Is there a lot of stuff in your house?
(Don't sweat it I used to have the same problem)
With these tips for hoarders, you can finally get rid of all the stuff that is taking over your life.
Almost everyone has a problem with clutter at some point and to some degree.
If that junk drawer is your biggest problem, some of my other general tips for getting rid of clutter might be all you need.
But for some people, the mess gets out of hand and starts to stress them out and get in the way of living.
Lucky for you, I've compiled a list.
Let's talk about it.
Hoarder? What's That?
Before I go on, I need to take a moment to explain what hoarding is and what it is not.
The word ‘hoarding' is used a lot these days.
Both for people who have trouble getting rid of things and for people who really do have a hoarding disorder.
Clinical hoarding can be a sign of bigger problems, and a true hoarder needs help from a professional to deal with the disorder.
Here are some signs of hoarding disorder to help you decide if there is a real mental disorder at play:
- Strong feelings about keeping things and sadness at the thought of giving them up
- Letting things pile up to the point where rooms can't be used
- Getting too many useless things, even when there's no room for them and more
When I say ‘hoarding' in this article, I'm talking about people who have a lot of things and are overwhelmed by them all.
These people have a tendency to hoard, which means they keep too many useless things even though they want to get rid of them.
Why People Become Hoarders
To help ‘hoarders' get rid of their stuff, it's important to understand why they keep so much stuff in the first place.
(Here are some of the most common ones)
- Think they will use things in the future, but the future never comes.
- Some people have too much stuff or decades' worth of receipts because they are afraid of not having what they need when they need it.
- Having too many collections means collecting things and then losing interest and starting new ones.
It's time to clean up that messy house, but where do you even begin?
10 Decluttering Tips For Hoarders
Here are my top 10 decluttering tips for all you hoarders out there.
It's not too late to start!
After reading this article, you might be inspired to finally start decluttering your space.
(If you won't do it, who would, right?)
1. You Just Need To Start
I know that's much easier to say than to do.
But look at it this way, nothing will ever happen if you don't start doing something.
And when it comes to getting rid of stuff, ‘done is better than perfect.'
So, if you can't do anything because you don't know how to make it ‘perfect,' forget about perfect and just do the next thing you need to do.
(It's really that simple)
2. Stop Yourself From Hoarding
Next, you should stop bringing in more things that don't belong.
Spending time getting rid of things that you think you're gonna use but don't is a waste of time if you keep buying or saving things you don't need.
If you need a little push, think about how much money you could save by not buying another bag or another top that you have that is similar to the ones that you already have.
(Being frugal is not a bad trait to have)
3. Start Somewhere (Small Wins = Big Gains)
It can be overwhelming to think about going through everything when you've been collecting things for a long time, maybe even years.
It's ok. You don't have to finish all the work at once, in one day, or even a week.
In fact, it's better to take your time and break the big task of getting rid of clutter into smaller, easier-to-handle tasks.
It might be too much to clean out an entire room.
But what about a shelf, a counter, or a drawer?
Your big job won't seem so hard if you break it up into smaller tasks that are easier to handle.
(Plus, these little things will add up to make a big difference)
In other words, once you clean one room, you'll feel like you've done a good job and be more willing to clean another room.
This feeling will grow as you tackle each room, closet, or cabinet; before you know it, you won't feel overwhelmed anymore.
Instead, you'll feel encouraged to keep decluttering.
4. Plan Your Steps
Once you've taken out the trash and can see how much clutter you really have, it's time to come up with a plan.
This is one of my favorite tips for hoarders who want to get rid of their stuff because having a plan is the best way to stop feeling overwhelmed.
Here are some things to think about when making your plan:
- How often will you clean up (every day/week)?
- In what order are you going to clean up your rooms?
- How will you get rid of the stuff in each room, and in what order?
- What are you going to do with all the stuff you want to keep?
- What are you going to do with the things you don't need? (e.g., Will you give it away?)
Remember, moving forward with a plan is much more efficient than none at all.
5. Start With The Place Where It Has The Biggest Impact
Not every room is the same when it comes to getting rid of stuff.
(When you see results, you know your work is paying off)
You also feel a sense of accomplishment, which makes you want to keep going.
I recommend you should start in one of these places.
If you can start with the room that bothers you the most but doesn't make you feel overwhelmed.
But you might not want to start with the room with the most stuff, because it might be too much too soon.
So, if the room that bothers you the most is also the messiest, start with the room that bothers you the second most.
Some ideal spots to start are:
- Kitchen – the kitchen is a room you see and use many times every day.
- Bedroom – Make a relaxing space to help you sleep better.
- Bathroom – It's a lot easier to get ready for the day when you don't have to trip over clutter.
- Living Room – You can't really unwind in a cluttered room you see every day.
Since decluttering is a personal journey, I can't say, ‘start here' because there is no one place to start.
But I can tell you to start with the place that bothers you the most and gives you the best chance of success.
A good habit is to ask good questions to yourself about how to declutter clothes as a basic starting point.
7. Organize While You're At It
Even though having too much items that you don't use in your home is the main cause of clutter, a lack of organization is often a big part of the problem.
If you don't organize the things you have, you'll always have a clutter problem, no matter how much you clean up.
So why not do both at the same time, right?
8. Pace Yourself (It's A Marathon, Not A Sprint)
I recommend the best way to clean up is in short bursts.
When you do it this way, it seems easier to handle and less overwhelming.
It also keeps your brain busy, which helps you do a better job.
It's healthy to ask yourself where to begin and what you should do first.
9. Create Goals For Yourself
Setting goals will help you stay on track and not give up after making good progress for a few days. Set goals for yourself if you need a little extra push to get going.
I want you to think about your plan of attack to make goals. These could be some examples:
Clear off the kitchen counters by the end of the day.
OR
Get the keys, pocket change, or receipts cleaned out and sorted in the bedroom before you sleep at night
Make them easy to do and easy to measure.
(Adjust your goals to make them more realistic for you)
10. Enjoy Yourself While Your Decluttering
Decluttering is work; there's no way around it.
But, as any good list of tips for hoarders on how to get rid of their stuff will tell you, work and fun can go together!
Make your ‘sessions' for getting rid of clutter short and fun.
It's one of my best decluttering tips for hoarders because getting yourself to do a job that isn't at least a little fun is much harder.
Yes You Can Remove That Hoarder Mindset
Decluttering your home will take some time and work, but if you start slowly and let yourself get a little out of your comfort zone.
(You'll be amazed at how much you start to enjoy your home again)
At first, it might feel like too much, but you'll find your rhythm quickly and soon realize that those feelings are gone.
But if they come back every now and then, you'll know that you can handle them as long as you keep getting rid of stuff!
You can do it!
Need More Help In Decluttering? I Got You!
As I said earlier, you need to start somewhere.
Thankfully, I have already created a checklist for you to start.
(You're welcome)
All you need to do is click the link below and begin…
Easy, right? That's right!
Follow me elsewhere!
