Clutter accumulates gradually. One item becomes two, then ten, then a pile. By the time you notice it, it feels overwhelming to address. Set a clutter threshold. Decide how much is too much, and when you reach it, take action.
This threshold might be: no more than three items on the kitchen counter. Or: no more than five unread emails. Or: no more than one pile of papers. The specific limit does not matter. What matters is having a limit and honoring it.
When you reach your threshold, spend ten minutes addressing it. Put things away. Process those emails. File those papers. This small, regular maintenance prevents clutter from becoming overwhelming.
Set your clutter threshold today. Choose one area and decide what “too much” looks like. Then commit to addressing it whenever you reach that point. Notice how much easier maintenance becomes when you act before things accumulate.