You've avoided organizing because looking at the project as a whole feels like an uphill battle. But each item in that pile was added one at a time. So, why not chip away at that pile one item at a time. Here are some tactics you can take to overcome your anxiety and help you whittle away at those piles of stuff.

Work in Sections

Instead of focusing on an entire room, start on a section at a time. By segmenting the room into sections, you break down your organizing project into more manageable chunks. You can continue dividing the sections until you have a small section that seems more manageable. The smaller the section, the more achievable your efforts will seem. The key is to get you to a point where you feel confident in the space you are working in to get started. 

Pick Up Trash

When you've let stuff pile up, trash likely ended up in those piles. It may be a scrap of paper with a note you no longer need or a bottle of juice you started drinking but never finished. These little items quickly accumulate to make a pile of stuff look daunting, but by removing these items you know have already served their purpose, you start to chip away at that pile.

Easily Categorized Items

You will be sure to find items that are easy for you to put away. These are items you will instantaneously recognize where they go, like a fork or a pencil. They are likely to be the items you previously grabbed to use but just didn't put away in their proper home. Gather these items up to put them in their proper place. Take note of these items and any obstacles you face when putting them away. You may find that they weren't put away because they take a lot of effort to put back in place. It can be tempting to start reorganizing these spaces. However, you must focus on the area you are currently clearing out and put these spaces on a "to be organized next" list.

Focus on One Item At a Time

If, after clearing trash and putting away easily categorized items, you still feel overwhelmed by the rest of the pile you are facing, try separating out one item from the pile at a time. We often see these piles as a mass we must deal with instead of a collection of individual items. Pick out one item. Turn your back on the rest of the pile while focusing on what to do with that item. By removing the pile from your line of vision, you can help calm your brain down to make a decision on that item. While this may feel like slowing down the process, it's actually helping you work through the pile instead of avoiding it out of intimidation. You can continue to use this tactic until the pile feels more manageable. 

As overwhelming as a large organizing project can be, the smaller steps make it easier for you to see success. By breaking down your organizing efforts into small steps, you are more likely to take action and make progress. The small steps will help you develop consistent efforts, eventually leading to a calm and organized room.