The first thing to know is that feeling stressed and overwhelmed is usually less about how much clutter you have and more about your confidence in dealing with it.
Before you start clearing out your unwanted goods, you need to take a long hard look at where your clutter comes from, and a great first step is examining your shopping habits.
I recommend an approach that I refer to as Mindful Decluttering. It involves clearly defining what you want from your home and life and then consciously working towards that vision by decluttering and letting go.
If you love checking things off a to-do list … start with a small space and avoid sentimental items. If you get bored easily or struggle with motivation … try an exciting project instead of an easy one.
By predefining these rules, you provide yourself with a framework that helps you make quick decisions. You’ll feel less overwhelmed because you’ll have a personalized roadmap to guide you along the way.
You need to get to the heart of your roadblocks—this is essential to not only decluttering your home but also simplifying your entire life. But be patient with yourself, and don’t let unrealistic expectations overwhelm you.