Why do I struggle to get rid of stuff?

How to Get Rid of Stuff: 11 reasons why it's hard to declutter & what to do about it
  1. Lack of time to declutter. ...
  2. Lack of energy or motivation to declutter. ...
  3. Saving things “just in case” ...
  4. Keeping things for “someday” ...
  5. Guilt. ...
  6. Struggling with sentimental items. ...
  7. Burning out. ...
  8. Feeling overwhelmed or not knowing where to start.
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How do I make myself get rid of things?

If you're struggling with how to get rid of stuff, you can:
  1. Challenge yourself to remove the unneeded things in your home.
  2. Rid yourself of the extra weight in a permanent manner.
  3. Carry a trash bag from room-to-room.
  4. See how big of a donation pile you can make.
  5. Eliminate debt by selling what you no longer need.
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How do I stop being overwhelmed when decluttering?

Here is the best formula for decluttering large, overwhelming spaces:
  1. Remove the easiest things first. ...
  2. Discard larger items next. ...
  3. Donate items instead of selling them. ...
  4. Break your large space into smaller bite-size challenges. ...
  5. Work until your bite-size piece is completed.
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How do I get rid of perfectly good stuff?

Through the process, I learned these practical steps:
  1. Accept the mistake. Often, we will see many mistakes as we start to purge all the 'good stuff. ...
  2. Shift your perspective. ...
  3. Designate a spot. ...
  4. Community. ...
  5. Experiment. ...
  6. Keep your eye on your why. ...
  7. Ask yourself better questions.
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How do you emotionally let go of clutter?

How to Let Go of Stuff with Sentimental Value
  1. Get rid of easy items first. ...
  2. Discover your motivation behind keeping things. ...
  3. Cultivate a gratitude practice to make letting go easier. ...
  4. Try not to compare yourself or your home to others. ...
  5. Slowly get rid of items with sentimental value.
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Feel Guilty Getting Rid of Stuff? Don't.



How do I stop hoarding and getting rid of things?

How to Overcome Hoarding: 6 Helpful Tips
  1. Clean Up Clutter Immediately. ...
  2. Declutter for 15 Minutes Each Day. ...
  3. Throw Away Anything You Haven't Used in the Past Year. ...
  4. Use the OHIO Rule for Mail and Emails. ...
  5. Request Help From Friends and Family. ...
  6. Seek Treatment.
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Is clutter related to trauma?

In most cases, this clutter is directly linked to traumatic events. Clutter could stem from the fear of letting go. This would be especially the case if a person grew up during or shortly after a time of war when people did not have much and had to use everything they had until it fell apart.
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How do I force myself to declutter?

How to Get Motivated to Clean and Declutter
  1. Work on Your Decluttering Motivation. ...
  2. Choose a Small Area to Work on. ...
  3. Don't Get Sidetracked—Finish Your First Task. ...
  4. Pat Yourself on the Back for a Job Well Done. ...
  5. Set Your Next Reasonable Cleaning or Decluttering Goal. ...
  6. Don't Hesitate to Ask for Help.
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What is the fastest way to clean a cluttered house?

Establish a daily cleaning routine/schedule
  1. Make beds.
  2. Wash dishes/unload or load dishwasher.
  3. Empty trash for kitchen and bathrooms.
  4. Wipe down counters and table.
  5. Put everything away (give it a “home” if it doesn't have one)
  6. Sweep and vacuum.
  7. Put a load of laundry away and start another if needed.
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How do you break a hoarding habit?

Top 11 Decluttering Tips for Hoarders (and Pack Rats)
  1. Just Start. Trust me, I get it – that's much easier said than done. ...
  2. Stop Adding to the Clutter. ...
  3. Start Small. ...
  4. Take out the Trash. ...
  5. Create a Plan. ...
  6. Start Where it Will Make the Biggest Impact. ...
  7. Time Yourself. ...
  8. Organize at the Same Time.
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How do you start cleaning when you are overwhelmed?

Here are some good places to get started:
  1. The floor - Sit and tidy or sort piles of mail or books, grab a broom and sweep up crumbs, or vacuum the living room rug. ...
  2. The kitchen sink - Wash any dishes in the sink or load the dishwasher, then give the sink itself a good scrub.
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What does a messy house say about someone?

Heightened Creativity. The researchers believed that doing work in a clean and tidy space activates social norms encouraging people to do what is expected of them. Working in a messy space, on the other hand, relaxes that need and allows people to break free of social norms and expectations.
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Why do I have no motivation to clean?

Sometimes, we lose our motivation to clean the house for predictable reasons. Life gets busy with school or work, for instance, and we have a temporary shift in our priorities. Once it's over, though, we sometimes need help easing back into a cleaning routine.
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How do you get motivation to clean?

Invite someone over for dinner. You'll be more motivated to clean because you have to get it done by a certain time. Be careful to give yourself enough time to actually get your cleaning done. You can also use a timer.
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Why do I have no motivation?

Low motivation can be a common symptom of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. You can practice self-help and self-care as much as you can, but you may find that seeking professional help is more helpful for your emotions. Online therapy is beneficial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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What is the psychology behind clutter?

According to Psychology Today, clutter causes stress in part because of its excessive visual stimuli. It also signals to our brains that our work is never done and creates guilt, anxiety and the feeling of being overwhelmed.
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What is the root cause of clutter?

Behavioral/psychological: Clutter caused by depression, attention deficit disorder, low self-esteem or lack of personal boundaries. Time/life management: Clutter caused by the need for better planning. Of these, the behavioral/psychological-driven clutter is the hardest to solve.
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Can hoarding be a symptom of PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

One of the most common causes of hoarding is PTSD, "Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it.
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What are the first signs of hoarding?

Getting and saving an excessive number of items, gradual buildup of clutter in living spaces and difficulty discarding things are usually the first signs and symptoms of hoarding disorder, which often surfaces during the teenage to early adult years.
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Is hoarding a mental illness?

Hoarding disorder is a mental health problem that a doctor can diagnose. But you might also experience hoarding as part of another mental or physical health problem. If you hoard, you might: Feel the need to get more things, even if you have a lot already.
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Can anxiety cause hoarding?

Hoarding is an anxiety disorder. A person with this disorder is unable to get rid of things, even things of no value. These could include newspaper clippings, old receipts, containers, even trash. A person diagnosed with this disorder goes to an extreme to save things.
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Is being messy a mental illness?

Most often, a house that is so messy that it is unsafe or unlivable is a sign of an underlying mental health issue. While you might judge others for “laziness” when their homes are messy, they often do not want to live this way. They likely have no support to treat their mental illness or any family members to help.
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Why am I so messy and disorganized?

There are many reasons for disorganization including perfectionism, lack of skills, our beliefs and indecision, as well as mental health and brain-related conditions. When we understand the reason, it can help increase our ability to become more organized (and stay that way!).
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How do I stop being messy and disorganized?

Below are 11 tips on how to become neat if you're messy.
  1. Give Items A Home. abeautifulmess. ...
  2. Set Tidying Goals. abeautifulmess. ...
  3. Always Make A Room Better Than You Found It. abeautifulmess. ...
  4. Don't Let Things Pile Up. abeautifulmess. ...
  5. Get A Handle On Clutter. ...
  6. Start Off Small. ...
  7. Wipe Down Surfaces Daily. ...
  8. Settle For "Good Enough"
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