Start Decluttering With These Baby Steps

When You’re Overwhelmed at the Thought of Decluttering —This Is Where You Need to Start

Have you ever asked yourself “how do I start decluttering if I’m too overwhelmed”? Like so overwhelmed not only with the idea of the clutter but also at the thought of even getting started to where you just can’t-even-move?

If you’re reading this- chances are you’re facing some serious clutter and want to get away from it. Well, just the fact that you clicked on this means you really do want to move forward!  

When you get so overwhelmed and paralyzed at the thought of getting started, that means you struggle with making decisions – so let’s start small.  

Grasp the Idea

Before we begin, start grasping the idea that every object has its own “home” in your home. 

For example, tools live in the garage-but not just “the garage.”  You’ll just end up with clutter in the garage if you think that way. 

Where in the garage? Do you have a toolbox or a wall rack where they go?  If so, put them there. If not, find a spot for just the tools to be placed in.

Get Prepared 

Have a bag for trash items/donate/shred.  Don’t throw away any papers that have your personal information on them. There’s too much identity theft out there; the last thing you need right now is more stress.

I keep our shred box in our living room under an end table. Twice a year I bring it to a local shred day at our credit union and they shred it for free.

1. Start Small

When I say small I really do mean it.  In the beginning, you’re going to strategically pick small areas that will help you gain momentum ok?

No, I’m not saying to go empty out your closet on day 1.  

To start, pick one small area to work on. Start with either your junk drawer in your kitchen (we all have one!) or one or two of your desk drawers that are crazy cluttered.  

When you start — it doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything in it. It means review what’s in there, toss what you don’t need or want, organize what you want to keep, and then make sure the things you need are in their “home”.   

Screwdrivers or wrenches in your kitchen junk drawer?  If you have a garage, go put them in there since that’s where they belong.  

Pens that don’t write?  Hardened super glue tubes? Toss them! 

Why start there you ask? Why not attack the whole kitchen or the whole bedroom?  

Well if you have the energy and dedication to do that, you would’ve already done that right?  With the whole Marie Kondo declutter fascination that took the nation by storm-you would have jumped in and done that by now.  

2. Know Where You Are & Use a Timer

You’re in a position where you don’t really know where to start. By starting small, what does it do? 

It takes up a smaller amount of your time, so you aren’t exhausted from the decisions you have to make with each item, AND it also is a quick SUCCESS!  You can quickly see one area that you mastered.  

That, my friends – is MOTIVATION to do more.

Now imagine if every day — you set a timer for 30 minutes and just work on one small area?  Ok, maybe every weekend if you work long hours during the week?  

By setting a timer, you don’t overwork yourself, and you start to see that you can actually make a difference!

3. Be Specific With Your Target

So – when you start to focus on different rooms, don’t do the whole room at once. 

Kitchen?  Start with the junk drawer or the area under your sink.  And just do that— you can stop when finished with that one specific item for the day.

Living room?  Focus on the clutter that’s on/under your coffee table, or if you have end tables, work on those. Try the TV stand/entertainment center if you have one.

If you have kids that are old enough to help, assign one small area for them to work on as well and have them use the same timer.  You can make it a contest to see who can get their assigned area organized first in 30 minutes.  

Tell Alexa to start a timer, and then you can start working!  

If you find you truly have the energy and momentum to tackle another small, specific area and go for it! 

Just be careful and don’t overdo it.

4. Ah- the Mail

As you’re working on your clutter, have you noticed that you have piles of mail in many areas?

For the mail, if you can’t get yourself to immediately go through it when you bring it in- get a cute box or basket and place it in there. 

And ONLY THERE!  

Don’t you dare start putting it on your coffee table or entryway table. Nope!  Just put-it in-the -dang-box. (Cue Brad Pitt from Seven- “What’s in the boooox?”)

It helps if it’s a pretty box/basket because you can keep it out on a table/TV stand shelf so that you have quick access to it and so you remember to work on the accumulating clutter in it.   

Have Alexa remind you to work on your mail clutter on a specific day/time to help you build that new routine (think Monday-Mail Day). When she reminds you, grab your box/basket and go through all of it. You can do it while you’re sitting on the couch watching one of your TV shows.

5. Consistency is Key

You have to be consistent with it for it to work!  Alexa can be really helpful with building new routines.  It helped us, so we wanted to share it with all of you.

By being consistent, you’ll quickly see progress, and progress is what keeps us going!  

Just like when you start a nutrition program or exercise- and ugh, that takes a long time to see progress right! But- when we stick with it long enough and see some results, it motivates us to keep going.

If you go all in and try to tackle too much, you most likely won’t see it through. You’ll get frustrated, tired, and feel defeated. 

I’ve done that before- thinking I can tackle our guest room in an hour, only to have to put so many things back and tell myself I will work on it another time. 

By keeping it small, there’s less to go through and make decisions on – which can be really overwhelming and frustrating for many people.  You aren’t the only one that’s facing clutter.

Baby steps  

When you start to look around and see small successes you’ve made,  you can start making your timer longer and tackling larger areas. 

But don’t do that right away!  

You need to be kind to yourself. It can be mentally draining and exhausting, so you need to get in the right mindset.  

Put on some fun, upbeat music to keep you going.

YOU CAN DO THIS!  

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