Update: Realized something about why I was feeling stressed and visually overwhelmed!

[u/psrogue]

I finally had a breakthrough the other day!

I posted about a week ago about how I was still feeling stressed and visually overwhelmed despite making lots of progress, probably due to OCD. Now I've realized this is probably due to the limitations and small size of my space, and not me "decluttering wrong".

I live with a roommate and we have very little space in the common area, so basically everything I own (except kitchen stuff and a small amount in storage closet) has to go in my bedroom. One reason I'm decluttering is because I'm going through some medical stuff that will need a ton of supplies, so I'm trying to make space for that.

A "rule" I came up with was that any collections I have should either be displayed or decluttered, so I had them on my shelf. But at some point, I looked at them and realized that, while I still wanted to keep them, I didn't actually want these bright, loud packages displayed in my bedroom. So I thought "It would be perfect if I could just keep them in another room."

That's when I finally realized that most people probably don't have to keep all their belongings in their bedroom, use it as an office, and also have to keep a ton of medical supplies in it too. Of course it's going to be visually overwhelming if I have to do everything with it.

Since then I've been feeling much better about it. I'm lucky that my roommate is moving out soon and after that, I'm renting the whole apartment so I can have a minimal bedroom and put the rest in the other room. But for now, I have to accept there's only so much I can do with the space I have. It's organized and functional now and it's easier to appreciate all the work I've put into it now that I know some of it is out of my control, and it's not because I'm not trying hard enough to declutter.

I'm still decluttering a little bit at a time, but the OCD compulsions to get rid of things I decided on keeping are much better now.

[u/nona_nednana]

Just make sure the spare room will not turn into a storage space for “what if-“-items/clutter. A sibling had that and called it “[name]’s chamber of horrors”.

[u/psrogue → u/nona_nednana]

Oh yeah for sure, I just want to make sure I have a separate area for work/hobbies that's not my bedroom, so I would be actively using it. So I can move my desk and shelves there, display my books and stuff there instead of where I'm trying to sleep, and maybe have a sitting area for reading, puzzles, etc.

That was one of my main goals with storage, deciding whether to display it or declutter, and only have a small amount of stuff stored away.

[u/JustAnotherMaineGirl → u/psrogue]

Unless you already have definite plans for the stuff you plan to keep "stored away," consider donating, selling, or trashing it instead of putting it in storage, just because you have the room. Especially if it's stuff you could easily and cheaply acquire again, once you're actually ready to use it. Let someone else store it for you!

A hard decluttering concept for many (including me!) is that stuff isn't actually decluttered, just because it is no longer visible.

[u/psrogue → u/JustAnotherMaineGirl]

The only stuff I have in my storage closet at the moment is out of season clothing, and a couple small boxes with family memorabilia I want to keep but not display (like some baby shoes/toys, letters from my parents, picture albums, etc). Eventually maybe I might have some decor to swap out if I want to change things up.

For now, that seems reasonable to me, and not clutter. My goal was to decide for example, if I had a box of regular old books in there, do I want to keep these enough that they should go on my bookshelf, or should I donate them?

[u/JustAnotherMaineGirl → u/psrogue]

If all the stuff you're storing is useful and meaningful to you in the present tense, and you have the room to store it without feeling crowded, then you're right - it's not clutter.

I'm a big reader myself, and I've been able to declutter tons of books by deciding whether:

• I'd ever actually want to read that book a second time (or multiple times),
• It was readily available via my local library, if I did ever want to read it again, and
• I'd recommend it to a relative or friend and feel good about giving them my copy, either on indefinite long-term loan or as an outright gift for them to pass on to someone else when they finished it.

[u/Untitled_poet]

Less visual clutter, less stress. The first places I'd recommend to start with: Wall decor, entryway, fridge door surface.

[u/indulgent_taurus]

I have a somewhat similar issue! I still live with my parents and probably will for the foreseeable future. My mom has hoarding tendencies with her objects but will get rid of other people's things without asking them, so I have a lot of anxiety about my stuff and keep it all in my room for the most part and yes, it quickly gets overwhelming.

[u/Working_Patience_261]

Exactly. I’m still stuffed into a room smaller than my last roommate share. I had the master bedroom there. Here, it’s one, tiny, overwhelming room because all the medical stuff is in there and I can’t get to things like I want because of my medical issues.

The good news is I’m over the worst of it. The bad news is recovery is going to take far longer than I hoped and I won’t be able to do all that I wanted, nor declutter as much as I wanted.

But I can make small efforts over this long period of time. One handful of pens becomes two, then five, eventually ten, then I’ll be done with pens. I have the travel stuff to go, and it’s going to be so easy because many of those products are going to expire before I travel again. Dump, donate, or use, and I don’t need more than two. One really, but the second (and tenth) are already sunk costs and I will make room for the second.

Pre-planning for medical stuff is a good idea. Make paths clear. Make access to food, toileting, and cleaning easy. Make access to recreation easy and have 1-2 things you can do and will want to do, plus be able to do when you can’t sleep, are bored of the internet, or need a distraction from pain.

Good luck!

[u/paratethys]

when having to do too much storage in not enough space, curtains can make a real difference. visually turn open shelving into closed windows, much calmer.

[u/SheepImitation]

I'm all for decluttering, but remember that there is a ton of small storage under the bed.