What to Organize First When Your House Feels Overwhelming

When your house feels like it’s closing in on you—piles everywhere, dishes stacked, toys underfoot—it’s tempting to light a candle, open a window, and pretend it’s not happening.

But clutter doesn’t disappear on its own. And the longer it lingers, the heavier it feels—physically and mentally.

So, where do you start when everything feels like too much?

1. Start With the Space You See First Thing in the Morning

Is it your kitchen? Your bathroom? The hallway? Pick the first area you encounter each day and give it 10–15 minutes of focused love. It sets the tone for everything that follows.

2. Clear the “Hot Spots”

These are the surfaces that attract clutter like a magnet: the kitchen island, the dining table, the stairs. You know the ones. Clear them completely and commit to keeping them clean—it creates instant mental breathing room.

3. Do a 10-Minute Trash Sweep

Grab a bag and walk through your house tossing anything that’s obvious trash: receipts, broken toys, dried-out pens, junk mail. Quick wins build momentum.

4. Declutter One Drawer. Just One.

Open the drawer that’s been driving you nuts (junk drawer, I see you) and take five minutes to declutter it. Sometimes small victories are the best kind.

5. Pick a “Pain Point” Room and Set a 20-Minute Timer

What’s the one room that’s causing you the most stress? Set a timer for 20 minutes and do what you can—sort laundry, toss broken stuff, gather items that belong elsewhere. No pressure to finish. You’re just starting.

And here's the mindset shift:
You don’t need to organize your whole house today. You just need to take one step. Then another. And then another. Progress over perfection.

If it’s feeling impossible to do it alone, that’s okay. That’s why I do what I do—so you don’t have to stay stuck.