31 Days of 10-Minute Purging Tips – Getting Started

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I hope you’ve had a wonderful year filled with love, health and hope. We’re facing a brand new year next week. To help you start the new year off right, I’m starting a 31-day organizing challenge. I know that you’re just as busy as I am, so each day will feature one decluttering task that will only require 10 minutes of your time. Yes, you can clear clutter in just 10 minutes a day. Let me tell you how you can get started and be ready for the first task next week in the 31 Days of 10-minute Purging Tips. 

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The is a great time to review the past year and what worked and didn’t for you. It’s a perfect time to start fresh. The vast majority of us have too many things. Too. Many. Things. Having too many things weighs you down, figuratively and literally. Often the task of purging and organizing all our things just seems too daunting and, honestly, we’re just too busy. Getting organized is like any journey, it starts with just one step.

Clearing Clutter with the 31 Days of 10-Minute Purging Tasks

I’ve made 31 days of purging manageable by tackling just 10 minutes of purging each day. Realistically, you can find 10 minutes each day to work on the purging task. If you have more than 10 minutes, you can certainly do more than 10 minutes of work, but realistically most of us can find 10 minutes a day for 31 days.

Let’s get ready and work together to start getting organized.

Make a Commitment to Yourself – Take a few minutes and decide why you want to purge things from your home. What positive impact will it have on you and your family? Make a commitment to yourself to do your best to give 10 minutes every day for 31 days to accomplish these purging tasks.

Determine Your Long-term Goals – What are your long-term goals for purging? Write down your goals so that you can refer to them if you need motivation during the next 31 days.

Determine Your Short-Term Goals – What are your daily goals for these 31 days? What will you do to motivate yourself to finish your purging task on the crazy busy days that will pop up in the next 31 days?

Determine Your Organizing Successes and Challenges – Think about what are your personal challenges in becoming and staying organized. What are the areas that you do well in when it comes to purging and organizing?

Gather Boxes or Bags – You’ll need at least 6 boxes or bags to help you purge each day. You’ll need five signs for boxes or bags: 

Relocate – An item that needs to be put away in another area of your home.

Storage –  An item that needs to be put away in long-term storage in the attic, basement or a closet.

Give Away – An item that needs to be given to (or returned to) a specific person. For example, you want to pass the clothes your child has outgrown on to your niece.

Donate – Items that can be donated. 

Trash – Items that need to be thrown away.

Recycle – Items that need to be thrown away but that can be recycled.

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To get my Clearing Clutter Checklist, simply sign up for our free exclusive content below. You’ll receive immediate access to printable checklist pdf and will have access to all exclusive content on Organized 31, which includes hundreds of printable resources.

You get a free 2-page printable checklist that you can use for every decluttering task. It will help you stay focused and reach your decluttering goal. 


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Here is your printable Clearing Clutter Checklist pdf.

As a special opportunity for Organized 31 Exclusive subscribers, if you want or need organizing printables, you definitely want to check out this limited time low price offer on my 21-page Simple Decluttering Checklists  to help you work through the decluttering and organizing process on your own with the guidance and support you need.

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Set a Timer When You Work on Your Daily Task – Some of these purging tasks could take hours if you let them. Our goal is to chip away at purging tasks a little each day. There may be some tasks that you are unable to complete in 10 minutes. That’s okay. Set a timer and do as much as you can in that 10-minute period. You may only be able to assess the situation and purge one or two items. That’s okay. Any assessment and purging you are able to do is the first step on your purging and organizing journey. It will give you a better idea of what really needs to be done.

It’s Okay to Substitute A Different Task – As you work through the 31 days of purging tasks there may be one that doesn’t fit your situation. On that day, simply return to one of the previous purging tasks that needs some more attention.

If You Miss a Day (or Two), Don’t Give Up – Don’t worry if you miss a day (or more) of the 31 days, just don’t give up. If you miss a day, simply tackle the next day’s task. You can always go back and pick up the tasks of the days you miss at the end of the 31 days. 

Get my 21-page Simple Decluttering Checklists resource to help you with all decluttering situations.

collage of decluttering checklist pages in blue and red

Okay, I’m ready, are you? Each day I’ll give you a target area and tips to help you purge items in that area. I hope to see you back on January 1st to get started on our 31 Days of 10-minute Purging Tips. 

Some of the most popular decluttering topics in this challenge are:

  • Purging Shoes – Tips to declutter shoes. Day 16 of the 31 Days of 10-Minute Decluttering Tasks Challenge. Come join us in the challenge!
  • Getting Started – You can get organized in just 10 minutes a day with these purging tips. Let’s get stared purging and get ready for 31 days of 10-minute purging. 
  • Kitchen Appliances – Come join Day 6 of the 31 Days of 10-minute Purging Tips Challenge, and learn how you can tackle purging kitchen appliances.

If you just can’t wait for tomorrow, you can find all 31 Days of 10-Minute Purging Tasks and get started right now. 

Find all my decluttering tips, printables and challenges in the table below. You can scroll though the table and look for ideas or search for specific ideas with the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner (on desktop). Click on the topic and then click through the specific article.

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12 Comments

  1. I’m running a similar challenge over on my blog. I do it every year, and it is lots of fun. A great time of year to dig through and shed the clutter!

    1. I’m running over now to sign up and follow. I can’t wait to see the tips you share, Seana. Decluttering is so liberating.

  2. I have some areas I need to get organized. I like your tips! I am a pretty busy person, but think I could commit to 10 minutes a day. I think I’ll grab my timer and make a list of things I want to get organized and make a commitment to getting it done!

    1. You’ll be happily surprised at how much you can accomplish in 10 minutes, Andrea. Sometimes 10 minutes is enough and sometimes it’s the encouragement we need to keep digging in on those bigger projects. Happy organizing!

  3. What if you have too many piles of important papers to shred? That’s the problem I’m having. Any ideas??

    1. I just had to deal with that a relative that passed. We ended up sitting side-by-side and going through the paperwork. We then bit the bullet and took the shred pile to a shred location. It was a bit pricey, but I’d never have been able to shred that huge pile myself. Does that answer your question, Jenny?

  4. 10 minutes a day spent on purging is a great idea. Even just the thought of this task is overwhelming. Seeing it as taking 10 minutes a day for 31 days makes it seem much more doable.

    1. I know I’m a busy woman (and I know I’m not the only one! 🙂 ). Most of us can find 10 minutes most days. Hope you find these ideas helpful, Cathy.

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