If you’re ready to make a change and get rid of all of that unwanted clutter in your home, start the year off with this January decluttering challenge! This home decluttering “detox diet” will help to jumpstart all of your decluttering and organization habits and set the tone for an ongoing organization plan!
The Household Organization Diet 2024 officially kicks off on January 1 with my January decluttering challenge – The 31 Day Home Detox Diet! Whether you just have a few trouble spots in your home or are completely feeling overwhelmed with all of the clutter, this challenge is for you. Who’s ready to make 2024 the best organized year yet?
What is The Household Organization Diet?
The Household Organization Diet is basically a year-long, systematic plan to get every room in your home decluttered, cleaned, and organized. You’ll receive monthly to do lists, tutorials and tips to get it all done, and tons of cleaning and organization inspiration! It’s designed to help you learn strategies and systems to create your ideal home and {most importantly!} how to keep it up on an ongoing basis. You can read more about it HERE.
What is The 31 Day Home Detox January Decluttering Challenge?
The 31 day detox decluttering challenge is designed to jumpstart your decluttering and organization habits and will help you clear out all of that obvious unwanted and unused “stuff” that is clogging up your home. For the next month we will be doing a quick rundown of our homes and getting rid of at least 10 items per day {feel free to do as many as you would like!}. The idea is to keep it simple and easy to keep up with. We will be going more thoroughly through each room during the year, so this is not the time to be taking on any time consuming projects or major re-organizing. Just 15 minutes per day – anywhere you would like.
Inevitably, I always get at least a few comments from readers laughing that they would never be able to do this in 15 minutes per day. While it’s true that you may not be able to completely declutter and organize the space – we’ll actually be doing that later in the year – this will hopefully give you a good head start and inspire you to keep going. It feels SO good to start clearing that extra weight out of your home and the benefits you see should encourage you in the year to follow.
What do I need to get started on this decluttering challenge?
All you really need are some garbage bags for trash and recycling and some bins or boxes for items that you will be donating. If you’re going to be following the full Household Organization Diet, I also recommend that you get a binder to keep all of the printables in. You can find the title page OVER HERE and the January printables below. This year I will be releasing the WHOLE YEAR of printable calendars and monthly tasks so you’ll have even more flexibility in designing what works best for you. They should be out mid-January so be sure to follow along!
Let’s Get Started!
Free Decluttering Challenge Printables
Before you get started, print out the organization printables below. You can use my pre-done challenge or use the blank plan to create your own areas to declutter. If the daily plan doesn’t work for you, spend a little longer once or twice per week and work on a few tasks at a time. Whatever works best for you!
JANUARY TASKS DOWNLOAD
DOWNLOAD A BLANK JANUARY TASK SHEET HERE
GET THE JANUARY NOTES SHEET HERE
Tips for a successful home decluttering challenge.
Remember that this is just a quick decluttering – NOT an organization project!
We have a whole year of organization ahead of us so don’t get burned out now! Remember that it has likely taken you years to accumulate all of your stuff so don’t feel bad if it takes you some time to get rid of it!
Get rid of any possible distractions.
Put away your phone, turn off notifications, and keep your kiddos busy with something else for 15 minutes {or better yet, get them involved if they’re old enough!}.
Work quickly.
Put on a timer and work as quickly as you can for the full time. Don’t spend time debating about things that you’re not sure about. Instead, target all of those obvious items that you know need to go. There will be more time for other items when we work on the individual rooms.
Stay focused.
If you have a lot of decluttering to do, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Just remember – it’s only 15 minutes and it is only one small space. Pull out only what you have time for. You don’t want a bigger mess in the end than what you started with!
Have a donate bin {or two!} handy.
Trust me. You will probably be making multiple trips down to The Salvation Army this month. Have a bin or tote {and garbage bag!} nearby when you are decluttering to sort out all of your items that you will be getting rid of as you come to them.
Don’t let perfection get in the way.
Again, this is a quick decluttering. Spend all of your time getting rid of things and we will be coming back to make things look pretty later. Don’t think about it too much – just get started!! If you come across items that belong elsewhere when you are decluttering, put them away where they belong!
If you need a little extra motivation to get your going, read this post on tackling procrastination and this post on conquering your decluttering paralysis to help get your started on your way.
The Home Decluttering Diet Book
For those of you that really want to get your home decluttered and organized, my book, The Home Decluttering Diet, is the perfect companion to the plan! You can find it on Amazon, {plus it’s currently on SALE!} as well as Barnes and Nobles and many other online retailers. While the blog is a great place to get inspiration, I really wanted to create a book that had all of my thoughts and organization ideas in one place and would allow my readers to easily keep referring back to the information that they needed to keep them motivated and encouraged. The book is based on the basic idea of The Household Organization, but is filled with additional organization inspiration, strategies, and simple DIY projects. Think of the book as your ultimate organization text book and the blog as your workbook. 😉
What’s the plan for the decluttering challenge?
To help get you started, I have a daily plan set up to cover pretty much every area of your house. Feel free to just use this as a guideline though. You can really pick and choose whatever areas of your home need the most work. For extra cluttered spots, you may want to spend 2 or 3 days going through things and skip some of the other tasks. It’s all up to you!
Here is the plan that I will be following for this year’s decluttering challenge…
Day 1: Paperwork.
Do you have a pile of paperwork {or two?} collecting on your kitchen counter or in your home office? Go through bills, receipts, and any other paperwork, tossing {or shredding} what you don’t need and sorting whatever is left over into its proper location.
Day 2: Front entry way and coat closet/mudroom.
Donate any coats, shoes, or accessories that you no longer use. If you are short on space, put items that are out of season into storage somewhere else in your home.
Day 3: Purse.
Empty out all garbage and items that you do not use regularly. Sort through any receipts and either put them into paper recycling or file away. Use a small pouch to hold make-up and other essentials that can easily be transferred from purse to purse. Donate any purses that you no longer use or love.
Day 4: Cleaning supplies.
Go through your cleaning supplies {wherever they may be!} and get rid of all of those products that you don’t use. Try to use multipurpose cleaners or green cleaning products whenever possible. If you have multiple partially filled bottles of the same product, combine them into one bottle. Toss any old rags or cloths that are at the end of their use. You can see our organized cleaning cabinet HERE.
Day 5: Fridge and Freezer.
Remove all items from that are expired or you know you will not use. Minimize packaging when possible to save space. Find other organization ideas HERE. Does your fridge need a deep cleaning? You can check out my fridge cleaning tips HERE.
Day 6: Pantry and other dry food storage.
Toss all items that are expired and get rid of anything that you know you will not use. Don’t forget to go through all of those spices too! Place items that will be expiring soon towards the front of the cupboard.
Day 7: Free for All.
This is your catch up day if you didn’t finish any of the above areas. If you’re all caught up, pick the most cluttered area in your home and spend a little extra time there.
Day 8: Kitchen Cabinets.
Look for any kitchen items that you do not use or have room for. Ensure that all Tupperware has matching lids and eliminate as many unnecessary kitchen gadgets, cookbooks, and duplicate utensils as you can. You can see how ours are organized HERE.
Day 9: Medicine Cabinet/First Aid Supplies.
Medicine is actually best stored outside of the bathroom in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children. Go through all medications and look for items that are expired or that you no longer need. Return expired medications to your local pharmacy for proper disposal. Find more ideas HERE.
Day 10: Dining Area.
Commit to keeping your table clutter free. Find storage solutions for all items that frequently find their way to the table. Donate any dishes, serving ware, or other items that you do not use.
Day 11: Entertainment Area.
Make sure all CDs, DVDs etc are in their proper cases and evaluate what you really will use. Music and videos are so easily accessible through our computers and mobile devices, that your CDs and DVDs may be a thing of the past.
Day 12: Magazines and Books.
Let go of your magazine hoarding and get rid of any outdated editions. Cut out pages that you would like to keep and sort into a filing system. Recycle or donate old books that you will no longer read and sort the rest in a logical order.
Day 13: Junk drawer.
Get rid of everything that is not needed. If you have time, use inexpensive plastic containers to store similar items together. Put items that belong elsewhere away.
Day 14: Free for All.
This is your catch up day if you didn’t finish any of the above areas. If you are all caught up, pick the most cluttered area in your home to go through.
Day 15: Desk.
File away any needed paperwork and shred remaining papers. Sort smaller office supplies and only keep products that you use. Get rid of those 2014 calendars!
Day 16: Bathroom cabinets.
Go through all beauty products and keep only what you really use. Do you really need all of those hotel shampoo bottles?
Day 17: Linen closet.
Donate any linens that you no longer use that are still in good condition. Toss any items that are really dingy or have holes.
Day 18: Make-up.
Toss anything that is expired, cracked or no longer your style. Pick your favorites and get rid of those other 10 lipstick tubes that you never wear! To find out more about the recommended shelf-life for various make-up, check out this post on how to organize your makeup.
Day 19: Jewellery.
Sort through all of your jewellery and decide what items you still wear. Donate or toss the rest! If anything you would like to keep needs cleaning or repairs, put them aside to take care of as soon as you can.
Day 20: Bedroom closet.
Sort through all clothing and ask yourself if you would still buy it today. If not, it is time for it to go!
Day 21: Free for All.
This is your catch up day if you didn’t finish any of the above areas. If you are all caught up, pick the most cluttered area in your home to go through.
Day 22: Sock and underwear drawer.
Go through all of those socks and underwear. Make sure you have matching socks with no holes and only keep what you still wear.
Day 23: Nightstand.
Clear off table top and sort through drawers keeping only what you would need before bed or during the night.
Day 24: Kids’ Toys.
This is always a fun one. Sort through toys to see what your kids still use {and have your kids help out on this one if they are old enough}. Check to see that toys have all parts and are in working order before donating or selling. Toss the rest!
Day 25: Kids’ Closets
Check to see what clothes still fit and donate the old ones or sort them into a labeled storage bin if you are saving them for younger children. You can find more kids closet organization tips HERE.
Day 26: Craft space.
Be ruthless and really evaluate what items you still need and use. Schools will often take extra supplies that you are looking to get rid of.
Day 27: Laundry Room.
Sort through cupboards for any laundry products that are old or not used. Toss any unpaired socks that are hanging around.
Day 28: Free for All.
This is your catch up day if you didn’t finish any of the above areas. If you’re all caught up, pick the most cluttered area in your home to go through.
Day 29: Basement.
Chances are this is one of the biggest source of clutter. Set a timer and try to get rid of as many items as possible. Use large storage totes to store seasonal items together.
Day 30: Garage.
This one is also a big clutter offender. Again, set a timer and collect as many items as you can that you no longer use or need.
Day 31: Car.
Grab two bags – one for garbage and one for anything that needs to go back in the house. Put everything away in its proper place that you bring back into the house.
Get a support team.
The best way to stick with any new plan or habit is to find a support team. Try doing this challenge with all of the members of your household, a friend, or an extended family member. And for even more support and inspiration, follow along with Instagram or Facebook and subscribe to my emails {the sign up is right on the side bar!} so you won’t miss a post! There is definitely strength in numbers and I love to hear how things are going for you all! Please email me with any questions you may have or tag me in your social media posts. 🙂
Happy Organizing!!
For more information on The Household Organization Diet and to see last year’s spaces, check out this post HERE.
iS THERE A COST FOR SUBSCRIPTION?
Nope! All of the printables are free! If you subscribe you just get sent emails as the posts are published and/or a bi-weekly newsletter {you can pick what your prefer on the subscribe form.}
This seems very female centric. Makeup, purse, jewelry … maybe less gender specific task to get men on board.
Those are the only three female specific tasks out of the 30 days and could always be modified. I have a blank calendar included so you can totally customize it to whatever you would like. 🙂
I wish there was a like button. I LOVE your challenges…of course, I forgot until today & there are things that do not apply so I’m usually only 15 or so days of things to look thru.
You are awesome for keeping this going!
Cindy, are you the Cindy originally from Todd County, Ky?
Can’t wait to get started!!!!
Awesome! I’m so glad you’re joining in!
Hi!
Also in Belgium we need neat houses 🙂 I’m going to try to follow the tips and tricks and hope to keep up my resolution to keep my house clean and tidy.
I tried to register for the newletter but I didn’t receive an e-mail to confirm.
Nele
So happy to have you visitng from Belgium! If the newsletter doesn’t come next week, let me know. I have had others that didn’t get a confirmation too and the newsletters still came. 🙂
it came yesterday. it’s al fine now 🙂
now decluttering the hall way! Off I go.
So happy to have you visiting from Belgium! If the newsletter doesn’t come next week, let me know. I have had others that didn’t get a confirmation too and the newsletters still came. 🙂
I am joining in Germany! Thanks for all your effort!
Awesome! I love hearing from international readers! Hope to make it to your country one day for a vacation – it’s on my bucket list!
yes I need to work on the house as it is always cluttered. great to break it down
All the way from Sweden!
I’ve been talked my husband in to join in this year!
Thank you Jenn for the best cleaning blog in the world!
Thanks so much! It’s so exciting to have you all the way from Sweden!! I hope it’s going well for you. 🙂
So need this! Just printed the task calendar. I know I’m a day late but better late than never =) #turnituptuesday
Never too late! Glad you’re joining in!
This is such a great idea; I love your daily tasks list! Thanks for linking up with Merry Monday this week!
Thank-you! I appreciate you hosting!
Hi Jenn,
Do you have pdf versions of your printables? I am unable to open through the link on your page as I am blocked at work. I also tried from my iPad at home and couldn’t open it through that, either. I appreciate it!
Hi Tiffany! The printables are all PDF versions. They’re hosted on Google Drive so you will likely need to have that app to download on your ipad. I tested it on mine and it’s working. If you’re downloading on a desktop Google Chrome tends to work best as a browser (although other browsers do work) so it’s likely just security settings on your work computer. Just let me know if that doesn’t help. Thanks!
Thanks so much for the suggestion…I will try 😉
I am trying to work on de-cluttering and organization for the new year. This is a great list on stuff to tackle every day.
You should come link up at #bloggerspotlight tomorrow night!
Raising Fairies and Knights
Thanks! I hope you find it helpful!
I’m 58, widowed and live alone. I’ve never been a great housekeeper and having physical limitations hasn’t helped. I’ve had enough back surgeries that doctors have told me not to vacuum, mop, lean over the side of the bathtub to clean it or climb & when I ignore those orders, I pay dearly so I tend to listen. I was working full time until July 1, 2016 when the business I was managing for my mother was sold. I’m in the process of applying for disability but there are problems with that process too. My house is a mess but I’m trying & once it’s decluttered I hope to be able to hire someone to come in and do the cleaning I cannot do on my own.
My questions for you have to do with rooms I don’t have such as: kids bedrooms and closets, basement, front entry and even purse and make-up. For health reasons I don’t wear make-up & since I use a cane I rarely carry a purse. I have 2 spare bedrooms which are going to be set up as a storage room and a craft room. What do I do with the line items you have listed that I don’t have? Since I’m starting a week late is there any reason I can’t work more than 15 mins a day to get caught up? On those days when my body refuses to allow me to work at all, can I take the day off & double up later when I’m feeling better?
Hi Laura! I’m sorry you’re having to go through all of those difficulties. You can start this plan at any time and should always work at your own pace. I would recommend trying to do something every day – even if it’s only 5 minutes – to help you get into a bit of routine. On those days that you’re feeling better, do a little more, but don’t overdo things. If you don’t have a room or item on the list, just work on a space that you DO need to declutter. You can either write things down on the blank sheet, or just come up with your own idea on the day. Anything you can do is better than nothing so just get started! The more you declutter, the easier your house will be to clean and maintain. If you ever have friends or family ask if they can do anything to help, suggest that they could come over and help you do a little decluttering. I’d love to hear how your progress is going!
Am I too late to join the fun? I saw the planner on Pinterest and found it the idea really cool! I’ve already cleaned the fridge and kitchen cupboards, but there are so many tasks to complete. Almost like an Advent Calendar for cleaning, but after the holidays! Thanks for sharing!
It’s never too late too join! I like the Advent Calendar idea. lol!
Subscribing from Thursday Favorite Things at Katherine’s Corner.
Yup, I’m late to the party, but I don’t mind of you don’t! My house is in such a state, anything would help, really.
You’re always welcome and can start ANY time!! 🙂
Awesome inspiration! I love how you broke it down. I already committed to that time frame, but now I have help from you! Thanks!
So glad that it was helpful for you! Happy Decluttering!!
OMG!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!! I LOVE telling people that I have put my house on a diet… lol and Everyone who knows me laughs because they know that my house needs to lose some serious “weight”!
Since starting I have stuck with it every day, My pantry is “INSANE!!!” (read picture worthy), I just wish that I had taken a before pic. But even more incredible… I found our safe deposit box keys yesterday (yes, in our linen closet)…. they have been missing for 10 and 1/2 years. I know this because that is when we moved into our newly built “forever” home and they were “misplaced” during the move. We were going to have to pay someone $100 to drill into the box and then pay for a new lock and key.
I am so happy that I found your site and your list. I would not have done this if I didn’t have your list. Your list broke it down and made it a manageable project for me. I have been wanting to do this for years, but when faced with decluttering the whole house, I was overwhelmed and therefore.. did nothing.
I cannot wait to see the list for February and continue with my “diet”. God Bless you and cheers to finally getting my home back 😉
This makes me so happy to hear!!! Keep up the awesome work and I look forward to hearing your progress on the other spaces that we work on!
Tried to copy January calendar from website. It is not centered when downloaded and I only get half a page. Any suggestions?
Are you copying it from the website or are you downloading it from the link? If you are using the link, it often works best if you save it to your computer and then open up the file and print from there. It should print just slightly off center to allow for hole punching but it is a full page.
Well here it is January 24, I am now the latest to the “decluttering” party, or in my case, I’m going to call it my “oh crap my husband got a job 8 hours away and now I have to purge, give away, declutter and pack” our 2400 SF home pretty much on my own!!! So with that being said, I will be looking further here for other “helps” I need. We raised our kids and the church youth group here as well, so it’s full of our life. I wake up and thank God I am awake and breathing, then I remember I’m living alone now. Its kinda nice, how ever, I am looking forward to getting this done and move to the beach where my husband is! In all fairness, he’s working 16 hour days. So, I have a huge incentive to get my fanny going. I am going to try to print this stuff out and velcro this list to my chest and move forward. I can’t take a year to do this, so if you get any of the other ideas early, send them my way. Hey, I went thru my shoes today, threw out a lip gloss, did the sock and underwear thing and cleaned out both fridges and freezers already yesterday! That’s a start, right?
Wish me luck and the focus to stay at it. My house is a disaster and still full of our kids’ items. I ate lunch while reading all the other posts and got motivated. Thanks everybody, now I will get going and take the 4 large bag of my husbands clothes to a homeless shelter with my church.
Congratulations on your new adventure! Packing up is the perfect time for getting rid of all of those things that you no longer need or love. Just have a vision of what you want your new place to be like and donate or toss everything that doesn’t fit with your vision. Sounds like you’ve already got a good start! Since you have the house to yourself, it should be much easier to get things done without all of the hustle and bustle around the house. Good luck and just keep at it! 🙂
Yep, I’m late to the party…but better late than never! This is awesome! Love, love LOVE the mesh baskets in the last picture you have posted. May I ask where you got those?
Never too late! 🙂 The baskets are from Ikea.
Thank you SO much!! I’m gonna plan a trip ASAP!
Love this! Just printed it and will make it my February tasklist instead 🙂
Great! So glad to have you on board! 🙂
Hey Jenn, It’s the last day of January so I guess I am officially the last to join the cleaning party. This is the help I’ve been looking for! Yesterday I saw the sheet for Feb. and excitedly printed it off. Just found your January calendar today. I guess I’ll have to do Jan. and Feb. at the same time. I already started cleaning out drawers last week and it sure felt good! Having it mapped out on the calendar is a great help and idea. I really appreciate the challenge!
It’s September now but I will try to start anyway. Really need help with decluttering. Thanks
You can start anytime!! The best time is now! 🙂
This is awesome. I’m going to do this list December and get a nice boost on the new year plans to get and stay organized!
Before Christmas is actually the perfect time to clutter – it’s just usually hard time-wise for most people. It helps to clear out what you don’t use to make space for any new gifts you may get and also makes you very aware of how much stuff you already have {and maybe you don’t need those extra gifts!} I always at least try to declutter through the kids’ rooms and toys before the holidays.
I recently discovered your blog and have printed off the task calendar, but cannot find anything more recent that September 2017. Are the rest of 2017 available somewhere? Or, will you post new 2018 calendar tasks to print off instead?
Yes, I totally dropped the ball on the last few months! Sorry! There will be all new printables for 2018 and email subscribers will be able to get all of the printables at once.
This is awesome! I can’t wait!
XO Ellen from Ask Away
Awesome!!
I had subscribed already times ago, but did not get your emails. Now I got the news on facebook and found your post here. Where can I find the printables for the whole year, please? Are they already here?
Thank you for your precious work. Blessings
Thanks so much for subscribing. It sounds like you were signed up for the weekly newsletters which I ended up discontinuing last year. I will be starting this up again this year, however, and you’ll find the link for the download in there. It will be out either tomorrow or Thursday. Thank-you for your patience!!
Hello Jenn,
thank you so much for your answer. So I will wait.
Blessings Heike
Every time I select the link to download and print, it downloads as a .jpg file instead of a .pdf file. Am I doing something wrong? I’m using chrome and I have the free adobe pdf reader. Can you direct me on how to download as a .pdf
I actually kept this as a jpeg so people could re-size easier for different sized prints. If you would like a PDF, there are many free JPEG to PDF converters online. Just Google one and it just takes a couple of minutes to convert. Hope that helps!
Great tips and I love the printables! Pinned! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Hope to see ya next week!
Kim
This is so helpful and a great way to get some decluttering done. Thank you for sharing and thank you for helping me get motivated to start the home detox.
I’m so glad you’re joining in! Happy Organizing!
Love this. Great idea for those wanting to get rid of stuff but need help getting started or need motivation. You’ve put a lot of work into this post – it’s excellent.
#creativemonday
Katelynn,hampersandhiccups.com
Thanks Katelynn! Hope it’s helpful for you!
Hi Jenn! I ordered your book today. I know that I am 1 month behind, but I am very organized already so the “January Detox” is pretty much a way of life for me. My goal is really downsizing. I have 15 rooms, 4 garages, and a separate 3 room “playhouse” which is now filled with furniture, appliances and goods that I have inherited from my in-laws. I have way more than I need and use. Many of my family members and friends “shop” here before the spend money on things they are looking for at stores because they know that I am always trying to rid of stuff. I no longer want to save things “just in case” someone needs it. I am not a big shopper, because I truly have everything I need (and then some) so, I think that with your help, I will be able to reach my goals of living a simple lifestyle with less possessions. Wish me luck!! ~Karen
You can start at any time so you’re not behind! 🙂 Sounds like you’re already in a great mindset to get decluttering so hopefully this plan will just give you the structure that you need. Once you start decluttering, it’s nice to see the spaces open up and have areas that aren’t filled with “stuff”. Thanks so much for your support on the book! xo
Will you be sending out the years worth this year?
Yes! I will be putting the rest of the year together in one download. It should be out by mid-month. 🙂
This is my first time here. I found you via A Stroll Thru Life. What a timely post and something I plan to follow. We are downsizing our home up north and that has meant a lot of purging but there is much more to do. I think this is a perfect project for me to start the new year. Thank you.
Pamela
So glad to have you join along! Good luck with the downsizing and Happy New Year!
Great tips. Once you get started, purging/decluttering a space gets easier by the day. One jus needs to get started. You have a very user-friendly system here. #OMHGW
I just checked your book out on Amazon because I really enjoy having a physical book I can refer to and highlight in etc. It had pretty good reviews referring to you. Referring to the art design and publishing though not good reviews on that at all. Almost every single person said the print was way to small and to light and things were hard to see. I really hate to hear this with a book that sounds so good. Has someone else maybe come to you about redesigning it/publishing it?
My other question is do you have a area you that discuss anywhere about how to declutter items of sentimental value? Family pictures people might of inherited, cook books, childrens school projects parents have collected and have a hard time parting with or baby items. I have a large container for example for each one of my kids that has baby items and things from their childhood. Then a small container of projects they did in school. They dont really seem to care about these items now. We just became empty nesters. They might care about a few things later on. I also have things of my Mothers that she thinks I should hang onto, but I really dont know what to do with. I know they were hand made items. Clothing etc that she wore and then I wore, but my kids have no interest in these items. Do you have any suggestions for things like this? I also am in the same condition as another reader and have Fibromyalgia and other health issues so have to maybe work at a slower pace. That was why I was hopeful for the book also. I suffer from migraines and cant read smal print at all.
So glad to have found you and have set goals for myself this yr that I am hoping your plan can help me stay on track with.
Much appreciation in advance
Hi Kay! Thanks for checking out my book! Unfortunately, I didn’t have any input on the font and color of the text {that was all at the publisher’s discretion} and due to our contract, I am unable to have it published anywhere else. I’m hoping if the first run of print sells out, that the publisher will re-do it in a larger font. While I personally don’t have trouble reading it, I know that it’s not ideal and difficult for those that have difficulty with small print. One of my other readers, ordered the Kindle version so she could enlarge the font if that’s an option for you.
I do talk about some of the obstacles with decluttering in this post…
https://www.cleanandscentsible.com/psychology-decluttering/
I’m also actually working on a post devoted to decluttering items with emotional attachment {I started it last year at this time and never finished it!}, so look for that in the next week or two. I also have fibromyalgia {and get migraines!} and find that it’s more about changing habits and mindset when it comes to decluttering. Think about why you really feel the need to hold on to an object. Family photos or special school projects in small amounts can be precious momentos to hand down to your children BUT if there’s too much stuff, it will likely just be too overwhelming for them and thrown out. If your goal is to preserve memories, less really is more! For items that you’re trying to get rid of, could you just take a photo and journal on the back? A story and your personal memories will mean so much more than the actual object itself. There’s nothing wrong with taking it slowly – the hardest part is just getting started.
I hope that helps! xo
It’s so great that I stumbled upon this article. My 2020 New Year’s resolution is to finally stop holding on to my clutters and let them go. I have difficulty throwing out stuffs, especially those that hold memories for me. I’m still working on it right now because there are so many things that have been taking up space in my home that I don’t need but can’t bring myself to throw them away. Is there actually a way for me to keep these things while maintaining an organized space at home at the same time?
Decluttering and organizing definitely doesn’t mean you have to give away everything that holds memories. If you want to keep small momentos, have a designated space that you will keep them (ie. a specific tote or box or other storage spot with a defined space) and only store what you have room for in that specific space. It will make you think about what’s most important to you and hopefully allow you to let the rest go. For the items that you’re getting rid of, you can take photos or make a little memory album with a few notes about what the item means to you. Your memories will always be your memories regardless of whether or not have you the item or not.
I’m obsessed with this. I love to declutter. Having a proven schedule and not having to figure it out myself is a great time saver. You made my weekend, time to get organizing! Thanks!
Glad you like it! Happy decluttering!
Love this post! There is truly something about cleaning and decluttering that leaves you feeling so free and rejuvenated. Love your blog and content!
I love this home decluttering challenge. I feel like it is a great practice to do with each season change. Thanks for the fabulous free printable too. I agree that natural products are a great choice and an important part of detoxing our homes. Thanks for the push and clear direction to get me started on this project.