Tired of the clutter? Join me for the 31 Day Decluttering Challenge!
31 Day Decluttering Challenge
I hear from readers all the time, so I know that a huge number of you struggle every day with feeling overwhelmed, and one of the main reasons you feel that way is because of clutter.
And I totally get it!
Between running a household, taking care of my family and running a business, my life is FULL, and the piles can creep in everywhere if I’m not careful.
But I know that I can immediately cut through my overwhelm by decluttering because a clear, organized space in my home — no matter how small — makes me feel calm and peaceful.
Because I’m busy like you, I also understand that you don’t have time to remove everything from your closet and organize it by color. Sounds like a good idea until you’re halfway through and your kid spreads peanut butter on the pile of clothes on your floor then the dog pees on it.
Which is why I created 10 Minutes a Day Decluttering, a simple and effective way to clear your space without adding to the overwhelm.
For the month of March I’ll be hosting another 31 Day Decluttering Challenge using the 10 Minutes a Day Decluttering Method.
For this challenge I’ll be working on three small areas that are driving me a little crazy.
Office
My office is my art studio and office space, as well as a library, and sitting room when I need to take a break . The picture above doesn’t seem so bad, right?
Until you look to the left of the room.
I moved the table into the office from our master bedroom when we demolished and rebuilt the shower in the master bathroom recently. (I’ll share more about this mini reno soon.) But once I moved it, I really loved the space in the bedroom so here it sits waiting for me to make a decision about what to do with it. It’s an antique handmade by one of my relatives so I don’t want to get rid of it, but I don’t really have a space for it either.
The crate on top of the box is full of items that I need to sort through including an old pair of jeans that I want to use in an art project. (Did I tell you the story of how I came home from the grocery store and my daughter started laughing at me. It turns out that I had been shopping with a rip down the back of my jeans from the waistband to the crotch and had no idea!).
Good thing there’s another grocery store down the road because I won’t be going back to that one.
Paper Clutter
On the right side of the office I have a crate filled with old writing projects, workbooks from courses I’ve taken and files that I need to go through and purge. If you’ve been around for a while, you might recognize that crate from a previous 31 Day Decluttering Challenge. My intentions were good, but my follow through — no so much.
I’ll be scanning some of the information into Evernote so I can completely get rid of the paper clutter. (See How I Organize With Evernote HERE and sign up for a FREE account.)
Pantry
The last area I have to address is our kitchen pantry. It’s small to begin with, but I’ve been trying to cram more and more into the space without actually organizing it. I’ll hopefully be taking an hour one weekend in March to remove everything, get rid of any expired food and completely re-organizing the entire closet.
If you’d like to join me, you can choose one or two focus areas like I am, or you can use my free 31 Day Decluttering Checklist with simple daily 10 minute decluttering tasks.
To join us for the challenge:
1. Join The Peaceful Mom Community HERE.
You’ll receive a confirmation email, then a welcome email with instructions to print your 31 Day Declutter Checklist plus other goodies!
2. Leave a comment on this post telling me your goal for this 31 Day Decluttering Challenge.
Remember, you can choose a focus area or use the 31 Day Decluttering Challenge Checklist to hit several areas in your home for 10 minutes a day.
3. Gather your supplies.
You will need:
- a donate-able box for “giveaway” items
- a laundry basket or bin for “put away” items
- a trash can or paper bag for “throw away” items
You can read the 10 Minutes a Day Decluttering Guidelines HERE.
That’s it!
We’ll get started March 1st and I’ll be updating you on my progress.
If you want to invite your friends to join you, share this post on Facebook.
We Can Do This!
You May Also Enjoy:
Want a simpler life?
Join our simplifying, organizing, life-changing community!
Click here to join The Peaceful Mom Community!
Get weekly encouragement & 10 Minute Organizing Tips
PLUS access to our Organizing and Printable Library including:
- 10 Minutes a Day Declutter Calendar — focus on one small area each day of the month
- Organizing Printables – to organize your life one baby step at a time
- Monthly Gifts – because who doesn’t love a surprise?
I am in the middle of trying to declutter, but need some extra motivation and organization. My aim is
1. My room
2. My pantry
3. My closets
You can do it Cynthia! Thanks for joining us. 🙂
My goal is to declutter FOUR boxes of old papers and keep just the important ones. I recently moved into a tiny house (around 800 sf). This is a real challenge for a person that has 50+ years of accumulations! Downsizing is a MUST!
You can do this Michelle! Thanks for joining us. 🙂
My craft area needs some serious help, it’s hard to enjoy crafting when I can’t find the supplies, they are all willy-nilly, not to mention I am 20 years behind on my kids photo books.
Oh goodness Sue – let’s not even talk about photos!!!!
I need to declutter our laundry room, office/junk room, our bedroom & our bedroom closet. They have all gotten out of control!! Hoping I can get them taken care of!
You can do this Becky!
My goal is to clean out my bedroom, so I can wake up with peace, and not dread what’s waiting for me the minute I open my eyes.
Excellent plan Lisa! Thanks for joining us.
Decluttering has been an optimistic goal I’ve worked toward for a long time, & I’ll never give up. Given my circumstances, making the goal of 31 consecutive days would be a triumph, wherever the energy was put. I printed out the March worksheet: it’s ready, set, Go tomorrow! Allowing for adjustments, in the 31 days I’ll do a once over through the house inside, and plant for seedlings; then in April I’ll be ready to pick a couple rooms for a deeper go-through. Thanks for so much inspiration.
I love your plan to do a deeper declutter next month. Even if you don’t declutter every single day, you will still be improving your home. Progress, not perfection, right? 🙂
Declutter what I can in my state of remodel house, and taxes done! That’s my goal. 🙂
Great goal Brenda! You can do it!
Everything?! My focus will be paper clutter.
Ha! Thanks for joining us.
I need this kind of help! So excited.
So glad you’re joining us April!
I was just thinking how much I needed this! I’m so frustrated with our office. It’s full of papers, old computer parts, and just random junk. I’ve slowly been working on it, but it’s overwhelming!
I’m also starting a pantry challenge in March to help us get rid of the food we never use. 🙂 It’ll also give me a chance to organize and fill our pantry with healthier food!
So we have the office issue in common. 🙂 Thanks for joining me.
I think I am going to work on my laundry/sewing/office room! Goodness knows it needs serious help, again.
Sounds like a great plan Karen!
I’ll be focusing on my home office which is currently looking like a storage space. Having moved (outside of home)offices in the past month and not sure where I’ll be after June, I have everything from my work office stored in boxes in my home office. Some of the boxes need a good going through so I can discard items. And others need to b packed in a more efficient way. There is also the clutter of my paper bills (one of the first things on the list is to auto pay those last couple of bills that are still coming in the mail) and other paperwork that I need to file or discard.
That sounds like quite a project, but I’m confident you can do it Camille. Thanks for joining us!
My entire house needs to be organized so 10 minutes a day… we’ll see!! It’s worth a try, right?! Thaks for the checklist to get me motivated and keep me on track!! I Pinned it just in case I lose mine in the clutter! 😉
So smart to pin it Julie! Thanks for joining us!
My goal is to declutter my desk and bedroom. When things get busy, they are the first areas to get out of control and become dumping grounds! I am hoping that with 10 minutes a day I can keep them from getting worse and also clear them all out to start fresh.
You can do it Kortney! Thanks for joining us. 🙂
My goal is to go through the checklist, 10 minutes a day, and see what I can accomplish by the end of the month with just this seemingly small amount of time. We are in full swing with getting the Spring garden ready so 10 minutes should be just enough!
Perfect! Thanks for joining us Bonnie!
OH YES I NEED THIS CHALLENGE!!! 1.). Clean the papers off and away from my dining room table so we can eat at it like a family, which means 2.) Getting the clean laundry away and out of the office!!! It is soooo overwhelming.
You can do it Alicia! I believe in you!
My goal is to declutter our living room, which includes my office space, and our kitchen cabinets. But I may go rogue and try the 10 minutes a day plan. I just know that any small step will bless my family.
So true Hope! Progress, not perfection. 🙂
Hi Kimberlee! I am going to continue organizing our playroom, which is going to become our school room this August when we start homeschooling. We are taking the plunge, pulling our three children out of private school and beginning a new adventure. I know that being organized is critical for success and less stress. I also have a toddler, so I am donating a lot of toys he does not really play with any more. I want to catch up on shredding the junk mail and try to stay on top of new junk mail coming in. Thanks for sharing, love your site!
Yay! I hope you love homeschooling Laurie. 🙂
Love your blog and ideas! I am DETERMINED to get atleast one area (in desperate need) completely decluttered and organganized!
Thanks so much Tina. 🙂 Thanks for joining us.
Bedroom
Desk
Basement
I need to declutter and organize.
Thanks for joining us Emilie!
I moved in with my mom 6 months ago to take care of her. She recently passed away. I have not been able to organize/declutter yet. I need to get this done. I will have to pack and move as I will be selling her house. This is my goal for the next month. Please help!!!!
I’m so sorry Lisa! I’m certain that you are still grieving so that has to be extremely challenging. Could you find a friend who can help you?
I would also start with the least sentimental items first and just take boxes to the donation center. Once you’ve cleared some of it, you will probably feel better and be more motivated. I pray that God will continue to heal your heart and comfort you.
My focus area will be old paperwork. I need to go through a
& purge what we no longer need to keep. I have been wanting to do this for quite a while but always put it off. Just doing it for 10 minutes a day may be the best way to start because thinking of the entire job is too overwhelming.
Yes, 10 minutes a day is motivating for me when I feel overwhelmed. You can do it Kelly!
Have there been any check-in posts for the challenge?
Yes! Go HERE to see my progress and leave a comment to let me know how your decluttering is going.
I always intend to start decluttering but never get around to it. I’m hoping this challenge will get me started.
Yes! Thanks for joining us Jennifer.
I’m going to sign up for the 10-minutes a day challenge – the night stands are appalling (but only when you open them, which is why they’re so sneaky!)
I’m looking forward to tackling several small jobs that always take a low priority on weekends, when dealing with other chores like laundry, and weekly grocery shopping trips.
Thanks!
I love your plan to tackle small and hidden projects Michelle. Thanks for joining us!
For me, I want to try the whole house declutter, so I will be printing off the sheet, but I need to focus on my office. It is a complete catch all room.
Thanks for joining us Amy! 🙂
My main goal is to declutter and organise my desk and craft/seeing supplies but I also want to tackle my pantry cupboard! I started this in January but then got sick so it was abandoned. Ready to start afresh!
Sorry you were sick, but good for you for jumping back in Nicki!
Honestly, if I can just get my master bedroom decluttered in 31 days I will be so happy! (This includes the master bath.)
That sounds like a great plan Cassie!
I’m overwhelmed right now with the unpacking I have from a month shy of a year ago, that I’ve given up on Cleaning and had just decided to leave it there.
But I absolutely can’t stand it anymore, it consumes my energy and any joy I had for waking up.
So, you’re challenge couldn’t have came at a better time than now.
I needed this now also because, I’ve been without work since June 2017. YES ready to start the ninth and final month of unemployment and depression, and to start my new job in mid- March!!!
Bring it on And any ideas on how to keep myself accountable to myself? ? lol
Laura
I’m so sorry that you’ve been through such a challenging time Laura. That is a crazy long time to be without a job, but I’m glad you’ve found one now. Congrats!
As far as keeping yourself accountable, you could make a chart and checkoff every day that you declutter, even for a few minutes. You could also set reminder notifications on your phone and maybe ask a friend to join the challenge with you. I also encourage you to come back and leave a comment on my declutter updates as a way to keep yourself accountable. Hope that helps!
I just want to START somewhere! Enough is enough – and I’ve got plenty to declutter.
Thanks for joining us!
Hoping to organize all my paperwork and file cabinets.
Thanks for joining the Decluttering Challenge Beth! You can do this!
I need to declutter our entire house! My first room would be our classroom and electronic files. I’d hit the paper clutter next and then go room by room. My family is onboard with decluttering our home, we just have to make the time. Thanks for this challenge! 🙂
Sounds like a great plan Starr. You can do this!
After helping my mom pack her house up to move, I realized that I don’t want to continue to live in a house full of useless stuff. So, here I am. I am looking forward to going through and getting rid of things I don’t use! I have started baby steps, but then get overwhelmed. Need a little more direction in this endeavor!
It can be overwhelming Donna, but focusing on one small area at a time will really help, such as one shelf at a time, or one small part of your closet. You can do this!
My goal is to declutter our office (that is also used as my craft space), the master closet, the pantry, and our spare room that is jam packed full of baby clothes, toys, old college boxes, and who knows else! I can’t wait to get started!
Yay! Thanks for joining us Maggie!
1. playroom
2. living room
3. our bedroom
I am completely overwhelmed with all areas of my life right now. I think if I can bring order and control to these 3 areas in my home, it will give me a place for peace and calm. This might bring hope for other areas of my life.
I think you’re right Rita. You can do this!
Ten minutes daily seems so attainable but I’m under no illusions that it still requires discipline. I’d like to see if I can be disciplined enough to intentionally put myself in the space I need to declutter for 10 minutes per day AND focus solely on decluttering for the 31-day period. My key focus areas include the kitchen and spare room (aka dumping ground). Those minutes daily 10s should add up to good results in 31 days.
You can do it Julie!
My kitchen, especially the counter/bar, and our kitchen table. I would love to get my bedroom back too!
Thanks for joining us Amy!
Hi Kimberlee! I love everything you do! This will be a great help to me. I have been trying to clear out the pile of stuff in the corner of the living room, among other things. I also want to get the second bedroom back to a bedroom and not a storage room that it has become since my daughter moved out (10 years ago). Thanks for all you do!
Thanks so much for your encouragement Cheryl! That means a lot. 🙂 I know that you can make progress on these two decluttering goals this month.
My goal is to declutter my home office and the laundry room.
Thanks for joining us Mary!
My aim Kimberlee, is number 1 to get all my homeschool books, paperwork, folders etc in one place. At the moment I have book piles, paper piles, baskets in 3 rooms, dining room on the end of the table where we do our schooling, in my bedroom on my bedside table and on top of the computer printer and in my 6 year olds bedroom on top of his wardrobe. I bought the other day a cube shelving cupboard that is waiting for my hubby and son to bring up stairs to put in my 6 year olds bedroom and all out school stuff to keep in that one box.
Number 2 is to finished organising and unpacking/throwing out/giving to thrift shop all the stuff we have not yet sorted from when we moved 3 months ago. wow that has been on the list for ages and just havnt gotten it done. We have boxes and things just thrown into cupboards down stairs with no organisation happening. Now my 20 year old son lost his job and moved back home he needs the lil unit downstairs to keep his privacy.
I am so excited to join the de-cluttering community and get this done together. cheers xx
That sounds like an awesome plan Rhiannon! You can do this! 🙂