How to Declutter an Overwhelming Mess
Are You overwhelmed by clutter?
We’ve all been there. We close the craft room door and avoid going in there at all costs because when we face the mess, our heart sinks. It’s overwhelming. It’s too much for us to cope with. And so, we avoid and procrastinate for as long as we can.
But, even with the door closed, the weight of the mess is heavy on us. We have this invisible burden in our spirit. It eats away at our peace. Our hearts can be overwhelmed by clutter.
Sooner or later, we have to face the mess.
There is good news and bad news. First the good—the mess is rarely as hard to organise as we tell ourselves before we begin. Usually, once we get started, it doesn’t take as long as we imagine. Often, we can declutter quickly once we get started.
But, the bad news—we still need to do the work and face the clutter for us to bring it under control.
Don’t be overwhelmed by clutter. Follow these steps to declutter your overwhelming mess:
1. Begin
This is often the hardest step. It gets easier once we actually get started. So, set aside some time, put on some fun music, collect a couple of big bags, tubs and boxes, and get to work.
2. Start with the rubbish
Begin by getting the rubbish out of the way. Grab a rubbish bag and, quick as you are able, pick up everything that needs to go in the bin. If you don’t need it, use it or love it and it is too damaged to be donated or sold, it’s rubbish.
3. Easy Decisions
Next, deal with the decisions that are easy. Got a pile of old clothes that no longer fit? Donate them to a local op shop. Got a collection of equipment for a sport you no longer play? Sell it on Marketplace or give it to a local club. Storing a box of old holiday décor you don’t like and haven’t used for a couple of years? Donate them too.
And before you finish decluttering for the day, put it all in the car and drop it off. Don’t wait!
4. Duplicates
Next, put like things together and eliminate the duplicates. I was notorious for having bits and pieces all over our house. Need a pair of scissors? I know there is some around here somewhere. In fact, there were some in several places around the house. But, no matter how many pairs of scissors I had, I always searched for my favourite pair anyway.
Take the time to put like things together—all the books in one place, all the CDs together, all your leftover yarn in the same bag. When everything is together, you can make decisions about what to do with them and where to store it (if you choose to keep it).
5. Focus on What to Keep
Once the rubbish and the easy decisions are taken care of, the decluttering process may slow down a bit. Here’s my hot tip: Focus on what to keep rather than what you are getting rid of.
Create a vision for the space you are creating, in your home and in your heart. Imagine your life with a clean and tidy space you can enjoy using. Keep this vision in your mind as you work. You may find it helpful to create a vision board or Pinterest board to motivate you at this stage.
Then, choose the things in your home that will help you create your vision. Keep the things you love— things that make you smile, things that provoke happy memories, the things that Mare Kondo would say, ‘Spark joy.’
Then you can declutter the things that don’t serve the vision you have for your home. The CD collection you never listen to (thank you Spotify) can go, leaving space for your writing desk. Removing the trinkets and ornaments from the mantle will highlight the three favourites you absolutely love.
6. Get Moral Support
Decluttering is hard work. It can be hard physically, but mostly it is hard emotionally. All of our things represent our past, good and bad. It evokes memories of people we love, and people who hurt us. It represents decisions we regret, money we wasted and seasons we have moved on from. It’s a lot!
Find a friend or family member who can give you some decluttering moral support. Perhaps they can help you make decisions about what to keep, help you drop off your unwanted stuff to the goodwill, or join you for a cuppa to celebrate your progress. Whatever support you need, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Don’t forget to ask for help from God. Ask Him to untangle your heart from your possessions to be free to serve Him more fully. Luke 12:15 warns us “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” You may not think of yourself as greedy, but we need to consider Jesus’ warning carefully. Don’t hold on to more than you need. Don’t let your possessions distract you from God’s call on your life.
7. Celebrate Progress
Celebrate the progress you make, no matter how small. When your mess is cleaned up, treat yourself to a bunch of flowers or a lovely scented candle. Show off your progress to a friend, or simply enjoy a long bubble bath at the end of a day of decluttering. Rather than focusing on what you have let go, focus on what you have gained, and enjoy your progress toward the life you love.
Don’t be overwhelmed by clutter. One step at a time, one bag at a time, feel the weight of your stuff lift from you and enjoy the peace and freedom of a clutter-free home.
