Why Decluttering is Hard & How to Make it Easier

In a world that often seems to value accumulation, the concept of decluttering can be a daunting task for many. While the benefits of a simplified, organized living space are well-documented, the process of parting with possessions can be emotionally and psychologically challenging. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why decluttering is hard and offer insights into how to overcome these challenges and make decluttering easier.

Welcome to my Year Long Thorough Declutter Series. We declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Each day we do a daily task based on the room we are working on. Today, our task is to start decluttering your clutter in your living room. If you prefer watching videos, check out my youtube channel here. Today, we’ll look at some tips for decluttering any paper clutter in your living room.

The best way to develop a new habit is by slowly and daily application. We will begin a new daily declutter habit starting with the 2nd bathroom. In the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series, we will declutter 30 minutes a day, five days a week on weekdays. Sign up to receive daily encouragement and motivation.

Plus, you’ll learn your specific daily task to work toward completing the goal of a Year Long Thorough Declutter where you will declutter every space and learn how to start to purge your house. Are you ready to finally get organized? If so, will you join us? Leave a comment below to subscribe.

If you are new to the blog, welcome! I blog about cleaning, decluttering, and organizing. You can find my free printables to help you get organized in the drop down menu under the Printables category.

Currently we are working on how to unclutter the Living Room. The daily task for today, Dec. 15, 2023, is to begin to declutter any paper clutter in your living room. Remember, we are focusing on just the living room area, so don’t declutter your whole house. We will cover each room separately.

Why Decluttering is Hard & How to Make it Easier

Attachment to Possessions:

One of the primary reasons why decluttering is a difficult endeavor lies in our emotional attachment to our belongings. Over time, we develop sentimental connections to items that represent memories, milestones, or even aspects of our identity. Letting go of these possessions can feel like saying goodbye to a part of ourselves, making the process emotionally taxing. Read on for tips to make decluttering easier.

Fear of Waste:

The fear of wasting resources or money often hinders the decluttering process. We may convince ourselves that we might need a particular item in the future or that discarding it would be a financial loss. This fear can lead to hoarding behavior, preventing us from making rational decisions about what truly adds value to our lives.

Decision Fatigue:

The sheer volume of items in our living spaces can overwhelm us, leading to decision fatigue. When faced with numerous choices about what to keep, donate, or discard, our cognitive resources become depleted, making it challenging to make clear, rational decisions. This mental exhaustion can be a significant barrier to effective decluttering.

Perfectionism:

The desire for a perfect, magazine-worthy home can be another stumbling block. Perfectionism often paralyzes individuals, preventing them from starting the decluttering process if they believe they cannot achieve flawless results. Embracing the idea that decluttering is a continuous journey rather than an instant destination can help alleviate this pressure.

Time Constraints:

Modern lifestyles are fast-paced, leaving many individuals with limited time and energy to devote to decluttering. The perception that decluttering requires a significant time investment can discourage people from even starting the process. Breaking down the task into smaller, manageable steps can make it more feasible for individuals with busy schedules.

Why Decluttering is Hard & How to Make Decluttering Easier

Making decluttering easier involves adopting a systematic and mindful approach to the process. Here are some practical tips to help you simplify the decluttering journey:

Set Realistic Goals:
- Break down the decluttering process into manageable tasks.
- Set specific, achievable goals for each session, whether it’s tackling a single room or focusing on a specific category of items.
Create a Decluttering Plan:
- Develop a plan outlining which areas or categories you’ll address and in what order.
- Prioritize spaces that cause the most stress or contribute significantly to clutter.
Start Small:
- Begin with a small, less emotionally charged area to build momentum.
- Starting small can help prevent overwhelm and make the process more manageable.
Sort Items Into Categories:
- Group similar items together to get a clear picture of what you have.
- This helps in making decisions about what to keep, donate, or discard.
Use the KonMari Method:
- Inspired by Marie Kondo, the KonMari Method involves evaluating items based on whether they “spark joy.”
- Hold each item and ask yourself if it brings happiness. If not, consider letting it go.
Set Time Limits:
- Avoid burnout by setting a time limit for each decluttering session.
- Short, focused sessions can be more productive than long, exhausting ones.
Enlist Support:
- Involve friends or family members in the process for emotional support and a fresh perspective.
- Consider hiring a professional organizer if needed.
Overcome Sentimental Attachment:
- Take photos of sentimental items before letting them go to preserve the memories.
- Keep only the items that truly hold significant emotional value.
Donate and Recycle:
- Cultivate a mindset of giving back by donating items in good condition to charity.
- Recycle or responsibly dispose of items that are no longer usable.
Embrace Minimalism:
- Embrace the philosophy of “less is more” and focus on keeping only what adds value to your life.
- Consider adopting a minimalist lifestyle for long-term simplicity.
Reward Yourself:
- Celebrate your progress by acknowledging achievements, no matter how small.
- Treat yourself to something enjoyable after completing a decluttering session.
Establish New Habits:
- Once you’ve decluttered, establish habits to prevent future accumulation of unnecessary items.
- Regularly assess your living space to ensure it stays organized.

While decluttering may be a challenging and emotionally charged process, the benefits of a simplified and organized living space are well worth the effort. Recognizing and understanding the reasons why decluttering is hard can empower individuals to overcome these challenges. By taking a gradual and compassionate approach, letting go of possessions can become a transformative journey towards a more mindful and intentional way of living.

Guide to Decluttering

1.Only spend time on your specific daily task.

2.Do not get side-tracked or distracted.

3.Work within a time of day that you have the most energy and stamina. This is one of the most useful declutter motivation tips. Listen to your body and work at decluttering when you feel the most alert and energized.

4.Avoid thinking too long about whether to keep or discard an item. This is one specific way for How to Be Ruthless When Decluttering.

5.Avoid cleaning during your declutter. The goal is to purge the dead weight. Getting rid of the clutter is your priority. Cleaning can be accomplished later. Read on for more declutter motivation tips and my room specific deep clean checklist, though, as you will begin cleaning after your declutter.

Hacks for Decluttering

Supplies Needed:

1. boxes -preferably ones you can donate (Avoid plastic storage bins because you may be tempted to just store the items and not part with them.)1. boxes -preferably ones you can donate (Avoid plastic storage bins because you may be tempted to just store the items and not part with them.)

2. sturdy trash bags

3. marker/pen to label boxes

Decluttering Tip: Avoid using storage bins to declutter. Storage bins tend to tell your brain to “store” the items for later. That is just delaying decisions. If you aren’t getting rid of items when you declutter, you are not truly decluttering. This is why I recommend a trash bag, also. A trash bag tells your brain to “trash” the item.

Obviously, recycle if you have that option. The boxes you use should be ones you are willing to part with, so I recommend sturdy cardboard boxes. As to donations, there are many charities that will come pick up your items for you at your home.

I use one in particular where you can book an appointment for pick-up online. This is so convenient, as it saves you the hassle of hauling stuff away yourself. Scheduling that pick-up also motivates you to declutter by a certain date.

Steps for Decluttering

1. Start by eliminating trash first- use a sturdy trash bag

2. Sort items by category if needed so you can see what you have

3.Get rid of items that don’t work or that work poorly, expired items, anything you don’t love, anything that you’ll never use again

4. Box up the donations and trash/recycle the rest

5.Select a charity to donate your items and schedule the pick-up if that is an option

How Do You Declutter Your Entire House (and get it deep clean?): Need to deep clean?

First, My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.

Second, My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.

Third, My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.

Fourth, My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.

Fifth, My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.

You can get your printable Daily Housekeeping Routine and Deep Cleaning Your House Schedule here. This 15 page printable kit is delivered digitally to your email for you to print and personalize. What Does a Deep Clean Include? It includes a daily schedule, calendar pages, and deep cleaning checklists for every room and area of your home. Check out the link above to see a sample page of what you’ll get in my printable set designed to help you create your personal Homemaking Checklist.

Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can find that here.

New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:

Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. If you don’t have a calendar, you can grab my free weekly printable calendar page here. It is in my shopify store, but it is totally free, so you won’t be prompted to put in any payment information. It is a free download and will be delivered straight to your email.

Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.

Step 3: How do you remove clutter? How Do You Declutter Your Home?.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.

Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered.

Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.