Questions To Ask Yourself to Stop Worrying about Decluttering

We all worry about the next step in various areas of our lives. Getting ready to declutter is no exception. Today, we are discussing a situation I had with a potential client and how her worrying and family negativity are stopping her from taking action. Read on to discover the questions to ask yourself to overcome your worries about decluttering and where to start.

Jump to:

• Background
• My personal story
• Emotional feelings are essential - examine them.
• Start small when organizing for the first time.
• Block out 4 hours on Sunday to organize a Small Area of the Home.
• Pick areas that others can see
• What is Clutter Shame and How to Deal with It
• Common Fears
• Takeaway from this conversation
• Questions to Ask Yourself If You Are Worrying About Decluttering
• Sabrina's Organizing Virtual Organizing Consultations

Background

I spoke with a woman looking to clear her small home of clutter. She kept telling me that she was just too busy. And then said that she would have to maintain it.  Well, of course, I thought. It seems ineffective to spend time and money having a professional organizer set up goals for every room in the house, only to have you not maintain them.

She continued to say that her aunt and brother wouldn't help her because they thought she was too disorganized and would never keep things tidy.

Pro Tip: If you know someone who is chronically disorganized, please refrain from saying this to them. There are many places to get help and support, such as the Institute for Challenging Disorganization and other communities that can help people with their disorganization.

By saying to them, they will never keep it organized; you will stop them in their tracks, and they will never forget that statement when they want to make a change.

“Do not allow negative people to turn you into one of them.” – Anonymous. Read more: Questions To Ask Yourself to Stop Worrying about Decluttering. Share on X

After expressing her situation, I asked, "Let's put aside what your family is telling you. Do you want to get your home organized and feel more in control of your life?" She said, "Yes."  "Well, then let's stop listening to the doubters and start from the beginning," I said. "And let's get started." Follow along and do these various tasks to help curb your worrying.

My personal story

I personally found it more beneficial to focus on the positives of what I have completed, rather than dwelling on the negatives of what I did not accomplish. I would say to myself, "Slow and steady wins the race." Being committed to clearing the clutter and reorganizing a space helps me get through it, no matter how long it takes.

Let's take a moment to start with some of these powerful tools (affiliate) to help you get into the proper frame of mind, so you can focus on decluttering instead of worrying about it.

Emotional feelings are essential - examine them.

First, write down how you are feeling about the first place you want to tackle. Below are some examples:

• I feel overwhelmed every time I walked into my _________.
• I avoid having friends over because I am embarrassed of ________.
• I start feeling defeated each day before I even get out of bed.
• I feel sad when I walk into my pantry (affiliate) because __________.

Then, when the project is organized, revisit the statements below to see how you have transformed your emotions about your space.

• I wake up feeling _________ and in control because __________ is organized.
• I actually enjoy cooking again because my _________ is organized.
• I feel proud of my home when people come over.
• I have mental space to focus on what really matters to me.

Start small when organizing for the first time.

I told her she needed to start small and stop worrying about completing the entire project. Adding a recurring appointment (with an alarm) to her digital calendar (affiliate) each week helps her begin decluttering and reminds her that she needs to do these tasks. I like Sunday afternoons (between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM) because people usually do everything they need to do on Saturday, and they have a few hours before preparing dinner and getting ready for the next day.

All it takes is 15 minutes each day

Try my 15-minute organizing challenges listed below to get you motivated and feeling accomplished. These challenges only take 15 minutes, once a day, and will help you feel better about yourself. Just imagine what you can accomplish in a week or even a month.

Block out 4 hours on Sunday to organize a Small Area of the Home.

Another way to stop worrying about decluttering is to set aside a specific time each week. When the day comes to take action, I told her to allocate a few hours at first to clearing out the clutter in the home's central areas, such as the living room or kitchen. Each week, add a few more hours until you reach approximately a 4-hour time slot. In four hours, you can dismantle an area like a small kitchen, bathroom, or closet and completely reorganize it.

Pick areas that others can see

When picking an area of the home, start with the main areas that others will see because:

1. You will be able to see the results and how you feel about the uncluttered space, which will reinforce positive behavior.

2. You will show your family that you can clear the clutter and keep it that way.

I explained to her that clutter doesn't happen overnight. So, it will take time to declutter. This phrase is what I tell myself and my clients when they feel overwhelmed looking at their mess.

"Collecting things is normal. So, say to yourself, I will limit my collecting to what I can manage and maintain." ~ Sabrina Quairoli at Questions To Ask Yourself to Stop Worrying about Decluttering #declutteringtips Share on X

After we finished the conversation, she was calmer and more motivated to take action in her space. She no longer needed to listen to her family and be a defeatist. She also realized that the time constraint, not her being messy, was the real issue.

"Clutter is a cry for help. There is always something else that gets the person to the point where their home becomes a mess. They need help, not criticism." ~ Sabrina M. Quairoli #declutteringtips Share on X

Common Fears

Many people have worries about getting rid of things in their home, regardless of their age or who gave them the item. Let's go through some common fears associated with decluttering and what I would say to my clients and myself when these worries arise.

What if I regret getting rid of something?

Consider the item you want to get rid of. Hold it in your hand and ask yourself,

• Can I afford to repurchase it?
• Will it be something I can find online or in a store?
• Is it something that someone else could use?
• Will the person who gave me this item not be judgmental because I've decided to get rid of it?
• Do I not want the job of taking care of this item?

If you say 'Yes' to all of these questions, I would tell my clients it is okay to get rid of them. These questions help motivate them to take action, which I've observed over 20+ years of organizing homes and offices with clients.

Takeaway from this conversation

We are hesitant to clear clutter in some regions of our homes. We don't necessarily want the chaos, but we also don't know what to expect when we can't blame the cluttered space anymore.

Questions to Ask Yourself If You Are Worrying About Decluttering

To help you overcome the fear and take action sooner, here are some questions to ask that will help you start clearing your clutter. 

• What is the worst thing that could happen if you get rid of this stuff?
• How would I handle this situation if it were to happen? What would the following steps be? How will I take care of myself during this issue?
• What can I do NOW that will help me feel more comfortable when letting go of things?

Feel free to share this free printable.

These responses are different for everyone. What were your answers to these questions?  Leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.

I hope this post helps motivate you to clear the clutter in your home.  If you need help, please get in touch with a Professional Organizer.  Don't struggle on your own. Thank you for stopping by. Please share your questions and comments below.

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