Use the “calendar Method” to Finally Get Your Home in Order

While the clutter in your home may seem chaotic and overwhelming, most of it can probably just be thrown away. How much of your child’s old drawings should really last forever? There’s nothing valuable in that pile of junk mail. What do all the cords in this box do anyway? I’m not saying that it’s easy to part with all this, but you can make the task easier. You just need a calendar.

Calendar method of decluttering

It’s simple, really. On the first day of the month, start decluttering your home, but with the intention that it will take the entire month. It starts off easy: On the first day, you’ll find one item to throw away (or donate). On the second day, you throw away or donate two. Add another item each day to gradually build your decluttering muscle.

In the span of 31 months, you’ll end up parting with nearly 500 pieces of junk, and yet you’re in a hurry. In the first few days, don’t throw away anything too complicated to part with. You’ll have plenty of time to get rid of every receipt, every unused utensil, and every container of expired food. Try to focus on one room at a time and make sure you stick to the numbering system.

Why a calendar can help you get organized

This method helps you develop the habit of throwing away a predetermined number of things, so that by the time you reach your teens and 20s, it will be much easier for you to part with things. You see progress and gain momentum along the way. Getting rid of hundreds of clutter items at once is an overwhelming task; but breaking it down into chunks to get a little satisfaction out of accomplishment every day is much more sustainable.

And at the end of the month, if you still have a mess, start over.