Awesome Tips to Declutter Your Home (& a Checklist Printable)

Are you tired of the clutter and chaos but burned out by huge decluttering projects that you can’t seem to finish or just don’t stick? Yep, I hear ya’. 

Decluttering is possibly my least favorite part of homemaking. Sure, I like the results of the initial efforts, assuming I can actually complete them. Although I tried to avoid it for years, I had to face reality: Decluttering is necessary if we ever want to run an efficient home and be able to keep up with housework. 

Get your house in order! Check out these tips for decluttering your home plus a FREE printable pack of checklists!

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Tips to Declutter Your Home

For those of us who are NOT naturally the clean and organized type (fist bump to the type B mamas), it is important to keep a few key tips in mind. 

Aim for Progress and Not Perfection

Usually we undertake decluttering efforts when we find ourselves looking around at the chaos, become overwhelmed, and decide that “something must be done!” That momentum is a good thing! But it is also important to remember that in order for it to last, decluttering cannot be a one-off project we knuckle down on and do just once to perfection, hoping it will stick.

Instead of picturing the Pinterest-worthy decluttered and organized home, our goal should be simply to make progress… then keep making progress. Because perfection paralysis is a thing, and we’ll find ourselves stuck in it (and our clutter) if we aren’t careful! 

Sustainable and Flexible is Better

Decluttering challenges can be really helpful to give us a kick in the pants. (In fact, the free printable in this post includes a 5-day challenge I like to do.) However, most of them involve a singular heroic effort completing a giant checklist of tasks that, frankly, most people abandon by day 5.

A better approach is to declutter for the long haul. Our goal should be to put practices and tools in place that help us bring our home into an increasingly MORE efficient and decluttered state. We want our efforts to be sustainable and flexible. Sustainable because decluttering becomes a part of our habits and routines instead of a one huge time- and energy-sucking project. Flexible because it adjusts to our needs and schedules. 

Just Keep Swimming

There will be times when we once again find ourselves looking around at the chaos and decide something must be done. But as Dori says, “just keep swimming!” Persevering is made far easier by having the right tools at our fingertips. We need tools that will help us tackle clutter in a sustainable and flexible way without burning ourselves out. 

Well, I happen to have those tools for you. 🙂 

Declutter Your Home Checklist Printable Pack

Get your house in order! Check out these tips for decluttering your home plus a FREE printable pack of checklists!

Download our printable pack for a set of unique tools that will set you up for success! Choose one or more of the sections and begin implementing decluttering habits that will last!

Here’s how each section works:

  • 15-Minute Quick Declutter Blitzes: Set the timer and clean and declutter as much as possible! You can do just one or several depending on how much time you have. 
  • Declutter by Type: Set the timer for 30 minutes and, for the selected type of item (books, toys, papers, etc.)  go quickly through the house collecting ones to discard, donate, or re-locate. 
  • Monthly Decluttering Checklist: Put a recurring event on your calendar each month and tackle the 4 must-do tasks plus one of the included Decluttering Cards! You can just pick a card or use the provided schedule to cover the whole house in a year. 
  • Fast Fix Decluttering Drills: Post this page in your kitchen, near your planner, etc. and when you have a spare 5, 15, or 30 minutes to spare pick a task from that column and set the timer!
  • NEW: 5-Day Decluttering Challenge: Need to give yourself a kick in the pants to declutter? Try this 5-day challenge with friends or on your own! Each day, fill one or more bags from things and get them OUT of the house (garbage, donate, etc.). Includes several daily bonus challenges, too! Set a reward for the end of the week depending on how many of the challenges you complete. 

Work Decluttering Into Your Regular Routine

Having tools is great, but only if you use them! Here are a few strategies you can use to get this done:

  1. Put “5-Day Decluttering Challenge” on your calendar every 3 months or so and set a reminder. 
  2. Add “declutter” to your loop schedule and when you get to that task just pick one of the decluttering tools: 15-minute blitz, declutter by type, etc. 
  3. Make every Friday or Saturday your Home Blessing Day! Catch up on housework and employ your kids in getting some quick decluttering and cleaning done. Given them tasks from the monthly lists to earn a little extra spending money!

 

I hope this is a helpful tool for you! I’d love to hear in the comments YOUR favorite tips for decluttering. 

~ Tauna

⭐️ 2023 Pre-Christmas Decluttering Challenge

We’re doing a 5-day decluttering challenge starting December 4th! 🙌

Here’s what to do:

1 – Download and print the decluttering printable pack. We’ll be mostly using page 11, so take some time before the challenge to look it over and plan your week of tasks. 

2 – Complete the 5-day challenge. Starting December 4th, follow page 11 from the printable to do some tasks each day. (Of if you prefer, just tackle the toys or other area of your home that’s been bugging you!) The main goal is to do 5 days of decluttering tasks.

If you miss a day you can always catch up! You have through Sunday, 12/10 to complete all the days and ​record the tasks on the giveaway widget below​ to be entered to win the prizes. (Some of the entries can be done now. We’ll just start the actual decluttering challenge on the 4th and you’ll submit your decluttering entries during that week.) 

3 – Do some bonus tasks. I’ve added a few extra tasks for after the challenge, too, that are on the same ​giveaway entry widget​. They’re optional and easy, with the goal of helping you (and me) carry forward our decluttering efforts into the future.

3 Winners: Get the James Family Bible Study (Digital) + $5 Gift Card to Amazon, PayPal, or Exodus Books!

After the challenge, I’ll be selecting 3 winners from the giveaway entries and each of them will with the digital download of the James family Bible study and a $5 gift card of your choice@

If you’d like a little extra motivation, be sure to follow along on my FB page or Instagram starting December 4th for daily reminders and some photos of my own decluttering efforts. ❤️

Read, Pray, and Memorize James with Your Family - this resource includes a year-long study for families with multiple ages. Use it alone or with whatever reading and study plan you're already using!

James: Deep in the Word – Family Bible Study

Want to go deeper into God’s Word with your family but just don’t know where to start?

This study on the book of James makes it simple for you! You can use it on its own or alongside whatever Bible study or reading plan you’re already using. It is a flexible system that you can do in entirety or pick and choose elements to fit your needs.

Here’s what you’ll find: 

  • Ideas for using it with multiple ages
  • Scripture memory tips and tool
  • Tools to help you be faithful in Bible reading and prayer
  • 2 sets of custom illustrated scripture art prints, cards, and coloring pages
  • Devotional and discussion questions
  • Bible study tips and additional resources
  • Journal to write out prayers and ideas for application 
  • Scripture word study templates
  • Young kids draw or build with Legos
  • Copywork – single and dash lined
  • Memorization puzzle

The James Scripture Challenge is a family Bible study and memory/prayer system that includes 300+ pages. You’ll get an introduction with setup files and 12 monthly packs to work through the book of James.  

Are you ready to go deep in the Word with the book of James?  

 
 

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY! 

Must be 18 years old or older to enter. Winners will receive a digital download of the James study and a $5 Amazon gift card from Tauna Meyer sent to the email of their choice.

NOTE: By entering, you agree to be added to the Proverbial Homemaker email list, if you aren’t already on them.

 

This Post Has 7 Comments

    1. Tauna Meyer

      You’re welcome!

  1. Carrie-lynne

    Yes perfection paralysis ! I so badly want a Pinterest home and instead I have chaos ! I homeschool and care for my 6 kids and run to specialists more than I care to. I start to organize and clean and realize I won’t make it so I stop. Can not wait to download this
    Thank you
    -carrie-Lynn

    1. Tauna Meyer

      You’re so welcome Carrie!

  2. Helen Brindell

    Just in time for the new year set before us. I have a question. I am not understanding the printable for the 15 minute quick blitzes. Under each area of the home you list (6) you have 12 boxes…how are they to be used. Do you just put a check mark in a box each time you do a blitz in that area??? thanks

    1. Tauna Meyer

      That’s exactly what I do! 🙂

  3. Emmie

    I’m stoked about this! I have got to get a handle on our clutter!!!

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