You may struggle to find motivation to declutter your stuff, or to get started on a decluttering project. These practical tips and my 2-step formula for creating motivation for decluttering will help.
If clutter is weighing you down but you don’t feel motivated to declutter, consider some of the practical tips below. Sometimes it’s hard to harness the mental energy necessary for a big decluttering project. Dealing with the anxiety of what to let go of and what to do with your clutter can feel overwhelming.
When it’s time to clear out excess clutter, you have to actually create the motivation to declutter your stuff, or create the circumstances to get started. Usually, because you are thinking about decluttering an entire home or your whole life, the project feels too big which makes it almost impossible to feel motivated about. While you may want to get all of the clutter out of the way, consider creating motivation to declutter a shelf, drawer or one corner of your home. That’s much more approachable.
How to Create Motivation to Declutter Your Stuff
Some people may naturally feel more motivated than others, but we all have the capability to create motivation. Here’s my 2-step formula to create motivation. In my experience, clarity + readiness = motivation.
Create motivation to declutter by gaining clarity.
Why do you want to declutter your stuff? Understanding why will give you the clarity and conviction you need to begin to feel motivation. The why of anything is almost always more important than the how. It’s easy to focus on how to declutter, which method to use, what to keep, or how long to spend. But the why behind it all will keep you motivated.
To figure out why, ask yourself:
- Why do I want to live with less?
- What am I making space for in my home or in my life?
- How will decluttering contribute to the changes I want to make in my life?
- What would it feel like to live with less stuff to manage?
Maybe you want to live with less stress, downsize or make a career or lifestyle change. Once you have more clarity and understanding about why you want to declutter your stuff, you’ll be more invested and interested.
Demonstrate your readiness to lock in motivation.
Actually get ready to declutter your stuff. Create a plan for selling and/or donating stuff, get some bags and boxes and ask friends and family for help. Make a fun playlist or use this decluttering playlist. Read books that encourage you to simplify your life.
Combine your clarity and readiness for motivation to declutter your stuff. One other thing that helps is taking action. Declutter even when you don’t feel like it. It will help to have one of your favorite shows going in the background or a podcast or playlist in your ears. Set a timer and declutter for just a few minutes and see what happens.
4 rules to help you maintain motivation to declutter your stuff
Decluttering takes time so you may need to tap into motivation again and again while you simplify and learn to live with less. The following rules will help.
1. Even just a little progress is still progress.
Celebrate your tiny steps and small wins as you go instead of waiting until the end. This decluttering rule is a reminder that every big change is the result of hundreds of tiny steps and they all count.
Some of the changes you may be making as you simplify your life take time. It took me a few years to declutter my whole house. If I waited until I was completely clutter-free to notice my accomplishments and celebrate my progress, I would have lost momentum and felt defeated. Instead of focusing on how long it was going to take to get it all done, I got to celebrate when I decluttered my junk drawer, my closet, a bookshelf and other small areas.
2. Letting go of stuff is easier than holding on to it.
You may be struggling with guilt from an emotional attachment to your stuff. It’s painful to constantly be thinking about the stuff you know you need to let go of. It’s emotionally draining too. Letting go of stuff may feel hard, but holding on is harder. You have to hold on to your stuff every single day. You hold on by paying for items with your money, time, attention, and emotion. You only have to let go of it once.
3. When it all matters, none of it matters.
In some stages of decluttering you may feel like all the stuff is important, that it all has meaning and that each thing matters. Remind yourself that if everything matters, nothing matters. It can’t all have your love and attention. Even still, letting go of things that have meaning may be hard. Find ways to create a bridge between holding on to it and letting go of it. For instance, hide the stuff you aren’t sure about. See if you even notice it’s gone. Some separation will do wonders in breaking your emotional attachment. When you let go of what doesn’t matter you can give more of yourself to what does.
4. There is a big difference between less and nothing.
Decluttering doesn’t mean getting rid of everything. Keep what adds value or joy to your life, and let go of what no longer serves you. There’s freedom between all the stuff and no stuff at all. That’s where simplicity lives. This is your home and your version of less. You get to make the rules. Go easy, take tiny steps, and lots of breaks as you work towards a more spacious, relaxed life.
It’s easier to create motivation for a small project so focus on breaking down your big decluttering dream into spaces. Now that you know the formula to create motivation to declutter your stuff, you can do it anytime.
