Here's the thing - we all want a clutter free home that's easy to manage, right?? But the reality is that you have kids, the kid's schedules, work, family life, and other commitments that make sticking to a decluttering routine (or cleaning routine for that matter), more difficult than ever! But instead of just not dealing with it - let's figure out how we can work towards clutter free, manageable homes, that don't make us want to pop our lids, mmkay??!

First of all let's just acknowledge that if our homes are not clutter free and they are a pain to deal with, we have to declutter - we're one the same page on this, yes?

And we know that living with clutter can cause so many issues other than just "stuff" piling up? As busy mom's our day's become exponentially affected by clutter, possibly without us even realizing it!

A few examples of what I'm saying...

• Toys all over the floor = tripping over them and/or difficult to complete other cleaning  
• More plates/dishes than needed = more dishes that can get dirty = more dishes that can be left out and in the way when you're trying to make dinner
• Too many items on the kitchen counters = less space to work when you're trying to do things in the kitchen

I could honestly go on and on, but I think you get my point. Clutter, especially clutter that is in the spaces you work in or move in daily in your home, has an affect on how you are able to function in your spaces. So it's important to remove that clutter! 

And just so we're super on the same page, when I say "clutter", I'm talking about the things you no longer use or love. The things that are taking up living space but are no longer needed, used, or wanted. That's clutter.

But, when you're a busy mom (as all moms are), removing clutter and sticking to a routine to do so can be incredibly difficult!

We are going to work on changing that and I will be sharing my favorite strategies to help you! But first, let's chat more about the challenges of maintaining decluttering (or any) routines:

• Changing or unpredictable schedules 
• Multiple responsibilities (home, work, kids, feeding the people, etc) 
• Lack of energy 

Sound familiar?

Yeah, me too! 

So with all that in mind we have to, number one, give ourselves some grace. But also, have realistic expectations! 

There's no way that busy mom's aka YOU, can, or should, expect that decluttering will be easy, go smoothly, and all of a sudden you're going to have all the time in the world. 

Nope. Unfortunately that's not reality... unless you have access to a lot of support for your family - financial or otherwise. But for the majority of us, that's just not happening. 

So what can we do to actually make decluttering a part of our already busy lives?

Realistic Decluttering Strategy #1

Set realistic, achievable decluttering goals and expectations that work for YOU.

You know how much time you have available and what's possible within your schedule, so when considering jumping into decluttering and organizing your home - set achievable goals for decluttering that keep your schedule & availability in mind. 

 

Some examples of achievable decluttering goals are:

• decluttering one small space (drawer or shelf) at a time - this allows you to actually accomplish a task even with your busy schedule
• declutter for a small, specified amount of time (ie 10-15 minutes at a time) - again, working within your limited availability to work towards a dcluttered home. 
• identifying a specific time of day or day of the week to focus your efforts on decluttering (using or not using the strategies above)

Essentially, you want to set these goals so that you can get those small wins. Because those small wins fuel the desire to keep on going and eventually add up to large successes AKA a clutter free home that is easier to manage!

Let's wrap our brains around decluttering using those achievable goals a little bit more & let me introduce to a concept that will help you manage decluttering your home even more...

Realistic Decluttering Strategy #2

Micro-Decluttering!

Micro-decluttering is just the process of breaking down your decluttering tasks into the smallest possible actions so that you can actually make progress towards your ultimate goal of having a clutter free and manageable home. 

And if you're struggling to keep routines because you are such a busy mom - this is the way to go... trust me! 

Here are some examples of what I mean:

• decluttering one section of the kitchen counters
• decluttering one drawer of your bathroom
• decluttering one shelf of the lined closet
• decluttering one type of item in your dresser drawer

Decluttering in this way may seem like it will take forever to get through your entire home. And yes, it will take some time, but, you will see the impacts of micro-decluttering immediately.

And then little by little, you'll have your home decluttered to a point where it's easier to manage, you're less stressed, and it just plain functions better for your day to day tasks!

 

I think we've driven home the fact that you need to declutter for your sanity & how you can accomplish this (micro-decluttering)- but now we need to talk about how to actually work decluttering into your day to day life. 

Enter Habit Stacking - Realistic Decluttering Strategy #3!

Have you heard of this concept before?

Essentially, it's just taking some of your current habits and anchoring another task to that specific habit. 

Some examples of this as it relates to decluttering are:

• declutter a drawer while you wait for your coffee to brew
• clean out the fridge when you restock your groceries
• declutter a shelf during a commercial break
• unsubscribe from emails or delete duplicate photos while you're waiting in your car for the kids

Think about your day and times where you may be "waiting" or have small windows of opportunity to accomplish those micro-decluttering tasks...

✅ Take a moment and write a few of your current habits or windows of time you could add a decluttering task in your notes app or preferable on a sticky note! 

When you use the habit-stacking strategy, it can make decluttering a natural part of your day. And easily become a part of your regular, busy routine. Not to mention that it is so much less overwhelming than trying to fit large decluttering projects into a weekend!

But then of course - How do you remember to do the actual decluttering tasks when trying to habit stack??

This is going to take some reminders & repetition using visual cues & reminders. Those things you wrote down on your sticky notes now become your visual cues to implement habit stacking.

This is so much easier, honestly, then saying, 'at this time everyday, I'm going to do XYZ, cause we know the truth about trying to keep a schedule!

Some examples of setting up your visual cues to implement habit stacking are as follows:

• put a sticky note on the coffee maker to remind you to declutter a drawer
• put a sticky note in your fridge to remind you to clean it out when you restock the groceries. 
• add a sticky note to your bathroom mirror (or write on your mirror with a dry-erase marker) to remember to declutter your makeup drawers as you are getting ready.

Remember, since you are using a micro-decluttering strategy, and really just trying to work decluttering into your regular every day life - these decluttering tasks should be teeny tiny! 

If you are unsure of what types of items to declutter, a decluttering checklist can be a great help! Then you can change up those sticky notes with different tasks as you get areas decluttered!

Realistic Decluttering Strategy #4

 Another one of my favorite strategies to add decluttering into day to day life is to have a Designated Area for Donations.

You can see what I mean here!

Another similar strategy to implement is to have a "Decluttering Toolkit". This would house all the things you need for a decluttering session:

• Garbage bags for trash
• Bags or boxes for donations
• cleaning supplies (for cleaning the area you are working in)

Keep this Decluttering Toolkit in a central location (laundry room, entry closet, etc.) so that you can easily grab the items you need and get to decluttering! 

Realistic Decluttering Strategy #5

 I'm sometimes a rule follower, and then sometimes I'm not - so take this strategy with a grain of salt and decide if it works for you or not!

Embrace the "one in, one out" rule to declutter... This is a simple strategy that helps you prevent clutter from piling up in the first place by removing older, unused, or duplicate items as you bring in something new. 

Some examples would be if you were to:

• donate an old toy when buying something new
• get rid of an item if you buy a new item that is similar in function (pizza cutter or other utensil)
• donate clothing when new clothing is purchased to replace the old

This is an easy way to declutter without having to implement any special routines or setting aside time that you already are running short on. 

Realistic Decluttering Strategy #6

Include the family! 

To be honest, this question is one of the things that so many mom's/women get hung up on  "How do I get my family on board with decluttering". And here's what I will tell you:

You cannot force them to want to declutter their possessions, but you can create a space that is inviting and clutter free, that ultimately inspires them to do the same in their spaces and with their items. 

In other words: lead by example.

I know that is not easy, and takes longer than just going through your kid's stuff yourself, but in the long run, it will help everyone get on board with decluttering the home. 

Here are some things that will help:

• have an honest conversation with your spouse/partner about how the clutter is affecting you (my guess is that they'll want to be your hero and help make things better!)
• invite your children into the process and explain how you are making decisions about what to keep and what you are getting rid of. Share with them WHY you are decluttering. 
• work alongside your children to help them make decisions. Ask them how they want their room to feel. Then work together to accomplish that. 
• let your family know what you are working on, and when you'll be taking in donations, so that if they have anything to add, you will take it for them

These are not ideas that require you to be the "bad guy" or force anyone into decluttering. But instead, are ideas for opportunities for you to "bring your family along" the decluttering journey so you can all work together for the common goal of having a clutter free and easier to manage home!

Realistic Decluttering Strategy #7

The decluttering process is challenging at times, and overwhelming at others, so to stay motivated, the next strategy is to Celebrate your Small Wins!

Yes, getting an entire room decluttered IS a big deal, but couldn't be completed without decluttering the surfaces, or a shelf, or a single drawer. So keep that in mind. 

All of the smaller areas you've decluttered make up the big picture - and it's a big deal!! 

Some ways you can celebrate:

• Quiet time
• A relaxing bath
• Movie night with the family & a special treat 

It doesn't have to be a lot, just maybe something you don't always take the time to do (or feel like you have the time to do). 

Just remember, it's important to celebrate those small wins so that you can stay motivated and repeat those good feelings over and over again!  

Realistic Decluttering Strategies recap:

✅ set achievable goals - so you can get those small wins!

✅ micro-declutter - breaking down your decluttering tasks into the smallest possible actions

✅ habit stacking - take some of your current habits & anchoring another task to that specific habit

✅ Designate an area for donations - make decluttering as a part of your day to day life as easy as possible by doing this!

✅ Embrace the "one in, one out" rule to declutter - as you bring more in, send more out!

✅ include the family - don't force decluttering on the fam, just bring them along and show them the way! 

✅ Celebrate those wins!  Especially the small ones!! 

With busy families and full schedules, the idea of adding another item into your routine feels nearly impossible. But, if you are able to implement even some of the decluttering strategies above, you'll be able to make some significant changes in your home. Ultimately leading to changes so that the we're not exponentially affected by the clutter like we were before. So tell me, what strategy are you most excited about??