The Art of Micro-Decluttering declutter to your home—in 10 or 15-minute increments—has become quite popular in recent years, and for good reason.
If you’re looking to get your home in top shape starting today, micro-decluttering says you can do it — you certainly don’t need free time on your schedule to get the ball rolling. .
We spoke to experts in organization to gather six top tips on how to micro-declutter like a pro.
meet the expert
- jessica littman Founder of The Organized Mama Home Organizing Blog.
- vein gill Is an organizing expert and author of the organizing book Life Styled.
- Chitra Swigard Co-founder of Organized With Beauty home organizing service.
What is micro-decluttering?
Refers to the process of micro-cluttering arranging a portion of one’s space In 10 or 15 minute increments.
“I find this to be a helpful way to declutter unwanted items in small steps,” says Jessica Littman, founder of The Organized Mama home organization blog. “For many people, making a huge declutter can be overwhelming.”
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Make a plan before you start
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Littman suggests those who want to incorporate micro-decluttering into their routine to set out a rough plan before plunging into the decluttering process. She recommends deciding which spaces in the home are a priority, how often you’ll engage in micro-decluttering (whether daily, weekly, or otherwise), where you’ll donate items you no longer need. , and many more.
“Having a plan keeps things on schedule,” says Littman. It can be easy to lose momentum without figuring out the logistics ahead of time.
take things 15 minutes at a time
Shira Gill, an organization expert and author on the subject, recommends her signature “15 Minute Wins” approach to clients, which involves spending just 15 minutes addressing just one small area of the house.
She says, “When you tackle even one shelf or drawer, you’ll feel a sense of success, your confidence will increase and you’ll start to feel hopeful, even excited, about tackling the rest of your home. Will do it.”
The number of places or items you can organize in that amount of time are endless—Gill suggests tackling your purse, medicine cabinet, junk drawer, or even your refrigerator in that amount of time.
Budget your time like a professional
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You may be wondering when you’ll actually find 10 or 15 minutes in your day to engage in a micro-decluttering project, but you may have more time available than you think. You can take 10 minutes to clean the dishes while you wait for dinner to cook, or schedule a regular time in your calendar to do so.
“Immediately after using an item category is an ideal time to micro-clutter,” says Chitra Swigard, co-founder of the organized service Organized With Beauty.
This could mean sorting beauty products Evaluate your dinnerware after applying your makeup for the day or after setting the table for a gathering. Pay close attention to which items you have avoided using and consider parting with them.
Limit your distractions
While engaging in micro-disintegration, allow yourself to be in the moment and focus all your energy on the task at hand. Turn off your notifications, set a timer, and keep your head down. Once you’re done in 10 minutes, you can take a break and scroll on your phone as a reward.
Be small with your categories
Micro-decluttering doesn’t have to be an all-day process, so you may need to break down your categories of items into more manageable pieces so as not to lose momentum. Instead of telling yourself that you’re going to sort through all of your kids’ dolls, it might make more sense to focus on Barbies one day, American Girl doll accessories the next, and so on.
“It just depends on what your life is like and what time you have available,” says Swigard. “The beauty of micro-decompression is that you do it at your own pace.”
celebrate your success
Micro-decluttering can bring a huge sense of satisfaction – so feel free to share your progress with friends if you want. Swigard suggests taking before-and-after photos of your space to show others what an impact a little micro-cluttering can make. This will make you feel more accomplished, and therefore more likely to try it again in the near future.
