Use short bursts of time to make a difference – like organising your work desk during a lunch break. Professional organiser Amy Clark Scheren recommends challenging yourself "to turn off the phone, the computer, the iPad, and the television for one hour each day". It won’t be easy at first, it might even feel "kind of like ripping off a band-aid, but it’s amazing what can be accomplished when you aren’t checking Facebook or replying to email," advises Scheren.

Once you've decluttered, adopt the 'One In, One Out' rule – every time you bring a new item into your home, remove an old one. This habit prevents clutter from building up.

13 misconceptions about decluttering that are trapping you in a messy home