AIBU to feel overwhelmed and unable to start cleaning my room?

[ProudAzureSquid]

This is probably not really a dilemma, so apologies if this post does not belong here. I’ve been finding it really difficult to clean my room lately. My stuff is everywhere, and I keep telling myself every day that I’ll clean it, but I just end up feeling stuck and overwhelmed instead.
It’s been like this for the past week, and I honestly don’t know where to start anymore. Does anyone have advice on how to begin cleaning when everything feels mentally exhausting?

Do a tiny bit every day.

That way as it starts to look better, you may even get into it and want to do more.

If not, at least you're doing a tiny bit each day.

Don’t plan to clean the whole thing, think of small tasks to complete instead.
Like “today I will pick up all dirty clothes off the floor”

Start with a couple of small tasks rather than thinking about the mountain of things that need doing. Put one thing away. Throw one thing away. Wipe one surface down. I find it's easier once you've got the ball rolling.

I would start by collecting up all the rubbish and emptying the bin, then gatherig the laundry and putting a wash on. That creates a bit more room. Then put away any clothes that don't need washing, plus shoes. Once you have cleared that, go round with a damp cloth, and finally a vacuum. Hopefully it looks better after that!

I set a timer and do 15 mins and then I can have a break

I had all my cosmetics and bits and bobs out over every surface and it was overwhelming so it took me ages to make myself start tidying it, I started by chucking it all into a big box, wiped the surfaces then over the course of a few days gradually putting things back away or binning etc.

What’s one thing you can achieve. Do you have mugs / glasses to take to the sink. Just do that and have a break.

Then maybe empty the bin. And have a break.

Then pick up three things that don’t belong in your room and have a break.

small bites and take your time. Only set goals you can achieve. You don’t have to do it all at once

Start in a corner. It's too hot at the moment to being too much anyway. Or put a timer on and do as much as you can in say 10 or 20 mins. Sometimes you just have to start. I feel your pain. I similarly get overwhelmed. I tend to listen to podcasts or music to help the time go quicker. Just do it. Overthinking is my problem.

Maybe change your bedding when you get up. Later, or next day, take out all dirty clothes and put in washing machine. Complete at least one thing every morning as soon as you get up. If you feel able do another job later in the day.

You will start to feel better slowly and this way you will see the difference.

Thank you so much for the advice. I already feel more motivated to get up and start cleaning now. I will update this post in a few hours, you guys are the best

3 steps for me:

I make a list of things I can do that are tiny, tiny tasks that take a minute or two each

Then I set mysef a tie limit or a numbers goal to work on them...eg 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 3 tasks, whatever

Than I put on a playlist of my favourite songs and do the things and then I take a break and repeat when I can!

If it's a bedroom, make the bed. Then pick up rubbish. Next, any dirty laundry and/or mugs, cups etc. Then pick your next category to tackle. I.e clean clothes/ books/magazines, shoes, make-up etc. Once surfaces are clear you can start wiping down and mopping/hoovering. You don't have to do it all at once, and have a break between each category - if that's 5 mins, an hour or trying again tomorrow you've already made an improvement and you have a plan. It's amazing how much difference 10mins tidying can make to a room.

I have the same thing with my kitchen. My daughter does with her room. I helped her today by getting rid of rubbish and stuff that didn't belong there, it really helped

Put some washing on, put the rest in the washing basket. Fill a bin bag with rubbish.
After I split up with my ex my house was a state. I got overwhelmed and was in a state of paralysis for ages. My bedroom was such a state I couldn't sleep in it. I now have a newly decorated bedroom, with new furniture. It took a while, but I did it. And so can you!
Doing something small every day is better than doing nothing. I had to remind myself of that often.

Start with your trash and recyclables. Get every bit of trash out. Take the trash out of you've got a full bin.

Have a cup of coffee or tea. You've made a start.

Get any dishes or cups down to the kitchen if there's any in the bedroom. Do the dishes.

Drink some water.

Any dirty clothes laying around to the laundry hamper and do a load of laundry if you've got a full load.

More water.

Get a basket or box for things that aren't on their place, put the stuff that isn't where it belongs, and put it away.

Dust and vacuum.

You can divide it up.

I am the queen of procrastination so I feel your pain.
I set myself a timer. Even 30 minutes helps.
And then I just power through for 30 minutes and stop when the alarm goes off.
Do it in categories if that helps (dirty washing put in a bin bag, cups/bowls etc. to the kitchen, and then “bits”).
Then have a break if you need or go straight into doing the dishes, folding clean washing/putting dirty washing in the machine, hoovering, wiping down sides.

It’s to rain the weekend, so it then, take any washing out today so it’ll be fresh to put back in at the weekend, grab any dishes while the wash is on, empty the bedroom bin.
15 mins max.
It’ll make stripping the bed and big clean easier on the weekend.

Agree with telling yourself you only have to do 10 minutes etc
i also find , getting things off the floor a useful early goal as it really makes the room feel better.
also start with tidying up the biggest things, again maximum impact that will make you feel it’s all more doable.
Or just do any part of it that you can find the energy for, (follow your energy) successfully breeds success and when you’ve done a few small inroads you will see the light at the end of the tunnel and might surprise yourself with a sprint finish
i know these will work for me when I get round to it!

My list would be:
... rubbish
...crockery
...dirty laundry to wash and or hamper
...make bed
...remove stuff that belongs in other rooms to that other room. (Put it away if possible but only if simple. Don't get waylaid or distracted until you've completed this task)
...put away other clean laundry
...put away other stuff.

You can stop at any point and restart another time.

And yes I often use the 'Ill just do this for 15 mins, and see how i get on' line on myself

That’s what I do. Really works.

I have one room in my house which is an absolute pigsty! The rest of my house is tidy but this room has got worse and worse as I just chuck stuff into it. I started this morning and said I’d do 30 mins max. In fact, I did a couple of hours as once I got started, I really wanted to make a difference. Just the process of starting made me feel more motivated than I have done in the months I’ve been thinking about 🙈 Aim for a tiny bit a day and you’ll feel so much better for it.

Set a 10 minutes timer. You can manage 10 minutes for 1 week. Day 1 Get a black sack and pick up any rubbish. Day 2 pick up any shoes and put away. Day three pick up dirty washing and take away to wash. Day 4 fold up and put away clean clothing. This might need to be Day 5 task too. Day 6 wipe over surfaces to get rid of dust put clutter away in boxes and put in wardrobe for now and open window. Day 7 change bedding polish up chest of drawers if wooden, clean any mirrors and windows. It will look so much better in just 1 week taking just 10 minutes a day.

And play music!

I don’t know why but it helps.

I struggle with keeping this one room clean too, even though the rest of the house is usually tidy. 😭 That sounds so nice, I'm gonna get up now..

Also whilst you're at it, grab a charity bag! No point keeping stuff that don't bring you joy/you don't like anymore. Easier to donate or sell rather than trying to organise someplace for it. Good opportunity to declutter x