How To Get Motivated To Declutter

The way I teach myself how to get motivated is by emotionally and mentally preparing to declutter.



I vividly envision how I want the space to look and function. I take a general, mental (or actual) assessment of the space and think about the different decisions I'm going to have to make. I consider how much trash there may be, how valuable a lot of it is so as to assess how picky I'm going to be about what happens to it.

Being realistic about the value each item has to me will determine how quickly I can get rid of stuff I no longer need and get the weight of the stress off my chest. The less value I attribute to a given item, the more willing I will be to donate it or the more likely (and quickly) I will be able to sell it.

Mentally and emotionally preparing for physical detachment is something you can do if you have the time or inclination. There are a lot of things in storage (and left over from our old resale store) that I wouldn't miss at all if it went POOF! into thin air. But, until that happens, they hold intrinsic value to me and so I am using this time to sell what we can, as well as donate useful items.

How To Get Motivated: Develop A Great Big "Want-to"!

Do you realize how close you are to having the order you crave? Nothing is out of your hands. You can have whatever outcome you choose to have. You are the master of your domain. ;)

Decluttering is simple, but two-fold. All you have to do is pick things up and put them somewhere else... You also have to muster up the emotional and mental fortitude to do it! For that, you may need a plan on how to declutter. You can also utilize this in-depth, easy-read guide to help you declutter fast!

I think about my desired end result until it becomes a burning desire. Once I'm bothered by it enough, overcoming procrastination is not so challenging.

Anyone who has ever meditated on a painful thought repeatedly until you thought you were going to go mad can build on a wavering desire to declutter. Fan it into a raging fire of resolve not threatened by feelings of fatigue, frustration, or procrastination.

Just because you are resolved to declutter and organize it doesn't mean you won't come up against frustration. At the time of this writing, I have the desire and determination to declutter and organize a huge, 3,000 sq. ft. family storage building used for over a decade as a catch-all by not so declutter-minded family members (including me up until recently).

What I want, and will have, is a home where things have a purpose and place to be. Make your mouth an excuse-free zone. Having a vision of what you want and cracking down on excuses are the first steps to living simply.

I have had enough of clutter and even excess living space; they are no longer a source for satisfaction for me. My pack rat days are over.

Return to Decluttering from How To Get Motivated

Go to Home Organization Tips from How To Get Motivated

Go to Simple Living


footer for how to get motivated page