I was randomly scrolling through Facebook the other day and came across a post about a decluttering challenge. Â Of course I clicked it and there was a really nice calendar that was filled out with small daily decluttering tasks. Â I looked it over to see if it was something I could use in my overly full house.
It was for the most part. Â I think it would be best for those months when you just feel stuck and you need someplace to start. Â It would also be helpful for those weeks where there’s not really much time to do anything because they are small manageable tasks.
While I saved the article, I didn’t print it out. Â That hasn’t stopped me from thinking about it though. Â Most of the things on the decluttering calendar were applicable to any household.
There were lots of days of cleaning out kitchen cabinets. I don’t think I have enough ambition to clean out 8 kitchen cabinets in a month. Â One is pretty much too many. Â I like the idea of cleaning out a junk drawer on one of the days. Â That job is long overdue at this house and it’s only on there once.
Instead of constantly looking back to the decluttering calendar, I’ve just been doing a random thing everyday.
Today, I dusted in my bathroom. Â It took about 10 minutes. Â I wiped down the sink, the cabinet underneath, the towel racks and the toilet paper holder.
Next, I wiped off the tops of the medicine cabinet and the pictures. Â I also picked up a rag that had fallen on the floor and was ignored for the past two weeks. Those few minutes made a big difference!
Maybe I will follow along with the calendar or check back to it once in a while just to make sure I’m on the right path.
Do you have a favorite type of decluttering challenge?
the calendar sounds interesting. I tend to do my decluttering on a seasonal basis. Spring any winter clothes not worn that past winter get a review. And some of them have to go to the care and share. Fall the same thing . This year two dresses escaped eviction because it was really hot and i wore both of them as they were cool and comfortable. As for other stuff i will take a look and do a spring and fall review and sometimes it is quite successful and a lot of stuff goes in the garbage or into the care and share store. I think that you are doing well just to do one thing at a time when you feel you can. It all makes a difference.
I could imagine having fun with that one: Day 1, empty contents of a junk draw [onto the kitchen table]… Day 2/3/4, [dump things in hallway]… Day 5, Go through your mail pile [which?… i.e. create new piles]…. Day 6, clear kitchen table [onto kitchen counters]…. Day 8, [intend to] discard old books… Day 9, [procrastinate about taking away old books by] clearing out wallet… Day 19, clear kitchen counters [onto the kitchen table]… Day 20-23, clear things out to car [with the intention of disposing of them]…. Day 24, Empty car [into garage, to be organised later]… Day 25, Donate unused toys [to a place with more toys]…. Day 26, Organise [newly purchased] toys… Day 30, [attempt to] clean [round various newly created piles of stuff]…
Hahahaha!!!! 🤣 Thanks for the early morning laugh!! That’s about exactly how it all goes!
I am trying to take 1/2 hour a day for sorting of paperwork. That’s my overwhelming issue.
Paper is a tough one! It builds up so quickly!! And then it looks important. I have a big paper problem at work and I try to do the same thing you’re doing – spending a half hour a day exclusively working on that. What’s your biggest paper problem at home?
Hi Jen, good job!! dusting is one of those things that fall in the “someday I’ll probably do it” category. Until the fan is blowing big hairy dust balls on my head, I can ignore pretty well!
I’m just picking a small box, once a day, or maybe 2 if I feel froggy!
Random, no real rhyme or reason. Just the one who is annoying me most that day!
I hadn’t thought of cleaning and decluttering necessarily at the same time. I didn’t used to be a “cleaner” but now that we’v decluttered so much, it’s easier to do those quick cleaning things.