How to Overcome Overwhelm: The 5-Minute Trick That Works for Clutter and More

Last week, I shared how to stop procrastinating and finally take action. Today, I want to show you exactly how this method works in real life—using my 8-year-old’s homework struggle as an example. And trust me, if this works on an overwhelmed kid, it can work on your clutter, too!

We’ve all been there—staring at a task that feels so big, we don’t even know where to start. Whether it’s a mountain of paperwork, a cluttered home, or an endless to-do list, the weight of it all can make us feel stuck.

That’s exactly what happened to my daughter last week. After missing 8 days of school, she came home with a thick folder of unfinished assignments—and sheer panic on her face.

"Mommy," she groaned, "how in the world am I going to do all this?! It’s SO much!"

Sound familiar? This is the same overwhelmed feeling my clients experience when they look at their homes filled with clutter. But just like I do with them, I had a simple trick to help her push through the paralysis—and it worked like magic.

Here’s what happened and how you can use this same strategy to finally tackle the clutter in your home.

The Overwhelm Cycle: Why We Freeze in Front of Big Tasks

When my daughter returned to school after 8 missed days, she came home with a thick folder of unfinished assignments. She sat across from me in my coworking space, staring at the pile, her face full of dread.

"Mommy," she whined, "how in the world am I going to do all this? It’s SO much!"

That moment hit me—because I see this exact same reaction in my clients when they look at their cluttered homes. They feel:

• Paralyzed by the sheer volume of stuff.

• Confused about where to start.

• Overwhelmed by how long it will take.

• Exhausted before they even begin.

So, I did for her what I do for my clients.

The 5-Minute Trick That Gets You Moving

I took the stack of homework from her hands and said,

"You don’t have to worry about all of this, baby. If you look at the whole pile, you’ll never start. Just pick ONE thing—the easiest one."

"But Mommy, I have to do ALL of them!" she groaned.

"I know, love. Just play this game with me."

I pulled out my square timer block—the one I use for everything—and set it for 5 minutes.

"Let’s just see how much we can do in 5 minutes. You do your paper, I write my book."

She hesitated but picked an easy worksheet. Timer on.

Three minutes in—"DONE!"

I exaggerated my shock. "What?! Even I haven’t finished my first task yet!"

Then I handed her another worksheet. Another 5 minutes.

With every finished paper, she got more confident. My voice got louder with excitement.

By the time I suggested a break, she refused—she was too excited to stop!

And just like that, she blew through the entire stack—faster than I ever expected.

How to Apply This Trick to Decluttering Your Home

This is exactly what happens with my clients.

When you’re overwhelmed by clutter, your brain tells you it’s too much—so you freeze. The trick is to start small, gain momentum, and let action dissolve resistance.

Try This Today: The 5-Minute Decluttering Method

1️⃣ Pick the easiest, smallest task first.

• Instead of tackling your entire kitchen, start with one junk drawer.

• Instead of organizing your whole closet, start with just T-shirts.

2️⃣ Use a timer.

• Set it for 5 minutes (or 10, if you’re feeling ambitious).

• Your only job? Move for those 5 minutes.

3️⃣ Celebrate the small wins.

• Even if you just clear one surface, you’ll feel better.

• Small progress fuels motivation, which leads to big progress.

4️⃣ Keep going, but only if you want to.

• The trick is, once you start, you often don’t want to stop.

Why This Works: The Science of Action & Motivation

Most people believe they need motivation first to take action. The truth? Action creates motivation.

When you break big tasks into small, quick wins, you:
✔️ Reduce decision fatigue (your brain isn’t overwhelmed by choices).
✔️ Build momentum (small wins make you want to keep going).
✔️ Trick your brain into feeling in control.

This is why my professional organizing clients go from dreading decluttering to not wanting to stop—just like my daughter with her homework.

Ready to Try It?

Take 5 minutes today and start with the easiest thing in your home. Then, come back and tell me—did you feel the momentum kick in?

If you’re struggling with a cluttered home and need expert guidance, I’d love to help. Learn more about how I work with overwhelmed moms. Click here!

Written by Sona Avetisyan