Let’s chat about five ways to get your decluttering motivation back!
Let’s say you decided to minimize your whole house. You start out full of excitement and energy – you’re motivated! But after a few days, or weeks, that motivation fades. Now it feels like you’re not making any progress, why should you even keep going? Why did you even start this in the first place?!
This is NORMAL. Feelings of overwhelm and burn out and procrastination are to be expected on this journey. It doesn’t mean you can’t do it, or you’re doing it wrong – in fact, just the opposite. You’re doing something new, so you’re bound to feel some internal resistance. The brain doesn’t like change! You’re on the right path, but how you choose to deal with this set back will determine whether you’ll be successful at decluttering and organizing in the long term.
Watch the video below:
5 Ways to Get Your Decluttering Motivation Back
1. Don’t rely on feeling motivated to declutter
Motivation is a fickle friend, it’s based on how you “feel” any given day. It changes based on whether you got a good night’s sleep or whether there’s something else going on in your life that’s stressing you out. As a feeling, it’s just not reliable. If you depend on “feeling motivated,” you’re not going to get far.
Motivation is the “desire for an outcome” or the “want to”. This is something no one else can give you. We can give you inspiration, but only you can discover your decluttering motivation.
To keep going after that feeling fades, you have to determine your “core why.” Why do you really want to declutter and get organized? A helpful exercise for this is to ask yourself “why” five times, each time digging down a little deeper into your core motivation.
Nothing great is accomplished based on momentary bursts of motivation, but by discipline. It’s not flashy or fun, but putting in the time and showing up when you don’t feel like it is what helps you see progress – which in turn is what brings those feelings of motivation back.
2. Focus on decluttering systems instead of decluttering goals
A goal is a momentary change, but a system is the process of small steps that will get you there.
For example, decluttering your closet is a goal. Once you accomplish it, then what? It will get messy and overstuffed again unless you change your habits.
A system is built on daily habits. Like sorting the mail over the recycling right when you bring it inside, instead of just dropping it on the nearest flat surface. It’s not making impulse purchases for things you don’t really need.
When you fall in love with the process rather than the final product, you give yourself permission to be happy. You’re no longer saying, when my house is fully clean and perfect, then I’ll be happy. Instead, each day that your system is running, you can be satisfied, and happy because you know as long as that system keeps running, it’s going to lead to the big payoff!
We want to avoid the yo-yo effect of depending on feeling motivated to declutter. That’s why in my organizing and in the way I help other people organize, I don’t only focus on cleaning up and decluttering. My goal is actually to create the systems that will continue to work for you.
3. Create a sustainable system
To create that system, we need to start with small increments that you can stick to, new habits that aren’t hard. In fact, habits that are so easy, you can do them in two minutes.
Here’ why: someone could spend 8 hrs a day decluttering on a weekend, but the person who spends 15 minutes every night decluttering will accomplish more in the long run. Because it’s a marathon, not a sprint. A system built on small, incremental habits will help you avoid burnout.
Break it down to the smallest habit change possible. Something that takes 2 minutes, to keep you from getting overwhelmed, which is a motivation killer!
Do your two minute habit for awhile, and then when you feel like you’ve mastered it, take it to the next level. Some 2 minute habits could include:
- Taking care of your clothes every night when you take them off – no more dumping them in a pile
- Loading the dishes right after a meal
- Taking the mail directly to the recycling and sorting it there (more on paper sorting)
- Doing a quick sweep of the kitchen counters before bed each night
- Taking your laundry to the next step each morning (more on that in my laundry video)
4. Selfcare and rewards
Decluttering takes a lot out of you, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Self-care is so important to refuel and avoid burnout. I recommend you do something nice for yourself both before and after decluttering.
I love rewards! This is a great way to get decluttering motivation by creating a game with yourself. Set milestones for yourself and celebrate them by rewarding yourself with something you really want! Just make sure your rewards aren’t counterintuitive to your efforts – don’t go buy stuff you don’t need!
A couple of ways I like to reward myself are by replacing things that need replacing, and treating myself to upgrades – just a higher quality version of something I need. For example, spending the extra money on Starbucks coffee instead of getting it from Aldis.
5. Surround yourself with inspiration
Especially if you don’t have a lot of support in your real life, this is a must! Just watch what content you’re taking in, don’t follow accounts or watch videos of shopping hauls when you’re trying to be more minimal.
While your decluttering motivation will come from within, there’s a plethora of inspiring minimalism accounts on YouTube and social media, as well as Facebook groups. Here’s a few of my favorites:
YouTube:
- Natalie Bennett https://www.youtube.com/c/NatalieBennett
- The Organized Soprano https://www.youtube.com/user/HubNeat
- Do it on a Dime https://www.youtube.com/user/DoItOnaDime
- Jessica Rose Williams https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVigtOk_2dgRmKLcvtZkijw
- Sharrae Stephenson https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCklZVCKEtT8ywUWgOkSlmxg
- Of course, I hope you’re subscribed to MY channel too!
Instagram:
- East Coast Kelly https://www.instagram.com/eastcoastkelly/
- Shelly Young https://www.instagram.com/shellysyoung/
- Shira Gil https://www.instagram.com/shiragill/
- The Home Edit https://www.instagram.com/thehomeedit/
- Be More With Less https://www.instagram.com/bemorewithless/
Facebook Groups:
- Minimalist Mom https://www.facebook.com/groups/186090308543329
- Minimalist Moms https://www.facebook.com/groups/244523592671158
Where do you find inspiration and support on line? Leave a comment and tell me about it!
I hope these five tips encouraged you and inspired you to get back at it! You can do it, I believe in you!
And I’d love to encourage you along the way! Send me a DM on Instagram or leave a comment below about a project you’re working on, or contact me to talk about how I can help you with your decluttering and organizing journey!
