Decluttering When You’re Overwhelmed (Part 2) - Tips & Tricks!

Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of decluttering? Not to worry! I’ve got you covered with practical tips and tricks to make it feel more doable.

In Part 1: How to Declutter When You’re Overwhelmed: A Step-by-Step Guide, I shared five simple steps to help you get started when you’re overwhelmed. Now, in Part 2, let’s explore some additional tips and tricks I’ve learned in my decluttering and organizing work that can make decluttering more manageable — and help you stick with it. Let’s get into it!

Double It: Invite a friend to body double you while you declutter 

They can work alongside you or simply keep you company while doing something else nearby.  Having support can boost motivation, energy, and focus — and it adds some fun and gentle accountability, too.

Categorize It: Focus on just one category of items at a time

This can help break the task down into even more manageable bits by focusing on just one category at a time.  Once you have your category, you can follow the steps in Part 1 to decide what to get rid of (Trash It), what to keep (Question It), and what to donate (Donate It) before moving on to another category.

Time It - Set a timer for small manageable amounts of time

Set it for 30 minutes, 10 minutes, or 5 minutes - whatever works for you based on your schedule, energy, and capacity.  When time’s up, decide if you’re done for that session or if you have the motivation (and energy and capacity!) to continue for another chunk of time.

Break It - Take care of yourself by taking breaks and checking-in 

Take a break at regular intervals.  Check in with yourself.  What do you need in the moment?  Water?  A bathroom break?  A healthy snack?  A mindfulness or breathing exercise?  Motivating music or your favorite podcast to keep you company while you continue making progress?  Or have you reached capacity and need to stop for now?

Schedule It - Plan your next decluttering session

Before stopping your current session, set yourself up for success by scheduling the next time that you’ll continue your decluttering work.  Put it in your calendar, set a reminder using Alexa or Siri, or tell a friend so they can help to gently keep you accountable.

Final Thoughts

Reduce and manage your overwhelm by keeping it simple and trying just one of the above tips or tricks today.  See how it works for you and your unique brain (whether you have ADHD or not!) before adding another one.  

When considering the above strategies, know that it’s completely normal to need structure, support, and breaks. Decluttering takes both mental and physical energy — so be kind to yourself along the way. And remember that decluttering is about progress and not perfection!  So celebrate every win, big or small, along the way!

If you would like support with your decluttering journey, please reach out to me for a free consultation.  I’d be honored to help you create calm and clear space (both physically and mentally) and celebrate your wins together!

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