Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by the clutter in your home that you just plain felt frozen? Did you feel like you didn’t have the energy or motivation to tackle it? I have a client who once told me if I wasn’t there she would just shut the door and go get a cup of coffee. This is very common because I find that people are so overwhelmed that they don’t know where to begin. What activities do you default to when you feel so overwhelmed by the piles in your home?
- Facebook?
- Solitaire?
- Email?
- Eating?
- Watching TV?
- Shopping? Which will probably mean more stuff coming in.
- Talking on the phone?
- Exercise? At least you’re doin’ a body good.
- Scrapbooking?
- Any other possible activity that will take you away from the clutter for one more day.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by housework or clutter in multiple rooms of your home, try these tips on for size:
1) Start on one area and stick to that one area. Do not try to clean or declutter multiple areas at once. You are only one person and you should stick to one area.
2) Start small. Give yourself permission to just work for 30 minutes or even 15 minutes if you have to. Just knowing that the task won’t go on ‘forever’ will make it easier to swallow.
3) Get accountable. Tell someone you are going to get organized. Set a date with someone to help you so you have to do it. Write it on your calendar so you don’t schedule something else to do.
4) Realize that you may have a domino effect as you move things into other rooms. Eventually you will get to those rooms too, don’t worry!
5) Have a reward planned for a job well done. Even if it’s something small like a bubble bath, whatever works as a pat on the back for you!
You can take charge and show clutter who’s the boss-you are!!
