to get used to what I see every day so taking the time to put everything into a pile and snapping a picture before decluttering is super helpful for me. Sentimental items are challenging for sure. It gets easier, but it’s never easy. These items are sentimental and meaningful for a reason! One thing that does help me is to remember that the person or event is not whatever thing I am keeping. The memories are within you, not the thing. I hope this helps! If you have any questions or need some advise don’t hesitate to let me know! 🙂
I have a really hard time letting go of things, especially clothes. What helps me to get through it is to not think about decluttering in terms of “getting rid of” anything, but rather I am choosing to take this ______ and pass it on to someone who needs it so much more than I do. I feel that having the mindset of “getting rid of” devalues the item and makes me want to hang on to it to save it from not having a home, or ending up in a landfill. That may sound ridiculous, but it has helped me. I feel less sad about letting things go that I may have a sentimental attachment to. I have a few places that I donate items regularly. I always take my clothes to the Walter Hoving Home in Pasadena and it fills my heart because they are so grateful! They actually have a room that is set up like a store where the ladies can “shop”! I love thinking of them going in there and loving something that I used to love and claiming it as their own. And when I need to donate home items, I donate those things to a dog rescue that my best friend works with for their annual rummage sale to raise money to save the pups!! It’s a win-win for all!
Hi Cherie! It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into what happens to the items you choose to let go, which is wonderful. This is such a great mindset and it is something I plan to think about going forward. Thank you for the idea!
This is SPOT ON with how I feel. I’m so overwhelmed with CLUTTER. My home and not one but 2 sheds just FULL OF STUFF. I want any and everything I get rid of to be appreciated and put to good use. I have A LOT of clothes, shoes, books, toys, household things that just need to GO. Of course I would love to have a yard sale or something… but I don’t have the time or energy. I think I’ve decided to finally just donate it all to my local social services. I find comfort knowing it will go to people who need it.
Hi Megan, thank you so much for stopping by my post. I can totally feel your pain with wanting your things to be put to good use somewhere else. I think the key to remember is you want the items to be SOMEWHERE ELSE. 🙂 It sounds like you are on the right track to use a local donation center and start lightening your own load a little bit. Every little bit helps so don’t get discouraged! If you need any help or have any questions I am only an email away! Thanks again for reading my post!
Re-sentimental items. One of the tools I use is to decide if that sentimental item is something that has a solid memory attached to it or is just it belonged to……If it doesn’t have a solid memory attached to it (and, for me, a practical use) I take a picture of it and offer it to family members. No takers? Can I find a creative reuse for it? If neither of these work, it time to seriously work on letting it go. One thing I know, none of my deceased ancestors want their stuff to become stumbling blocks for me. As mentioned before, it’s a process- for me several years long now.
Hi Janie! You totally nailed it by saying decluttering is a journey. And it’s a personal journey, no two will look the same! I love your ideas for working through sentimental items. I am still working through many items from when my mother passed away and I think this mindset shift will be extremely helpful. And your point about our loved ones not wanting their stuff to be a burden for us is so important to remember. Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
This is the most awesome discussion of this subject. It does not make a person sound like a deranged hoarder or something. You have have assembled great ideas and helper hints along the way. This is the most tasteful and thoughtful thing that I have read about the decluttering process. Thank you so much for this.
Hope, thank you so much for your comment and kind words! I am glad this post resonated so much with you. There is definitely a wide range of levels of clutter that people have, and what people consider to be clutter. What drives me crazy may be totally fine for someone else! We are all different and I love that more and more people are talking about different ways to approach decluttering. Thanks so much for reading my post!
Thanks for the suggestion , I am getting ready to declutter my bedroom, I live with my Sister and her Husband and I only have one room to clean.