Looking over my week ahead and I am helping a lady empty her 40 foot shipping container that has been storing stuff for over 15 years; I’m helping a gentleman sort through a storage unit with his deceased mums things; I’m rescuing a frazzled mum who needs to gain control of her home after neglecting it to help her aging father for the past 2 years. 

Every day I declutter and organise but the type, volume, location and pace is different. My job is never boring.  

When you are decluttering your own home it’s super important to vary the tasks from day to day. This will help you to keep your mind fresh and enthusiasm strong. When you feel your energy lagging but you feel that you need to keep decluttering you can:

1. Change location

Go to another room and work on an easier task, one where every decision doesn’t hold an emotional attachment or need a great deal of processing. 

2. Pump out some music

When you go to the gym and do a class, they pump up the music and make the dreaded task of exercise feel fun. You don’t feel the pain (till later), you are almost distracted with those positive endorphins. Unless your decluttering needs your very specific attention, put on some tunes and enjoy the moment. 

3. Put a timer on

When you don’t feel like decluttering but you know you need too – set a timer – just 10 minutes is ok. Achieve what you can in that time and move on to the rest of of your day. Chinking away a little at a time. You didn’t get in the mess overnight so it’s ok to process through it at steadied pace. Like losing weight, you will likely retain the loss of clutter longer by not sprinting. You will be amazed at how much will be achieved in a focused 10 minute stint replicated each day.

4. Get a friend to help

Often the hardest part is just being alone in the process. If you ferl comfortable, ask a friend to be with you. Make it clear they are not to tell you what to do, how much should go or judge your situation ( a true friend shouldn’t anyway). Having someone to keep you company, to bounce ideas off or to comfort you during the tough moments can be really helpful.  Alternatively hire a Professional Organiser, it’s just like getting a personal trainer when you want to lose weight. Someone who can help you stay on task, stay motivation and push you to do more than you imagined. 

5. Take a photo

Before you start take a pic of the space in all its cluttered glory. When you are feeling the motivation lull look at those photos and reflect on what you have already achieved. It’s easy to forget how far you have come, how many tough decisions you have already made, how strong you are. 

6. Be kind

Most of all be kind to yourself. If you don’t feel like decluttering, don’t. Go for a walk, have a coffee, talk to a friend. Get into a positive headspace. Don’t expect your home to look like an show home, have realistic expectations. Whatever you are doing, it’s your best at this time and that’s ok. 

I hope these ideas help to keep you motivated to change. Like you I need to be reminded to be kind to myself so this week I have booked in to go to a Inspired Mums business brunch – really looking forward to it. I’ll share what I learn later in the week. 

Happy Decluttering!