If you’ve ever started decluttering with the best intentions—full of energy and determination—only to find yourself completely overwhelmed and ready to give up halfway through… you’re not alone.
Decluttering burnout is real.
It sneaks up on you, especially when you’re trying to “finally get everything done” in one big push. And the worst part? Once it hits, it’s hard to get back on track. What once felt exciting now feels like a burden, and that momentum you were counting on? Gone.
But don’t worry. Burnout isn’t inevitable. If you want to make real progress and keep making progress, here are three simple (but powerful) shifts to help you stay consistent for the long haul.
1. Stop Before You’re Exhausted
I get it: you’re on a roll, and you just want to finish. Decluttering has been on your to-do list for far too long, and now that you’ve started, you want to get it done.
But if you keep pushing yourself, you’re going to burn out.
It’s like going to the gym for the first time in years and jumping into the toughest class on the schedule. It seems like a good idea at the time, but if you can’t walk the next day, how likely are you to go back?
A better approach is slow and steady—and I’m dealing with this right now, having just started running again after a 14-year hiatus. For my first few runs, I pushed myself hard and then nearly gave up. I told myself I’m too old, it’s been too long, and there’s no point in trying.
But what I really needed to do was slow down and show up consistently, and the same applies to decluttering.
If you push yourself to the point of burnout, you’ll start associating decluttering with pain, frustration, and fatigue. Not exactly a recipe for consistency.
So here’s a radical idea: stop before you’re tired. Leave something in the tank. Walk away while you’re still feeling good, and you’ll be much more likely to come back tomorrow. And the next day. And the next.
2. Build Self-Care Into Your Plans
Decluttering is not just a physical task—it’s an emotional one too. You’re making decisions. Confronting the past. Letting go of guilt, fear, and regret. That takes energy.
So please, don’t forget to take care of yourself.
After a decluttering session, don’t just collapse in a heap of exhaustion and wonder why you feel so drained. Acknowledge what you’ve done. Honour the work.
Then… take a walk. Call a friend. Read a book. Drink your favourite tea.
Do something that reminds you of the life you’re creating. That’s what this is all about, after all—clearing space so you can enjoy what matters most.
Related Post: 12 Tiny Tips to Make Time for Yourself
3. Celebrate the Effort (Not Just the Outcome)
I’ll be honest with you: decluttering usually takes longer than expected.
It’s easy to start with a plan, a timeline, and a checklist… but then reality hits. Life happens, kids get sick, and of course, emotions surface.
And when it does, it’s tempting to feel like a failure. To think “I should be done by now,” or “Why is this taking so long?”
But here’s the truth: showing up is enough.
You are doing something hard. You are breaking habits and confronting clutter that’s been building up for years—maybe even decades. That takes courage.
So instead of focusing on how far you still have to go, pause and appreciate how far you’ve come. Every decision, every small win, every time you show up, it all counts.
Trust the process and stay the course. The results will come.
How to Trick Your Brain into Maintaining Momentum
One more quick tip!
I recently learned about a concept from neuroscience and psychology called reward prediction error (RPE), and I think we can use it to ‘hack’ our decluttering.
It refers to the difference between the expected reward and the actual reward we receive from an action.
- Positive RPE: The reward is better than expected (dopamine spike).
- Negative RPE: The reward is worse than expected (dopamine drop).
In other words, when we have a positive RPE, we are more likely to continue or repeat an action. But a negative RPE? It’s like a stop sign, which the brain interprets as, “This was a bad move. Don’t repeat it.”
So, how can we use this to our advantage?
Here are some ideas:
- Choose small projects that have unexpected benefits. For example, your bedside table. It might seem like a boring job, but once you’re done, you get to look at a fresh, clutter-free surface every day!
- Pay special attention to the benefits of decluttering. Instead of jumping into the next project, pause and challenge yourself to list 5 ways you’ve improved your life by letting go. From experience, this intentional focus helps you notice benefits you may have otherwise overlooked.
- Connect the dots between decluttering and your values. Let’s say you just decluttered your kitchen counters. Now, you’ll spend less time cooking and cleaning, which means you’ll have more time for [insert what matters to you]. Making this direct connection makes decluttering even more valuable, which will keep you motivated to continue.
- Pair fun activities with your decluttering. If you have a favourite podcast or playlist, save it for your next decluttering session, and you’ll find yourself looking forward to it. (I recently joined a gym with a hot tub, and this “pairing” method has gotten me to show up consistently to pilates for the first time ever!)
All of these ideas help create a “better than expected” experience with decluttering—an experience your brain will look forward to repeating!
Decluttering is a Journey
At the end of the day, I think it’s important to remember you’ll have good days and bad days. There will be wins and setbacks — but you don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep going.
Take care of yourself. Be kind to yourself. And remember: the goal isn’t just a tidy home. It’s a life that feels lighter, freer, and more aligned with what matters most.
You’ve got this. 💛
More resources to help you on your decluttering journey:
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