The 15 Minute Declutter

The 15 minute declutter is a super easy way to get into decluttering your home. If you want to minimize your home, but you have no idea where to start this is the method I recommend. This method helps you to have a finite amount of time, so that you are not overwhelmed with the amount of decluttering you have to do. This is especially helpful when you are just starting out, and have and entire house to do. I know, believe me, how overwhelming it can all be when it’s all staring back at you.

What You Need

You will need 3 boxes. One of these boxes is for donations, another is for trash, and the last one is for items that need to go where they belong. This makes it easier for you to quickly place the items somewhere, so they are not siting in a pile in the room making a mess. I like to make sure that I take the boxes directly where they belong after the 15 minute declutter. This ensures that the items do not just sit there for an unknown amount of time. You will also need a timer. I just use my phone, and set a 15 minute timer.

The great thing about this is that usually after you have done 15 minutes of decluttering you often want to continue. It is a great motivator, and helps you to see that you in-fact can do it. You can declutter you house, and you can do it in 15 minute increments.

Where to Start

Pick the room that gets the most traffic or I recommend the bathroom. This is a great place to start, because often times there are no sentimental items in this room to hold you up. Take your three boxes into that room, and start the timer. This is not the time to organize or clean the space. The only thing you are doing is getting rid of all the items that you do not use.

You want to make sure that you are picking items that you can make quick decisions about. This will help you to get rid of more items in that short amount of time. You will be amazed at how simple, and easy it is to do your entire house this way. Doing this multiple times for many days in a row will kick start your motivation to declutter more.

You will then begin to see the benefits of having less items in that space, and it will make the space feel lighter. Also, doing short amount of time like this is great for decision fatigue. Often times we get decision fatigue if we are making too many decisions. Making that amount of time shorter will shorten the amount of decisions you are making all at one time.

Don’t Get Burnt Out

I highly recommend not doing to much decluttering too fast, or you will cause yourself to get burnt out. This can cause you to quit all together. These short 15 minutes of time help you to see that you can do it with your busy schedule. You can do it during your kids nap time or you can do it any day of the week.

Most people think that they cannot declutter their homes because they do not have the time. What I have noticed is that after decluttering it actually saves me time in the long run. I no longer am cleaning up tons of things in order to wipe down surfaces. I am not constantly moving things in order to vacuum. There is less laundry to do, because we just have less laundry. The dishes never pile up, because there is not enough of them to pile up. Dust does not pile up on all of the wall decorations, because I don’t really have many. There is no throw pillows to put back on the bed, because we don’t own them.

Keep Doing the 15 Minute Declutter

Keep doing the 15 minute declutter for as long as it takes in order to get your house in order. Even though we have lived more minimally for several years I still do this method to get a space back in order. Things can creep back in if we are not careful to keep them out. Kids will grow out of clothing, and eventually need more clothing. Toys are given to our kids for every holiday.

Be the gatekeeper for your home, and remember to be mindful of your purchases after you have decluttered your home. Buying less allows you to spend more money on things that matter. It also helps to keep you out of debt. We all keep far more items in our home than we use. I know for myself even after we have decluttered multiple times it is easy for it to come back in. You do not want to end up back where you started, so think about all the reasons why you are choosing to declutter in the first place. Remember these reasons when you go to purchase things. Where are you going to put this new item you want to bring back into your home?

I know for myself once I decluttered my wardrobe down significantly I was so pleased with how small it was that I did not want to increase the size of it again. Every time I want to buy something new I think ” What will I get rid of in order to buy this item?” It is usually not worth it, because I like all of the items I currently have.

I hope these tips are helpful to you on your decluttering journey. Enjoy your decluttered home once you are done! The amount of stress that will be gone after you have will be surprising to you.

Here are some great books to help further your journey to being more mimimal!