How to Get Started When You Don’t Feel Like Decluttering

Why waiting to feel motivated isn’t a magic solution to decluttering your home and what you can do instead.

Have you ever walked into a cluttered room in your home and thought, “If only I felt motivated, I’d tackle this today”? You're not alone.

Many women in their 60s find themselves surrounded by items that reflect the past ... gifts from family, mementos from a busy life, objects once used for hobbies or entertaining ... but now they sit unused, collecting dust and indecision.

You may want your home to reflect the life you’re living now, not the one you lived 20 years ago. And yet, even with that desire, you find yourself stuck, waiting for motivation to strike.

Let’s talk about why waiting for motivation keeps you stuck ... and what to do instead.

What Is Motivation, Really?

We often treat motivation like it’s a magical feeling that makes hard tasks easy.

We imagine that once it shows up, we’ll spring into action, effortlessly making decisions, clearing clutter, and feeling amazing in the process.

But here’s the truth:

Motivation isn’t a starting point ... it’s a response.

Psychologists define motivation as the desire to act in service of a goal. But desire alone doesn’t clear countertops or empty closets. Motivation is often strongest when:

• We’ve already made some progress

• We’ve experienced a small win

• We’ve overcome the resistance to getting started

In other words, motivation grows out of action, not the other way around.

Can You Feel Motivated?

Yes, you absolutely can feel motivated. You’ve likely felt it many times.

The problem is that motivation is fleeting. It often shows up in short bursts:

• After watching a home makeover show

• When company is coming

• When you’ve just decluttered one small area and feel encouraged

But these moments of motivation don’t last long enough to carry you through the weeks or months it may take to declutter your entire home.

Waiting for motivation before getting started is like waiting for a breeze to move your sailboat when there’s no wind in the forecast.

Can You Rely on Motivation?

In short ... no.

Motivation is not reliable. It’s influenced by too many things:

• Your energy level

• Your mood

• The weather

• What you ate

• How well you slept

• What memories you stirred up the last time you tried to declutter

The good news? You don’t need to feel motivated to make progress. You just need to understand how to begin without it.

Why It’s So Hard to Get Started

If you find yourself procrastinating or walking into a room and then walking right back out, it’s not because you’re lazy or undisciplined.

It’s because task initiation is a skill unlike emotion-based motivation.

Task initiation is the ability to begin a task … especially an unpleasant or emotionally complicated one … even when you don’t feel like it. It’s a skill that can be learned and practiced. And for someone in your shoes, surrounded by items tied to memories, this skill is essential.

Why You’re Feeling Stuck

You’re likely caught in a cycle that looks like this:

1. You feel overwhelmed by the amount of clutter

2. You wait for motivation to make it easier

3. You don’t feel motivated, so you avoid starting

4. More clutter builds up

5. You feel more overwhelmed and discouraged

This cycle feeds itself ... until you do something small and intentional to break it. Let’s look at how to do that.

7 Ways to Get Started Even When You Don’t Feel Like Decluttering

You don’t need motivation to get started. You just need to make starting easier.

Here are seven strategies you can try:

1. Make the First Step Ridiculously Small

Don’t aim to “declutter the whole room.” That’s too big. Instead:

• Toss one expired spice

• Recycle one piece of junk mail

• Choose one coffee mug to donate

Success builds momentum. The smaller you start, the easier it is to begin.

2. Use a Timer ... Set Limits

Time limits remove the pressure to keep going endlessly.

• Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes

• Stop when the timer goes off

• You can always do another round later

These short bursts bypass the emotional resistance that comes with large tasks.

3. Pair It with Something Pleasant

Make starting more appealing by linking it to something you enjoy:

• Listen to music, an audiobook, or a comforting podcast

• Brew a cup of tea before you begin

• Open a window for fresh air and light

Pleasure helps soften the emotional weight of decision-making.

4. Create a Starting Ritual

Your brain likes routines. Try doing the same small ritual before each session:

• Light a candle

• Put on your “decluttering sweater”

• Say a quiet phrase like, “Just for today ... I’ll let go of what I no longer need.”

This cues your brain that it’s time to begin … without needing motivation.

5. Give Yourself Permission to Feel What You Feel

It’s normal to feel sentimental or uncertain. Don’t wait for clarity before you begin. Instead:

• Acknowledge your feelings (“This item reminds me of when…”)

• Take a breath

• Decide: “Is this something I use now or want to display?”

• If not, consider taking a photo or writing about the memory before letting the item go

This honors your emotional connection without keeping every object.

6. Focus on the Future You

Ask yourself:

• “Does this item fit the life I’m living now?”

• “Do I want to carry this into my future?”

Visualizing the home you want helps guide your decisions. You’re not just getting rid of things... you’re making space for who you are today.

7. Track Small Wins

Keep a simple list or take photos of each area you’ve decluttered. This shows real progress and helps motivation grow over time.

The Truth: Motivation Follows Action

Think back to times when you’ve felt motivated. It probably wasn’t before you started ... it was after you saw results.

You were inspired because you saw:

• A clear surface

• An organized drawer

• A few items boxed up for donation

Action creates a sense of control. That control leads to confidence. And that confidence makes it easier to keep going.

What to Do on Days You Really Don’t Feel Like Decluttering

Some days, you truly won’t want to declutter. That’s okay. Here are three ways to stay connected to your goal without forcing yourself:

1. Do “Mental Decluttering”

• Imagine walking through your ideal home

• Picture one room with less clutter

• Think about how you’d feel in that space

Visualization strengthens your identity as someone who’s changing their space.

2. Reflect, Don’t Judge

If you skipped a day or a week, ask yourself:

• What got in the way?

• What might help tomorrow?

• What’s one kind thing I can say to myself?

Self-kindness makes it easier to return to your goals.

3. Read or Watch Something Inspiring

Instead of waiting for motivation, seek out gentle encouragement:

• A book about simplifying

• A blogpost (like this one!)

• A friend or group that understands your journey

Sometimes motivation needs a spark—not a strike of lightning.

Final Thought: You’re Not Behind, You’re Becoming

If you’ve been waiting for motivation to get started, you haven’t failed. You’ve just been caught in a very human trap. The good news? You don’t need to wait any longer. You don’t have to feel like doing it.

You just need to take the smallest possible step. And then another. And another.

Your home doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to support the life you’re living now.

Let go gently. Begin slowly. And trust that motivation will meet you along the way ... not before you start, but because you started.

You’ve got this. And you’re not doing it alone.

If this post helped you, share it with a friend who might need a gentle nudge. Or leave a comment below: What’s one small step you could take today?