Where to start when clearing a house

Why do we put it off?

A tidy home is more welcoming and easier to get about in. So why do we dodge the dusting and pretend a growing pile of bags and boxes is not there? If you want to clear your home but feel overwhelmed, the steps below can help.

What is causing the overwhelm?

Being overwhelmed makes us cut corners.

You may feel the task is too big. If there is hardly room to move, you may give up before you begin. The job feels huge and you cannot see a way in.

You may be holding on to sentimental items. It is normal, especially as we get older, to see sentiment in our belongings. You may not want to part with items that hold memories, yet not know where to put them, and that is an emotional hurdle. If the items were inherited, how do you know what to keep? Do you live with the mess, or throw out keepsakes?

You may be stuck in a downward spiral. Tidying is linked to better mental wellbeing, and in the same way a crowded home can bring on low mood and anxiety, which drain your motivation and make it harder to start. Once you know which of these it is, you can plan how to get past it.

Break the job down

If the job has simply grown too big, the easiest answer is to break it into pieces. There are two ways to do it.

The first is a list of every room to be cleared, with bullet points beside each for what needs doing. For a bedroom: sort the boxes on top of the wardrobe, go through the piles of clothes in the cupboard, organise the bedding and blanket box, and clear under the bed. The list sorts out your thoughts, gives you a plan and shows exactly what has to be done.

The second is the Marie Kondo method. It is like the first, but instead of going room by room you go by category, such as clothes, books and papers.

Make a schedule you can keep

With your tasks listed, you can put them in a schedule. If you feel overwhelmed, do not push yourself too hard. Set one task a day, however small, such as emptying a drawer in the lounge or tidying under the coffee table. If you feel you can do more, add another task to the list.

Notice how much better you feel

As the home looks clearer and you see space and light in places that were dark and hidden, notice how you feel. More relaxed? Prouder? Happier? More at home? Enjoy those feelings and use them as motivation to keep going, towards a clean home and good mental health.