When decluttering 15 minutes at a time is the fastest way to declutter!

There seem to be two very popular decluttering trends at the moment. Let’s call them: The Decluttering Bunny (inspired by the Energizer Bunny…which just keeps going and going and going); and The Decluttering Tortoise (inspired by the Tortoise and the Hare).

To be clear, you can successfully declutter like a Bunny or a Tortoise. Neither holds a claim of moral superiority, and neither is inherently more effective than the other.

For any given person, however, the approaches differ drastically in their efficacy, so let’s talk about this.

So let’s take a deeper look – and talk some mathematics of decluttering while we’re at it! (You know I love the numbers.)

The “Ideal”: The Decluttering Bunny

This is where my heart lies. My ADHD superpower is hyperfocus, so I like to work in project mode. Clear the calendar, put on an awesome audiobook or music, preorder pizza so I don’t have to stop to cook, get the hubby and kids out of the house for the love of all that’s holy….

If I have five hours, for example, I know from experience that I have time to completely empty my closet, and replace in organized fashion only what I want to keep. That includes getting anything that didn’t belong in the closet (trash, donations, and anything that belongs elsewhere in the house) put at least into the correct general area.

I have always known that if I could just clear my calendar of all interruptions for about two weeks, I could declutter the entire house in one fell swoop. And I’ve suspected that if i managed that, I could also keep it that way.

Guess what I’ve never, ever been able to test out?

That theory on the entire house.

I adore efficiency, and decluttering all at once for me is the most efficient method.

But what happens when you wait…and wait…and wait…for that two week, distraction free period to emerge?

Because it hardly ever does.

The Practical Reality: The Decluttering Tortoise

A moment of cold hard truth:
I still struggle daily with working in 15 minute increments. The inefficiency drives me batty.

To get through my entire closet in 15 minute increments, for example, would probably take me a total of 10-15 hours, not 5, for a whole host of reasons, including:

• The set up for 15 minutes of decluttering takes just as long as for 5 hours of decluttering.
• The last few minutes of each 15 minute period needs to be reserved for tidying back up, which isn’t really decluttering. So it’s “15 minutes” but maybe only 10 of actual decluttering.
• I’m just plain slow when I can’t get into the zone – so in that 10 minutes I might get done what I’d do in only 5 minutes of when I’m in Project Decluttering Bunny mode.

So what are the advantages of decluttering 15 minutes at a time?

Much as I hate admitting it…even for me, the tortoise usually wins the decluttering race. But…why?!

Working with Time Constraints:

The reality is, even if we have a pretty flexible schedule, we rarely have hours of consecutive time to work on a single project uninterrupted. But if you’re committed to the process, it’s rare that you won’t be able to find 15 minutes a day for decluttering. And if you can manage two sessions a day, you’re doubling your progress!

Working With Physical Constraints:

In my mind I am an energizer bunny. But my body actually has fibromyalgia and arthritis and a whole host of other issues. While I can push through and do a big session, my body often can take days or even weeks to really recover. But a few 15 minute sessions here and there throughout the day? I can almost always physically manage that.

Working With Space Constraints:

Because you’re keeping the project smaller, your “messy middle” just shouldn’t be quite as big. So if you don’t have the space to spread out a lot at once, or you need to be able to completely clean up your messy middle each day because you don’t have space to dedicate as a “holding area” (which is dangerous anyway!), keeping the time short is your best friend.

Avoiding Overwhelm Paralysis:

Often, even if we have hours of free time, our brains effectively shut down by the magnitude of the task at hand. By setting a timer for just 15 minutes at a time, you can often quiet that panic. We can do anything for 15 minutes!

Building New Habits and Identities:

Whether you’re reading about weight loss or how to be a successful CEO, you’re going to run into the advice: It’s not what you do occasionally that creates change; it’s what you do every day.

When we commit to 15 minutes (virtually) every day, we begin change the way we see ourselves. We create a new identity: “I am someone who declutters every day.” And when we see ourselves that way, and are tired one day, guess what? We’re more likely to still set that timer and get a little bit done.

In sum: 15 minutes a day might feel, from day to day, like very little. But in reality, it adds up very quickly, and it is actually manageable on most days, so just as the tortoise beat the hare, 15 minutes a day is usually going to get you the most progress, as well.

Would you like one-on-one support to get your decluttering game in gear? I can help!

What works best for you when you’re decluttering? I’d love to hear what works for you and what’s more challenging!

Wishing you every success on your decluttering journey,

~ Danielle

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