{"id":124712,"date":"2023-08-31T06:01:47","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T12:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bemorewithless.com\/?p=124712"},"modified":"2023-08-31T06:01:47","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T12:01:47","slug":"daily-decluttering-routine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bemorewithless.com\/daily-decluttering-routine\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Ways to Create a Daily Decluttering Routine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Note: This article on decluttering routines is by contributing writer, Tammy Strobel.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I started to simplify my life<\/a>, I had visions of decluttering my home in one or two days. However, this mindset left me feeling overwhelmed and defeated. With help from friends and books<\/a>, I changed my perspective.\u00a0I made decluttering part of my daily routine and started to declutter in bursts<\/a>. This helped me develop a consistent routine. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, decluttering in small bursts empowered me to keep going. And, seeing the gradual progress was fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

8 Ways To Create A Daily Decluttering Routine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, I\u2019ve learned that I need a decluttering routine. If I don\u2019t stick to a routine, stuff accumulates on counters, in my office, and by my bed. In this article, I thought it would be helpful to share steps that are part of my daily decluttering routine. I hope these ideas inspire you to declutter daily. With that, let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.) Everything has a home <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most of my stuff has a specific \u201chome\u201d in my home like coats, bike gear, and house keys. For example, my husband installed two key hooks on the wall by our front door. After I unlock the front door, I immediately hang up my keys.\u00a0Creating a \u201ckey home\u201d has saved me so much time! I no longer spend extra time wandering through my apartment looking for my house keys. It\u2019s such a relief!\u00a0Whether it\u2019s a closet or drawer, having a place for our stuff keeps our home mostly clutter free.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.) Clean high impact areas <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I consistently clean<\/a> high impact areas in my home. For example, I vacuum my carpet daily. I live in an 800 square-foot apartment, so this chore takes less than 10 minutes.\u00a0Vacuuming daily keeps the carpet clean, and it\u2019s a great opportunity to declutter or tidy our stuff. I put away items like shoes, journals, and cat toys. These items are useful, and they can clutter our space quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.) Put clothes in the laundry bin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In my early 20s, I left my dirty clothes in a pile beside my bed. These days, I put my dirty clothes in the laundry bin. This is a simple task that keeps the space by my bed clutter free.\u00a0Also, I do laundry<\/a> 3 to 4 times a week because I have a tiny <\/em>washing machine. This frees up time on the weekends. Instead of spending Saturday doing 5 loads of laundry, I have time to rest and hang out with friends.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.) Make the bed <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFew things match the pure pleasure of climbing into a smoothly made bed with a lightly plumped pillow after a hectic day,\u201d says Michelle Ullman<\/a>. I agree with Ullman! My husband and I make our bed together daily, and I love this ritual. Plus, making our bed together only takes a few minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.) Do the dishes <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Washing the dishes isn\u2019t my favorite chore. However, I try to wash my dishes after each meal by rinsing them and loading the dishwasher a little at a time. A clean sink makes the kitchen look and smell <\/em>better. As an aside, my husband and I have an agreement that whoever cooks doesn\u2019t have to wash the dishes. This has been a nice way to divide up household chores. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.) Take the trash out <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Recently, we bought a tiny trash can for our kitchen. Our old trash bin didn\u2019t fit in the cabinet under our sink. I love our new bin because it saves space. Since the bin is small, we take the trash out at least once a day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.) Do a 10-minute decluttering project <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Courtney Carver said, \u201c10-minute decluttering projects are small enough that you can finish them quickly. That feeling of accomplishment will make you excited to move on to the next 10-minute decluttering project. This approach will also help you overcome procrastination.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0If you want to add some quick projects to your decluttering routine, try these tiny tasks<\/a> or these 10-minute decluttering projects<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking small steps each day gives me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. For instance, before I start work in the morning, I set my timer for 10-minutes and declutter my kitchen counter. I love coming home to a clean counter. Decluttering in short bursts is a gift to my future self, and that delights me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8.) Ask for help<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have a roommate, partner, or kids, ask them to help you with decluttering projects. Working as a team will save time, and you\u2019ll be able to check items off your decluttering list. For example, I\u2019ve been helping my husband clean out his closet. Cleaning the closet in short bursts is a fun activity we can do together.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing thoughts <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brainstorm how you can create a daily decluttering routine. Write about your ideas in a journal<\/a>. As you write, consider the systems you can change based on your needs and habits.\u00a0As author and counselor KC Davis said<\/a>, \u201cWhat I talk to my clients about a lot is systems … Figuring out why things are where they are, why clutter is building up where it is, and then changing the design or the organization around how people are actually using their home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The changes you make can be simple. For example, creating a \u201ckey home\u201d streamlined my daily routine. Another game changer: buying more reading glasses. I have a specific home for each set of glasses. Simple changes like these have made my daily decluttering routine less stressful and more joyful.\u00a0Remember, there is no \u201cright way\u201d to declutter daily. Keep experimenting and have fun sprucing up your home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources <\/strong>for your decluttering routine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Looking for more decluttering resources? Here\u2019s a list to get you started: <\/p>\n\n\n\n