Decluttering / Cleaning no motivation--suggestions?

[kmb501]

I know there is a decluttering thread, but I wanted specific suggestions.

I literally let junk and garbage pile up in my small apartment. I would like some cleaning and decluttering strategies before my health starts to suffer. It's like I just have zero motivation to do it, and sometimes I feel overwhelmed by how much stuff there is to sort through. Plus, things literally sit there and ruin so that they are too much trouble to clean and should be thrown away.

Strangely, I can clean for other people (with guidance and supervision) but I can't seem to do anything cleaning for myself. I just don't feel motivated. I like clean rooms and jobs well done, but I have no motivation at all.

[Jluke]

Hire a cleaning company for one-time service.

Do it yourself. 15-30 minutes each day.

[JoeP]

The first run through should be for things you definitely don't need, the rest stays. Then start to categorize the remainder by something that makes sense to you: photos, keepsakes, decorations, clothing, etc. Then buy plastic bins for each, label them clearly, and then stack them.

I am doing this for my decluttering efforts, and it is making the task pretty simple.

[disneysteve]

I literally let junk and garbage pile up in my small apartment. I would like some cleaning and decluttering strategies before my health starts to suffer.

Welcome to the site.

I realize what I'm about to say is to a total stranger who I know nothing about, but your post here and on my decluttering thread (and the fact that I'm a physician) really makes me wonder if you have a more significant issue that needs attention. Having clutter pile up is pretty normal - hence my thread - but when it elevates to the point of having rotting food and even health issues resulting from it that's a different thing.

Have you ever watched the Hoarders show on TLC? In every case, part of the solution involves having a mental health professional get involved because there is always, always, always, an underlying mental health issue. The hoarding problem typically began after some emotional trauma like a divorce or the death of a loved one, especially a parent or a child. If that sounds even remotely familiar to you, I'd urge you to seek professional help.

If I'm totally off base and you're all honky dory with life and just happen to be really sloppy , then I'd say you need to just get up and start the process. The first step needs to be the garbage because of the health issue. Grab a few trash bags and get to it. Throw out any food that is past its useful life. Going forward, all trash goes in the trash can immediately. Not later. Not the next day. Not after it gets green and fuzzy or crawling with bugs. IMMEDIATELY.

Once that is gone, move on to the non-food trash. Anything that you no longer need or use or want gets tossed or donated.

The hot book on this topic today is by Marie Kondo. It's called "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." It's a good read and can totally set you on the right path but take care of the food waste first please.

[kmb501]

Hire a cleaning company for one-time service.

Do it yourself. 15-30 minutes each day.

I'm a little confused, though. I've seen cleaning companies work, and they don't declutter. Decluttering is a separate service for most. I don't need simple maid service; I need heavy decluttering and advice on how to not let it get that way again. The most discouraging part of all of this for me is that it eventually gets back that way again. My brain just goes on autopilot and I forget to pay attention to it. Then, later when I look up again, it's filthy; sometimes it's even hard to see the floor because there's so much stuff everywhere.

[Reece102]

Like someone else has mentioned, do a little a day. Set an area you are going to start on and first begin to set stuff in a box you'd like to keep. Anything else, place in a bag for the bin. Good luck with this

[FrugalFish]

I was once told to sit down, close my eyes, and imagine the finished result. Apparently this can help us get motivated to do a task? If you can imagine how it would look and how you would feel with your apartment in fine condition, then maybe you would be more motivated to work towards it?

We have a spare bedroom that is a work room, but it also becomes the catch-all room from all other parts of the house. This time of year it's particularly bad with the post holiday, kids going back to school, and me doing routine purging of stuff. I get so discouraged in there sometimes that I just leave for an hour or even the rest of the day. Imagining that room cleaned up and being used as a craft/work room helps me to get it back into that condition (which it is much of the year).

I agree with others though, just set a timer and set yourself to work for that time period. Even 10 minutes of loading a garbage bag can be substantial if you have a lot of trash. Start with the low hanging fruit

[msomnipotent]

I gulp down an energy drink, blast some music, and sell anything that will sell. The extra cash is my motivation. I'm getting ready to put my house on the market, so I pretty much have to declutter, regardless of motivation.