Help with decluttering

[poppyfield71]

I will be moving within a year. As someone addicted to learning and enjoyment of cooking, gardening and competent at DIY, my house is full of books, kitchen equipment, clothes, lots of things saved as being ‘potentially useful’. I also have extra stuff as the result of both of parents dying last year. I seem to be struggling to get my brain and motivation in gear to clear out stuff that I fully realise is creating clutter and a less relaxing home environment. It’s not as bad as a hoarding situation but without a garage etc , it’s about being realistic about how to store stuff in a terraced house. I’d appreciate any tips from those who have successfully found the motivation to lose stuff and create an emptier, easier to manage home please!

Firstly, I'm sorry about the loss of your parents. It sounds as though you're carrying not only your own belongings but also the emotional weight of sorting through theirs, which is a lot for anyone.
One thing that has helped people I know is not thinking of it as "decluttering the whole house" but choosing one very small area at a time like a single drawer, shelf or box.
I'd also try separating items into these sorts of piles
Keep
Donate
Sell
Unsure
The "unsure" box can be revisited later so you're not forcing yourself to make difficult decisions in the moment.
As you're moving within a year, another question that can help Would you choose to pack this, move it and find a place for it in my next home? If the answer is no, that can make decisions a little easier for what you would like to do with it
Be kind to yourself though. It sounds like you've been through a lot recently, and sometimes the emotional side of decluttering is much harder than the physical side.
Wishing you all the best with the move.

We have an ongoing decluttering thread if you're looking for motivation and accountability
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/housekeeping/5523082-decluttering-thread-13-hopefully-lucky-for-some

The way I manage it is little and often (a drawer or a shelf in a cupboard is enough to do if I have zero motivation) and try to gamify the process with a target. I cleared out 2025 things last year, and am aiming for 2026 this year!

When looking at things don’t think should I get rid of this. Start of the position of assuming you’re getting rid of it all and ask what from each group of things do you want to keep.

This is what I would suggest.

I'd also do a dry run of packing, so put into boxes only what you want to keep and take to your new house. Then look through the remaining things and decide what to donate, sell, or throw away.

Also - dont think about "getting rid" if that feels uncomfortable. Think "who could use this?"

Eg a book on the shelf that I have baked 1 recipe from but someone who is a keen baker could use every week.

Set an alarm for 15 minutes. I'd start with clothes or books. Bag up things for donation and separate bag for things that are not in good enough condition to donate.

Do this as many times a week as works for you but aim for at least twice.

Set aside the one day a week you can take items to the charity shop and put this in your calendar for the next year.

Put a box in your kitchen and go through drawers and cupboards one at a time. I did this while I was cooking tea.

Once you start it does get easier.

Try visualising the space in your new home and where things will go. That might sharpen your mind about what you absolutely want to take and what you don't.