(Image from article at letterstoa.com)
The process of decluttering is emotionally exhausting, if not physically. And as someone who jumps into things with a positive outlook and a mapped out plan, I have hit this point over and over again.
So what gives?
I don't have all the answers, but I can tell you what has always worked for me: If you want progress, then PACE YOURSELF.
That doesn't mean go as slowly as possible (if you're like me and you itch at the idea of sitting down when there's so much to do), I mean that you should do a FINITE amount of work at a time. Just like exercising, learning a new skill or studying for a test, doing a little each day will ALWAYS prove more productive than a couple days jammed full of tasks.
Added bonus: It's much less overwhelming, exhausting, and time consuming then trying to do it all at once.
Do a little Each day
(Or 3 days a week, whatever works for your schedule)
Start with 30 minutes and set a timer. When it goes off, stop. Take a breather, take a look at what you've accomplished, and decide if you want to work for another 30 mins. If 30 mins is too much, break it down into 10 or 15 mins at a time (with a short break in between).
If you're new to this approach, give it a week to see what you think. It might feel like you're not geeking anywhere at first, but after 6 days you'll have put in 3 hours of focused productivity!
Considering the amount time you have been able to consistently put toward cleaning or decluttering... and I promise this approach will be an improvement.
Setting yourself this daily task, WITH a time limit, will also allow you the peace of mind move on to other important tasks, like cooking dinner, getting to the gym, or taking some down time for yourself.
FIRST - Make a List of Priorities
(I like to focus room by room)
This might sound pretty obvious, but take the time to make a list of everything you want to accomplish. Not just tasks for one day, but for the week. If you're really inspired, you can make a long-term list, just write it all down.
Try to be specific in your tasks, like "reorganize patry next to fridge" rather than clean the kitchen. The more specific you are, the more likely that you are going to get that task done without being sidetracked. Being specific also breaks bigger tasks down into manageable sizes.
Here's a sample of one of my lists:
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| Actual photo from my personal day planner... |
Once you have a list (big or small) then map out your week. I like to pick a few tasks from the list, and leave some space in case I need more time to complete a task. You might have break up one task into parts, if it proves to be more time consuming.
SECOND - Use your list to create a Focus Area:
(Example)
Monday - Focus: Laundry
- Wash Sheets
- Put Away Towels
- Sort Laundry (colors & types)
Tuesday - Focus: Kitchen
- Kitchen shelves (clean, mount, organize)
- Move Toaster & Microwave to new counter location
- Clean up Counters
Wednesday - Focus: Task Completion
- Work on anything not finished from Monday & Tuesday. If there is time, do general household cleaning (ie, wipe down bathroom, take, etc.)
As you can see, I did not put EVERYTHING from my list into one or even two days. Focus on between 1-3 tasks total. This will keep you on task and ensure that you accomplish something.
THIRD - Observe the Progress:
After a few weeks, you'll discover how much time you should schedule certain tasks. And after a month you'll be amazed at what you were able to do in such little time!
There were things I had been TRYING to do for months, and I found I had finished them completely in just a couple weeks. It doesn't seem like much when you start, but you can get so much done in 3-4 hours each week when you pace yourself and map it out.
TRUST ME. This is part of Finding Balance.
