7 Effortless Ways to Declutter Your Home (and Life!) With Ease

Tried and True Decluttering Methods that Don’t Require a Lot of Time

Let’s get real for a sec: life can get messy, and I don’t just mean those coffee spills or crayon marks on the wall. I’m talking about our homes –our soul’s favorite place – getting cluttered up with, well, life. But what if I told you I found the sweet spot when it comes to keeping clutter at bay and your home “visitor ready” at a moment’s notice?

That’s right. I've put in the sweat equity and honed in on seven simple strategies that move the needle in decreasing the clutter without draining all our time, effort, and energy. These methods took my house from mini landmines of mess to clutter…where? Let me save you from the trial and error it took me to figure out what works and what’s a waste of time by sharing with you my favorite tried and true decluttering strategies that you can start doing today.

1. The One Minute Rule:

Here's the deal: if a task takes less than a minute, just do it now. Like, right now. No matter if it's putting your shoes away, going through the mail, or writing down another item you need to pick up from the grocery store. If it can be done in sixty seconds or less, the task should be done immediately. Speaking from experience, your mental load will thank you later.

2. The 365 Method:

This is for my friends who struggle to allocate time and energy towards decluttering an entire space or house in a weekend. Consider this method your daily dose of decluttering, but make it fun! Your goal each day is to find just one item to part with. That’s it! Any item, in any room, but here’s the kicker…it’s one item every day for an entire year. But hey, don’t shun your motivation away. If you find more than one item to donate, sell, or throw away in a day, lean into it and do it! Imagine the freedom you'll feel after a year – it’s like decluttering therapy!

3. The One-In-One-Out Rule:

Anytime I mention this one the reaction is the same - “wait, what?!” I swear by this rule, and it’s results are oh-so-powerful. For every new item that walks into your life (hello, adorable new dress!), an old one has to wave goodbye. Yep, you heard me right! Each time a new item comes into your home, you must swap it out and replace it with a similar item you currently have. (Oh you bought a new Stanley? Great, what water bottle are you getting rid of?) It's all about balance, and trust me, it's liberating. Not to mention, this has personally saved me so many times with impulse buying - talk about discipline.

4. The Everything Has A Home Rule:

Here’s the secret to never losing your keys (or your mind) again: give every item a home. Yep, even those little things, and yes even that junk drawer. It’s about creating a cozy spot for everything you own. So that when you need it you know exactly where it is, and you don’t have to exert additional brain power, time, and sanity in locating it. Tough love tip: If it doesn’t have a designated space, place, or home…it has to go. Sorry, but someone needed to say it.

5. The Fifteen Minute Rule:

If there was a rule I talk about the most, it would be this one. I always recommend picking one space, silencing your phone, and making sure your animals and family members are preoccupied as you set a timer for 15 minutes and just go for it. This is your moment to shine, declutter, and conquer. Without distractions and a set time limit, see how much you can accomplish; then leave the rest for tomorrow. Believe me, you’d be surprised at the amount of messages I get affirming this rule alone. It's incredible what you can achieve in such a short time!

6. The Copy-and-Paste Strategy:

This one is one of my favorites! When it comes to simplifying your home, your mind, and your life, The Copy-and-Paste Strategy can decrease anxiety, depression, forgetfulness, anxiousness, and mental fatigue through repetitious acts that you do consistently in and for your home.

Whether it’s grocery shopping or laundry day, doing these tasks at the same time each week brings peace and predictability to your life. Fill your car up this Sunday? Copy and paste this routine task to next Sunday too! Change your air filter on the first Saturday of the month? Awesome, copy and paste that to-do task on the first Saturday of next month too! Start small and build your way up – you're crafting a life that feels good on the inside, not just one that looks good on the outside.

7. The Decluttering Timeline:

It’s time to change the way we look at decluttering; it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Create timeframes to declutter before big events, when seasons change, or you notice a peak in motivation to get rid of things. Set times throughout the year for a little declutter sesh. It's all about creating a rhythm that dances to the beat of your family's drum.

But if you want a sneak peek into my personal timeline, I declutter:

-my children's belongings before their birthdays

-clothes and shoes when going from winter to spring and summer to fall

-intentionally throughout January, after school gets out in May, the house before Christmas, and seasonal decor/attic/garage after Christmas.

And there you have it, my beautiful friend! Seven simple, soulful strategies to make your home a place of peace and joy. Remember, it's about small steps and big heart. You've totally got this! Here's to homes that are as full of love and life as we are. Sparkle on and happy organizing!