Overcome Decluttering Overwhelm

It’s can be hard to overcome decluttering overwhelm. You want a clutter-free home, but don’t know how or where to start. It seems like it would be an easy task, getting rid of unwanted stuff, but it’s not that simple.

It’s easy to fall victim to overwhelm when starting a decluttering project. Getting rid of stuff seems easy enough but when it’s time to get rid of your possessions it can be very difficult. To make the process easier here are some ideas for how to overcome decluttering overwhelm.

Overcome Declutting Overwhelm

Make a Plan

Having a plan can make the decluttering process seem a lot more manageable. A plan is important to reaching a goal you want to accomplish. Write down things like the steps you want to take to tackle your clutter. How many rooms or areas you would like to complete each week?

Also, the way you want to get rid of your clutter. Are you going to sell valuable items and where you will donate the rest? You also have the option of giving stuff away on Craigslist or Buy Nothing groups on Facebook.

Set Aside Time

Set aside a specific amount of time in which you want to complete your decluttering task. You don’t need to declutter your home in one day.

So, give yourself a certain amount of time for the project. Knowing that you can allow yourself more time, if necessary. Having a time frame sets your goals but being flexible takes away the pressure.

Know Your Why

Knowing why you want to declutter your home can keep you moving ahead when the task becomes difficult. Before you start decluttering knowing why you’re doing it will help you get through the process.

Therefore, if you understand your reasons for wanting to get rid of the clutter in your home, you will be more successful in accomplishing your decluttering goal.

Visualize Your Ideal Space

One more thing to do before getting down to business is to visualize how you’d like your finished space to look. By doing so, it will help you decide what to keep and what to get rid of.

So now that you have some ideas on how to overcome decluttering overwhelm here are some easy items to toss.

Easy Items to Toss on Your Decluttering Journey

Many of us develop a certain attachment to our possessions. So, deciding what to get rid of is one of the toughest parts of decluttering. Also, it can seem wasteful to give away something you’ve hardly used.

Though, if you think about it, there are some things that aren’t that difficult to toss out.

You can start with this list of 50 easy items to toss on your decluttering journey. Soon you’ll be a decluttering superstar!

50 Easy Items to toss

1. Junk mail
2. Hair accessories you don’t use
3. Kids’ clothes that no longer fit
4. Office Supplies you don’t need
5. Nearly empty condiment bottles
6. Old makeup
7. Toys or games no longer played with
8. Socks with holes
9. Boxes from electronics or small appliances
10. Unused paint
11. Worn out shoes
12. Food items that have been in the pantry forever
13. Excess shopping bags
14. Duplicates of anything
15. Unused blankets
16. Memorabilia you no longer value
17. Buttons you never sewed back on
18. Unnecessary receipts
19. Unused or old spices
20. Socks without a match
21. Expired frozen food
22. Stretched out undergarments
23. Vacation souvenirs you never look at
24. Condiment packets from fast food restaurants
25. Instruction manuals for things you no longer own
26. Old Calendars
27. Dried out markers
28. Pens that don’t work
29. Beauty products you don’t use
30. Stuff that’s been in your junk drawer forever
31. The clutter at the bottom of your purse
32. Cleaners that you never use
33. Gifts you never liked
34. Anything you forgot you even had
35. Pet supplies from animals you no longer have
36. Old cell phones
37. Home decor that no longer fits
38. Tupperware without a match (lids, containers)
39. Games with missing pieces
40. Old magazines
41. Books you’ve read once or will never read again
42. Expired medicine
43. Chargers without a device
44. Mugs with broken handles
45. Toys from fast food meals
46. DVDs you no longer watch
47. Kitchen gadgets you don’t use (rice cooker, ice cream maker)
48. Gear for sports you no longer play
49. Broken laptops, tablets you’ve been meaning to fix
50. Electronic cords you don’t need (USB cords, coaxial cable)

This list shows you that there are lots of things you can toss or donate with little stress. So try it and see how your motivation increases when getting rid of your old stuff.

Still Overwhelmed? Try the KonMari Method

If you need more help to overcome decluttering overwhelm, consider following the KonMari Method.

You have most likely heard of Marie Kondo. She is the author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. With millions of books sold and a popular Netflix series, it’s worth considering her expertise.

Kondo has developed a system for breaking the process down and making decluttering more bearable. Her method involves focusing on what to keep, rather than what to toss.

The basics of the KonMari Method involve categorizing your items. Then taking the time to sort through each category with the mindful intention of keeping only the ones that spark joy.

One of the categories is clothing. You’re supposed to take all your clothing and put into one big pile. Then you pick up each piece of clothing and determine if it sparks joy for you. If it doesn’t bring you joy then you get rid of it.

Starting is the Hardest Part

It’s true that the hardest part is often actually getting started. But now that you know some ways to overcome decluttering overwhelm, hopefully, you’re feeling motivated to begin.

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