Is Your Space a Mess? Try These Decluttering Challenges to Get Your Life in Order

(SPOT.ph) Decluttering is one of those things that seems possible in your head but is actually devastatingly difficult once you start doing it. It’s truly easier said than done, and the idea of simmering in a pool of your own stuff might just deter you from starting at all. We get it. We’ve been there.

Professional delcutterer and organizer Marie Kondo makes it look easy, and depending on your personality, mindset, and stuff, it can be. It can also be a years-long journey that seems insurmountable. If you’re feeling demotivated, know that it gets worse before it gets better, and that the only way out is through.

As with most challenging things in life, decluttering is best done in small doses. There’s no way you’re getting that clean space in an hour, and it’s inevitable that you’ll encounter road bumps along the way. Below, we list down 10 decluttering challenges for the different aspects of your life so you can address your clutter piece by piece, no matter how long it takes.

Do keep in mind that our things belong to different categories in our lives, so while some sections like kitchens and stockrooms are easier to clean up, bigger and more sentimental spaces like closets and phone storage can get more daunting.

Before starting, decide on the following: What type of things to let go of, how much time you’ll dedicate to decluttering, and what your ideal space looks like. Good luck!

Also read: Time to Say Goodbye: 10 Things to Remove From Your Closet

Try out these 10 decluttering challenges to get your space and life in order

10-minute daily declutter

At a glance, 10 minutes might not seem like much, but do it every day consistently for an entire year and that’s 3,650 minutes of decluttering, or about 60 hours, or two full days and a half of letting things go or putting things back where they belong. This challenge might not turn your life around, but it can prevent the build-up of clutter and help you keep the state of space at a manageable level. Besides, it will help you build a daily habit that can empower you to move on to bigger decluttering goals.

10-item challenge

Instead of using time as a metric, this challenge makes you count physical items. Select a space like your desk or a drawer and declutter 10 items per day—think old notebooks, receipts, unused items, and expired stuff. This challenge also builds a habit and shows you that it can be done, with quite the notable difference even after just five days. Keep going and that’s 280 items decluttered in a month! Based on experience, this works best for the junk drawer or your handbags.

60-second declutter

This one’s for the competitive folks at heart. Set a timer for one minute and quickly grab the things that either don’t belong in a space or must be decluttered. You’ll want more stuff in the bag by the time that timer runs out and it’s a good way to train the brain to decide quickly and get things done in a snap. We find this challenge works best for high-traffic areas like the dining room, living room, or your desk.

Take it with you

Spaces often get into disarray because we forget to put things back where they belong, leading us to frantic searches in the morning and frustratedly muttering “I know I just put it here” under our breath. For this challenge, every time you leave a room or space, you must bring an item that doesn’t belong in that space, and return it to its original place. It could be the keys that must be parked by the door, or even that glass you drank from last night that needs to find its way back to the kitchen.

Also read: Decluttering for Dummies: Life-Saving Tips to Help You Clean Out Your Closet Like a Pro

P50 rental fee

Sentimental people may benefit from this…drastic challenge. Grab an item—it can be anything—and ask yourself “Would I pay P50 right now to keep this in my room?” Sure, you’d pay P50 to keep your laptop and deodorant, but we don’t think you’d pay P50 for 10 tops you haven’t worn in five years, especially if that means you no longer have imaginary cash to keep the stuff you actually wear or like.

If you’re not willing to pay the financial price to keep it, why pay the mental and emotional toll of do so? (No, please don't pay P50 to keep that worn teddy bear from an ex!)

Compounding 30-day declutter

Slow and stead wins the race, but so does consistency. On the first day of this challenge, you let go of just one item. On day two, two items. On day 30, 30 items. By the end of this challenge, you will have gotten rid of 465 items. Don’t stress over chronology—if you get rid of 10 items today, you can get rid of less things tomorrow. And hey, if you go beyond the goal per day, that’s a bigger win for you at the end of the month.

12-12-12 challenge

Letting go of things doesn’t just mean throwing stuff away. Most of the stuff are actually still usable, or just need to be put back in the right place. Enter the 12-12-12 challenge, where you successfully let go of 12 things you don’t need anymore, sell or donate 12 items, and put back 12 items back where they belong. This challenge is perfect for maintaining a space and starting out, as your mind is less fixated on “wasting” good things, and finding homes for them.

30-day declutter: space edition

Much like our lives, our spaces are segmented based on function and purpose. Decluttering a kitchen is pretty straightforward—let go of expired food and rusted tools—but a closet is not—do you really need to keep the dress you wore during your first kiss?

Decluttering by space can help you get into the swing of things because the progress is apparent and is the boost of motivation you need to keep going. Focus on a space you use or see often like the bathroom or kitchen, so by the time it’s decluttered and clean, you realize how easy life can be and want the same for your living room or bedroom.

Separate the days by space. A kitchen might take two days, but your bathroom declutter might take just one. And don’t think of decluttering the entire day either! After all, you’re a human with work and other things to do, so allow yourself several days or even a week for more challenging spaces.

Also read: Decluttering for Dummies: Life-Saving Tips to Help You Clean Your Refrigerator and Pantry

The backwards hanger

This long game works more for the closet. Turn your hangers inwards, and when you use an article of clothing, put the hanger back on correctly. At the end of the year, look at all the items you didn’t wear and assess if you want to keep them, donate, or give to a friend. If you didn’t need to wear it in the past year, why do you think you’ll need it in the next? Answer yourself as honestly as you can.

Invite a friend

Regardless of what type of challenge you choose, perhaps the greatest hurdle is letting someone in on the process. It can feel embarrassing to own so much stuff and let it all accumulate into a big puddle of mess, but good friends will help you through a tough time, and can even serve as the voice of reason when you declutter. Get an external force i.e. a friend to get the ball rolling until the finish line. Trust us when we say that good friends will help you achieve your dream space without judgment of all the baggage you carry. They'll be able to address the items minus the sentimentality you hold and can pull you back to the goal after you take a quick trip down memory lane.

Also read: Decluttering for Dummies: The 10 Places to Start With at Home