We've all been there-staring at the clutter in our homes, feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stuff that needs decluttering and organizing. I've heard from several people, especially those with ADHD, that seeing this clutter is so overwhelming to the point of crippling them from doing anything. The good news? You don't need an entire weekend or a complete home overhaul to make meaningful progress. Sometimes the best way to build momentum is to start small. Really small.
Jump to:
The Power of the 15-30 Minute Session
As someone who's helped countless families and business owners tackle their organizing challenges over the past 20 years, I've learned that one of the biggest obstacles isn't the clutter itself-it's the belief that organizing requires massive blocks of time we don't have.
But here's what I've discovered: consistent small actions create sustainable systems. When you tackle one drawer, one shelf, or one small zone at a time, you're not just decluttering-you're building a habit of maintaining order that actually works with your busy lifestyle.
What you need on hand for 15-30 minute session
There are some things to make this decluttering process easier. Below are specific items you will need to use when you declutter. Having these items around will make it easier to start and finish in this timeframe.
- Have an area that you can declutter on. A surface like a counter or table to easily go through these items.
- A donation bin. This bin is just for items that will be donated to a particular place. A cardboard box (affiliate) and some paper bags work well. Writing on the box or bag on where it needs to go, will help recall where to donate the items.
- A giveaway bin. The giveaway bin is exactly what it sounds like, it will be used to hold items you want to give to friends and family.
- A sell bin. If you plan on selling items, having a bin nearby that says "Sell" on it will make it easy.
- A relocate bin. This bin will be used for belongs that need to be relocated in the house.
- A trash bin / recycling bin (affiliate). Having these nearby will make it easy to decide and get rid of things quickly.
- Assign an area of the garage (affiliate) for donation and giveaways. Having a cleared area will make it easy to start and stop these decluttering list.
Guidelines
And, there are some additional rules you need to include during these quick wins.
Choose Your Target Zone: Pick just ONE area from the list above. Resist the urge to tackle multiple spaces at once.
Set a Timer. Give yourself a specific timeframe. This creates focus and prevents decision fatigue.
Make Quick Decisions: If you haven't used something in the past year and it doesn't serve a clear purpose, it's probably time to let it go.
Complete the Process: Don't stop at decluttering. Put items back in an organized way, take the donation box to your car, and throw away the trash. A half-finished project creates more stress than motivation.
Having these items and rules will speed up the process and allow you to get on with your day.
Your Quick-Wins Decluttering List
These are specific small areas you can completely declutter in just 15-30 Minutes. Pick one, set a timer, and see what you can accomplish:
Kitchen & Dining
One kitchen drawer (affiliate) (utensils (affiliate), junk drawer, gadgets)
Spice cabinet or rack
Tupperware/food storage container cabinet
Under the kitchen sink
Refrigerator door shelves (affiliate)
One shelf in the pantry (affiliate)
Coffee/tea station
One section of the kitchen counter
Bathroom
Medicine cabinet
Under the bathroom sink
Makeup drawer or cosmetics bag
Shower caddy (affiliate) or tub ledge
Linen closet (one shelf at a time)
Bathroom counter and daily toiletries
Bedroom
Nightstand (affiliate) drawer
Top of dresser
One dresser drawer
Jewelry (affiliate) box or organizer
Under the bed (affiliate)
Closets & Storage
Coat closet floor or one shelf
Purse/bag collection
One category of shoes (affiliate)
Scarves, belts (affiliate), or accessories drawer
Living Areas
Coffee table (affiliate) surface and drawer
TV stand or entertainment center
Magazine/mail pile
One bookshelf (affiliate)
Side table or end table
Office/Work Space
One desk drawer
Desktop surface
One category in your filing system
Pen/pencil holder and supplies
Computer (affiliate) cables and cord management
Entryway
Entry table or console
Key (affiliate)/mail drop zone
Shoe rack (affiliate) by the door
Bonus Quick Wins
Car interior (glove box and center console)
Wallet (affiliate) or purse
Phone apps and photo library
That junk drawer (you know the one)
Start Where It Bothers You Most
Look at the list above and ask yourself: Which area do I see or use every single day that drives me crazy? That's your starting point.
Maybe it's the junk drawer you open ten times daily searching for scissors (affiliate). Or the bathroom counter where you can never find your favorite moisturizer. Or the coat closet that avalanches every time you open the door.
Start there. Fix that one frustration. Then ride that wave of accomplishment to the next small wins.
The Ripple Effect
Here's what happens when you consistently tackle these small organizing projects: you start to see that maintaining an organized home isn't about perfection or spending your entire Saturday cleaning. It's about creating systems that work for how you actually live.
One drawer leads to one shelf. One shelf leads to one closet. And before you know it, you've transformed not just your space, but your entire relationship with your belongings.
Your Challenge This Week
Pick just ONE area from this list and commit to spending 15-30 minutes on it this week. That's it. Then, come back next week and pick other areas you can declutter in just 15-30 Minutes.
Then come back and tell me how it went. I'd love to hear which space you chose and how it changed your daily routine (affiliate).
Remember: sustainable organizing isn't built on willpower-it's built on systems. And every system starts with one small, manageable step.
Need help? If you are struggling with your decluttering process, you may need an accountability coach, visit my Virtual Organizing Services.
15 Minute Declutter Challenges
Julie Bestry says
This is so accessible. I suspect that almost everyone (with or without ADHD) feels overwhelmed about where to start, and the less experience someone has with effective decluttering, the more daunting it can all seem.
Even as a professional, there are projects I avoid. I'm happy to clear out the kitchen or bathroom cabinets over and over, but my downstairs coat closet? It's too cold near that outside wall in winter; too hot in summer. Too whatever. We've got a sunny, fairly warm (for winter) week, and I think 30 minutes at a time is just the right approach. And I know the top drawer of my bedroom desk could use a good decluttering, as it's a place I normally avoid, as it's easy to ignore. But yes, you can really wring some magic out of 15-30 minutes of concerted effort.
And I love that you provided so many prompting ideas to help folks get started.
Sabrina Quairoli says
Thanks, Julie! Happy New Year to you!
Seana Turner says
I love this post because it feels attainable. Rather than feeling like I need to spend a whole day, I can do a bit at a time. My closet really could use a refresh, but I am pretty busy. I think I'll take your advice and work on one area at a time for a short period of time. Even just decluttering a small bit and refolding will make a big difference I think. I'd also like to wipe down my closet rods, which have gotten very dusty.
Linda Samuels says
Clutter can be paralyzing. I love your approach which for working in short time blocks includes preparing, decluttering on a small area per 'session,' and routing things at the end. That makes the process doable and not scary. But it's not about the one and done, but repeating this process as often as possible- daily, weekly, or monthly. Eventually, the spaces will feel get decluttered.
Sabrina Quairoli says
I totally agree, Linda! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Happy New Year!
Janet Barclay says
Setting our sights on 15-30 minute time slots is soooo practical! If we have in mind that we need a full day, weekend, or even more, to get organized, it's challenging to make time for that (especially if you're not enthusiastic about it!). But how often do we have 15-30 minutes free and just waste it because it doesn't feel like enough time to accomplish anything? I am always amazed at how little time some tasks actually take, once we get to them.
Sabrina Quairoli says
Me too, Janet. Just recently, I cleared out a few drawers in my kitchen and found it only took a half an hour. That is what inspired me to make this post. It's is an important reminder that many forget about especially at the beginning of the new year. Happy New Year, thanks for stopping by and commenting. =)