How Perfectionism Gets in the Way of Decluttering – And How to Let It Go

Susan McCarthy
Jul 10
4 min read

Decluttering isn’t about doing the work perfectly (an impossible goal). Instead, it’s about creating space for the life you want to live now.

A woman wipes down the counter she decluttered after letting go of perfectionism.

I grew up with parents who held onto everything “just in case,” and so I didn’t give a second thought to doing the same with my possessions. Until I couldn’t wedge another sheet of paper into my file drawers, one more book on a shelf, or fit another clothes hanger in my closet.

I wasted a lot of time and money looking for the perfect bin or drawer organizer, thinking that I just needed the right products to get and stay organized.

It was a difficult lesson to realize how much energy I was giving to organizing what was really just clutter. And then came the challenge of letting go of what was unnecessary. No, change that, the challenge was figuring out what was unnecessary after decades of convincing myself everything had a potential purpose.

Do you ever feel like you should be able to declutter quickly, easily, and perfectly … but instead, you find yourself staring at piles, frozen in indecision?

You’re not alone.

Many women in their 60s feel frustrated that their desire to declutter is blocked by fears of making the wrong choices. Let’s explore why perfectionism causes so much procrastination and how you can let go of the need to “do it right.”

What Is Perfectionism?

Perfectionism isn’t about doing your best. It’s about believing that anything short of perfect is a failure. When it comes to decluttering, perfectionism shows up in sneaky ways that keep you stuck.

Signs of Perfectionism in Decluttering

You might recognize yourself in some of these:

You feel you must declutter an entire room in one day or it doesn’t count.
You keep researching “the best” way to declutter before taking any action.

You’re terrified of regretting a decision to get rid of something.

You want to organize your donations perfectly before giving them away … to the best possible recipients.

You put off decluttering until you have a big block of free time … that never comes.

If these sound familiar, perfectionism is likely slowing your progress.

For myself, I had to give up the idea of going through a decluttering task once. These were the pre-Internet days, so my understanding of decluttering back then was pretty slim. I’d do a “good enough” job and then repeat my efforts in another month or three, eliminating a few more items.

Even nowadays, after having decluttered my home, I will look at an area and think, “I could do better.”

Button to download the free "4-STep Decision Making Cheat Sheet for Decluttering with Confidence."

Downsides of Perfectionism

While striving for excellence can be motivating, perfectionism often backfires. It can lead to:

Diminished productivity. You spend more time thinking than doing.

Procrastination. The fear of failure keeps you from starting.

Lower self-esteem. You focus on what you didn’t do rather than what you accomplished.

Strained relationships. You may become irritable or withdrawn because of the stress perfectionism creates.

But there’s good news: you can change your approach.

5 Ways to Let Go of Perfectionism When Decluttering

I’d still call myself a recovering perfectionist. If I’m not paying attention, I’ll waste time doing something that doesn’t need to be done. The following techniques bring me back to reality, so things get done … even if it isn’t perfectly.

1. Ditch the All-or-Nothing Mindset

You don’t have to declutter an entire room in one afternoon. If you finish 80%, you didn’t fail – you succeeded in transforming most of the space.

Acknowledge what you do accomplish, even if it’s just placing one book in a donation box. Each action brings you closer to your goal.

When you let go of “all or nothing,” you allow yourself to build momentum over time.

2. Aim for Good Enough

Decluttering perfectly is impossible.

You can’t know if every decision is “best” until you live with it.

Life changes, so what’s right today may not be right tomorrow.

Perfection wastes time and drains your energy for enjoying your life right now.

Focus on making a good enough choice for where you are now. That’s all you ever need to move forward.

3. Focus on Progress Over Perfection

Waiting for the perfect moment to declutter creates unnecessary pressure.

Instead:

Tackle one drawer or shelf at a time.
Sort through a single category, like coffee mugs or books on your nightstand.

Celebrate small completions that create progress without stress.

Progress builds confidence. Perfection stalls it.

4. Set Time Limits

Decluttering for short, focused periods helps you avoid spiraling into perfectionism.

Try this:

Set a timer for 20 or 30 minutes.

Mark halfway or the one-third and two-thirds points with alarms to check if you’re drifting into overthinking or unrelated tasks.

Stop when the timer ends.

Time limits keep your energy focused and prevent tasks from sprawling into overwhelm.

5. Prioritize Where You Put Effort

Not every decision needs the same level of scrutiny.

Ask yourself:

Do I need to spend an hour deciding how many dinner plates to keep?

Or is my emotional energy better used deciding what to do with old journals?

Use your time and mental effort wisely. For some items, “good enough” is truly good enough.

Practice Letting Go of Perfectionism: Try These Activities

Here are two ways to put these ideas into action:

Five-Minute Declutter. Choose a kitchen drawer or part of your bathroom cabinet. Give yourself five minutes to find three items to toss or donate. Don’t overthink it.

Good Enough Donation Box. Walk around your living room with a box. Put in two items you know you don’t want anymore, even if you’re not 100% certain someone else will want them. Remind yourself: good enough decisions still move you forward.

Decluttering isn’t about doing everything right. It’s about creating space for the life you want to live now… one thoughtful, imperfect choice at a time.