Game, Set, Declutter: How Tackling Your Stuff Is Like Playing a Great Tennis Match
If you’ve ever stood in the middle of your cluttered living room feeling overwhelmed, sweaty, and slightly underdressed, congratulations—you’re halfway to Wimbledon.
Because let’s be honest: decluttering isn’t just organizing. It’s a full-on emotional tennis match—with strategy, endurance, the occasional grunt, and maybe a dramatic fall to the floor (usually when deciding what to do with your high school yearbooks).
So grab your metaphorical racquet and join me on the court. Here’s how decluttering is exactly like a great tennis match:
1. You Start Off Strong… and Then Question Every Life Choice
Just like the first set of any match, you come in swinging. You’re tossing stuff in donation bags like a pro. You’ve got playlists, color-coded bins, and a vague belief in your own greatness.
And then… you open that one closet.
The one with the old electronics, half-used candles, and a broken chair “you meant to fix in 2018.”
Suddenly, you're losing momentum and possibly your will to go on.
2. Your Opponent? Sentimental Clutter. And It Plays Dirty.
Just when you think you’ve taken control, your clutter hits you with the emotional curveball:
“Aww, that mug your ex gave you!”
“Oh look, baby shoes from a baby who is now a college freshman.”
“That souvenir sombrero from a trip you barely remember!”
You’re no longer decluttering. You’re reliving your entire identity through Tupperware and ticket stubs.
3. You Argue With an Invisible Referee (Also Known as Yourself)
“Do I really need 4 yoga mats?”
“Yes! I might host a retreat in my living room someday!”
“Am I the kind of person who owns a bread maker?”
“No, I’m the kind of person who wanted to be the kind of person who owns a bread maker!”
It’s a full-on internal debate worthy of center court.
4. There Are Break Points (and Possibly a Few Breakdown Points)
That moment you accidentally uncover your high school diary? That’s a break point.
Realizing you’ve kept 7 pairs of black pants that all “almost fit”? Also a break point.
These are the emotional rallies that test your endurance. But keep breathing. Like any good match, the real win is in showing up again for the next point.
5. You Find Your Rhythm—and Start Winning Small Victories
Suddenly, you’re in the zone. The socks are matched, the expired spices are tossed, and you’ve finally parted ways with the remote control to a VCR you no longer own.
Each drawer is a win. Each bag of donations is a point on the board. And with every cleared surface, you’re not just gaining space—you’re gaining confidence.
6. The Final Set Feels Like Glory (and Possibly Calls for Champagne)
You finish the job. The counter is clear. The floor exists again. The junk drawer now only contains one tape measure (progress!).
You look around and feel… victorious. Like Serena after a comeback. Like Federer with perfect hair. Like you could host a dinner party and find your keys in under 30 seconds.
Final Score: You – 6, Clutter – Retired in Shame
Decluttering isn’t a one-and-done match. Like tennis, it’s a lifelong game of consistency, patience, and the occasional wild swing at a mystery cord that leads to nothing.
But when you show up, take your shot, and let go of the junk that’s holding you back, you win. Every single time.
Ready to start your match?
You don’t need a trophy. Just a trash bag, a donation box, and maybe a playlist with a little Eye of the Tiger. Game on.