Spring is upon us, and you’re no doubt feeling a new sense of motivation to organise your home. Maybe there’s one kitchen drawer that’s been stressing you out for months or your bookshelf is looking a little too crowded for your liking. Whatever or wherever your personal problem area is, there’s nothing you want more than for it to be clear and clutter-free. The problem is knowing where to start.

While it may sound like an easy task on the surface, decluttering properly – with lasting results – can take a lot of effort, time and even strategy. Randomly attacking the first cupboard you see is probably not the best approach if you want to maintain a sense of order and momentum.

Enter: the snowball decluttering method.

While there are plenty of rules, hacks and approaches to choose from, this method is great because it eliminates the decision paralysis that so many of us can experience when faced with piles of stuff we know we don’t need anymore but struggle to let go of. Popularised by professional organiser Jennifer Burger, it’s a great way to get on top of your mess because it helps to reduce the mental load associated with sorting out.

How to use the snowball method to declutter if you’re struggling to decide on what to get rid of