No matter how much you feel the need to sort, empty and declutter your home, and how much you know about the benefits, the hardest part is clearly getting started!

I’ve noticed a number of blockages (I’ve been through the same ones myself, by the way). In this blog post, I wanted to give you 5 tips to help you really get started, and stop procrastinating.

I keep repeating this because it’s essential that, whatever work you undertake, you can be proud of it. Don’t look back, don’t feel guilty about the way you acted in the past, focus on the positive side of change!

Now that you’re in the right mood, here are my tips for getting started.

1 – FIND YOUR PERSONAL REASON TO DECLUTTER
You see everywhere that decluttering is the perfect way to feel lighter, more serene. It sounds great and you want to give it a try. But you might have trouble finding the motivation if you don’t find your own reason. Before embarking on such a project, sincerely ask yourself what the benefits will be for you, what it will change in your life, in your everyday life. List all the good it’s going to do for you, and try to visualize and feel the positive emotions.

2 – SORT IT OUT: BE REALISTIC, START WITH A SMALL AREA
The worst mistake you can make when decluttering is to start without an action plan. If you attack different rooms or areas at the same time, you run the risk of not being finished by the time the time you could have devoted to tidying up is over. As a result, you end up with a mess that’s even messier than before you started!

The best way to get started without getting discouraged in advance, and without spreading yourself too thin, is to work in small areas. You don’t have a lot of time on your hands, but you feel like decluttering? Pick an “urgent” area (one that disturbs your view) and get sorting! Completing the decluttering of a small area that’s been bothering you will give you the energy and desire to carry on!

3 – BE METHODICAL AND DRAW UP AN ACTION PLAN
This may not be the most exciting part of the job, but it’s what’s going to help you sort through your clutter in several sessions, saving you as much time as possible. Creating your own checklists, by room, by category of object or by zone, will help you find your way around, interrupt your sorting without getting lost or scattered, and save you time when you want to get back to it.

4 – CELEBRATE YOUR VICTORIES AS YOU GO ALONG
When the task is big, the only way to stay motivated is to celebrate your victories as you go along! Rather than focusing on how much remains to be done, imagining all the work and getting discouraged, I advise you to celebrate your progress and be proud of what you finish as you go along. That’s also why I recommend working in small areas (or by category of object), choosing tasks according to the time you can devote to them. This allows you to complete a part and get satisfaction from it.

Extra tip: find a “decluttering colleague” with whom you can share your progress and victories!

5 – DECLUTTER: TAKE PICTURES!
It’s a simple tip that’s so effective! If you remember to take photos before sorting out an area, and take a similar photo afterwards, you’ll really realize the positive impact of your work! You quickly forget the mess you’ve just sorted and tidied. The photos show how far you’ve come. It’s not to make you feel guilty or ashamed, it’s just to show you how proud you can be of what you’ve done!

I wish you good luck with your sorting, it’s a process that can be emotionally difficult, so don’t be afraid to take breaks, and try to keep a positive mindset! You can do it!

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