Follow Along With My 30 Day Declutter Challenge

Before you start, always make a decluttering plan.

Begin by formulating the reason for your decluttering. What do you specifically want out of this? Is it to simplify for inner peace, for a tidier home, or to reset your space and mind for the new year? Taking a moment to reflect on this will give you clarity and motivation for this 30 day declutter.

Secondly, what systems do you want to put in place to make sure that there is less clutter in the future? For example, if junk mail is a problem for you, maybe set up all of your statements to go paperless.

If expired produce is a problem, try meal planning and shopping lists. If your closet is unmanageable, give yourself a specific budget next year. This is so important so that we do not go into the cycle of purging, then splurging again.

Finally, actually make a plan. How are you going to divide up the 30 days? It is helpful to think about what part of your house or what area of your life clutter tends to build up the most.

I am dedicating 10 minutes a day each day to a specific area of my house, and then dedicating the last week to sort out my mental clutter.

Now how do you begin decluttering? There are various systems, but in my experience, what works best for me is four piles: donate, sell, throw, and maybe.

I began in the living room. I cleaned out the junk mail and paper clutter on the first day, which was the most problematic, as coupons and marketing flyers still pile up after a while.

On the second day, I took care of my dead plants, and on the third my dog’s toys. On the fourth day, I sorted out the shoe rack in my entryway, only leaving the shoes that we wear on a daily basis.

On day five, I tackled the junk drawer, full of random cords, candle lids, and warranty documents. One system I am putting in place is to make a home for everything and challenge myself to never use the junk drawer.

The next day, I got rid of the empty boxes and containers that had been getting in the way.

The first week of decluttering made for just one bag of trash, but it definitely feels a lot cleaner here.

The living room was easy, so in week two, I tackled my kitchen. I spent two days on my pantry, a day on other cabinets, the next one on the fridge and freezer, and finally cookware and cleaning supplies.

I do not see anything wrong with having a full pantry if you have the space, but it also does not make sense to hold on to items that you have not touched in months.

Keep a mental note of the things you are throwing away and do not buy them again. I used to have a huge collection of mugs, but I am very proud to say that now I only have a handful that I actually use.

I also try my best to clean out my fridge and freezer every time I do groceries, so I did not find too much expired produce. Indeed, I got rid of pots and pans and cleaning supplies I was not using.

In the third week, I was decluttering my bedroom and bathroom. For the closet, I highly recommend taking everything out and putting back the pieces that you wear the most first.

A couple of months ago, I set aside clothes that I wanted to declutter but was scared to. I never felt like I needed to wear them, so it is time to let them go. It took me three days to get through my closet.

My makeup and toiletries were pretty easy, since my collection has been simplified over the years. Check the expiration date, see if you have used it recently, see if you have a duplicate, ask yourself if you even like it. I got rid of all the bottles that were 98% used up. Then, I reviewed my bags, and parted ways with those that are falling apart.

In my fourth week, I decluttered my office, which tends to clutter a lot with all the things coming in and out. The easiest way to limit my book collection has been to limit my bookshelf, so I let go of two books I have had since college.

I have too many photos, so I have decided to be more intentional with how many photos I take in my day. I also spent 30-40 minutes deleting unneeded files, and it felt amazing.

I then moved on to finances and calendar. I marked my calendar with due dates, set up automatic payments, and canceled subscriptions I do not use.

Last but not least, I decluttered my tech stuff. If I buy one thing, it comes with so many attachments and little accessories, and it feels like a huge waste to throw it away, but honestly, I do not have a use for it.

My last week was dedicated to mental clutter. How do I get rid of mental clutter? First, dedicate a day or two to sort out the boxes you filled up. Letting go of all this stuff always feels like shedding a layer of my past self.

Then take a moment to journal and reflect. What thoughts or emotions do I hold on to that are no longer serving me? What harmful narrative about my life do I hold on to? What specific area of my life do I need to declutter the most? How can I be more intentional about what or who I bring into my life? When I envision a clutter-free life what does it look and feel like?

30 day declutter challenge

Removing excess from your life can bring a sense of relief right away but the true transformation will come with time. This initial declutter in 30 days is an excellent start to a long journey.

What area of your life is the most cluttered? How does decluttering make you feel? Leave a comment!