You’re ready.
You’re motivated.
All that clutter doesn’t stand a chance.
And you just want to dive in and get it done.
But did you know this is the perfect time to take a step back and set yourself up for success?
Actually, wherever you are in the process is a good time to do these 5 things.
Because effective decluttering is more of a marathon than a sprint. And you don’t want to end up in the weeds, wondering how you lost the path.
So how do you prepare to declutter?
Before you start to declutter your home, these easy tasks up fornt and you’ll thank yourself.
1. Take a moment to put your “why” down on paper.
Odds are you may be feeling overwhelmed by the mess, which is one of the most common struggles when people start to declutter. So it’s tempting to move right into action without much thought up front.
But don’t worry, this won’t take long!
You’ll come back to it again and again, both to keep yourself on track and to see how far you’ve come.
By “why” I mean a few words or sentences about what your situation is now. How the clutter feels, looks, and problems it is causing. Then, a few words or sentences about how things will be different when the clutter has been taken care of.
As usual, keep it simple. But do it!
2. Set your first goal.
Not a big, ultimate, world-changing goal. But a next-step, immediate, doable goal.
Are you embarking on a whole house decluttering mission? Pick the first room or area you want to declutter.
Do you have a specific event or deadline to declutter for? Maybe you have overnight company scheduled and need to get your guest room ready. Or maybe you’re having a party and need to remove the clutter from certain areas of your house to entertain.
Whatever your first goal is, be specific about what you want to accomplish then go for it.
Maybe your goal is to declutter the guest room for overnight visitors.
But don’t stop at something vague like “declutter the guest room”.
Break your goal down into smaller chunks, with specifics like this:
- Clear closet and drawer space for guest clothing.
- Clear nightstand surfaces.
- Clear the floor.
3. Prioritize the tasks within your first goal.
Take the tasks from Step 2 and list them in order of priority.
When everything is equally important, it’s hard to know what to do next.
Not only will this get you stuck in a cycle of indecision, but you can easily begin to feel overwhelmed because there’s a lack of clear direction. This is when lots of us find ourselves jumping ship and doing something completely unrelated just to avoid the decision.
If you need to continually stop and figure out where to put your efforts next, it only adds to decision fatigue, which is a real thing.
So determining this up front lets you move through the actual decluttering without having to think about it. Settle the question of what to do next so your energy can go toward deciding what stays and what goes.
But what’s most important?
Is there a clear reason why you should be tackling certain areas or objects first? Depending on your circumstances it may be obvious what needs to be done first and why.
If all else is equal, ask yourself what will have the biggest impact and start there.
Notice I didn’t say the biggest job. Actually that’s not the best place to start.
Don’t underestimate the motivation that comes from actually experiencing a positive change, even if it’s something small that just annoys you regularly.
Prioritize something that will impact your day, like a kitchen that is easy to navigate or a bedroom that is tidy and restful.
4. Put it on your calendar.
Make time available to focus on decluttering or you’ll find yourself trying to fit it in around the edges of your schedule. And that won’t work.
Feeling positive momentum is a huge part of staying motivated.
And being consistent is how you gain that momentum.
Wanting to declutter but not having time budgeted to get it done only increases stress and frustration.
So put regular time dedicated to decluttering into your schedule.
Even if it’s only 15 minutes a day, consistently set time apart for this task.
It will give you the freedom to focus, which is how to be incredibly productive even short bursts of time.
5. Check your mindset.
Your mindset will make or break your decluttering efforts. No matter how well you plan or how many great hacks you know, the truth is that how you think can trump everything else. This is true for most activities in life and decluttering is no different.
One very common mindset that causes people to struggle is perfectionism.
It derails our efforts in many ways, but we may not always recognize it for what it is.
Did you know that these common problems can all be linked to perfectionism?
- Starting with a simple task but making it bigger and more complicated as you go along.
- FInding it hard to get started because your mind automatically starts to think about doing it *all*.
- Being inflexible about how something should be done instead of open to creatively solving problems and making decisions.
So what type of mindset makes the process easier and your results better?
Focus on progress not perfection.
This realistic approach not only lowers anxiety but allows you to enjoy your accomplishments along the way.
It seems simple, but it’s very effective. Practicing this perspective from the beginning gives you a real advantage. Remind yourself often and especially when you notice the effects of perfectionism starting to creep into your thoughts, feelings, and decision making.
None of the 5 things we’ve discussed here are complicated or need much time.
Yet it’s easy to skip over them when we’re in the mood to “just take action”.
So I encourage you to take a few moments and apply them to your situation right now.
You will … make clearing the clutter easier, be more in control, and feel better about your accomplishments (big and small).
Wrap Up
Ready to declutter? Great! Already started, but haven’t gotten around to these 5 tips? Now’s the perfect time! They effort will be well worth it, and you’ll come back to them again and again through your decluttering journey.