Tips for decluttering

Baby steps
Doing a little at a time is perfectly acceptable. Rome wasn't built in one day so you don't have to be super woman aka domestic godess who achieves the total Beautiful Homes look by raising an eye brow. You get to take what time you need. And every little bit you do is one thing less that needs doing. This is progress!

Impetus
Dealing with just one or two items is better than throwing up your hands in despair and not touching anything. This is a good method to break through complete paralysis: pick up just one item and deal with it. Whatever shape or form the "dealing with it" takes: put it back where it should be, try it out to see if  still fit for purpose, gift it to someone else who needs it, or get rid of it another way. Just make sure you did something you wanted to do with this one item so you have one achievement under your belt, no matter how small or how significant. It all counts!
Then reward yourself for this success. This is important: you need the positive head space rather than negativity that clouds what you already achieved. Make sure you celebrate every little bit of success that ocmes your way! Reward yourself! 

Reward yourself
This can take all kinds of forms. Pick a reward that means something to you.
It could be quiet, relaxing time with a tea you love out of your favourite mug, sitting somewhere that you enjoy. It might be time playing with a dog, or 15 minutes reading a book or magazine. It could be a breather at an open window for however long you enjoy when you get to think about nice things and put all the chores out your mind: this is time that belongs to you.
I have other ideas that may work as rewards: knit for a bit, watch a specific tv programmes or a show you recorded (or Netflix), take a breather at the window, have a chat with a friend or neighbour, go for a walk in an interesting or relaxing place, look in on a shop you wanted to check out, make a cultural date with yourself of attending a museum, gallery or a talk, go for a ride, chill out on the sofa, wear your most favourite outfit, dance around the house to a song you love - I'm sure there are many other things that can make meaningful rewards or celebrations. Write them down when they occur to you, it's nice to be able to look it up when you can't think of it. 

Just something you enjoy and that makes you feel good.

 

I'll think of some more and will add them.

Now all I have to do is to follow my own advice... Okay then!