We live in a world of consumption and accumulate more than we need over time. At some point, decluttering becomes necessary, not just to tidy up, but as an act of self-care.
Every February, I host the 28 Days of Loving Yourself Challenge where we focus on self-love and self-care during February. The challenge is now available throughout the year, but the live version only happens in February.
The first week of the challenge is dedicated to clearing clutter and we work on physical, digital, mental and emotional clutter. The aim is to create a more organised, peaceful space, thus making room for more peace and increased productivity.
A cluttered space often leads to a cluttered mind, increasing stress and making it harder to focus. But contrary to what many people think, decluttering isn’t just about tidying up; it’s also about reclaiming your energy, reducing stress, and setting yourself up for a fresh start.
Why decluttering is an act of self-love
Clutter is more than having a messy space. It affects your mental and emotional well-being and also leads to reduced productivity. A cluttered home can lead to stress, overwhelm, and even decision fatigue.
By decluttering, you create a space that nurtures your peace of mind rather than drains your energy. It’s a gift you give yourself when you have a clean, organised environment. This gift also makes you feel lighter and more in control of your life.
Knowing you need to declutter is one thing.
Getting it done completely is another thing. Additionally, a home full of stuff can feel overwhelming, and you might not know where to start. You might also find it emotionally draining to declutter some stuff.
As I recently went through my own decluttering during Week 1 of the 28 Days of Loving Yourself Challenge, I came across old journals and to-do lists from 10 years ago.
I don’t need them, yet I’ve kept them in a carton that was just taking up space. Letting them go was tough because I wanted to sit down and read through them all! But it was freeing when I did let go.
This experience reminded me that decluttering isn’t just about physical space; it’s also a way of releasing the past and making room for the life I want now.
What about you…do you struggle with decluttering your home? Try the tips below and take control of your space as you declutter your home successfully.
9 Ways to Increase Chances of Completing Your Decluttering
1. Start with the room that bothers you the most
If you’re unsure where to start, focus on the space that causes you the most stress. You probably already know which room this is. This could be:
- A cluttered kitchen where you can’t easily find what you need.
- A bedroom filled with clothes you never wear.
- The spare room that’s become a catch-all for everything.
Start there. Tackling the most overwhelming space first will give you an immediate sense of accomplishment. Seeing the transformation of this one space will motivate you to continue decluttering the rest of your home.
Challenge Tip: Start small
In the challenge, we focused on starting small within this room instead of getting stuck in overwhelm while trying to complete decluttering the whole room in one go.
The same applies here if you don’t have time to complete the whole room at once. Choose the room then start with one area or even one drawer. clear one space daily and you’ll soon be done with the room.
2. Visualise the end result
Before you begin, take a moment to imagine what you want the space to look like when you’re done decluttering.
- How do you want to use the room?
- What does your dream space feel like?
- What will it feel like when it’s free from unnecessary clutter?
Having a clear vision makes it easier to stay focused. It also keeps you motivated and helps guide your decisions as you declutter.
A clutter-free space works both on the aesthetics and affects how you feel. Envision how you want your space to support your self-care and daily routines.
One of our daily reminders in Week 1 of the challenge was that “Small steps count.” If a full decluttering session feels too big, commit to 5-10 minutes daily and stay consistent.
3. Start with what you can see
Decluttering hidden spaces like drawers and closets can feel overwhelming. Instead, begin with what is visible on the tabletops, floors, countertops, desks, open shelves, and other physical spaces.
Clearing these areas first provides an instant sense of progress and gratification. This will motivate you to continue decluttering.
4. Reevaluate your furniture and equipment arrangement
Clutter isn’t just about small items placed all over the place. Too much furniture and equipment can also make a space feel crowded, especially if it is a small space. Even a small change, like shifting a chair or removing an unused side table, can create a calmer, more spacious feel.
Take a look around the room you want to declutter and ask yourself:
- Do I need all these pieces?
- Do I have too much furniture and/or equipment for this space?
- Are all these pieces functional and necessary?
- Would rearranging them create a better flow?
- Are they in the best possible arrangement?
- Could removing or repositioning something improve the space?
- What do I need to get rid of (especially broken-down stuff)?
Reorganising your space can completely transform how a room feels and foster calmness and creativity. It also positively impacts mental clarity because your environment shapes your energy.
5. Prepare yourself mentally
While decluttering physical spaces is more of physical work, it requires a mental shift.
- Accept that the process takes time and that your home won’t transform overnight.
- Let go of guilt around getting rid of things you once loved.
- Remind yourself that clearing space creates room for better things in your life.
Some decisions will be difficult, especially when it comes to stuff that you are emotionally attached to. But these decisions are necessary for your peace of mind.
Try using an affirmation like “I release what no longer serves me.” as you let go of these emotionally attached items. By adjusting your mindset, you’ll reduce resistance and make it easier to move forward.
6. Use a timer to stay on track
One of the biggest roadblocks to decluttering is feeling like you don’t have enough time. A simple solution? Break the work into break it up into small, manageable chunks by using a timer.
- Set a timer for 15 -30 minutes.
- Focus on decluttering one area or section within this time.
- Take a break when the timer goes off.
A helpful mindset shift is to remind yourself that you’re seeking progress and not perfection with each chunk of time spent decluttering. You’ll find that every short decluttering session makes a difference in your mood and overall progress. You’ll also be surprised how much you can accomplish in short bursts.
7. Give everything a home
One of the easiest ways to maintain a clutter-free home is to ensure that everything has a designated space.
If an item doesn’t have a home, ask yourself: “Do I really need this?” If the answer is Yes, find a proper place for it. If not, let it go.
Also, identify if you have more than one of the same thing. Do you need all these or can you give away some of them? If don’t need more than one, give away the rest immediately so you’re not tempted to store them.
Another key question to ask yourself is, “If I had to move, would I take this with me?” If the answer is Yes, find a place for it. If the answer is No, discard or give it away.
The key here is being intentional about what you keep in your life and home. If something doesn’t serve you, it’s okay to let it go, even if it means throwing it away.
Following the simple rule: “A place for everything, and everything in its place” will make maintaining a clutter-free and organised home much easier.
8. Photograph sentimental Items
It can be tough to part with sentimental items. Many people struggle to let go of things due to guilt, sentimental value, or fear of waste.
For example, you may be thinking:
- “I spent money on this, so I should keep it”
- “But it was a gift”
- “If I let this go, I will be throwing away something a departed relative loved. I have to keep it because they cherished it.”
In reality:
- The money is already spent. If you don’t use it, let it go.
- The person who gave it to you wanted to bring you joy, not stress.
- The departed relative is already gone. It doesn’t matter to them anymore whether you keep it, give it away, or discard it.
If you struggle with letting go of such items, take a photo of the item before donating or discarding it. This way, you can keep the memory without keeping the physical clutter. You’ll also create physical and mental space for new experiences and items.
9. Make decluttering a habit
Decluttering doesn’t have to be a one-time event or something you do once a year. You can make it part of your lifestyle.
For example, you can:
- Do a 10-minute declutter at the end of each day.
- Every day, remove 5 items you no longer use and discard or give them away.
- Adopt a one-in, one-out rule (when you bring in something new, donate something old).
- Schedule a monthly mini-decluttering session to keep things in check.
With such micro-habits, your home will have minimal or no clutter and provide a safe and welcoming space for you and your loved ones.
The 7-Day Declutter-One-Room Challenge
Finding time to declutter your whole house can feel overwhelming, especially if you have a family and work full-time. Instead of tackling everything at once, let’s focus on one room for the next 7 days.
This simple challenge will help you clear and transform your most cluttered space in small, manageable steps. Once you finish, you can repeat the process in another room at your own pace!
Day 1: Choose & visualise your space
Pick the most cluttered room in your home, the one that stresses you out the most. Take a moment to visualise how you want it to look and feel when it’s clutter-free.
What will you use the space for? How do you want to experience it daily? Write down your intention to stay motivated.
Next, gather three boxes or storage cartons and label them:
- Give Away: For items you want to pass on to friends, family, or colleagues.
- Donate: For items in good condition that can go to charity, a church, or a community home.
- Discard: For broken, damaged, or unusable items that will go into the dustbin.
These boxes will help you make quick decisions and prevent clutter from moving around the house.
Finally for Day 1, take a photo of the space so that you have a visual reminder of how it looked before you tackled it.
Day 2: Clear the visible clutter
Start with what you see first: tabletops, shelves, counters, open drawers, and the floor. Remove anything that doesn’t belong in this room and take it to its designated space.
Put items you no longer need or want in the respective box or carton (give away, donate, or discard). This quick win will instantly make the room feel more spacious.
Day 3: Declutter one storage area
Choose one storage space in the room. This could be a drawer, cabinet, desk, table, wardrobe, or a corner piled with stuff.
Sort through this storage space and toss out anything that’s broken, unused, or unnecessary. Organise what remains in a way that makes sense for you.
Day 4: Focus on the biggest problem area
Every room has that one spot where clutter collects the most. It could be a chair covered in clothes, a table piled with papers, or a corner stacked with boxes. Today, tackle that area head-on and reclaim the space.
Day 5: Address sentimental or “guilt” items
As mentioned earlier, some clutter sticks around because of emotional attachment or guilt (e.g., gifts you don’t love, items you “might” use someday, or things you spent money on but never used).
Be honest with yourself. If something no longer serves you, let it go without guilt. If it’s sentimental but not useful, take a photo before parting with it.
Day 6: Organise & find a home for everything
Removing things is the first step. You also need to organise what remains so that everything has a home and to prevent clutter from building up again. Use simple storage solutions like baskets, bins, and labelled containers.
Day 7: Maintain & enjoy your space
Your room is now decluttered and refreshed! Take a moment to appreciate your hard work and also take a photo so that you have before and after photos from Days 1 and 7.
To maintain your progress, commit to 5-10 minutes a day of tidying up. If you’re ready, choose another room and repeat the challenge after a 1-day break.
Final thoughts
Decluttering can seem like a daunting task, but breaking it down into small, achievable steps makes it more manageable. By focusing on one space at a time, visualising your ideal outcome, and implementing simple habits, you increase your chances of success.
Whether you’re participating in the 28 Days of Loving Yourself Challenge or simply looking for ways to create a clutter-free home, the tips shared here will help you stay motivated and on track.
Remember that decluttering goes beyond tidying up and is an integral part of self-care and self-love. By clearing clutter, you create a space that supports your well-being, reduces stress, and brings a sense of calm to your home.
You also don’t have to declutter your home all at once. Take it one step at a time and follow the 7-day-decluuter-one-room challenge I’ve shared here if you’re busy with work and family.
And if you’d like to join us in the 28 Days of Loving Yourself Challenge, it’s now an evergreen challenge! You can sign up anytime and go at your own pace. Click here for more details.
(Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash)
