Decluttering is an important part of establishing function in your small space, but it is by no means an easy thing to do. I've found that it's easier to tackle the challenge of decluttering by clarifying my own perspective, as well as my expectations of how the process should go.
Before you declutter, consider the below to help establish your own mindset:
Find your reason. Articulate why you're decluttering in the first place. Is it to make a new, downsized space more comfortable? Reclaim your identity after having kids? Make room for a new hobby in your life? There is a reason why you feel prompted to take this challenge on, and articulating that reason can help keep you motivated to reach your goal.
Focus on the benefits. We can sometimes adopt the attitude that decluttering is a punishment for our 'bad' decisions. Instead of seeing it as going without, try to look at all the benefits it can bring to your life, such as having a more organized and peaceful living space, being able to find things more easily, and potentially even saving money by not having to buy items you already own but can't find. Letting go of clutter should be a relief, not a punishment, and thinking of all the benefits can set you up to think more positively about it.
Set realistic goals. Unless you're dealing with an already minimal space, don't expect to be able to declutter your entire home in one day; this will surely overwhelm you and cause you to give up early in the process. Instead, pace yourself by setting realistic goals for what you can accomplish: tackle one room at a time, one area of the room, or even just one drawer at a time. Remember to be patient with yourself, even a small amount of progress is a step in the right direction.
Consider why your home was cluttered in the first place. It's natural to accumulate stuff over time, but without bringing awareness to our habits, a decluttered space can very quickly become cluttered all over again. In order for a declutter to be successful, you need to reflect on what habits perpetuate the stuff build-up and think about new mindsets to adopt around buying and possessions that can reduce your need to declutter.
I know it can be tempting to jump head first into the decluttering process, but if you start with the mindset first you'll be less likely to give up when you encounter obstacles along the way. More on the common obstacles and how to keep them from derailing you in my next post, subscribe to learn when it's published.
Good luck as you embark on this process!