16 Reasons you are struggling to declutter (and how to overcome them)

Decluttering your home can be a daunting task, and it’s not uncommon to face various obstacles along the way.

In this article, we’ll explore 16 common reasons why you are having a hard time decluttering your home and, more importantly, how to overcome them.

Let’s dive in and make simplifying your life and home a reality.

Why are You Are struggling to declutter, and how to overcome them

Here are the 16 reasons and their solutions.

1. You Haven’t Found Your WHY:

Sometimes, decluttering feels like an abstract concept until you find your “why.”

Your “why” for simplifying your home can be personal, like creating a peaceful and calming environment, or practical, like making more space for your child to play. When you identify your “why”, it becomes a driving force, encouraging you to stay committed and focused.

Understanding your “why” also allows you to set achievable goals, keeping you committed to the process and remain resilient when facing challenges.

2. You Don’t Have a Plan:

Without a clear plan, you may feel lost or overwhelmed in the decluttering process.

Start by picking a decluttering method that suits your lifestyle and schedule. Do you plan to declutter 12 hours straight on a long weekend and finish the entire home? Or do you like the idea of decluttering 30 minutes a day for the upcoming months?

Do you want to start in an area with the least amount of clutter, so you can build up your confidence, or do you want to start from an area that gives you the most stress?

Having a solid plan can help you stay focused and you will less likely to be sidetracked.

3. You Are Not Motivated:

Do you enjoy scrolling through decluttering videos and looking at pictures of beautifully organized and clutter-free homes, feeling inspired? 

However, when you set your phone aside and power down your computer, do you revert back to your old self, struggling to summon the motivation to start your decluttering project?

Here are some creative ways to help you get motivation and start decluttering:

• Invite people over for coffee
• Use a reward/punishment system
• Challenge with friends or family members

Read more on my other post 7 Creative Ways To Get Motivated And Start Decluttering.

4. You Feel Overwhelmed by So Much Clutter:

If you’re overwhelmed with clutter, start small.

Choose one area, like a drawer or a closet. Sort items into keep, donate, or discard piles. Keep what you use or truly cherish. Once you’ve tackled that space, move to the next. Take it one step at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Consistency is key, so dedicate a few minutes each day to declutter. Gradually, you’ll see progress and gain confidence in decluttering your entire space.

5. You Worry You Won’t Be Able to Complete the Task:

If the thought of decluttering feels daunting, all you need is a mindset shift from worrying in your head to taking action.

Rather than getting stuck in your thoughts, take that first step. You’ll discover that once you begin, it’s often more manageable than you imagined.

6. You Don’t Know What to Keep and What to Get Rid Of:

When you’re unsure about what to keep and what to discard, consider establishing some guidelines ahead of time.

For instance, when decluttering your closet, create a rule that any clothing item two sizes smaller than your current size should be removed.

This proactive decision-making minimizes confusion and uncertainty, making the decluttering process more straightforward.

7. You Try to Organize Before Finishing Decluttering:

Don’t put the cart before the horse. Organizing comes after decluttering. Focus on removing the excess first.

8. You Don’t Have enough Time to Declutter:

But the truth is, it’s just a matter of priorities.

If simplifying your life is a priority, you’ll make the time to declutter your home.

Remember, your decluttering project does not need to be completed in one go. If you are only able to set aside a very short period of time to declutter, that is ok, too. As long as you keep it consistent, you will eventually get the results you want.

You can try setting aside 10-15 minutes each day to tackle a small area. Or you can give yourself a daily goal to find 10 things to declutter.

Even if it’s only a small amount of time, or a small number of items per day, as long as you keep it consistent, you’d be surprised at how much you can get done in the long run.

9. You Don’t Know Where to Start:

No matter how small your home is, decluttering can seem like an overwhelming task if you don’t know where to start.

Starting is the hardest part, and most important thing is to take action!

Pick an area that is the ‘easiest’ for you as a starting point. But what is “easy”?

An “easy” area is different for everyone. It can be an area with the least amount of clutter, a smallest area of your home, or an area with the least amount of sentimental items.

I have a post dedicated to where to start decluttering. If you’d like to read more, check it out!

10. You Have Too Many “Just in Case” Items:

We tend to hang onto things “just in case” we might need them someday—but how often does that actually happen?

Here are some ways to help you deal with your just in case items.

• Be realistic about your ‘just in case’ scenarios.
• Give yourself a deadline.
• Mentally prepared for the worst-case-scenarios.
• Get rid of items that are easily replaceable.

If you can’t seem to get rid of anything due to many ‘just in case’ items, you might be interested in reading my other post about what to do if you have too many ‘just in case’ items.

11. You’re Worried You’ll Regret Your Decisions:

To prevent regret, set very specific guideline and rules in advance about what to declutter and what to keep. You can also box up items you’re uncertain about and keep them for a certain period of time.

Also, remind yourself that the benefits of decluttering far outweigh any potential feelings of regret.

12. You Feel Wasteful by Getting Rid of Functional Items:

Decluttering your stuff can be tough, especially if you think you’re throwing away your hard-earned cash. 

If you experience feelings of wastefulness while decluttering, consider adopting the “sunk cost” mindset. This means recognizing that the money spent on items that you no longer need or use is already spent, and holding onto them won’t change that fact.

Letting go allows these items to serve a new purpose and brings you one step closer to a simplified, clutter-free life.

I have another article all dedicated to how to declutter without feeling like you are throwing money away, if you are interested, check it out!

13. You Have Lots of Memories with Items:

When it comes to stained baby clothes and school projects from our youth, sometimes it’s hard to let go items with sentimental values—even if we no longer need them.

We hold onto things because they remind us of happy memories or special people in our lives.

I went through rounds of ‘extreme decluttering’ before our family moved from Asia to the US. As someone who had lots of emotional attachment to stuff, it was extremely sad for me to say goodbye to items represented my past.

It’s been several years since I moved to the US. And here is what I have learned: memories are stored in my mind, not in my stuff.

If you are still worried that you might forget your memories, here is a good solution:

Take a photo of the item before you get rid of it. That way, you can keep the memory without having to hold onto the physical item.

14. You Feel Obligated to Keep Gifts:

We’ve all been there: someone gives us a gift we don’t really like or need, and we feel guilty getting rid of it.

After all, they went out of their way to pick something out just for us, so the least we can do is keep it, right?

So often, we get hung up on what people think rather than what we actually need or want.

But please remember this: Friends and relatives give you gifts with the intention of making you happy. The last thing they want to do is to cause you distress.

Whether you are happy with the gift or not, it is more important to recognize and appreciate their well meanings behind the gift itself.

Additionally, if an item is already given to you, it means that you have the control over what happens to it. Therefore, you can freely decide how to handle it.

15. You Get Bored and Sidetracked Easily:

There are ways you can make declutter more enjoyable:

• Listen to your favorite music or podcast
• Share your progress photos on social media
• Have a competition with a friend who also wants to declutter her home

16. Clutter Keeps Coming Back:

Be conscious of what you bring into your home. Before making a purchase, think about its long-term value and whether it aligns with your needs and lifestyle.

This is a good habit to minimize future clutter, fostering a more organized and simplified living space.

Conclusion:

Clearing the clutter from your home can free you from the overwhelm and stress that consumes you on a daily basis. It can impact your health and emotional well-being once you get the job done.

These are five of the most common reasons why women have trouble letting go of things—but there are also solutions for each one.

By taking some small steps each day and being mindful of your purchases going forward, you can declutter your home (and your life!) once and for all!