"I want to declutter but... where to START?!"

I get asked this all the time. It's a great question! And totally understandable.

While there is no one-size-fits all answer that works for everyone, here are some important things to consider while you figure out what will work best for YOU.

1. Decide how much time do you have- 5 minutes, 5 hours? Decluttering has a lot more to do with time and task management than people realize.

2. Decide whether during this time block, you prefer to focus on a category, room, or small area (eg, books, the kitchen, or your office desk).

3. Create a deadline- an incentive- like family is visiting soon, or you’re moving in a few months? If not, create one, that won’t pressure and stress you out - but motivate you to get it “good enough” for what’s coming. An alternative- create a reward system for when you finish a small or big goal.

4. If you’re tired, burned out, or experiencing decision fatigue, it’s no wonder you’re not clear or motivated to start! Here’s a suggested order to go on: 1) clear out any trash, 2) clear away easy donations, 3) put away things that have an obvious home already (like books on a shelf), then 4) create a home for things that don’t have an obvious home yet- including overflow- and consider sorting and purging categories even more- to help you clear and create space!

Need more support?

Our team serves Greater Los Angeles in person and I also support people virtually, just reach out! :)