Picture this: You stand in the doorway of a room, look at the piles of paper, the overflowing shelves, and the stuff that seems to have a life of its own, and you just… freeze. Before you know it, “I don’t even know where to start,” mutters under your breath. Next, your heart sinks, brain fogs over, and you walk away thinking you’ll come back to it later. If you, like many others, are wondering how to start decluttering when overwhelmed, this is for you.
First, hear me when I say this: you aren’t lazy—you’re simply experiencing clutter paralysis. The secret to breaking that paralysis isn’t a weekend-long cleaning binge. In fact, it’s just taking 5 minutes of time.
Why We Get Stuck (And Why It’s Not Your Fault)
Basically, overwhelm happens when the size of the task is much larger than our available energy.
When you look at your whole house or a whole room, your brain sees a mountain. To get moving, we have to turn that mountain into a single step.
How to Start Decluttering When You Don’t Know Where to Begin
With that said, when the mess feels too big to handle, follow these exact 3-steps to reset your nervous system and get moving:
- Think Small
Instead of looking at the whole room, pick one small space:
- Not the kitchen — just the junk drawer.
- Not the bedroom — just your nightstand.
- Not the closet — just your t-shirts.
By starting small, you narrow your focus. Then, this tells your brain, “I only have to worry about this section and then I’m done.”
- Set a Timer
Set a timer for just five minutes. That’s it. No more, no less.
This is the ultimate tool for how to start decluttering when overwhelmed because it creates a finish line that is visible from the start. You can do anything for five minutes.
- Decide Now
For those five minutes, pick up an item. Don’t think about its potential or where it might go later. Decide now: Trash, Donate, or Keep. If it’s “Keep,” put it in its home after the 5 minutes immediately.
21 Tasks: How to Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed by Gaining Small Wins
If you are currently feeling stuck, grab a trash bag or a cardboard box and pick just one of these tasks. Set your timer for 5 minutes and go.
Kitchen
- Fridge: Remove old magnets, expired coupons, and menus you never use.
- Pantry: Choose one shelf and toss anything expired or stale.
- Mugs: Pick 3 mugs you never use and put them in the donation box.
- Under the sink: Pull out empty bottles and old sponges.
- Utensil holder that’s on the counter or the utensil drawer: Remove items you haven’t touched in a year.
Living Areas
- The Coffee Table: Clear off everything except for what strictly belongs there.
- The Remote/Tech Pile: Gather all loose cords and remotes; toss dead batteries.
- Magazines/Catalogs: Recycle anything more than two months old.
- Throw Pillows & Blankets: Fold them and put them in their place.
- The “Drop Zone”: Clear the spot where you usually dump your mail and keys.
Bedroom & Closet
- Nightstand: Remove water glasses, old receipts, and trash.
- The Sock Drawer: Find 5 pairs with holes or missing partners and toss them.
- Hangers: Remove any empty hangers and group them together.
- Shoes: Straighten the shoes and find one pair to donate.
- The Laundry Basket: Sort one load or put away five items.
Bathroom
- Medicine Cabinet: Safely dispose of expired medications.
- Skincare: Toss anything that has changed color or smell.
- The Towel Bar: Swap out old towels for fresh ones and put the dirty ones in the wash.
Digital & Miscellaneous
- Your Phone’s Home Screen: Delete 5 apps you haven’t opened in months.
- The Car Console: Take out the trash and bring in any items that don’t belong in the car.
- Entry Way: Put away hoodies, jackets, and shoes to their rightful place or in the laundry basket.
How to Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed with Digital Clutter
Often, the heaviest clutter isn’t the kind we trip over on the floor—it’s the kind we carry in our pockets.
We check our phones for a sense of connection or organization, but instead, we are met with thousands of unread emails, blurry screenshots, and notifications that never stop.
This invisible mess drains your mental battery just as fast as a messy kitchen, leaving you feeling frazzled before your day has even begun.
To tackle digital overwhelm, apply the same 5-minute concept. Start by unsubscribing from just three retail newsletters, or clearing out your Downloads folder.
Don’t try to organize your entire photo library in one sitting. Remember, start small by deleting the accidental screenshots from the last week.
Ready to reclaim your digital peace?
Buy my Digital Decluttering Guide & Checklist. It breaks down the process into simple, bite-sized steps so you can clear the digital noise and make your technology work for you again.
Final Thoughts: How to Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed Today
The reason you feel overwhelmed is usually because you are thinking about the entire journey. But you don’t need to see the top of the mountain to take the first step.
Today, my own clutter paralysis was high.
I didn’t try to fix my whole life; I just set a timer and fixed one corner of my desk. That tiny win gave me the oxygen I needed to breathe again.
So, this is your sign to stop scrolling and try it right now.
Set your phone timer for 5 minutes. Pick one of the 21 items above. See how much lighter you feel when the timer goes off. You’ve got this!
Still Struggling to Let Go?
If the physical stuff isn’t the problem, but the decisions are, download my FREE Decluttering Decisions Toolkit here. It’s a simple flowchart that helps you decide what stays and what goes without the emotional exhaustion.
For more hands-on help, I offer in-person and virtual decluttering and organizing sessions. Learn more here.
You’ve already proven you can do this. The next step is waiting for you.
Bonnie Hintenach
Professional Organizer for Homes and Classrooms
