When do you declutter?

[Harara]

I desperately need to do a large declutter after letting things get too bad for too long, but I work full-time and at evenings and weekends it’s the absolutely last thing I want to do, it feels so hard and boring and stressful. I also find if I do it in the evenings I don’t sleep well as my brain carries on thinking about the clutter and stressing about everything I still need to do. I also really struggle to do it in dribs and drabs as it feels so slow and endless, I’d really like a solid chunk of time in which to make headway. I made some good progress in March (so I’m about halfway through the overall task) but I did it by taking annual leave and just focusing on it solidly, which I’d really like to not have to do again. If you’re someone who struggles with clutter, when do you address it (when in the week and what time of day etc), and how long do you spend on it at a time? Is there a time you find you can get particularly motivated?

New years & start of every season, so the well known spring clean but I also do summer, winter & autumn

I have tried various different methods with varying success.
If I'm having an energetic day I will do half an hour when I get home- setting a timer works to stop me trashing my evening. I'm better if I plan my day out and make a physical list that I cross off as I go. I put little things on it too e.g. wash up breakfast dishes so that I feel I have achieved my goals.
Breaking it into little sections will make it feel more manageable so rather than say, declutter kitchen, I'll aim to do one drawer or cupboard.

I never do a big declutter, I just do a drawer at a time. Little and often makes it much more manageable.

I’m nibbling at my loft.
I do a little bit at a time. An hour every now and again.
Start today, one or 2 items set aside to dispose of. I keep a charity bag on the go all your round. After stuff is added to it I’ve hound j never think of it again.

My living space isn’t cluttered as such but my loft is another story.
I’ve been in my house a very long time. Downsized from a huge house so I poured a litre into a pint pot when I moved here.

I do a little bit at a time. Disposing of lovely, quality, items from a previous life but I console myself that another person will benefit and so will the charity shop.

Make small steps this BH weekend and set a target to relinquish just 4 things. Start in the morning while you’re fresh in mind.

Take x2 sick days!

Usually over a bank holiday weekend. Go through stuff methodically - one drawer/ wardrobe at a time until all the storage is done.

My issue isn't decluttering it's getting the stuff out once I've done so. I now usually bribe a teen to help me. n

I haven’t got any clutter to declutter 🤣
I don’t do mess

I'm a list person so I've written a page for each room, like a to do list..

If you find it difficult finding time little and often is the way, as said set an alarm and have 30 minutes, if really short of time I have a bit of a challenge where I do x amount of items a day, sometimes I concentrate on one category, so maybe even a few toiletries/make up..another time underwear and so on.

Among other items I'm a horder of glass jars and plastic take away tubs..these will be sorted and put in the recycling bin on the week it gets collected.

I find it easier to declutter depending on which bin week it is as once its gone I can't change my mind, anything for charity gets bagged up straight away and if there's room straight in the car, handy if I'm in an area where there's a charity shop as it's all on board.

I tend to do it seasonally. Doing a little at the moment. I find I do it in stubs and drabs but I make a list and tick it off as I go so feels productive.

Today I've sorted the kids bedding sets and reorganised in their ottomans and drawers.

I take stuff straight to the tip - unless it’s actually valuable - I’ve been trying to sell/ offload books and nice ornaments and no one wants them. The world is full of stuff.
Clothing will end up at the charity recycling bin eventually even if someone else owns it after you for a bit first - so I mostly go straight to recycling - speeds everything up.

Generally about 4 hours before impending visitors having intended to start for the last fortnight.

every month or so... but i have a system... i move unused items from the house to the garage, if by 6 months (sort out the garage approx every 6 months) i've not needed these items by then, they will either get sold, donated or dispoaed off!

i can't bear clutter! ive OCD and everything has to have a place and it has to sit righ for me, much to my husbands frustration

Another fan of little and often here.

Go though the house and make a list of each room that needs doing. If thats too much work break the room down into different cupboards/wardrobes etc. And just methodically work though one a day or 30 minutes a day. It'll soon be done.

I think we lose heart when its a big job, it's like it's insurmountable.

This is relatable. I also love a Noel Streatfeild inspired username!

Break it down and write a list, first write down all the rooms and then under each one write what needs done in that room. Get right down to the detail of 'dresser top drawer' if you have particularly problematic areas.

Either at the weekend (Sunday afternoon works for me) or in the evening, or on a day off set a timer for 20/30/45/60 minutes pick a task off the list and get it done.

Don't attempt too much at once because it just gets overwhelming. Slowly but surely you'll tick the tasks off and it'll be far more manageable.

Clothes, I keep a bin bag in my wardrobe that I throw items in as and when something no longer looks good on me. When it's full, it goes to the clothes bank.

Other drawers / cupboards, I'll go through every now and again when they look a mess and can't find what I need. Thankfully I have a lot of downtime that I wfh so can run through a drawer in a break.

Winter coats, scarves, boots are stored upstairs during spring, sunhats and sunglasses come out.

I did my entire house in 15 minute chunks with a few longer sessions if I felt like it.

I like using bits of time like editing for the kettle to boil, do a drawer. Half an hour before you need to leave the house, do a shelf in your wardrobe.

It works but takes a while but at least it's in manageable chunks.

I find listening to a slob comes clean or the minimal Mom sort of hypnotises me and I find myself decluttering. It still works now as it is an endless task really, even after doing the whole house.

Follow de clutter Dollie's on instagram. I do the Minimalist Challenge of getting rid of the amount of items v the date e.g. 8th = 8 items.

I also try to do one in and one out when I purchase something new.

Agreed. One drawer or cupboard at a time. Or a maximum of 2 hrs if it's for something major like moving.

I’m apparently doing this very differently to most on here.

I am decluttering my whole house this bank holiday weekend. I am far more likely to get it done if I set aside a big chunk of time for the whole task, rather than doing it in dribs and drabs

There’s a book called The Clutter Connection which talks about 4 different personalities, detailing the different way we view clutter and manage organisation of dealing with it. I find the best way for me is to simplify visual. I go round once a week and pick up 10 items to leave my home. I pick Tuesday night. Sometimes it’s the same cupboard ie 10 mugs, other times it is more random and will grab ornaments, frying pans whatever. I would like to be more planned and organised but for some reason, get stuck. This way is working for me and it is about you finding what works for you.

...I also listen to decluttering podcasts to motivate me

Im a minimalist clutter and too much stuff drives me mad.
Ive had a big declutter to day well big for me.
Im brutal everything goes without thought.
If im not using it it gets binned.