How to Find the Motivation to Declutter your Home

The start of the new year is a time when many of us get the urge to purge. We’re ready for a fresh start, a clean slate and a clutter-free home. But the trouble is, sometimes it can be difficult to find the motivation to declutter, even when you really want to!

Maybe the thought of decluttering leaves you feeling completely overwhelmed. Or maybe you don’t even know where to start!

Simple ways to find your motivation to declutter!

There’s no doubt that clearing the clutter from your home can be a big project. But if you are struggling to find the motivation to declutter, I’m here to help!

I’m sharing 8 simple tips and tricks to not only find the motivation to declutter, but also keep you feeling motivated as time goes on!

Use these tips and ideas to ditch the overwhelm when it comes to decluttering and simplifying your home.

If you’re ready to take your home from cluttered and chaotic to organized and clutter-free, but are struggling to find the motivation to declutter, you’re in the right place!

Keep your momentum & motivation to declutter going strong!

Finding your motivation to declutter is an important piece of the puzzle. But equally important is maintaining your motivation to continue decluttering.

Often, it can be easy to feel excited and motivated when you first begin decluttering. You’re excited and ready to get clutter-free and organized.

But sometimes after the initial excitement and enthusiasm wears off, some of that motivation to declutter fades.

Decluttering years worth of clutter from your home is hard work – physically, mentally and emotionally. And it’s common for decluttering to go from something you’re excited about, to an overwhelming and daunting task you start to dread.

The good news is, this doesn’t have to be the end of your decluttering journey!

Instead, when this happens, use the tips in this post to rekindle your enthusiasm and motivation to declutter. These are all simple ways to get you back on track and moving towards your decluttering goals!

And luckily, the benefits of a clutter-free home are absolutely worth the work!

How to find the motivation to declutter

1. Know your “why”

Although a simplified, clutter-free home can save you plenty of time, money and energy, decluttering requires you put the work in first before you start experiencing these benefits.

The best way to get and stay motivated to declutter is to know exactly why you’re doing it.

Get really clear with yourself about what you want to achieve by clearing the clutter and simplifying your home.

Maybe you want more time for your family or for an activity you love. It could be you want more money to travel.

Maybe you’re just sick of spending so much time and energy on the “stuff” in your home.

Or maybe you simply want to create a home you feel calm and peaceful in.

There are many reasons for wanting to declutter and simplify.

Figure out exactly what is behind your desire to declutter and simplify. Write it down, remind yourself of it often and keep it in mind as you’re decluttering.

The key is figuring out what matters most to you in life. Then you can get rid of anything that doesn’t align with or distracts you from what matters most.

We all value different things, so we will all have different “whys” for decluttering.

Anytime you want to make a change in your life, having a clear and specific goal to work towards is important.

If you find yourself struggling to find the motivation to declutter, remind yourself of your “why” or the goal you want to achieve to get yourself back on track.

2. Have a decluttering plan

The best way to approach a big project, like decluttering your entire home, is to create a solid plan. Having a plan to follow helps reduce any feelings of overwhelm and keep you on track, even if you are struggling to find the motivation to declutter.

A decluttering plan will help break the job in smaller, more manageable steps. As well as keep you focused and help you follow through to reach your decluttering goals.

Your decluttering plan is a great time to decide things like:

• Which spaces and areas of your home you want to declutter?
• Which areas of your home are the highest priority to declutter?
• When will you declutter?
• What will you do with the stuff you’re getting rid of?

Figuring out the answers to these questions will make the whole decluttering process smoother and easier. And make it easier to follow through with your plan and get the job done!

Get a free workbook to make your decluttering plan!

To make it easier, I’ve put together a free printable decluttering workbook you can use to create your decluttering plan. It covers the questions above and more. And is a valuable tool for anyone decluttering their home. You can find the free workbook here.

3. Schedule your decluttering times

One of the biggest hurdles to decluttering many people face is finding the time to declutter.

But often, the best way to find time to declutter is to simply schedule your decluttering times. Then commit to them and follow through.

When you make your decluttering plan, decide when you’ll do your decluttering. There are many options, even if you’re short on time.

Maybe you’ll declutter for 15 minutes every day. Or declutter for 2 hours on the weekends. Or you could even set aside a weekend or two to declutter your whole house at once!

Figure out what will work for you, your life and your schedule. Then schedule your decluttering times and stick to them!

Put them in your calendar and treat your decluttering times like any other appointment you have. Commit to it and make sure it gets done.

4. Be consistent

Most of us don’t have the time or energy to commit to decluttering our entire house in one go. But just because you can’t start and finish the project in one day, doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.

Instead, make it a habit to start removing clutter from your home consistently. Whether you plan to declutter for a few minutes each day, or simply get rid of anything you no longer use, need or love as you go about your day.

A great way to find the motivation to declutter is reminding yourself that a little decluttering, done consistently, goes a long way.

Decluttering doesn’t have to take hours a day or take over your life. Planning to do 15 minutes of decluttering every day will add up to big progress over time.

Decluttering is a project where consistency is often more important than intensity.

If you commit to doing a little bit of decluttering every day, you’ll see results in no time.

And remember to focus on progress, not perfection. It likely took years to accumulate all the “stuff” in your home. You can’t expect to get rid of all the clutter overnight.

Instead, remind yourself that any time you spend decluttering, no matter how big or small, is moving you towards your decluttering goals.

5. Give yourself a decluttering win

If you’re struggling to find the motivation to declutter, it’s probably not the best time to tackle your biggest, most difficult decluttering project.

Instead, declutter somewhere quick and easy. Not only will you be able to see the results of your work right away. But giving yourself a decluttering “win” will help bolster your motivation to continue decluttering.

For example, instead of tackling your sentimental items, your packed-to-the-rafters storage room, or your bursting at the seams closet, pick somewhere smaller and easier to start. Maybe declutter a couple of kitchen cabinets, your entryway closet, the pantry or a bathroom.

The idea is to pick somewhere you can declutter quickly and easily to immediately see the results of your efforts and keep you motivated to continue.

6. Make decluttering fun!

Another great way to find your motivation to declutter is shifting it from something you’re dreading to something you can enjoy.

There are plenty of easy ways to make decluttering more fun.

For example, you can challenge yourself to race the clock and see how many items you can find to get rid of in a set amount of time.

Or challenge your family to see who can find the most to get rid of during your decluttering session.

Another idea is finding a decluttering buddy (in person or online) to keep you accountable and motivated to reach your decluttering goals.

Even something as simple as making a decluttering playlist of your favourite songs can make decluttering more fun.

Another great way to stay motivated while decluttering is setting decluttering goals and planning a reward for yourself when you meet your goal.

Think of something you’d really enjoy as a reward for putting in the time and effort to declutter. Experiences and consumable items are great ways to reward yourself without adding more “stuff” to your home after all your hard work decluttering.

Get creative, find the fun in decluttering and it’ll be significantly easier to get motivated to declutter!

7. Keep track of your progress

If you’re working to declutter your home a little bit at a time, it’s easy to lose sight of all the progress you’re making. Sometimes you simply don’t realize what a difference all of your hard work is making in your home and your life.

Taking before and after pictures of your home as you declutter is a great way to track your progress and maintain your motivation to declutter.

Often, seeing a picture of the way your home used to look shows you just how far you’ve come and gets you excited to continue decluttering.

8. Just start!

As with many big projects, sometimes the biggest hurdle to decluttering is taking the first step and getting started.

If you’re struggling to find your motivation to declutter, I suggest simply diving in and doing anything to declutter. No matter how big or small!

More often than not, you’ll find the motivation to continue decluttering simply from getting started.

Instead of overthinking or putting off decluttering, just start!

Get up right now and find 10 things to get rid of. Or set a timer and declutter for 10 minutes. Often once you get started, it’s easier to keep going!

Use these tips to find – and keep! – your motivation to declutter!

I hope these simple tips will help you find and keep your motivation to declutter your home so you can begin experiencing the benefits of a simplified home.

The time and effort you put into removing the clutter from your home will have a hugely positive impact on your life. I’d love to see you reach your decluttering goals, and I hope these tips will help get you there!

Do you ever find yourself losing motivation when you’re decluttering? What are your favourite ways to stay motivated while you’re decluttering?