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[Zoe]

@Natureluvr 

Some excellent suggestions here already -- touch an item once, establish a "time will tell" routine (e.g., moving to garage/temp holding space), make donating/purging a routine with conveniently located boxes. (When our Chewy boxes arrive, that's a sign for us to fill them right back up with donations -- large and can handle heavier items very well.)

Additional suggestions:

• the book "Let It Go" by Peter Walsh (formerly of "Clean Sweep" and Oprah Winfrey Show fame)
• and The Minimal Mom on YouTube
• The Swedish Death cleaning series on Peacock

The first two help with "managing inventory" and "reducing stress/anxiety by managing inventory." I personally view those as the psychology behind clutter management (or anti-clutter, as the case may be) and understanding the need for clarity in a less cluttered space with less visual noise. The TV series helped me -- and others in my circle -- understand that we do not want to thrust everything upon heirs and give them "work." There is a particularly excellent episode of that show about a young man who inherited everything from both his parents who passed very close to one another while he was fighting cancer -- and his mental block with letting go.

Once you get over the hump that may be currently inhibiting your ability to declutter, it is possible to get into a routine -- and also incorporate that thought into your purchasing behavior, if you so desire. Good luck!

[Snoopp]

I tend to do some shuffling of items when I'm trying to purge or organize.  I have to force myself to find a place for something and at the very least, store it there (usually basement) instead of a spare room.  I've been making progress but it's slow.

These type of jobs suck the energy out of me so fast, I can barely stand it.  The only way I get through some of it is by breaking the task in very, very small pieces.  One box, one drawer, one item.  Whatever it takes.  My only rule is to do it daily.