During the deep, slow, and quiet days of the pandemic, my brain was still very loud even though there was absolutely no reason for me to feel like life was zooming by. After visiting my doctor and talking with my counselor, we determined that what we’d long thought was anxiety was actually symptoms of ADHD. One way I’ve coped with my brain’s tendencies is to keep clutter in my home to a minimum. But, I often wondered how to start decluttering when overwhelmed.
Decluttering can be daunting, especially if you’re unsure where to begin. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing affair; you can just take several simple and straightforward steps to get started.
Here are 7 easy tips for decluttering when you feel overwhelmed. From setting aside a certain amount of time each day to embracing minimalism, these tried-and-true methods will help you tackle the chaos in your home one small step at a time!
How to Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed
- Start small – Begin with a small area in your home, even as small as one drawer, and focus on decluttering that specific space.
- Set aside a certain amount of time – Designate a certain amount of time each day to devote to decluttering and stick to that timeframe. Even if you simply declutter for 5 minutes a day, by the end of the month, you’ll have spent 2.5 hours on the task and most likely developed a sustainable habit that wasn’t too burdensome.
- Eliminate items you no longer use – Take an honest inventory of the items in your home and eliminate anything you do not need or use anymore. Remind yourself that it’s better to have less to take care of, and if you really need that item in the future, you can likely borrow it from a friend or get it within two days with Amazon Prime. :)
- Keep a “donate box” near your front door or garage. As you go throughout your day, simply grab items you’re no longer using. Once that bin is full, take it to your nearest Goodwill.
- Simplify storage options – Invest in clear bins, labels, or file folders to keep things neat and organized while preserving your space. Particularly with ADHD, it’s super, super helpful for me to see what I have. That way, I don’t accidentally buy duplicates of items I already have.
- Ensure your drawers, bins, and cabinets are filled no more than 80%. Overfilling your spaces makes it impossible to keep organized, and an unorganized container is a magnet for more clutter. Trust me, I just dealt with two giant junk drawers in my kitchen that I’d let get overstuffed and out of control. Once they were too full, no one paid any attention to what else they jammed in.
- Ask for help from friends & family – Find someone who can lend an objective eye when sorting through belongings; having another opinion can be helpful when deciding what to keep and what to let go of. Sometimes it’s just helpful to have someone sit with you while you work. Having someone to chat with helps focus your mind, making time pass faster.
When your home has less stuff, it’s easier to live well. Your brain can calm down, because your environment is more peaceful. Decluttering your home can be overwhelming, especially when you have no idea where to start. But, it doesn’t have to be an intimidating task. By taking small, manageable steps and utilizing the tips from this post, you can begin to progress on the chaos in your home and gain control over your surroundings. If you start small and keep going, you’ll be surprised at how much decluttering can improve your emotional well-being!