Our relationship with possessions we’ve worked hard to accumulate over a lifetime can be complicated. Today, we’ll look at tips and strategies to help you overcome common decluttering barriers.

“I just don’t know where to start!” “But I can’t give away my memories!” “I spent a lot of money on this stuff, so I can’t get rid of it.” “I’m just a messy person.” “I’ll keep that just in case I need it one day.” “It’s not my stuff.”

Whether you’re just getting started, or have been decluttering for a while, you may have said some of these things. For many people, just the thought of decluttering stirs up uncomfortable feelings. For others, decluttering progress stalls once the easy tasks—the low hanging fruit—are out of the way.

Let’s look at solutions to these common decluttering barriers.

Overcoming your most common decluttering barriers

Overwhelm

“I just don’t know where to start!”

This is a common complaint when it comes to decluttering, and it often leads to procrastination. It’s just easier to do nothing and hope it all goes away. But it won’t just go away. If you know you need to declutter, the more you look at the mess, the more frustrated you’ll be.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, the best thing to do is jump in and get started. Set aside some time in your calendar. Then, pick a small, easy area and get it done. It could be one drawer in your kitchen, your bathroom counter, your desktop, or your front entranceway.

Another idea is to do a 2-minute or 15-minute declutter challenge. Set a timer and see how much you can get done in a fixed amount of time. Do this daily, or weekly, and you’ll start to see progress.

With each decluttering task you complete, you’ll feel less overwhelmed. Over time, you’ll find every subsequent task gets easier. You may even find yourself decluttering without even thinking about it.

Sentimentality

“But I can’t give away my memories!”

For years, I kept a couple of big boxes of baby clothes that my daughters had long outgrown. I just couldn’t bear to part with them. Even though I never opened the boxes, there they were taking up space in my basement.

Our possessions stir up a lot of nostalgia. If you’re holding onto items because they bring back memories, remind yourself that the memories are in your head—not in the object.

If you think you need something as a reminder, take a picture of the item. Or record the memories in a poem, a blog post, or a story. That’s why I started my Clutter Tales series. While decluttering, I found things I had forgotten about. Instead of keeping them, I preserved the memories by taking pictures and writing about them. That made me feel much better about letting them go.

Guilt

“I spent a lot of money on this stuff, so I can’t get rid of it.”

There are two areas where guilt rears its head in our decluttering journey: money and gifts.

Regarding money, we often resist getting rid of things because we feel guilty about the money we spent on them. But the money you spent on that item is gone, and seeing things sitting unused is a constant reminder of your unwise spending decisions. If you’re not using something, get rid of it and resolve to be more mindful about your shopping in the future.

Gifts are another area where guilt is an issue. We feel bad about giving something away that someone else gave to us. If someone gave you something that’s still in an unopened box in your closet, or you used only once or twice, ask yourself if they would really want you to keep it.

Reselling these items to recoup some of the money, or giving them away to someone who will use and appreciate them, can alleviate the feelings of guilt.

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Shame

“I’m just a messy person.” “I bought that because I wanted to learn how to use it. I never stick with anything to get good at it.”

Unlike guilt which relates to a specific action or behaviour, shame relates to how we view our whole selves. Decluttering could stir up negative emotions if we bought something with good intentions but never followed through on those intentions. Shame could make us feel bad, unworthy, or like a failure.

Instead of beating yourself up, try focusing on the positive. Write down things you’re good at, and remind yourself of them often. Track your progress and celebrate every win, no matter how small. When you hit a decluttering roadblock, go back to these lists and remind yourself that you can do it.

Fear of regret

“I’ll keep that just in case I need it one day.”

I wrote a whole post on decluttering regret and “what if I need it” syndrome. The first two questions on my decluttering checklist are, “Did I even know I owned this?” and “When did I last use it?” If the answer to the first question is no, and the answer to the second question is more than a year ago, it’s unlikely that you will need the item anytime soon.

I’ve decluttered over 5,000 items and had just one item that I later wished I had kept. That’s one item…out of 5,000.

If you’re tempted to keep something “just in case”, ask yourself what’s the worst thing that would happen if you did need it at some point in the future. Could you easily replace it? Could you borrow or rent it?

Resentment

“It’s not my stuff.”

If you live with others, decluttering can be a source of conflict if you don’t share the same goals. If you lean toward minimalism and your housemate is a packrat, there could be stormy seas ahead.

Keep in mind that every small win makes a difference. The best advice is to let go of the resentment, lower your expectations, and deal with your own stuff first. Over time, your loved ones may see the benefits of less clutter and get on board with decluttering. I’ve seen it happen!

If you’re ready for your own decluttering challenge, drop by my main Decluttering page to download your free checklists. Then, dive in and do it!

What are your biggest decluttering barriers? How do you overcome them? Drop me a comment below and let me know.