We’ve been talking about starting fresh, and one way to feel like we’re genuinely on a new trajectory is to clean house.
There are so many ways to do this.
You can clean up your admin. You can reorganize your digital space. You can finally deal with the pile of things that has been sitting in the corner for months. You can start getting rid of the clutter that overwhelms you every time you walk into a room.
And sometimes, getting started is the hardest part.
You begin with one task and suddenly notice six other things that need doing. Before you know it, you have three half-finished projects, a pile of things that need to be sorted, and absolutely no idea what you were originally trying to accomplish.
I know this feeling well.
When I’m cleaning house, I tend to keep a pen and paper nearby or open a note on my phone. When I notice another task that needs doing, I write it down and assign it to another day.
That way, I don’t have to worry about forgetting it, but I also don’t have to stop what I’m doing.
This might not work for everyone.
If lists aren’t your thing, what helps you organize?
Maybe you prefer to mind map everything. Maybe taking a picture of a task helps you remember it. Maybe you put the task directly into your calendar. Maybe you use an app, a whiteboard, or a good old-fashioned sticky note.
Do whatever is easiest for you and, more importantly, whatever you will actually use.
The goal isn't to create the perfect organizational system.
The goal is to complete one task.
When we are already overwhelmed, having to make hundreds of little decisions can make it even harder to get started. Finding a system that reduces the number of decisions you have to make can help conserve that mental energy.
Getting rid of things is a different challenge
Once we start organizing, we often run into another problem.
What do we do with all the stuff?
I love my stuff.
I don't want to give it away. It has a purpose. And even if I haven't used it in a while, I think I might need it someday.
So what do we do when we know we have too much, but letting go feels surprisingly difficult?
There are countless decluttering methods out there. You certainly don't need to try all of them.
Here are some of the approaches that may help, depending on how your brain works, how much time you have, and what kind of clutter you're dealing with.
If you want to make decisions about individual items
The KonMari Method
Created by Marie Kondo, the KonMari Method involves decluttering by category rather than going room by room.
The traditional categories include clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental belongings.
One of the method's best-known parts is asking whether an item “sparks joy.”
For some people, this emotional approach works beautifully.
For others, everything sparks joy.
If that sounds like you, you might need a slightly different question.
The Poop Test
Yes, I said poop.
Ask yourself:
“If this had poop on it, would I throw it away or try to salvage it?”
Sometimes a ridiculous question can cut through a surprisingly complicated decision.
If you would immediately throw it away, you may have your answer.
The 20/20 Rule
The 20/20 rule challenges “just in case” thinking.
If something can be replaced within about 20 minutes for less than $20, you may decide that you don't need to keep it just because you might need it someday.
I’ve become quite familiar with this because I’m very much a planner.
Having a simple rule can make it easier for me to let go of old crafting supplies and other things I have kept “just in case” without having to debate every individual item.
Of course, the numbers are flexible. The point is to create a personal rule that helps you make decisions without getting stuck.
The Ex Test
Another decision-based approach is to ask:
“Would I buy this today?”
Or, if you're feeling particularly ruthless:
“If I got rid of this and then realized I needed it, how much effort would I actually put into getting it back?”
You could even ask:
“Would I contact an ex to get this back?”
This is really just another version of the poop test.
It moves the question away from “Does this spark joy?” and toward “How much do I actually value this?”
Sometimes that distinction makes the decision much easier.
If you like structure
The Four Box Method
Sort your belongings into four categories:
Keep
Donate or sell
Trash or recycle
Relocate
This method is straightforward and beginner-friendly, and it works particularly well when you're tackling one room at a time.
The downside is that it can become exhausting if you're already juggling a lot of decisions.
If you use this method, give yourself enough time to complete a manageable area and enough time afterward to rest.
If you notice yourself becoming mentally exhausted or unable to make decisions, pause.
You can always come back later, or ask someone you trust to help you decide.
The SOS Method
The SOS method breaks decluttering into three stages:
Simplify
Cut the excess so you're keeping what you genuinely need, use, or value.
Start small. One drawer or one shelf is enough.
Organize
Give the things you've decided to keep a logical home so they're easy to find, use, and put away.
And don't buy a bunch of fancy storage bins before you know what you're actually keeping.
Systematize
Create simple habits and boundaries that help prevent the clutter from returning.
This is often the part we forget.
We declutter the house, feel amazing, and then slowly recreate the same problem.
The goal isn't just to clean up once. It's to create systems that make maintaining your space easier.
A few useful rules include storing things close to where you use them and letting containers set limits.
If the container is full, it may be time to reassess what you're keeping.
Room by Room
Instead of trying to organize your entire home, choose one room or one defined area and finish it before moving on.
This can make a huge project feel much more manageable.
You don't need to see the entire staircase to take the next step.
If you need motivation
The 30 Day Minimalism Game
This turns decluttering into a challenge.
On day one, you get rid of one item.
On day two, you get rid of two.
On day three, three items.
You continue increasing the number each day throughout the month.
By the end, you may have removed hundreds of items.
This can be particularly appealing if you are motivated by games, challenges, or visible progress.
The 12 12 12 Challenge
Find:
12 things to throw away or recycle
12 things to donate
12 things to return to their proper place
That's it.
This is a great option when the idea of organizing an entire house feels overwhelming.
You're not trying to finish everything.
You're simply taking one small step toward a larger goal.
15 Minute Pickup
Set a timer for 15 minutes and choose one small area.
When the timer ends, you're done.
You don't have to keep going.
This can be especially useful on days when you have limited energy or find it difficult to initiate tasks.
For people who struggle with executive functioning, smaller and clearly defined tasks can sometimes make getting started easier.
If you want to see what you actually use
The Closet Hanger Method
Turn all of your clothing hangers backward.
When you wear something, return it to the closet with the hanger facing the correct direction.
After a set period of time, you'll have a visual record of what you've actually worn.
This can be particularly useful if you find yourself constantly buying clothes but rarely wearing some of them.
It shows you the difference between what you aspire to wear and what you actually reach for.
The Packing Party
This method involves packing your belongings as though you're moving.
You then only unpack something when you actually need it.
After a set period of time, you can reassess the things you never unpacked.
This can be effective for extreme decluttering, but it does require quite a bit of space and a lot of boxes.
If you're working with a small apartment or limited storage, you could adapt the idea by doing one room or category at a time.
If you want to prevent clutter from coming back
One In, One Out
For every new item you bring into your home, one item goes out.
This can be a useful long-term strategy for people who are disciplined about what they purchase.
Personally, I find this one challenging.
I rarely buy something because I'm intentionally replacing something else. I tend to buy things when I see them because I know I might not find what I'm looking for later.
So this isn't the right system for me.
And that's okay.
The point isn't to find the method that sounds the most organized.
The point is to find the method you can actually live with.
Calendar Decluttering
Another option is to schedule decluttering into your routine.
Maybe you remove five things every Friday.
Maybe you clear one drawer every Sunday.
Maybe you spend ten minutes at the end of each day putting things back where they belong.
The number doesn't matter as much as creating a rhythm that feels sustainable.
Small, consistent actions can prevent clutter from becoming another overwhelming project.
If you want to think about the bigger picture
Swedish Death Cleaning
Swedish Death Cleaning, or döstädning, became popular through the work of Swedish author Margareta Magnusson.
The idea is to gradually reduce possessions so that your loved ones aren't left with an enormous amount of work and decision-making later in life.
Traditionally, the method is associated with older adults and major life transitions, but its principles can be useful at any stage of life.
One idea I particularly appreciate is tackling the less emotionally charged things first.
Start with storage areas, garages, large closets, or other things that don't carry a lot of emotional weight.
Don't start with the box of photographs from your childhood if you know you'll spend three hours looking through every picture.
You can get there eventually.
The same principle can be helpful when you're dealing with grief.
When you're overwhelmed by loss, asking “Does this give me joy?” may not be the right question.
Instead, you might ask:
“Will this matter to someone else later?”
The goal isn't to throw away everything that matters to you while you're still enjoying it.
It's about being intentional about what you're leaving behind.
You can also create a clearly labelled box for highly personal items that are meaningful to you but unlikely to be meaningful to anyone else. You can leave instructions about what you'd like done with it in the future.
The goal is not to erase your history.
It's to make sure that the people you love aren't left with a huge mountain of emotionally loaded decisions at an already difficult time.
And finally, don't forget your digital life
Cleaning house doesn't have to mean cleaning your actual house.
Sometimes our digital spaces create just as much mental clutter.
You might:
Delete old emails.
Unsubscribe from newsletters you never read.
Organize your computer files.
Delete duplicate photos.
Clean up your phone.
Remove apps you don't use.
Organize your calendar.
Clear your downloads folder.
Unfollow accounts that no longer add anything positive to your life.
Even small changes can make your digital environment feel calmer.
You don't have to do it all
There are a lot of decluttering methods here.
Please don't turn this blog into another thing you feel like you should be doing perfectly.
You don't need to reorganize your entire house this weekend.
You don't need matching storage containers.
You don't need to become a minimalist.
And you definitely don't need to throw away everything you love.
Start with one thing.
One drawer.
One shelf.
One email folder.
One pile.
One task.
If you get distracted by something else that needs doing, write it down and come back to it later.
If you don't know where to start, choose the smallest possible thing.
And if you find yourself struggling to make decisions, take a break.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is stop before you're completely exhausted.
There is something incredibly satisfying about creating physical space around you.
Decluttering isn't a magical cure for stress, anxiety, or overwhelm, but many people find that a more organized environment can make it easier to think, focus, and feel in control of their surroundings.
Sometimes cleaning house really does feel like clearing a little space in your mind too.
So, as you think about this fresh start:
What's one thing you've been avoiding?
And what's the smallest step you could take today to make it a little easier?
You don't have to change everything.
You just have to start somewhere.
If any of this resonates with you and you're not sure where to start, please reach out. We'd love to walk alongside you.
Journal Prompts
What area of my life currently feels the most cluttered?
Am I overwhelmed by the amount of work, or by not knowing where to begin?
What is one task I could realistically complete today?
What things am I keeping because I genuinely use or value them, and what am I keeping because I might need them someday?
Which organizational method best fits how I naturally function?
What could I remove from my physical, digital, or mental environment that would give me a little more breathing room?
Book/resource recommendations
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
The book that introduced the KonMari Method to a huge audience and explores the emotional side of deciding what to keep.
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson
A thoughtful look at simplifying possessions and considering what we leave behind.
Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki
A personal exploration of minimalism and our relationship with our possessions.
Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White
Particularly useful for people who want practical, realistic decluttering rather than an idealized minimalist lifestyle.
Overcoming the Wall of Awful
: How to Get Things Done with ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety by Brendan Mahan and Alex Hughes Capell
Great book for people who struggle with motivation to get started and are neurodivergent
