'My house was full of clutter, until I learnt about the "reach" theory.'

For as long as I can remember, I've been collecting things.

Books that I planned to read "someday" (that are still collecting dust on my TBR pile).

Clothes that might come back in style (thank god I kept my ballet flats).

And countless other "just in case" items that seem to multiply overnight.

I'm not quite at the level of the TV show Hoarders but when I compared my situation to my minimalist housemate, it wasn't pretty.

But until recently, every time I'd attempt to declutter, I'd end up staring at my possessions, paralysed by indecision.

What if I need this one day?

But I paid good money for this.

Skinny jeans will have a renaissance one day! (How wrong I was).

These thoughts would cycle through my mind until, overwhelmed, I'd give up and close the wardrobe door, promising to tackle it "next weekend".

Watch: The three-second decluttering hack. Post continues after video

How to start decluttering when overwhelmed.

That was, until I discovered the 'Reach' theory of decluttering, thanks to TikTok user Kylie Perkins. It's completely changed my relationship with my possessions.

The concept is brilliantly simple: When deciding whether to keep an item you haven't touched in a while but are unsure about parting with permanently, put it in a box under your bed. After six months, if you haven't reached for it, get rid of it or donate it.

Yes, it's simple. But for someone like me who has struggled with emotional attachment to 'things', it's been revolutionary.

The 'Reach' theory gives me permission to postpone the final decision while still making progress. It's like having a decluttering safety net.

This hack is just one part of Kylie's more comprehensive decluttering system, which I'm now committed to trying through the whole house.

Let me share the complete method that I'll be using over the coming weeks.

@sociallykylie feel, clean, sort, decide + donate 💅🏼 #declutteryourlife #declutteryourhome #minimalist #declutter #cleanyourhouse ♬ original sound - Kylie Perkins

Step 1: Face your feelings.

The first revelation was that I needed to acknowledge how I actually felt when looking at cluttered spaces.

As Kylie said: "Walk into whatever space or area or room you're deciding to do, and start with understanding and allowing and just realising how you're feeling when you look at that room. Are you overwhelmed? Are you mad? Are you wanting to run away and not do it?

"That's how you have been feeling without even knowing it; that is sitting in your brain every single day, affecting you in every area of your life."

Step 2: Clean first, decide later.

Next, I learnt to start with the obvious: "Start picking up the trash and the dirty things that are in there that shouldn't be there, and start with cleaning [the space] up a little bit."

This was another revelation. In previous decluttering attempts, I'd tried to make decisions about everything at once.

Starting with obvious rubbish and items that clearly belong elsewhere gives you immediate progress and builds momentum.

Step 3: Sort methodically.

"After you've cleaned it up, and you've gotten rid of the trash and all of the nastiness like that, the second thing is to start sorting."

By sorting similar items together, you can see the true extent of what you own. Like, for example, the day that I realised I owned four almost-identical jackets,and my housemate had an intervention.

Step 4: The 'Reach' theory in action.

This is where the 'Reach' theory comes into this decluttering challenge.

"If you are like, 'Oh my gosh, I have not touched this item in over a year, I know I should get rid of it, but I'm not ready to get rid of it', put it in a separate pile of things.

"You're going to put it in a tub, put it underneath your bed, in your garage, in your attic, wherever. And then you can go back through it in another six months. If you haven't reached for it in another six months, then get rid of it."

I've already prepared my 'Reach' box, and the first item I'll be putting in it is the fancy juicer I bought four years ago during a ~health kick~.

Step 5: Donate immediately.

The final, and crucial, step: "Make your pile of things that you want to donate, and then you are not going to let this sit in a pile somewhere, because you're going to end up going back through it, and it's going to end up right back where it was."

This is where I've always faltered before. I'd create donation piles that would sit in my car for weeks, gradually being picked apart until they were reabsorbed into my home.

Not this time! No need for professional organising, just little old me decluttering room by room — like one mountain (or pile of clothes) at a time.

Finally, I feel like I have nailed the psychology of clutter, and have a practical decluttering hack that will work with my decision paralysis. And my mum says TikTok is a waste of time!

I'll report back in six months to let you know how it all pans out. But, let's just say, I don't think I will have reached for that juicer.

Feature Image: Supplied/Canva