Monthly Decluttering Guide to Help You Avoid Overwhelm and Stress

Most of us organize when we're forced to. We have company coming, we're hosting a dinner, or that countertop just became too much to ignore.

Then we rush around in stress mode, shoving things in bins or drawers just to get the stuff cleared off. The trouble is, we rarely go back to those bins. Then, when we find them months later, we have that wave of self-loathing and discouragement. I did it again. I'm lousy at life.

There is a lot to unpack there, but one of the most helpful strategies to avoid that scenario is to parcel out the decluttering a little at a time. Doing one small thing every day or every week is a great way to avoid the last-minute stress clear-out, and STAY decluttered.

This is a time-honored technique, but it's not always easy, especially for those with ADHD. It's that pesky executive dysfunction. It's hard to motivate ourselves to declutter for some future event. Plus, if the clutter is in every room, it's hard to know where to start. Overwhelm = Inaction.

I designed this monthly decluttering guide to alleviate stress by helping you focus on one space at a time. The sequence helps you declutter a space BEFORE you need it to be tidy. That way, you have a shot at actually enjoying the process. Reveling in the fact that when the time comes, it's all done, which makes the event or season so much more delightful for you and those around you.

It's not a hard and fast guide. You can edit it to meet your particular needs. The main thing is that you're doing the work in micro steps.  I will talk more about this in a future post.

This is not meant to be a to-do list. It's just a way to focus your attention on some possible project themes if you need it.

Some projects, like the office or the garage, could be extensive if it's your first time through the cycle. Don't feel like you have to do the entire space in one month. Focus on the aspect of the space that's bugging you the most and start there.  Whatever you do is a win!

MONTHLY DECLUTTERING GUIDE

January - Health and Self-care

Spaces and Categories:

• Bedroom - night stand top and drawers, dresser top

• Sacred Space - meditation/quiet time area, qi gong space

• Relaxation - bath salts, lotions, oils

• Supplements, Medicine, and First Aid

• Exercise Room - equipment, resources

January is a time of rest and contemplation. It's a time when we look inward. What do you want to create in the coming year? How do we want to serve our minds, hearts, and bodies in the coming year?

February - Office

Spaces and Categories:

• Home Office - mail, paperwork, filing system, important documents, electronics/cords

• Kitchen Desk Area - mail, paperwork, kid/school papers, electronics/cords

• Car - receipts, paperwork

February is all about setting you up for success with papers for the year. Making sure you have a good system set up to process mail, take care of recycling/shredding, and do some pro-level filing. It's also about getting ready for tax season. If you get your papers together this month, you'll be on top of finding what you need next month.

March - Travel and Bathrooms

Spaces and Categories:

• Primary Bathroom - toiletries, cosmetics, personal care, bath linens

• Kid Bathrooms - toiletries, toys, bath linens

• Guest Bathrooms - guest travel amenities, bath linens

• Travel Area - toiletries, cosmetic bags, packing bags, luggage, locks/adaptors

March is a great time to look at toiletries. Both for home and travel. If you have limited space, use this month to make sure your drawers and cabinets are housing what you use every day or at least monthly. Seeing what you own will help you know what to buy for that next trip.

April - Garage

Spaces and Categories:

• Lawn and Garden - tools, supplies

• Camping - equipment, supplies

• Sporting Goods - equipment, supplies

• Tools and Hardware - power tools, hand tools, hardware

• Pool - equipment, supplies

April is garage month because the weather is right - not too cold or hot. Plus, garage stuff is all about the outdoors. Do it now so you'll be ready for those spring and summer activities.

May - Guest Room

Spaces and Categories:

• Floor and Bed - clearing out anything that keeps the space from feeling peaceful

• Closet and Dresser - opening up space for guests' clothes

• Linens - fresh sheets, blankets, and pillows

If you've been using your guest room as storage for anything you didn't have a place for, then getting it ready for company can be a big deal. That's why the guest room gets its own month. But knowing it's done when family or friends are on their way is worth it all. If you do it now, you'll be ready for graduations, summer travel, and the holidays.

June - Clothes Closets

Spaces and Categories:

• Primary Closet - Hanging Clothes, folded Clothes, shoes, purses, accessories, jewelry

• Kid Closets - Hanging Clothes, folded Clothes, shoes, purses, accessories, jewelry

June is about assessing your and your family's clothes and organizing the closets. This is a great time to determine your kid's needs for school clothes.

July - Laundry Room

Spaces and Categories:

• Laundry Supplies - chemicals, mesh bags, dryer sheets

• Cleaning Products - chemicals, brushes

• Cleaning Equipment - mops, brooms, buckets, vacuums

• Bulk Storage - paper towels, toilet paper

• Pet Supplies - food, medicine, toys, litter

Laundry rooms can house a lot of different categories. Use the month of July to revisit your use of the space and your current systems. Laundry rooms are usually small, so make sure you're housing what's used every week. Is the way your family does laundry - the gathering, washing, and folding working?

August - Kids

Spaces and Categories:

• Playroom - toys, activities, electronics

• Homeschool - space refresh, curriculum storage, activities

• Paperwork System - schedules, school papers, artwork

August is traditionally Back-to-School month. If you don't have kids, this is a great time to put in your own special project. August could be your wildcard month.

September - Seasonal Decor

Spaces and Categories:

• Inside Storage Areas - decorative items, candles

• Kitchen/Dining Room - seasonal dishes and linens

• Garage - decorative items, yard items, wreaths, Christmas trees

• Attic - all seasonal decor

September is the time to revisit your seasonal decor. Do you still love it? Could it be stored better? It's smart to revisit it all now because it will remind you of what you already own, and things that need to be repaired or replaced.

October - Kitchen

Spaces and Categories:

• Pantry - check dates and quantities

• Food Storage - matching lids, quantity

• Paper Products - napkins, baggies, foil/plastic wrap

• Recipes and Cook Books

• Entertaining - dishes, stemware, serving pieces

Get ahead of the cooking and entertaining that's coming in November and December by decluttering and organizing the kitchen in October. It's especially important to go through the pantry and spices to clear out the old and check your inventory before you start buying for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

November - Shared Rooms

Spaces and Categories:

• Family Room

• Living Room

• Dining Room

• Powder Room

Guests are coming, so make sure the rooms they will be hanging out in are decluttered and peaceful.

December - Entertaining

Spaces and Categories:

• Games - board games, cards, and puzzles

• Activities - equipment

• Gaming - devices, equipment, cords, games

Think about things you'd enjoy doing with family and friends this month and in the coming year. Maybe a new board game or puzzle. New video game? Use December to declutter what you have and create room for the new stuff coming in.

For some people, this calendar will feel like a gift, and for some, a burden. Take it if it helps you. Otherwise, forget it. It's just a tool. And tools work best when they feel right.

Try this one out and see how it works for you.