Step 1: Decide what you want to declutter The first step is to make a list of what needs organizing. Focus on contained spaces such as a drawer, cabinet, nook, or shelf, rather than whole rooms.
If you're wondering how to start decluttering when overwhelmed, the best place to start is small. Choose a small room (like a bathroom), a corner of a cluttered room, or even a drawer or closet. Identify the project, declutter it to completion, and enjoy the fruits of your labor every time you're in that space.
Kondo recommends tidying in the following order: clothes, books, paper, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items. For example, gather all of your clothes from the closets and put them in a pile. Then you can start the process of deciding what to keep.
Ideally, decluttering starting places include areas like the bathroom, pantry, or coat closet where items are generally straightforward to assess, and sentimental attachments are next to nothing.
Take it room by room: Start decluttering one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Focus on a specific area before moving on to the next. Sort methodically: Divide items into categories (keep, donate, sell, discard) and work through each category systematically to prevent decision fatigue.
Symptoms of ADHD Clutter Anxiety
This may include cluttered surfaces, piles of paperwork or clothing, and difficulty finding necessary items. People with ADHD clutter anxiety may also experience feelings of overwhelm or anxious when faced with clutter or disorganization.
Coined by pro organizer Kayleen Kelly, the “Core 4 Method” breaks the decluttering process into four simple steps: clear out, categorize, cut out, and contain. In essence, it's designed to take the stress and overwhelm out of the organizing process.
Start Small and Simple. One way to gain momentum in the paring down process is to start with the easy things. Begin boxing up items that don't hold much emotional attachment. Doing so will lead to a sense of accomplishment and provide motivation for you to keep going when the decision-making becomes tougher.
Then we tested our hypothesis: the 20/20 Rule. Anything we get rid of that we truly need, we can replace for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes from our current location. Thus far, this hypothesis has become a theory that has held true 100% of the time.
Grab a basket and go room to room picking up clutter and putting things back into their place. Clear off the kitchen counters, pick up dirty clothes, and put away toys. This will set the stage for you to quickly feel more at peace, and make it easier for you to clean your clothes, and start on your cleaning checklist.
The 333 method philosophy revolves around one simple rule: you choose 33 items to wear for 3 months. This includes clothing, accessories, outerwear and shoes, but excludes essentials like underwear, sleepwear or workout gear.
What Is the 90/90 Rule? Here's the gist: When you come upon an object you're unsure about decluttering, ask yourself two questions: Did you use it in the past 90 days? If not, will you use it in the next 90 days? If your answer is “no” to both questions, away it goes.
Research has shown that people are less irritable, less distracted, more productive, and better able to process information with an uncluttered and organized work area.
Serenity as the Inspiration. Trish Buscemi, a specialist who creates calm interiors for those with cognitive learning challenges, recommends blue, green, and muted brown towns for bedrooms of children with ADHD. These gentle hues actually work well with people of all ages seeking a space that inspires rest and calm.