Like many Americans, I suffer from TMSS — Too Much Stuff Syndrome. While I long to declutter, the sheer amount of stuff crowding the rooms in my house is overwhelming.
I could start from one corner and work methodically around each room. But I’m more likely to follow through if I have a challenge to motivate me.
Here are some systems I have considered to help get me going. They might also help you kiss your clutter goodbye.
5 a day
This is a simple concept, but it gives you a daily goal and breaks decluttering into bite-size bits. As the name implies, a Five a Day system involves unloading five items from your house every day.
I find it’s best to put a box in the back of my car and place usable items in the box each night. Items that can’t be salvaged end up in the trash.
When the box of usable items is full, it goes straight to the thrift store.
In my experience, packing a box in the house means you’ll have a box in the corner for weeks, if not months. Storing it in the van makes it easy to move unwanted items out of the house ASAP.
40 bags in 40 days
The 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge is the brainchild of blogger Ann Marie Heasley. It was created to coincide with the Christian observance of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter. However, you can do the challenge at any time that is convenient.
Heasley’s system is essentially the Five a Day challenge on steroids. Rather than unload a few items each day, you ditch an entire bag of stuff each day.
2,026 in 2026
If you need extreme decluttering, the 2,026 in 2026 challenge may be right for you. This system requires — you guessed it — that you get rid of 2,026 items by the end of the year.
Blogger Rachel Jones of Nourishing Minimalism has been using and writing about this technique for years. According to Jones, embracing the minimalist mindset has allowed her to eliminate the excuses she’d use to cling to stuff:
“Once I changed my thinking, my home has been a joy to live in, easier to keep up with, and no, I haven’t needed anything that I decluttered.”
The 100-thing challenge
Popularized by author Dave Bruno’s book of the same name, this decluttering method challenges you to live with the bare minimum: just 100 things.
In Bruno’s case, he distinguished between personal items and family items. Shared goods such as the kitchen table, plates and food didn’t count toward the 100 things. Instead, he limited personal possessions to 100 items. Of course, you can make up rules that suit your family.
12-12-12
Maybe you don’t want to simply declutter, but you want to organize too. The 12-12-12 system combines both objectives.
Joshua Becker of the blog Becoming Minimalist came up with this approach. Each day, you find 12 items to donate, 12 items to throw away and 12 items that need to be returned to their proper location. Becker says:
“On more than one occasion, this challenge actually became a quick competition between my wife and I … and your kids don’t have to be too old to participate as well.”
Project 333
Blogger Courtney Carver of Be More With Less came up with the idea of limiting her wardrobe to only 33 pieces of clothing for three months. This minimalist fashion challenge is called Project 333.
Once the challenge is over, decide which items of clothing are keepers and which need to go. Then, do it all again until you have permanently pared down your closet to a manageable size.
Pantry challenge
Take this decluttering challenge if you want to clear out the pantry, freezer and fridge while saving money at the same time. A pantry challenge can be as short as a week or as long as a month. The goal is to eat from what you have on hand and severely limit your grocery shopping.
The 90/90 method
The 90/90 rule comes from the Minimalists — Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus — who have written about simple living in “Essential,” their book of essays.
This method is easy to apply to any item you’re considering purging. Just ask yourself if you’ve used it in the past 90 days. If you haven’t, consider if you’ll use it in the next 90 days. If the answer’s no, it’s time to let go.
The rule is flexible too. So, if 60 days or six months work for you instead, go with that. The idea is to let go of possessions that don’t serve any purpose and are “likely in the way of a more meaningful life.”
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