How to Declutter Your Home When You Feel Overwhelmed

• Make rapid progress by filling a bag with items you instantly know you don’t want, then removing bulky items you don’t need. Seeing the extra space is motivating.
• Focus on one room at a time and choose a small area to start in. Take frequent breaks or set a timer so you don’t get worn out.
• Sort items into categories: “keep,” “donate,” “relocate,” and “seasonal storage.” You can also make a “maybe” box and a “sentimental” box to sort through later.
• Prioritize function when deciding how to store and organize your items. Make sure frequently-used items are easy to access and that located in a logical spot.

Focus on one room and toss easy items first.

Finding objects to effortlessly toss builds momentum. Scan the room and quickly gather items you instantly know you don’t want. Throw them in a garbage bag or a donate box as you go. Some “easy” items might include magazines, broken toys, and food wrappers. This “clean sweep” strategy provides instant gratification: look at how much you’ve already gotten rid of! It's easy to become defeated when you try to tackle your entire home at once. Instead, choose a single room or area to remove clutter. This might be the room where you spend the most time or the place that's fastest to declutter. Put on some tunes to keep you moving. Listening to your favorite playlist makes the task much more enjoyable.

Discard the largest items next.

Removing big items gives you more space to work. If you have exercise equipment that’s gathering dust, or furniture you don’t need, take it out of the room. The space will immediately feel bigger and you’ll have the satisfaction of seeing visible progress. Take a moment to applaud yourself; your space is starting to look better. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, attempting to sell your stuff can be stressful. It takes effort to photograph and list things, and it costs time to meet with buyers or ship sold items. The immediate relief you feel when you donate items? That can be priceless. Many thrift stores offer a pickup service for large items. Call local shops in your area and ask if you can schedule a donation pickup. You may even be able to get a tax break for donating items to charity–remember to get a receipt.

Work on a small area of the room.

Now divide the room into areas and complete one section at a time. We know how discouraging it can be to look around a room and notice everything that needs to be done. It feels much more manageable when you set your sights on a small section of the room, such as a closet or desk. Baby steps will help you build confidence as you work towards your goal. Consider inviting a friend to help. Choose someone you trust to give you good advice and support. You’ll be more focused while decluttering, and you’ll have more fun doing it. Remember to pace yourself so you don’t get burned out. Decluttering is a process, not a race. Take frequent breaks, or set a timer for 20 minutes or so–once it goes off, you’re done for the day.

Create a keep pile.

Consider whether you need an item before choosing to keep it. Some helpful questions to ask yourself are: “Do I use this? Do I have a good place for it?” It might be tempting to keep an object (like, say, a punch bowl) because it could come in handy someday. However, owning so much stuff prevents you from fully enjoying your home today. If you haven’t used an item in the past year, there’s a good chance you won’t miss it once it’s gone. Reward yourself as you go. Sip on your favorite drink or keep an energizing snack nearby to keep you upbeat.

Donate items you don't need.

Downsize by donating similar items. A good way to declutter is to get rid of duplicate items; if you have two pizza cutters, just keep the best one. Whittle down larger collections, such as graphic tees, by getting rid of at least 1 for every 4 you keep. When sorting through clothing, ask yourself, “Does it fit? Do I love it?” If it doesn’t fit well, you won’t be comfortable wearing it. And if you don’t love the item, you’re likely to ignore it and wear something you like better. Consider the 20/20 rule: if you can replace the item in less than 20 minutes for less than $20 USD, you can likely let it go without regret. Try not to get hung up on how much the item originally cost. Just because you spent money on it months or years ago doesn’t mean that it adds value to your life today. An inviting home is worth a great deal.

Create a “maybe” box.

Designate a “maybe” box to keep the decluttering process on track. Sometimes it’s hard to know whether to donate an item. There’s no need to let uncertainty snowball into anxiety. Place those "maybe" items in a dated box, then store it out of sight. If you need something from the box, feel free to remove it. After 3 - 6 months, donate whatever is left in the box. The clutter didn’t accumulate in a single day, so don’t beat yourself up when it doesn’t disappear in a single day. You can feel good about the steps you’ve taken and celebrate the fact that you’re moving in the right direction.

Collect things to relocate to another room.

Make a pile of items that don't belong in this space. These are things that you need to keep, but they belong elsewhere in your home. Wait to put these items away until after you’ve finished decluttering the area you’re working on. Otherwise, it’s easy to become sidetracked. Examples of things that don’t really belong in a bedroom (but somehow seem to migrate there) might include paperwork, dishes, or craft supplies. Collecting these items is a good step towards achieving a calm, clutter-free bedroom. If you have a friend or family member helping you, they can take over the task of moving items to their proper “home” so you can remain focused on your area.

Separate seasonal items for storage.

Declutter your space by boxing up seasonal items. Free up valuable closet space by packing up cold-weather clothes during summer months. Consider using vacuum storage bags and tucking the bags beneath your bed. If you’re a parent, give your kids more room to play inside on winter days by boxing up summertime toys like sidewalk chalk, soccer balls, and kites. Before you pack up stuff for storage, look at each item with a critical eye. Will that jacket still fit your toddler next year? How often did you wear that sweater? Is that baseball mitt still in good shape? Only save things you’ll still want a year from now.

Save sentimental items for last.

It’s easy to get lost down memory lane, so set sentimental items aside. You shouldn’t feel pressured to make quick decisions about objects that are meaningful to you. Put them in a box and sort through them once the rest of the room is finished. Take your time and honor your emotions throughout this process. Consider saving only a couple of items from a collection. If you have bins full of baby clothes, choose two outfits that make your heart happiest. The fewer sentimental items you own, the more valuable each one becomes. Letting go of sentimental items may be easier if you offer them to people you know. A friend who adores retro fashion might be delighted to own your mom’s vintage dresses. Taking photos of sentimental items makes it easier to let them go. That way you can still find pleasure in looking at the items. Remember that objects don’t hold your memories, your mind and heart do. Letting go of an item isn't the same as letting go of your happy memories: those are yours to keep.

Prioritize function when organizing.

When deciding how and where to store items, focus on ease of use. The goal is to have convenient access to the items you need most often. In your kitchen, keep everyday dishes at eye level, and store specialty kitchen items or appliances on the highest and lowest shelves. Make sure every item has a dedicated spot where it “lives.” It’s easier to keep things uncluttered if you store items near the location they’re used. For example, if you’ve been storing your shower cleaner in the kitchen alongside other household cleansers, it might make more sense to store it under your bathroom sink instead. Organize drawers by category so you don’t waste time rummaging for items. For instance, you can keep your socks and underwear in the same drawer if you separate them with an adjustable drawer divider. Use clear bins to organize smaller items on shelves. This allows you to instantly see what’s in each container, so you can find–and put things away–quickly.

Maintain your uncluttered space.

Implement simple daily habits to keep your space neat. Schedule a recurring time to tidy up; as little as 10 minutes a day can make a big difference. Employ the “something in, something out” strategy to prevent too much stuff from accumulating: whenever you buy something new, get rid of a similar item. Make a habit of never leaving a room empty-handed. Before strolling to the fridge for a snack, glance around your room to find something that goes in the kitchen–a coffee mug, perhaps? Put it in the dishwasher before grabbing food. Wait! Don’t head back without grabbing the shoes that belong in your room. Keep a donate box in a storage area and add items to it on an ongoing basis. As soon as the box is full, put it it in the trunk of your car so you can drop it off at a thrift store the next time you’re out. When you start to feel defeated, remember that clutter is an inconvenience, not a moral failing. Be gentle with yourself. Decluttering is an ongoing process, and every small step is a win.