How To Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed: A Gentle 6-Step Guide
Did you know that 54% of Americans feel overwhelmed by their clutter? Trust me, as a parent of five kids, I understand this statistic on a deeply personal level! There was a time when I couldn’t even walk through our playroom without stepping on LEGOs, and don’t even get me started about our infamous “junk drawer” that somehow expanded into multiple junk drawers! Today, I’m sharing the gentle, practical approach for how to start decluttering when overwhelmed that helped me break through that paralyzing overwhelm and finally start making progress with our family’s clutter. If I can do it with five kids constantly “helping,” you can definitely do this too!
Understanding Why You Feel Overwhelmed by Clutter
You know that feeling when you walk into a room and your chest gets tight just looking at all the stuff? I’ve been there countless times! With five kids, our clutter didn’t accumulate overnight – it crept up slowly. One day, I found myself standing in our kitchen, surrounded by art projects, half-finished cereal boxes, a cabinet of kids’ water bottles and lids that didn’t match, and three different types of lunch boxes that no one used anymore.
Here’s what I’ve learned about clutter overwhelm: it’s not just about the physical stuff. It’s about the mental weight it puts on us. Every pile of unfolded laundry, every stack of papers from school, they all scream for our attention. And let’s be honest – when you’re already juggling work, family, and trying to remember which kid has soccer practice today, those piles can feel like they’re mocking you.
The tipping point for me came when I realized I was spending more time looking for things than actually enjoying time with my family. The added stress every morning trying to get the kids out the door for school. The way I snap at them because I get frustrated easily and have patience than I would like to have. That’s when I knew something had to change. Not dramatically, not perfectly, but just… something had to start changing.
Setting Realistic Decluttering Expectations For How To Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed
Let me share something that completely changed my perspective: perfect isn’t the goal, progress is! I used to watch those organizing shows where they transformed entire homes in a weekend. Ha! With a house full of kids, I quickly learned that marathon decluttering sessions just weren’t realistic.
Instead, I started setting tiny goals. And I mean tiny! Like “today I’ll tackle one kitchen drawer” tiny. At first, it felt almost silly to think so small, but you know what? Those small wins started adding up. Plus, when you have kids constantly pulling out toys while you’re trying to organize them (anyone else relate?), you learn to celebrate even the smallest victories!
The 15-Minute Method: Your First Step to Decluttering
Want to know the absolute game-changer in my decluttering journey? The 15-minute timer method! It sounds ridiculously simple, but it works like magic, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Here’s my secret: I set a timer on my phone for just 15 minutes – usually while I’m waiting for the pasta water to boil or right after I’ve had my morning coffee.
During these 15 minutes, I focus on one tiny area. Maybe it’s that drawer full of takeout menus (half of which are from restaurants that don’t even exist anymore), or the corner of the counter that somehow becomes a magnet for random papers and my daughters’ hair ties. The key is keeping it small and specific.
I’ve found that these short bursts are actually perfect when you have kids around. They can usually entertain themselves for 15 minutes, and if everything goes wrong? Hey, it’s only 15 minutes! Plus, there’s something about that timer that makes it feel like a game rather than a chore. This is an important tool for those who need to know how to start decluttering when overwhelmed.
Creating Your Decluttering Starter Kit
Let me tell you about my super simple “decluttering kit” that I keep ready to go. Nothing fancy here – just three boxes or bags (and these can be anything, even empty diaper boxes…because why buy new ones?), labeled: Keep, Donate, and Trash. I also keep a few garbage bags handy and some basic cleaning supplies.
The real game-changer was adding a “decide later” box for those items that make you freeze up with indecision. You know, like that bread maker you got as a wedding gift and used exactly once, but feel guilty about giving away. These are the items that can paralyze even the best of decluttering intentions. Having this box helps keep the momentum going when you hit those emotional speed bumps. I realized that this “decide later” category had become a roadblock for me to begin and complete decluttering projects; by acknowledging it and allowing myself a “decide later” category, I was able to eliminate that source of overwhelm and move forward.
Again, it doesn’t have to be perfect. I just had to start.
Room-by-Room Priority Guide
Through lots of trial and error (and I mean lots!), I’ve discovered that starting with the least emotional space is key. For me, that was our guest bathroom linen closet. Nobody was emotionally attached to expired medications or half-empty shampoo bottles!
From there, I moved on to areas that caused daily stress. The entryway where backpacks and shoes multiplied like rabbits became a priority because it was the first thing we saw every day. It’s amazing how clearing just that one space lifted everyone’s mood and made getting everyone out the door so much easier.
The One Category Approach for Beginners
Here’s a strategy that worked wonders for our family: starting with just one category of items. We began with something super simple – socks! It might sound weird, but hear me out. Everyone’s socks were a mess, no one would miss the odd ones, and it was an easy win.
From there, we moved on to other categories: t-shirts, books, toys. The key was picking categories that wouldn’t send anyone into an emotional tailspin. We saved sentimental items for much later, once we had our decluttering muscles well-developed.
Maintaining Momentum Without Burning Out
Let’s talk about the reality of maintaining momentum when you’re dealing with multiple kids and their constant stream of stuff! I’ve learned that it’s okay to have ebbs and flows in your decluttering journey. Some weeks, I’m on fire and can tackle a drawer every day. Other weeks? Well, just maintaining our current organization feels like a win!
The secret is building tiny habits into your daily routine. Every night before bed, I spend just five minutes putting things back where they belong. It’s not perfect, but it prevents that overwhelming buildup that got us here in the first place.
Conclusion: How To Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed
To recap, here are my top actionable tips that even the most overwhelmed person can use to finally start that decluttering project:
- Perfect isn’t the goal; progress is
- Use the 15 minute timer method
- Use a “decide later” box to avoid freezing up with indecision
- Start with the least emotional space
- Start with just one category of items
- Build tiny habits into your daily routine
Remember, if you feel stuck or overwhelmed, just set that timer for 15 minutes and start with one small space. You don’t have to transform your entire home today. Just take that first step, and then another. Trust me, if I can make progress with five kids “helping,” you’ve got this too! Why not start right now? Pick one drawer, set that timer, and see what happens. Your future self will thank you!
