Decluttering. It’s a word that brings a lot of feelings and opinions. It may even be something you’ve dipped your toes into before. Decluttering simply means you are letting go of the clutter, or things you no longer use or need in your home. 

Decluttering for moms can be a game changer!

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Why Decluttering for Moms Matters

So why might you care about decluttering your home as a mom? The benefits range from taking control of your home, getting back some of your time from managing your household, and even lowering your stress levels. 

One of my favorite books on the subject of decluttering for moms, Declutter Like A Mother, shares a quote from Annie Dillard that has become one of my favorite mottos: “What takes up your space, takes up your time.” 

Everything in our homes has to be managed and cared for in one way or another. Each time we have to clean, pick up, or reorganize an item, is time that is spent. It’s sometimes hard to notice how those minutes can add up. For example, if it takes you 2 minutes every week to wipe down your microwave, how many minutes each year do you spend cleaning it? Is it worth that time? That’s for you to decide. 

There have also been numerous studies, such as the 2010 study by UCLA, which found that women with cluttered homes had consistently raised levels of cortisol throughout the day while men in the same environment were less affected. This was also linked to increased symptoms of depression. Basically clutter can have a profoundly negative impact on our mental health as moms. 

When I started truly decluttering, mental health was exactly what I was trying to take control of. I had a six week old baby, my third child. I came across this challenge that I thought could help me be more organized because at this point I felt like I was living in a sea of chaos and I was struggling to keep up with all the mom things, including a newborn who never slept and that hadn’t been my experience with my girls so I was struggling. Decluttering was my way of taking control. 

The No Mess System of Decluttering for Moms

When you are a busy mom wearing many hats, you need a simple system. A way to declutter that literally leaves no mess. It’s the only way I’ve been successful with decluttering.

As someone who can get overwhelmed quite easily, this was magic for my brain and that’s what made it an achievable goal. You can use this system too. I’ve broken it into baby steps for you. 

Every Single Time You Declutter, Do This:

The hardest part is simply getting started. Pick a time commitment whether that’s 15 minutes a day or an hour on Saturdays and follow these steps. Consistency in decluttering adds up and will give you the results you want as long as you show up. 

1. Decide on an area (not a room, think bathroom vanity to start)
2. Set an intention for the overall space–think “What do I want this space to feel like?”
3. Get a donation box/ bag.
4. First Set a 15 Minute Alarm on Your Phone 
5. Reminder Yourself: This is a time I need to be brutally honest if I want less to manage. 
6. Pick up ONE item from that space. 
7. Put ONE item in one of these four categories: Keep, Relocate in Home, Donate, or Trash. 
8. Take immediate action on that one item depending on the category you chose. 
9. Repeat as many times as your timer allows. 
10. When your timer goes off, you will either put your donation box/bag in the car so you can drive it to the donation center of your choice or you will put it in a designated spot for the next time you declutter (just make sure when it’s full you donate it asap).
    

What to Keep in Mind When You Declutter

When you look at decluttering your home as one big task, it can seem overwhelming and impossible. But small consistent action compiles like you wouldn’t believe. So, make the commitment and schedule the time in your calendar or planner. 

For me it was 15 minutes a day or others they’ve chosen 1 hour every Saturday. The only thing that matters is that it works for you, your schedule, and your life. 

The easiest place, in my opinion, to start is your bathroom vanity. Notice how I didn’t say the entire bathroom. Just the vanity. This is great because there aren’t as many emotional based decisions that need to happen here. A lot of it boils down to two questions: Is it expired? And Do I use it/love it? Start small and you’ll gain some easy wins to help you build momentum. 

Be brutally honest with yourself each time you make a decision about an item. You are doing this for you, a.k.a manager of the home. Not for your mom. Not for your mother-in-law. Not for grandma. Not for your overly opinionated Aunt Sally. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for getting rid of something that no longer serves you. It’s literally one of the best gifts you can give yourself and your family because it buys you back your time, which is really the most precious gift of all. 

If you’re having a hard time making a decision, set an alarm for 3 months from now and if you haven’t used the item (unless it’s a seasonal item), do yourself a favor and let it go (and actually do let it go).  

How to Be Successful with Decluttering As a Mom

It may feel overwhelming now, but the important part is to just pick a starting place and take action. You’ve got this, mama! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, grab my 30 Day Decluttering Challenge to help get you started.

 No matter how small, it’s important to celebrate your wins along the way! Set goals as you declutter and give yourself a reward for hitting that goal. For example, my first goal was to declutter my bathroom vanity and I celebrated with a Starbucks coffee! But when I decluttered the whole bathroom, I celebrated by adding something homey but also needed to my bathroom. 

At the end of the day the point of decluttering is not only to have less to manage, but to also create a space that you love and pours back into you.

Additionally, community makes decluttering for moms more easily attainable, not to mention FUN! My favorite way to declutter is to share my goals with family and friends and encourage them to jump in right along with me. There are also free communities on Facebook where you can join in with other moms who are decluttering. 

If you’re craving more personalized support on your decluttering journey, I’d love to help. I support highly sensitive moms in creating more ease through self-care, simplification, and boundaries. 

My 1:1 support includes a month of guidance with coaching calls and daily voice note support—so you can move from overwhelm to ease and create space for what truly matters. Let’s make room for you again. [Book your 1:1 support here.]