Decluttering without Overwhelm: A Minimalist Approach
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Big changes in life can be incredibly exciting at first, but then things can feel scary or seem like too much. That’s okay. It’s natural to experience some worry and feeling overwhelmed when trying something new. Forming new habits takes a lot of effort, dedication and time. Here are a few things you can do to make the process less daunting.
First Do the Easy Things
f you’re chomping at the bit to get started, you can always begin by trying some of the easiest or most energizing things first. Once you begin to tackle these activities, you’ll notice that you gain momentum. The next hurdles won’t seem quite as big once you’ve got a running start.
So, think of some ways you can take on your new minimalism routine in a non-threatening way and then get started. For instance, maybe you’ve been wanting to clean out your closet, so you can revamp your wardrobe. That should be easy, and the reward will be replacing the old stuff you never wore with some new, carefully thought-out wardrobe pieces that you love.
Do One Thing at a Time To Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed
Sometimes you may think you have to jump right in and immerse yourself in a new lifestyle. Unfortunately, this approach tends to backfire. It simply increases the overwhelmed feeling and is rarely sustainable. Rather than go gung-ho, try tackling one tough thing at a time.
You’ve already identified some easy tasks you can incorporate into your new routine. Now it’s time to decide which one tough chore you want to tame. That’s it. Just one. Start with one room at a time. Don’t try to declutter the whole house at once. Again, it’s a matter of building momentum to spur you on to future changes. It also helps you to get used to new habits so that they are reinforced and have a chance of truly sticking.
Set Up an Organizing System
Decluttering can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have a system in place. A good way to start is by setting up a system where everything has a place. This will help you stay organized and make the decluttering process easier. Once you have a system in place, work on cleaning out one area at a time. This way, you’ll know exactly what needs to be done and won’t feel overwhelmed.
Avoid All or Nothing Thinking
My last piece of advice is to avoid all or nothing thinking. This isn’t unusual when you take on something new. It’s related to the last point of wanting to jump right in and get started doing everything perfectly. All or nothing thinking leads you to believe that if you have a backslide or make a mistake, you should just give up.
It’s also this type of thinking that tells you this unfamiliar lifestyle is just too hard or too much work. It urges you to give up before you’ve even really begun. Ignore all or nothing thinking, and you’ll be just fine.
So, in short, if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed when decluttering, it’s important to take some time for yourself. Here are a few tips to help avoid feeling overwhelmed:
1. Set realistic goals. Don’t try to declutter everything at once. Start by decluttering one room or area of your home and work your way up from there.
2. Decide what needs to be decluttered and prioritize those items. Once you know what needs to be done, start by cleaning and organizing the items that are most important to you.
3. Take breaks every once in a while. If you start feeling overwhelmed, take a break until your energy comes back in tact. When you return, try focusing on one task at a time instead of trying to do them all at once. If you haven’t heard of the Pomodoro technique, it’s wonderful for structuring your productive times with break times to avoid burnout. Give it a try!
Keep these tips in mind when you start to feel overwhelmed. Most new routines are challenging. Take it slowly and be gentle with yourself.
