Big Picture, Small Steps: Decluttering the Elephant One Pile at a Time

“Decluttering is too overwhelming.”

“I see the problem, but I literally don’t know where to start.”

“I don’t want you to see my closet; you’re going to think I’m a hoarder.”

In all the years I’ve been decluttering and organizing homes and businesses, I don’t think there’s anything more discouraging than to hear someone admit they have a clutter issue and then choose not to do anything about it.  

I see them over the side of the ship, flailing, yelling excuses as to why they need to keep that box of whatever. And I’m watching them start to sink, ignoring the life ring I hit them in the head with.

When you’re drowning though (in items, thoughts, or both), I know from personal experience it’s easier to get up and leave instead of buckle down and stay. So what’s the remedy for a lack of motivation? The cure for not caring? The antidote to apathy? The solution for overwhelm?

The end goal.

Keeping the big picture in mind while working is part of what will push you to keep going. Taking the small steps is what will get you to that end goal, even if it seems like it’s taking forever. And some projects do feel like they’ll never end. That’s when you need a new four-letter word: Grit.

We all know grit’s siblings: courage, bravery, endurance, stamina, tenacity, fortitude, resolve. But to me, grit sounds stronger and more hell-bent on pushing through no matter what. And it’s a key factor in your process. 

More than straight determination, grit is usually part of your personality, DNA, or character. If you naturally have a decent amount of it, you’ll stick with the process. If grit isn’t inherently a part of you, you’ll probably have to work harder to stay the course. 

Here are a few proven ways to make that happen. 

What’s Your Decluttering Why?

For most people, their why revolves around making space for something new. A new car in the garage, a new espresso machine in the kitchen, a new baby in the nursery. When a new item or human is arriving, there’s a natural motivation to clear space.

But what about when you’re just buried in too many soft shirts? You realize your obsession has taken over, but you love your cozy fabrics and don’t have much incentive to part with any. That’s when your “why” needs to come to the surface. 

• Why do you feel overwhelmed? 
• Why do you want more closet space? 
• Why do you want fewer decisions every morning?

Start Small & Simple

If your initial resolution is through the roof and you’re ready to empty, declutter, clean, and organize your whole pantry and large kitchen in the next three hours, please press pause. Not only is that a recipe for a huge abandoned mess, it’s also unrealistic. Not even I would do that, and I mostly know what I’m doing.

At the beginning, your big picture is a decluttered and organized home. But your small step is a single compact area. Might not sound like enough to start, but I promise it is.

If this is your first time wanting to take the elephant by the tusks, it’s crucial you start small and simple. That means a drawer—just one. Or a single cupboard. One or two shelves could even be a perfect spot.

Seeing success in a pocket-sized area will give you the perfect amount of satisfaction and momentum to move to the next area. Building your confidence is also important if you want to stay motivated.

Set a Little Ringy-Ding-Ding

An actual timer is better, but if you want to use your phone for this part, go ahead. I recommend putting it on silent mode though. Less distractions, less time it takes to finish.

Knowing you only have 15 minutes (or 30 if you’re ambitious) makes the task feel less overwhelming. Plus, if you really get into your project and your timer goes off, it’s easy to hit snooze and keep going.

Change Your Decluttering Focus 

I’m sure you’ve heard you should always concentrate on what to ditch, but I’m flipping that script. What if you only focused on the favorite things you’re keeping?

Viewing decluttering through a lens of deprivation can make you wanna stop before you even start. The job is hard enough—we don’t need more emotional resistance. This simple positive shift can make decisions feel less about loss and more purposeful.

Instead of feeling like you’re losing something, you’re purposefully creating a space for items you love and use. Doesn’t matter if it’s clothes that make you feel confident, kitchen tools that make cooking easier, or hair products that actually work. The psychological benefit can be profound because every item you keep becomes a calculated choice, not a loss.

P.S. If you need permission to toss the moose, gel, and pomade slowly decomposing under your bathroom sink for the past decade, consider it granted. I’m lookin’ at you, bald man.

By focusing on what you truly want to keep, you’re not losing things—you’re creating an all-star team of players who deserve valuable real estate space in your home. 

Your Turn

Sooo? Ready to look at your big picture and take a small step? Get ready for a little game I like to call make-a-hard-decision-today-for-a-more-peaceful-tomorrow.

Big Picture: “I want my closet to be more spacious and less chaotic. And I’d like to make faster decisions about what to wear each morning without getting overwhelmed and frustrated.”

Small Step: Instead of emptying the entire closet today, simply start with pulling out every item from the opposite season. If it’s freezing right now, pull out all the shorts and tank tops and deal with those. Save what you love and will wear; donate what you don’t and won’t.

Big Picture: “I want my pantry to be more user-friendly. I don’t really know what’s in there, and I end up buying multiple cans of beans I already have.” 

Small Step: Empty the worst shelf or small cupboard, toss expired food, clean the area, place like-items together in an orderly way, and take an inventory of what you have.

Big Picture: “My bulging laundry room drives me bonkers. It seems like my kids and teens change clothes three times a day and I can’t keep up.”

Small Step: Make sure every family member has a laundry basket in their room. And then teach everyone who’s tall enough to reach the buttons or dials how to do their own laundry. Trust me—if they can add fractions, they can turn a washer on and make it go. Once everyone is accountable for their own clothes, you’ll have less mess.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

You got this—I have faith in you!

Also, I know decluttering and organizing can feel problematic and occasionally thorny. What’s driving you crazy right now? What’s the one space you’d like to tackle first?

Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments. I always answer. Promise.