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How to Get Motivated to Clean When You’re Overwhelmed by the Mess | 17 Expert Tips

January 3, 2019 by Leslie 14 Comments

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It’s one of life’s conundrums: How to get motivated to clean when overwhelmed by mess. Here are 17 of the best tips from organizing gurus to get you started.

Having an organized home is one of my biggest dreams. But how to get motivated to clean when overwhelmed by mess from kids (and just life in general?). Find the right challenge or plan for you from these 17 tips and quotes for inspiration to make sure you finally clean and declutter your house for good - even if you're on a budget. #organization #home #tips

 

Happy New Year everyone! Can you believe it’s already 2019? 

Just like every January, I’m feeling motivated to do all the things! But, the truth is that it’s important to step back and be realistic. 

For those that don’t know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer last January. And as a result of months of chemotherapy, recovery from a mastectomy, and now daily radiation, our house feels is getting disorganized…no it’s downright messy! Which is why I totally understood when a reader emailed me with the following question:

“Hi Leslie,  I hope you can help me.  I need help with organizing.  I have been so busy & have let everything in my house go including cleaning.  I am so overwhelmed every time I start to do something that I end up giving up.  Do you have a plan of action that would help me?”

Yep, I totally understand how she feels. Frankly, I often wonder how to get motivated to clean when overwhelmed by mess. And my previous solution has been pretty extreme – I used the One Room Challenge to really focus in and get an organization system in place. (Those rooms are still pretty awesome, by the way)

Unfortunately, with post-mastectomy weight-lifting restrictions, I won’t be able to participate in that level of cleaning out anytime soon. And there are plenty of cluttered messes still around in our house. So, I did the next best thing…I asked the experts for advice!

I’ve got 14 bloggers with 17 fantastic tips for finally getting organized when you’re totally overwhelmed with a mess. And, if you want to know how I’m able to keep the rooms I’ve redesigned organized, I’ve got my own tips at the bottom. 

How to Get Motivated to Clean When Overwhelmed by Mess | 17 Expert Tips

Jennifer from The Housewife Modern says:

  • “Get a planner. There are tons out there, or create your own using a 3-ring binder or a bullet journal. But get a planner that works for you. Write down everything. (Check out this post on tackling an overwhelming to-do list)
  • Know your priorities. So many of us get overwhelmed with stuff that- in retrospect- isn’t really that important.
  • Look at what you are working on that isn’t resulting in you reaching your priorities (see tip #2) above. Cut those things.”

Want to learn more about Jennifer’s System? Check out her Life Organized Binder here.

Maria from Leisurely Does It says:

  • “Pick one visible area in your home that bothers you most and tidy that up. Then work on keeping it tidy and organized.
  • Or, if bad habits are contributing to the disorganization of your home, pick one habit and work on changing that. Once you’ve done that one thing, then you can move on.”

Get more tips from Maria on Overcoming a Messy House here.

Gemma from The Goal Chaser says:

“Definitely start small! Section your house up and declutter/organize each space in full before moving onto the next. It will build momentum (and confidence) and gradually you will get there!”

Click here to try her Declutter Challenge

how to get motivated to clean when overwhelmed by mess? Make organization simple and strategically organize all the supplies you need into one area or container.

Related >>>> 5 Ways to Save Time at Home

Amy of Organization Boutique

“The first step to getting organized is to make sure you’ve really fully decluttered first. You’ll always feel overwhelmed if you try to organize clutter. Start in an area that will have the biggest impact in your home. Then, narrow it down to a small section of that area and get started.”

Click here to read Amy’s No Fail Strategies to Clear the Clutter

Julie from Frugally Blonde says:

“I recommend starting with a small win. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed; and choose a small area that you see everyday.”

Want to get started? Try this 7-Day Decluttering Challenge!

Chrissy from Organise My House says:

“Start with a plan of where you want to be-then you can make decisions based on that and know when you get there.”

Read more from Chrissy here!

 

Sharon from How to Get Organized at Home says:

“One step at a time, there is no rushing as you will end up in even more mess!”

Read more about How to Get Organized at Home!

 

Brianna of Living Kairos says:

“The first step is organizing your thoughts, then going from there to every other aspect of your life.”

Click here to read more of Brianna’s tips. 

Liz from The Stay Sane Mom says:

“Establish routines that make organization more intuitive and habitual, rather than a constant struggle.”

Get more tips and grab Liz’s downloadable workbook here. 

Julie from Filling in the Jars

“Remember this didn’t happen overnight and you don’t have to solve it in a week. But you CAN solve it by consistent effort and learning to have ONE focus on your priority goal. “

Learn Julie’s Step-by-Step Action Plan to Declutter right here 

It's impossible to figure out how to get motivated to clean when overwhelmed by mess if you don't have your priorities figured out first.

Related >>>> 7 Simple Steps to an Organized Linen Closet

Kristal from It’s My Favorite Day says:

“I often suggest taking photos before you start decluttering.  Before photos are a great way to see all the progress you’ve made.”

Read more of Kristal’s tips right here. 

Brooke of Happy Simple Mom says:

“I have three core principles to an organized home. Start with you, move on to the quick wins to build momentum, and stop the inflow.”

Find out more about Brooke’s core principles. 

Emily from Small Stuff Counts says:

“Create stations or kits for things you regularly use. By strategically organizing all of the supplies you need for a particular task into one area or container, you make it easy to grab everything when you need it.

The types of stations and kits you can set up in your house are endless, but a few examples include a lunch packing station, coffee station, mail/paper station, homework station, cleaning caddy, dishwashing station and car cleaning kit. Think about things you use frequently and try to organize them together so they are easy to access.”

Get all of Emily’s organizing tips over at Small Stuff Counts 

Amy from Simple Everyday Home says:

“Spend the bulk of your time doing things that can be seen instead of pouring all your energy into spaces that are rarely used.”

Get her Free Conquer the Chaos Mini E-Course here

Overwhelmed by Mess? "Make sure you've really fully decluttered first. You'll always feel overwhelmed if you try to organize clutter" by Amy at Organization Boutique

My Biggest Tips on How to Get Motivated to Clean when Overwhelmed by Mess

Like I said earlier, I’ve used the One Room Challenge to help clear the clutter out of several rooms in our house. And whenever I really take the time to do it right, those spaces stay pretty darn organized. Want to know what I do? Take a look:

1. Focus on One Space at a Time.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about how to get motivated to clean when overwhelmed by mess, it’s that trying to organize everything at once is a recipe for disaster. Pick one space, and clean that area out first. Don’t do anything else until that room is done. Also, if you have a room that tends to be a catch-all, save that one for last.

2. Consider Everyone’s Habits in the Family

My husband and I have very different opinions of what ‘organized’ means, and that can be a huge source of frustration. The systems that work best are the ones that work with both of our habits instead of against them.

Here’s an easy rule of thumb: Keep the organizational system ridiculously simple to maintain. And then enforce it.

Seriously, any time I’ve tried to organize things just for my style without considering the way my husband and kids work,  we’re back at square one within a few weeks.

3. Deadlines are Your Friend

Want a surefire tip for how to get motivated to clean when overwhelmed by mess? Schedule a party! External factors, like hosting a party, or sharing your progress in a public forum (like a facebook group), are so helpful. Sometimes they might even encourage other family members to pitch in!

4. Don’t be Afraid to Outsource

Some people don’t believe in it, but we hire a cleaning service to come every two weeks. No, they don’t organize, but that bi-weekly deadline motivates the rest of the family to pitch in. If that’s not an option for you financially, you might want to ask a good friend to exchange cleaning tasks. It’s unconventional, but might be an option if you are truly desperate.

Need to get organized? Schedule a party! Nothing motivates better than guests coming to your home.

Related >>>> 8 Cleaning Tips to Help Your Home Get Party Ready

Now, It’s Your Turn

Phew! That’s a lot, isn’t it? But when you look at it, there are common themes on how to get motivated to clean when overwhelmed by mess:

  1. Start small
  2. Declutter, declutter, declutter (your stuff AND your mind), and
  3. Give yourself some grace.

Obviously those are just the first steps. I know I can’t wait to try out some of the resources these amazing women have pulled together. It really makes me feel like 2019 can truly be a year that our home gets organized now…regardless of illness! (and if you’re looking for more organizing tips, you can get all my tips and tricks right here!) 

What’s your biggest organization frustration?
Who’s tip is your favorite?

 

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Filed Under: Decorations, Organization Tagged With: tips

About Leslie

Leslie is the passionate party planner in her family. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, she was determined to find a way to continue making amazing parties for her kids that don't leave you exhausted. To do that Leslie combines the experience she learned working for a professional event planner with the reality of a busy family life to create party inspiration that the average mom can reproduce and be proud of.

Comments

  1. Shannon says

    January 6, 2019 at 5:30 pm

    What a great collection of tips! I use a cleaning schedule to keep things clean. However, I’m still a little overwhelmed right now (I have a 4-year-old, a 2-year-old, and a 3-month old). I can apply some of these ideas as I get back on track!

    Reply
  2. J says

    January 7, 2019 at 3:12 am

    Have a Healthy and Happy New Year Leslie and family! Try not to worry about a mess coz you have been thru so much and u still are! Remember Leslie, that u are a survivor!

    I wish I lived near you coz I would definitely help you get organized, so it would make u feel better!
    Hope you have a great week and even better weekend coming up! J

    Reply
  3. Laurie says

    January 7, 2019 at 7:46 am

    Thanks for the inspiration! I need all I can get, when it comes to cleaning. You are right – nothing inspires me to clean like throwing a party! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Michele Morin says

    January 8, 2019 at 8:36 am

    I am in awe of your motivation to pull this together given the nature of your last several months!
    Blessings to you–and I agree with Laurie above! I have a house full of company coming on Friday night, and i’m already strategizing the cleaning war!

    Reply
  5. Mrs. Laura Lane says

    January 9, 2019 at 11:40 am

    Hello,
    I just found your blog. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and have followed the same path of chemo, surgery, and radiation. I completed my treatments last July. Now it’s pills, tests, and doctor appointments.
    I am praying for you this morning. My mantra was, “I will live and not die and declare the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” While in radiation, it was, “Thou o LORD are a shield to me, my glory and the lifter of my head.”
    God bless you and keep you safe and bring full healing in Jesus’ name!
    Laura Lane
    Harvest Lane Cottage

    Contact me if you want to “talk”.
    [email protected]

    Reply
  6. Randi | confessions of parenting says

    January 9, 2019 at 2:57 pm

    This is a very motivating list! I have been avoiding many chores around my house because I have felt overwhelmed with the holidays and adjusting to having my children back in school. I will definitely be using some of these tips to get started!

    Reply
  7. Amrita says

    January 11, 2019 at 6:36 am

    Managing closets overwhelm me. These are great tips to start the right way. Found your post at Bloggers Pit stop.

    Reply
  8. Michele Michael says

    January 12, 2019 at 7:31 am

    These are helpful as I am always cleaning the craft studio. As a matter of fact I’m in there today to do some cleaning and organizing. It’s a great reminder to take the small wins!!! Thanks for posting at Funtastic Friday Michele from Coastal Bohemian

    Reply
  9. Julie says

    January 12, 2019 at 6:02 pm

    Wonderful list, one thing I do is set a timer for 20 minutes. I’m always surprised at how much I can get done in that shirt amount of time! And sometimes the momentum keeps going and I get more done than I ever imagined!

    Reply
  10. Janice Wald says

    January 14, 2019 at 1:10 am

    Congratulations! You won the Inspire Me Monday Linky Party and will be featured on my blog tomorrow.
    Janice, your hostess

    Reply
  11. Menaka Bharathi says

    January 17, 2019 at 6:32 am

    Thanks for joining us on Bloggers Pit Stop. Your printables are awesome – subscribing to your list

    Reply
  12. Claire Saul says

    January 17, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    This is such a great list – as everyone says here in the comments. You have inspired me and I may even try to bring some semblance of organisation to my teen daughter’s mess!! I hope you don’t mind but I added your link in my regular feature Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You! Claire x (PainPalsBlog)

    Reply
  13. jack says

    November 24, 2019 at 8:48 am

    Wow – thanks for all of these – I love January just for the cleaning and organizing I can get done – always makes me feel ready to take on the year!

    Reply
  14. Jackie says

    August 1, 2023 at 5:53 pm

    Thank you so much for all your advice! I have been wanting to get started on a deep clean for our home. Making a plan to start tomorrow. Hopefully we can have our carpet cleaned too. Thanks again for sharing!

    Reply

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I love helping busy moms create DIY parties that aren’t overwhelming. Here you'll find crafts, recipes, and fun printables you can use to create a celebration you’re proud of that you get to enjoy too! Read More
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