Can Watching Decluttering Videos Motivate You to Tackle Your Own Space?
Inside: Can watching decluttering videos motivate you to tackle your own space? Read on to find out.
A guest post by Evelyn Long
Does the endless clutter in your home distract you and make it difficult to know where to start?
Tackling extra stuff is complicated. The old box of childhood birthday cards might feel too sentimental to throw out.
The kitchen gadget you loved at a home party but have never used might still speak to the Bobby Flay part of your soul.
The first step is often the hardest, but if you can make a game plan, you’ll be surprised how quickly your space gets tidier.
Watching decluttering videos can motivate you by showing you that huge cleaning tasks can be done in small steps.
You’ll also learn how organizational gurus use vertical storage, maximize closet space, or turn everyday items into space-saving hacks.
Why Are People Obsessed With Decluttering Videos?
CleanTok videos have over 150 million views, with influencers posting new ones daily. A search on YouTube for “cleaning videos” returns hundreds of results.
If you need ideas to organize anything, you can find people talking about tools and offering tips on various social platforms.
Several media outlets have examined why people are into these cleaning videos. The psychology behind people’s obsession with watching others get organized is complex.
Theories range from people spending more time at home after the pandemic and wanting cleaner spaces to widespread concerns with the physical and mental impacts of having a disorganized home.
Deseret News reported that the videos can trigger autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR), which some therapists use to treat anxiety and depression.
If you find CleanToks soothing, ASMR may be the reason. Decluttering and cleaning videos make you feel happy and productive, as though you can accomplish something concrete.
Can Watching Decluttering Videos Motivate You to Improve Your Home?
Watching others clean and organize is temporarily satisfying. However, unless you take action and implement some of the ideas for your home, you’ll spend a lot of time without seeing any real results.
Instead of being stuck in a loop where you plan but never start your own projects, you should apply at least one technique from each video, even if you just clear off a countertop.
To get the most from your viewing, approach it with these strategies:
- Watch for tips and tricks: Observe the actions the video creator takes. Do they start with a closet or take on the whole house at once? Select one thing they do and apply it to your home that day.
- Work while you watch: Watch an organizational show on YouTube and clean out a junk drawer so you’re accomplishing something while learning from others. You could also watch a video on organizing a specific space you plan to tackle that day.
It’s easy to understand the appeal of these videos. You can watch progress being made without putting in any effort. However, unfortunately, that doesn’t do anything to improve your space unless you convert the motivation into taking action.
Steps to Implement What You Learn
Knowing how to organize your home and putting what you’ve learned into practice are two different things.
Take these steps to find your motivation to declutter and become as organized as the influencers you watch online.
1. Group Similar Items
Creating organizational zones with items grouped can give you a natural place to put your belongings. If you want to hide the clutter, cabinets offer valuable storage spaces.
Some examples of things you can combine in a cabinet:
- Cleaning supplies
- Sports equipment
- Shoes
- Baking supplies in the pantry
- Hygiene products
The best organizational methods are based on continuous improvement, meaning you can always find new and better ways to organize what you have, the more you sort through your possessions.
2. Break Down Big Tasks
People often get overwhelmed with how much there is to do when shifting to a more minimalistic mindset.
Rather than giving up, break a larger project into smaller goals, such as clearing off one shelf instead of cleaning an entire closet. Those 1 percent tasks add up over time and make a big difference.
Make a list of short, five-minute tasks and check them off as you complete them. Seeing the checkboxes filled can give you a sense of accomplishment and push you to complete additional to-dos.
3. Start With What Is Easiest
Cleaning the guest bedroom that’s filled to the brim with years of clutter may not be the best place to start.
Instead, look at which room has the fewest things and might be easiest to organize. For many people, the bathroom or kitchen is a nice starting point.
Break tasks into smaller portions within the space you’ve chosen, and start with the easiest or quickest task.
Even if you have a mere 15 minutes a day, you can start throwing out expired food or donating items you no longer use or need.
4. Use New Tools
With housing prices at historical highs, many people are staying in the homes they already own or rent and utilizing the space better.
Storage solutions like shoe racks and under-cabinet drawers can open up a small space. Investing in new tools can help you get serious about getting rid of extra stuff.
A few storage containers and shelf dividers can transform a space. Decanting select items in the kitchen can be helpful as well.
Put boxes on rollers under a bed frame to store seasonal clothes. Reducing the number of items you keep is helpful as you prepare to store items.
There are helpful room organization ideas that can help keep items stored neatly, especially when you live in a smaller space.
5. Create Your Own Before & After
Use your passion for decluttering videos to create a few of your own. You can keep them for future inspiration or share them online with other people.
What new hack did you learn that others might find helpful? Were you delighted with the reorganization of your junk drawer?
Today’s smartphones have excellent cameras that record short clips of clearing out the clutter. Set it to royalty-free music or speed it up to add a bit of flair to the posting.
Capturing a little footage (or a few photos) before, during, and after your project is a great way to document your process.
Follow Up Watching With Doing
Spending time viewing tidying videos can be relaxing and satisfying. To ensure your time is well spent, apply some of the methods to clean up your space.
Tips from others may be the nudge you need to start your simplification journey. Start with a single corner, shelf, or room and watch your house transform into a relaxing space.
The next time you scroll TikTok or YouTube for clutter-purging videos, set a timer and start cleaning. The motivation from digital creators can create results when you take action.
Evelyn Long is a home organization writer who helps homeowners and renters maintain a neat space through innovative decluttering tips. She has written for several other publications, including the National Association of Realtors and DecorMatters. She is also the editor-in-chief of Renovated Magazine, where she shares additional tips on decluttering and home organization.