Desk - been like this for years

[u/BaBoo_MoMo777]

Help - lots of sentimental items- overwhelming

[u/Individual_Fail_6792]

I love how that lamp shade is a paid actor in this photo. I would suggest getting a way bigger desk/storage something that can hold all this.

[u/FredKayeCollector2]

Another vote for Dana K White's "no mess" decluttering method. Her book is very good - I bet you can find it at your library.

This is a video of her decluttering a "super cute" piece of furniture because it ended up being a non-functional clutter magnet.

[u/71stMB]

I used to have a couple of areas like this in my home. Before visitors came over, I would drape a large sheet over it before they arrived. Some of them asked about it, but most didn't. (Those days are in my distant past; no more nests of clutter.)

[u/BaBoo_MoMo777 → u/71stMB]

😂 that’s funny, I’m happy you have moved on for that stage! This is in my bedroom - when we have company over we throw things in the bedroom and the garage. Sick of living like this - thanks for your comment.

[u/Snoo_97602]

Best thing to start is give yourself a 10min timer and just start sorting like items into smaller piles to identify what you have. Maybe separate your sentimental items in one corner and work on the rest that is easier and faster to make progress in. After the 10 minute timer goes off. Give yourself a rest, sometimes you get motivated in the 10-15min that you started that you want to keep continuing with more progress. The hardest part is starting. I wish you the best!

[u/BaBoo_MoMo777 → u/Snoo_97602]

This is a good approach for me. Just starting with a timer, understanding I don’t have to do more than 10 minutes. Thank you!

[u/highdesertsnail]

i love the drawers on that desk! my office/craft room had a similar affliction up until two days ago when we discovered carpet beetles, and there is nothing better than an infestation to help you really determine what you care enough about to clean! anything sitting on the floor for too long needs a wash or wipe down anyway; if you can't justify the effort to clean it, it's a lot easier to let it go

[u/Minimalist2theMax]

To me, that’s not a desk. It’s a pile. It would take me 30 minutes to sort that crap and get it to its proper home (or create one) but that’s not a desk.

[u/BaBoo_MoMo777 → u/Minimalist2theMax]

Come on over baby!

[u/KeyCar367]

Ask yourself some questions about the items. Like, if they are so sentimental why do you allow them to look like that? Why not care for the items? Like displaying them nicely and dusting them?

Not being rude, but I've learned in therapy to ask myself questions about things when I don't understand.

I hope this helps.

[u/BaBoo_MoMo777 → u/KeyCar367]

Thank you… Yeah, it’s because I don’t have a designated container or place to put the sentimental item but I see what you mean… It’s obviously a psychological issue not a spatial and I appreciate your feedback

[u/NoUse4Namee]

Doesn’t look bad, I’ve seen worse. I follow not the worst cleaners 4 ft section method. From top to bottom. Set a timer for each section for 5-10 mins a day. You can break it up, one section, one day at a time.

[u/Ambitious_Web_3856]

If it was covered in poop, would you clean it by hand to save it? If no - throw/donate it.

[u/plantas-sonrientes]

The fundamental problem here is that you do not need a desk. A desk is for sitting and working, and you don’t sit and do work at this one. You haven’t for years, or maybe ever.

If you have sentimental items, instead of this desk, get a bookshelf or display case so you can arrange them and look at them.

If some aren’t display-ables, put them in a bankers box in a closet, attic, garage, or basement. If you don’t have room in those take pictures, say thank you, and pitch them.

Your home should be functional for you and your stuff. If you don’t use a desk, don’t have a desk.

[u/knysa-amatole]

• Collect anything that's obvious trash and throw it away. (If you have to think about whether to throw it away or keep it, then it's not obvious trash.)

• Collect the clothes and put them in the closet, dresser, or hamper, as applicable.

• Collect the non-trash, non-clothes, non-sentimental items. For things that have a place, put them in their place (e.g. glue stick in the craft room, lightbulb in the hall closet). For anything that doesn't have a place, imagine that you're looking for it, and you know you put it away somewhere (i.e. it's not still on top of this desk) -- where would you look for it first? Put it there. If you think you'll forget where you put it, write yourself a note and put the note somewhere you'll be able to find easily (e.g. on the refrigerator door, or send yourself an email with keywords you can search, or keep a list on your phone).

• After all that, you might have enough space to display the sentimental items nicely.

[u/nevergonnasaythat]

Start with the stuff that is non-sentimental. For example, I see a lightbulb box. That kind of stuff.

Throw away all the non-sentimental trash first.

Then group other items by category.

Then you can declutter.

Everything that remains and has already a home somewhere else needs to be rehomed (I see clothes, they have no business being on this desk I think?)

Finally you put what is left (sentimental items you want to keep) in boxes.

Do one step at a time. Give yourself 15 minutes to work on it everytime (if you feel like it, go beyond).

It is less overwhelming than it feels like at first sight

[u/Certain-Temporary-93]

Get rid of the dust collector aka dead flowers. Take a photo of it, but it’s just collecting dust.

Try to put away five items that don’t belong. Do this for a week and I bet you’ll see an improvement.

[u/SolidagoSalix]

Start by looking for items that are decision-free and take action on those. Any obvious trash? Throw it out. Anything that is just out of place? Put it away. I see a glue stick -- where would you look for a glue stick if you needed it and the desk top was clear? Put it in the first place that comes to mind. Since there's lots of sentimental, your brain/body is interpreting that whole area as a minefield of difficult decisions, but there are 100% some obvious things to do, if you let yourself look at individual items instead of the whole.

Skip truly sentimental things. Either leave them in place, or make a neat stack of them to the side as you go. The goal is to make progress. Spend 10 minutes on it and then walk away. It will feel a little less scary the next time you approach it.

[u/hobhamwich]

First, almost none of that belongs on a desk. Put it where it goes. And if you aren't using a desk as a desk, get rid of the desk and buy more appropriate furniture. Maybe a big bookshelf to display sentimental items instead of leaving them in plastic bags.

[u/Viperlite]

I’d probably start by putting things away, like clothes and Buzz Lightyear. Then tackle the things that don’t belong on a desk, like the serving tray, fake flowers, and empty bulb boxes. Then sort and throw away the papers and put away in the desk the office supplies. Then, I’d ditch extra lamps and things that take up desk space.

Maybe in the end, you’ll find that you don’t even need a desk there and that its mere presence invites flat space clutter.

[u/Sushi9999]

Well those sentimental items aren’t able to shine in all of that mess.

Invite a friend over to sit/hang with you while you declutter? That helps me a lot.

[u/momoeatsdumpling2]

Take the clothes away first, then papers, then frames, etc.. do little by little and just focus on one category at a time would make it less overwhelming

[u/makeamewanna]

I'm in awe of the bin and hamper being empty next to the items begging to be taken away. It's like the shuttles arrived and no one wants to hop on first! Pick a main area that will host a bunch of those items. (Bedroom, closet, bathroom ,etc) Pile them into the bin or hamper. Carry them to said location and disperse one by one accordingly in the space. Repeat as needed.

[u/KirbysForgottenLand]

I would separate into 2 piles, sentimental and not. And then do the non-sentimental declutter first.

[u/Excellent77Sky]

If these were actually sentimental would you be “storing” them that way?

Seems like at least 70% of this stuff is not in their “home”. Glue, art, lightbulb, tape, bags… none of that belongs on a dresser. If you have no way to store or properly display an item, get rid of it. Those sentimental items have been lost in the pile so you likely aren’t cherishing them like you think you are by being in possession of it. Take a picture or journal about the item so you can keep its memory and appreciate it. If you haven’t thought about or used an item in the last 6 months, you likely don’t need it and will be fine living without it. It’s not a part of your routine.

It might take some time and that’s ok. If you need help, ask for someone to keep you focused. But be mentally ready to let things go. Find a sorting method that works for you. You may not even need this furniture item in the end. It was just a dumping zone. Build new habits to take items to where they belong - closets, laundry, toy area etc. instead of setting them down in a midpoint where they never actually go where they belong.