Organizing and decluttering can quickly and easily become overwhelming. It often feels like a space will take longer than the reality so it’s easier to just avoid it than to start making progress. Rather than thinking of it as an all or nothing thing start by making small habit changes to incorporate a 10 minute tidy each day. Remember, the goal of an organized home is not perfection, its finding what you need when you need it. These simple tasks not only make life more manageable but also help reduce stress, create a sense of accomplishment, and ultimately, pave the way for a clearer mind.

Daily: Do these tasks every day to keep things tidy

Make Your Bed

It might seem simple, but one of the most effective ways to feel more organized each day is to make your bed. Taking just a few minutes to straighten sheets and fluff pillows can help you start each day with a sense of accomplishment, while also instantly improving the overall appearance of your bedroom.

Clean Off Your Countertops

Whether you’re in the kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom, countertops quickly become catch-all areas for clutter. Instead of letting it pile up, take 10 minutes to clear off the surfaces and only keep frequently used or essential items. This will not only make your space appear tidier but also save time when searching for items.

Add a fuck it bin 

This is my favourite solution for a quick tidy every evening. Anything that doesn’t belong in the space goes into the bin, at the end of the week everything is taken out of the bin and put away where it actually belongs by whoever it actually belongs to!

Weekly: These 6 tasks will keep you on track, pick one day for each (with a day off) over time many of them will take even less than 10 minutes to complete.

Write Your To-Do List 

Nothing beats an old fashioned to do list. Take 10 minutes to jot down the tasks you need to accomplish. Add things through the week as things come up.

Not only will this help you keep track of your responsibilities, but also give you a sense of accomplishment when you’re able to tick things off your list.

To take it a step further, categorize your to do list. By taking the time to think through which tasks belong in each category, you help solidify their importance in your mind, making it easier to prioritize and focus on what needs to be done first.

Weekly Reset

Spend 10 minutes at the end of the week tidying up and returning items to their designated spaces, or “homes.” This habit will help keep clutter from building up and can help to maintain the organization you’ve implemented. This can include refilling food containers, stocking your pantry, and putting toys, books, craft supplies etc that have gotten out of place back where they belong. 

Set A Timer For 10 Minutes To Declutter/Throw Out Items In One Room

The key to successful decluttering is starting small and resisting the urge to multi-task. Simply set a timer for 10 minutes and choose a single room or area to focus on. Pick up items that no longer serve a purpose or belong in that space, and either toss them, donate them, or move them to their designated areas.

Chose a different space each week and rotate back once you’ve finished the initial declutter. By routinely performing this 10-minute decluttering exercise, your home will become more organized with each session.

Clean Out Your Bag

Once a week, devote 10 minutes  to emptying and organizing the contents of your purse, backpack, or workbag.

Start by removing items that don’t belong or are no longer useful.

Then mentally review each of the major tasks in your schedule for the week (or take out your calendar and review each appointment. Think about the items you will need for that task, and make sure they’re in your bag for the day.

As you put items back in the bag, consider using pouches or other compartmentalizing tools to keep the remaining items sorted.

Maintaining an organized bag will make it easier for you to find what you need on the go and prevent unnecessary clutter.

Delete Old Emails

Let’s face it; we’ve all got that one email inbox filled with messages we no longer need. Take 10 minutes to purge unnecessary emails, unsubscribe from newsletters you never read, and organize the remaining ones into folders. By doing this, you eliminate distractions and make it easier to find important information when you need it.

Tackle Your Paper Pile

Paper clutter is one of the most common sources of disorganization. Start by setting a timer for 10 minutes and sort through your paper pile. Create four piles: one for recycling, one for shredding, another for items that need action or follow-up, and the last one for documents that need to be filed away.

After 10 minutes, you’ll be surprised at the difference this short period of focused work can make in decluttering your space and your mind.

Monthly:

These are tasks that don’t need to be done as often but they are things that often need to be re sorted over time. 

Clear Up Your Phone Screen and desktop

In this digital age, staying organized extends beyond our physical spaces. Investing 10 minutes in decluttering your phone screen can work wonders for your productivity.

Remove unused apps, organize the remaining ones into folders, and only keep the necessary widgets and tools on your home screen. By reducing visual clutter, you’ll be able to focus better and minimize distractions.

Sort Items Into bins or baskets

One of the most efficient ways to maintain an organized living space is to use bins for storage. Spend 10 minutes gathering items that belong together (e.g., arts and crafts supplies, holiday decorations, or toys), and sort them into labeled,  bins.

Not only will this make it easy for you to locate a specific item, but it will also significantly reduce the time spent searching through scattered belongings.

Clear Out Your Junk Drawer

Everyone has that infamous junk drawer (I prefer to call it  multi-purpose) – the one that accumulates random items over time. Set aside 10 minutes to sort through it, discarding anything broken or unwanted, and placing items that can be used elsewhere in the appropriate spaces.

Organize the remaining contents in small containers, (tech boxes also make great drawer organizers) to ensure everything has a place. Saying goodbye to your cluttered junk drawer will feel liberating and make finding things much easier in the future.

Seasonally: These tasks can be done once or twice a year to keep your home clutter free

Declutter closets

As the seasons change its important to go through your closets and make sure things still fit and are functional for your life. 

Declutter the garage

As the seasons change the outdoor storage spaces need a shift so make sure to declutter while you’re rotating things. Think outdoor toys that no longer fit or are used, declutter tools if you have multiples, discard anything that is broken. 

Declutter Toys

I love a declutter session in December and another in July. Your kids interests change so keep the playroom relevant with seasonal declutter sessions

Declutter seasonal decor

Every time you pull out a seasonal tote to decorate, take a look at what’s inside, if you’re not using it, let it go.

Review your keepsakes

This one is more yearly but it's good to review what you have and make sure they are things that still mean something to you.

For many of us, organization can often feel like an impossible task. But the truth is that anyone can get organized in 10 minutes or less with just a few simple steps. Start by making a list of all your tasks; then set timers for each one and reward yourself when they are complete. To make it even easier click here for a checklist with these tasks so you have something to hold yourself accountable.

Organization doesn’t have to be complicated; all it takes is a little bit of effort and creativity!

Happy Organizing!

-Jocelyn