Why Declutter?

Hilda Rodgers
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Before you start decluttering, it’s important to think about why you want to declutter. Reflecting on your motivation will help you make decisions on what you can let go of and what you want to keep.

Why Declutter?

Everyone’s motivations for decluttering are different.  Here are some ways that clutter may be affecting your life:

  • You are embarrassed to have friends or family over because of the clutter in your home
  • You are often frustrated because you can’t find things when you need them
  • You frequently pay bills late because they get buried in a pile of papers on your kitchen counter
  • You can’t eat at your dining room table because it’s filled with stuff
  • Your kids have plenty of toys but rarely play with them because there are too many of them all over the playroom floor
  • You often run late in the morning because you can’t find a thing to wear in your overstuffed closet
  • You can’t relax in your living room because there are piles of clutter on every surface
  • You’re not productive in your home office because there is paperwork and clutter piled up on the desk, shelves, and floor
  • You get overwhelmed when you walk in the door and see all the clutter everywhere

Do any of these sound familiar? Please know that you are not alone! I’ve felt most of these things at one point in time (even as I write this I need to declutter my office!). I’ve helped lots of people declutter, both online and in person, and one of the things they are often relieved to find out is that most people, including myself, struggle with clutter to varying degrees.

You may find other reasons to declutter in those posts:

So ask yourself these 3 questions:

  • What do you want your home to look like?
  • How do you want to feel when you’re at home?
  • What is your vision for your home?

The First Step – Your Goals & Vision

 Now that you’ve thought about why you want to declutter, set a goal of what you want to accomplish. Consider what action(s) you can take towards achieving that goal.

Here are some examples:

  • If your goal is to declutter your entry area and living room so you can have guests over, then send out invitations for a date next month.  Nothing motivates me to declutter as much as having people coming over!
  • If you want to declutter your playroom so your kids can enjoy their toys more, then book a playdate for a month from now.  You can even get your kids involved in decluttering and use the playdate to keep them motivated.
  • If your goal is to be able to get ready quickly in the morning, schedule a charity pick-up for a few weeks from now to pick up all the clothing you’re going to purge by then.  It will be easier to let go of things when you know they’re going to a good cause and having that deadline will keep you from procrastinating if you get stuck.

These are just examples, but you get the idea.  Goals are much more likely to be achieved if you have a deadline.

Write down your goals and the steps you need to take to achieve them. Then refer to them while you’re decluttering.  Your choices of what you keep and what you declutter should be based on your vision for the room.  Keep things that will help you achieve your vision.  Let go of things that don’t.

A word of caution… don’t set a goal that is too lofty.  Most likely your clutter didn’t accumulate overnight and it won’t go away that quickly either (unless you’re planning to park a dumpster in your driveway and toss everything in).

If you’re just starting out, just choose one area of your home to focus on.  And then look for items to declutter from that area.  I promise you, you’ll see more progress and stay more motivated if you focus on only one area at a time.

If you’ve been decluttering for awhile and have done a “first pass” of your home already, then set some new goals for any spaces that still don’t feel like your vision. You may find you’re ready to part with some things that you weren’t ready to let go of before.

What’s Next For You?

Ready to declutter? Want more decluttering ideas, tips, and inspiration?  Need some motivation and accountability to keep you going?  Here are some ways to get that:

  • Buy my book Decluttering From A To Z. For each letter of the alphabet, there are decluttering tips, lists of items you can let go of, and inspirational quotes about decluttering. This blog post is actually a sneak peek at the beginning part of the book!

Share Your Vision and Goals!  

As you prepare to declutter, tell a friend or family member, or share on your social media channels what your motivation and your goals are. This will help keep you accountable and increase the likelihood of achieving your goals. You might inspire them to start decluttering themselves and you can cheer each other on.

A great way to stay motivated when decluttering is to take pictures of what you’ve decluttered, or take before and after pictures. These pictures can be motivating if you get discouraged along the way. You can look back on what you’ve already done and see the progress. That can help you get back on track so you can achieve your goals.

Please don’t feel embarrassed by your before pictures… we’re all in this together! You don’t have to share your pictures with anyone but take them for yourself at least. You can share them on social media and use the tag #DeclutteringFromAToZ so I can cheer you on. If you want to share them in a safe place for accountability, join the 365 Items in 365 Days Facebook group. Only group members (fellow declutterers) will see your photos. We’ll all support you!

What are your reasons for decluttering?  What do you want to gain after decluttering?  What is the toughest part of decluttering for you?

If you need help decluttering, contact me for in-person organizing services in the Mississauga area, or virtual organizing services anywhere else.

Happy decluttering!


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