Three steps to efficient home organization on a tight schedule

As a certified professional organizer, one of the most common refrains I hear is, “My house is in chaos, and I don’t know where to start!” It can be overwhelming to have many areas that need decluttering but at the same time only have small blocks of time to devote to getting organized. So how can you make meaningful progress on a tight schedule?

You might be tempted to dive into a big decluttering and organizing project, but without a plan, you can potentially create an even more chaotic environment. It can be more effective — and manageable — to start with small, but meaningful tasks. The saying, “It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” does not have to be your reality.

Here are three steps to starting your home organization project:

STEP 1: Do a walkthrough

Walk through your home starting with where you enter, whether that’s the front door or garage entrance. From that point, gauge your stress level. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most stressful, how do you feel about each area as you pass through it? Consider the entrance to your home, hallways, transition areas, living areas and storage locations. Which areas are causing you the most stress?

Some popular starting points are the areas where people gather, such as kitchens and living rooms. However, if you aren’t sleeping well and your bedroom is a cluttered disaster, I recommend starting there. Having a peaceful oasis to retire to, free of paper piles, clutter and clothes draped everywhere, can improve your ability to disconnect and get some much-needed rest.

STEP 2: Start with the destination

Perhaps you want to clean out your kitchen cabinets and pantry. Where are the items you want to relocate or donate going to end up? If you are going to store infrequently used small kitchen appliances or partyware on some shelves in the garage, then start by decluttering and cleaning off those shelves.

If you are going to donate items, then schedule a donation pickup, or if that isn’t an option, start by making sure your vehicle has space for them. If your intention is to get rid of things, they aren’t gone until they have left your house — and your vehicle. I’ve worked with many clients whose garages were full of good intentions: boxes and piles of donations that haven’t quite made it off the property.

STEP 3: Set an achievable goal for the time you have

It can be really demotivating to create a bigger mess that you don’t have time to deal with but must spend days maneuvering around. I never leave a client with a half-finished project that makes it difficult to function. Set a goal you can meet in the time you have, and you’ll get a win that will keep you motivated while you enjoy the results of your work. Here are some examples of measurable goals and tiny tasks that will make a big impact:

Examples of small measurable goals and sample tasks:

By a block of time:

• Spend 20 minutes processing mail.
• File receipts/papers.

By quantity:

• Put away 30 things in your bedroom.
• Get rid of 10 items of clothing.

By time limit:

• Unload the dishwasher in five minutes. (I love setting timers to keep me on track!)
• Set the table in three minutes.
• Clean the kitchen in 15 minutes.

By area:

• Clean out one corner of the garage.
• Clean out a bathroom cabinet.
• Declutter one bookshelf, donating unwanted books and cleaning off the shelf.

By category:

• Gather all dirty clothes for laundering.
• Collect all books from every location in your home and sort and purge.
• Sort and purge coffee cups and travel mugs.

Examples of multitasking:

While parked and waiting:

• Make your grocery list.
• Plan dinner.
• Tidy up your wallet.
• Clean out your glove compartment.

While listening to a podcast or audiobook:

• Clean out your fridge, starting with the top shelf and working down.
• Clean out a kitchen drawer.
• Deadhead flowers in your garden.
• Take a walk. (This can declutter your mind.)

During a casual call with a friend (note that these are all quiet tasks):

• Change your sheets and make your bed.
• Sort and fold your laundry.
• Give yourself a manicure.

While on an eternal phone hold:

• Delete 100 junk emails. (This can go quickly if you sort by sender first.)
• Empty out your purse/bookbag, etc. onto the upside-down lid off a large plastic bin. (This will help capture dirt and small objects.) Sort and purge.
• Delete unused apps from your phone.
• Charge and clean your devices.

Follow these three steps and you will make steady progress on your decluttering projects, no matter how much time you have!

Barbara Trapp is a certified professional organizer and productivity coach serving clients everywhere virtually. She is the owner of Zen Your Den and Zen Your Biz and can be reached at info@zenyourden.com or 904-500-SORT (7678). Visit her website at

zenyourden.com.