Dreadful Decluttering: Common Decluttering Fears (and How to Face Them with Confidence)

Is your home haunted with decluttering fears that leave you a little afraid of decluttering? Whether you fear the emotions that come up, the environmental impact, or just not knowing where to start — you’re not alone and don’t have to dread decluttering.  With Halloween around the corner, it’s the perfect time to face those fears!  

In my experience these are some ways to approach common decluttering fears with compassion, strategy, and support.

Fear of Not Knowing Where to Start.  Start small and start simple.  Choose one small area or container - maybe a basket of shoes by the front door, three square feet of floor space, or a bin of Halloween decorations.  Starting small and simply allows you to focus on one area so you can see and celebrate progress before moving on. Tip: Pick a highly visible spot so you get a dopamine boost every time you see your progress!  Bonus - this can help motivate you to keep going!

Fear of Shame About Clutter.  Many people fear the shame that clutter can bring. To avoid those feelings — or the fear of judgment — we sometimes keep our clutter and shame hidden, which only perpetuates and deepens the shame cycle. As Brené Brown reminds us with her concept of Shame Gremlins, like the 1980s Gremlins, shame can’t survive being spoken and brought to light. So show yourself compassion and reach out to trusted and safe people who will meet you with empathy instead of judgment. Tip: You’re not alone. As a professional organizer, I meet many clients who struggle with clutter. I promise — there’s no shaming here, only support, empathy, and understanding.

Fear of Facing Emotional Items. Decluttering can stir up feelings like sadness, nostalgia, or grief. You don’t have to face those emotions alone. Invite a trusted loved one or professional organizer to help, take breaks, and give yourself permission to pause and honor the memories that come up.  Tip: Record stories or memories as you declutter — by jotting notes, making a voice memo, or video recording the session. It’s a beautiful way to preserve memories while still letting items go.

Fear that Items Will End Up in a Landfill.  Not to fear!  Many things can be donated, recycled, repurposed, or upcycled.  Local organizations like Community Forklift (Edmonston, MD) or the Upcycle Creative Reuse store (Alexandria, VA) will take items like new and gently used building materials or reusable arts and crafts materials.  You can also post curb alerts for free stuff on Craigslist, Facebook Market Place, or Buy Nothing groups to give items a second life.  Alternatively you can upcycle in creative ways, such as making a blanket out of a collection of favorite t-shirts or the clothing of a loved one.  Tip: Be realistic about how many upcycling projects you can reasonably complete.  Bonus Tip: Consider outsourcing your upcycling projects - for example hiring a seamstress to make that t-shirt quilt.

Final Thoughts

Just like you’d fight werewolves with silver bullets or vampires with garlic and stakes (à la Buffy), you can fight your decluttering fears when armed with your newly-acquired decluttering knowledge, self-compassion, and the right personal or professional support team of trusted individuals.  You don’t have to do it alone!

Tip: If you’re working with friends or family (without a professional organizer), share this post with them! It’s a great way to start an open, supportive conversation about what feels hard, what your goals are, and which of these approaches you’d like to try together.

If you would like empathetic professional support and guidance when facing your decluttering fears, please consider contacting me for your free consultation.  I’d be honored to be on your fear-fighting team!

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