Finding ways to get motivated to declutter might be easier than you think. Stop feeling overwhelmed, and learn how to find that inner motivation to get the job done.

Manifesting getting motivated to declutter only happens once you’ve identified why you find it hard.

There is great power in understanding why we do the things we do. Why do you keep old birthday cards from estranged friends? Why can’t you part with just one of your coffee mugs?

We have a strange relationship with our physical items and the truth is, they can overwhelm you if you try to keep them all.

Why do you find it hard to declutter?

• You think the more you own the more successful you are.
• You hate the idea of not having something on hand if you might need it one day.
• You justify keeping something you do not use or love because it cost a lot.
• You don’t have the time.
• You have strong sentimental attachments to everything.
• You’re so overwhelmed you don’t even know where to begin

How do you stop being overwhelmed with decluttering?

Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of clutter in your home? You’re not alone. For many people, the prospect of decluttering can be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be. By taking some simple steps, you can declutter your home and reclaim your space.

• Stop making unrealistic goals you can’t reach. The entire garage in a day is a little much. Aim for a bin for two.
• Work in small manageable sections. One wall, one bookcase, one drawer at a time.
• Focus on just decluttering. Not decluttering, cleaning, re-arranging, organizing, & labeling all at once.
• Work decluttering into your schedule. Even 10 minutes a day can make a huge difference.

How do you find your motivation to declutter?

Need some extra help in getting motivated to declutter? These 12 tips are broken down to help you find the reasons why you want to declutter your home & how to overcome the overwhelming feeling holding you back!

(This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Some of the amazing following photos are not my own, click on them to head straight to the source!)

01 | BE KIND TO YOURSELF

It seems like everywhere you turn, there’s another article or social media post telling you that your home isn’t up to par. Maybe your counters are cluttered or your laundry isn’t put away.

It’s easy to beat yourself up over these things and feel like you’re not doing enough. However, it’s important to be kind to yourself.

Having a messy or cluttered home doesn’t make you a bad person. Life is messy and chaotic, and sometimes our homes reflect that.

Instead of berating yourself, try to view your home with kindness and understanding. See the piles of laundry as evidence of a life well lived, rather than as a sign of laziness.

Embrace the chaos and know that it’s okay if your home isn’t perfect all the time.

02 | START WITH TRASH

If your home is like most, it probably contains a fair amount of junk. Old clothes filled with holes, stacks of newspapers, and broken toys are just some of the things that can clutter up your living space.

The good news is that you don’t have to wait for spring to do a deep cleaning. You can start making a difference today by simply collecting the obvious trash in each room of your home.

It’s this small step that can quickly get you motivated to declutter more.

03 | DO ONE PROJECT AT A TIME

Instead of letting your whole house overwhelm you, try and pick one smaller project to work on at a time. Focusing on decluttering one area will help you build the momentum you need to keep going. You can start with an easy project like your desk, or a challenging one like the attic.

Breaking decluttering up into smaller projects will also make it feel less daunting and more manageable. So go through your house and pick one area to focus on, and get started decluttering your home!

04 | ASK FOR HELP

If you’re feeling overloaded by all the stuff in your home, it’s time to declutter. But where do you start? And how do you keep from feeling overwhelmed?

One of the best ways to get started is to ask for help from a family member or friend. You might be surprised how many people jump at the opportunity to help you declutter.

Not only will they offer their labor, but they can also provide an outside perspective on what’s important to keep and what can be tossed. As you work together to purge your home of unwanted clutter, you’ll be amazed at how therapeutic the experience can be.

Their help can also get you motivated to declutter more even after they’ve left!

So don’t be afraid to ask for help when it comes time to declutter your home. Chances are, someone you know would be more than happy to lend a helping hand.

05 | MAKE SOME MONEY BACK

Yard sales are a great way to sell a variety of items all at once. To maximize your earnings, be sure to price your items competitively and advertise your sale in advance.

For larger or more valuable items, selling online may be a better option. There are a number of websites that allow you to list items for sale, and you can reach a wider audience than you would with a yard sale. Just be sure to take good photos and write accurate descriptions to attract buyers.

06 | REMOVE & STORE

When it comes to decluttering your home, sometimes it can be hard to let go of certain items. If you’re not ready to part with an item just yet, one solution is to box it up and store it away.

This way, you can still keep the item without it taking up space in your home. After a few weeks have passed, check back in on the boxes and see if you even miss any of the items.

If you don’t, then you can donate or sell them. However, if you find that you can’t live without the item, then perhaps it’s worth finding a place for it in your home after all.

Either way, storing away items is a great way to declutter your home without having to say goodbye to everything.

07 | STOP CLEANING & ORGANIZING

Trying to declutter, deep clean, and organize your home all at once can be overwhelming. It’s important to keep these things separate so you can focus on one task at a time.

Decluttering is about getting rid of things you don’t need or use.

Deep cleaning is about cleaning your home from top to bottom, including areas that are often overlooked.

Organizing is about finding a place for everything and keeping your home tidy.

By keeping these three things separate, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and make progress on each task.

Now if you feel you are ready for this type of home transformation, check out Decluttered today! An easy-to-follow Decluttering Guide e-book to help you clean, declutter, and organize your home room by room. Make your clutter-free home a reality!

08 | STOP WAITING FOR THE PERFECT DAY

It seems like there’s always something to declutter, whether it’s a closet, a drawer, or an entire room. And with busy schedules, it can be hard to find the time to declutter all at once.

However, decluttering doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing task. You can make real progress by decluttering a little bit each day.

Dedicate just 15 minutes to decluttering each day, and you’ll be surprised at how much you can get done.

Not only will your home be more organized, but you’ll also feel less stressed. So instead of waiting for the perfect day to declutter your home, start today and declutter a little bit each day.

09 | YOU CAN DECLUTTER MORE THAN ONCE

Anyone who has ever attempted to declutter a really cluttered area knows that it’s not an easy task. Not only is it difficult to let go of things that you may not have used in years, but it can also be tough to find a place to put everything.

As a result, many people give up on decluttering altogether. However, it’s important to remember that decluttering is a process, and it may take more than one attempt to get the job done right.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start by decluttering one small area at a time.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends, and don’t hesitate to donate or throw away items that you no longer need.

With a little bit of effort, you can transform even the most cluttered space into a tidy and organized room.

10 | CREATE VISUAL INSPIRATION

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by the chaos of daily life and let things slide. Suddenly, your home is cluttered and feels smaller than ever.

It’s important to remember why you’re decluttering in the first place, so you can stay motivated and on track. One way to do this is to keep reminders around your goal.

Create a Pinterest board full of inspiring images of the dream home you’re working towards.

Write out lists of all the benefits decluttering will bring you, like more peace of mind, a cleaner space to relax in, and less time wasted searching for lost belongings.

Save quotes about simplicity, organizing, and letting go to help inspire you when you start to lose steam.

By keeping your goal in mind, you’ll be more likely to stick with it until your home is finally decluttered.

11 | TAKE BEFORE PICS

For anyone who has ever undertaken the daunting task of decluttering their home, it is easy to forget how much progress has been made.

After all, it can often feel like the piles of stuff never seem to get any smaller.

A great way to remind yourself of how far you’ve come is to create a before-and-after photo album.

Simply take a photo of each room before you start decluttering, and then take another photo once you’re finished.

Seeing the physical evidence of your hard work can be a great way to stay motivated to declutter. Plus, it’s always satisfying to look back and see the dramatic transformation that took place thanks to your efforts.

Let’s recap on the 12 ways to get motivated to declutter!

1. Be kind to yourself.
2. Start with trash.
3. Tackle one project at a time.
4. Get your friends & family involved.
5. Make some cash.
6. Box and store items you’re not ready to part with.
7. You don’t have to deep clean & organize at the same time.
8. Stop waiting for the perfect day to declutter.
9. Remember you can revisit an area multiple times.
10. Find visual inspiration.
11. Take before and after pics.
12. Make a plan.

Applying these principles can help you get started on your own journey to success. Momentum is key in any goal, and once you start moving in the right direction it becomes easier and easier to keep going.

Just take one little step at a time, and before you know it you’ll be well on your way to reaching your goals. What are you waiting for? Get motivated to declutter today!

Happy Decluttering!