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Ready to get rid of some clutter?
I can practically hear you saying “Yesss!!!”
If you’re like most of my clients, the desire is not the problem…it’s finding the time to get it done.
Often, we have grandiose pictures in our heads of what it will look like to declutter “the right way…” (days blocked out for deep, thorough organizing, perfect containers, Pinterest-worthy before and after pictures.) But the reality is that there aren’t too many of us that have the time to organize like that. And so…days turn into weeks, which turn into months, and all the while the clutter steadily grows because we think organizing has to be PERFECT.
If I just described a pretty close version of what organizing is like for you, then it’s time to
look at decluttering in a different way.
It’s time to Just Take Ten.
This is one of the first tools I give my students in my Get Organized Boot Camp. Just Take Ten is a realistic approach to getting anything done – even organizing – because all you have to do is just take ten minutes to get it done.
Just Take Ten is a clever little way to trick the brain into working because, as I say in Bootcamp, you can do anything for ten minutes.
And if you’re worried that ten minutes won’t add up quickly enough, just consider…
10 minutes a day for 6 days a week = 1 hour
10 minutes a day for 4 weeks a month = 4 hours
10 minutes a day for even just 10 months out of the year = 40 hours of organizing in your home.
40 hours! Those minutes will start to add up, without the stress and pressure of rolling up your sleeves and taking on a big project.
If you ask me, that’s a win no matter how you look at it!
So if you’re ready to give Just Take Ten a try, here are a few tips that will make decluttering simple, easy, and sustainable.
1. Designate a regular time to Just Take Ten. Maybe it’s right after breakfast, as soon as you get home from work, or when the baby goes down for a nap. Whatever time you pick, make sure Just Take Ten follows something you do on a regular basis, so you can piggyback on an existing habit.
2. Set a timer. If you try to trick yourself into doing more than 10 minutes, your brain will catch on fast. When you say 10 minutes, honor you word. Quit at the buzzer, and you’ll find that your brain will be cooperative tomorrow when it’s time for Just Take Ten again.
3. Focus on one space at a time. You may feel that there are so many areas in your home that you’d like to declutter you don’t know where to start. Rather than migrate between multiple areas in your home during Just Take Ten, pick one spot to work so you really see the difference. The junk drawer, spice drawer, medicine cabinet, or toy closet can be a good place to start. Whatever you choose, pick a spot that will feel really rewarding when it’s completed.
4. Equip yourself with the right tools. Don’t let this sound more complicated than it is… in most cases, you’ll just need a garbage bag, a giveaway box, and a temporary container for misplaced item, such as a laundry basket. As you consider each item, ask yourself if this is something you love and/or use. If the answer is no, into the giveaway box or garbage bag it goes! Put the keepers back into the space you’re organizing, or if it belongs somewhere else, stash it in that temporary container. When the buzzer goes off, return these items to their real home.
5. Commit to repeating Just Take Ten every day. Without Just Take Ten, those ten minutes each day will pass by without notice. But by sticking with it, ten minutes will add up to a big result!
If you’re not sure where to start, an extra tip is to start at one end of the house and steadily work your way through. You’ll be amazed to watch your home transform…ten minutes at a time!
