17 Decluttering Tasks That Take Less Than 10 Minutes

Okay, honestly, some of these are outside decluttering, but they’re all within that whole mental-clutter zone, so in my mind, they totally count as decluttering tasks.

This is just a jumping off point to get you thinking about YOUR life.  What could do you in 10 minutes that would make tomorrow easier?  That’s been bugging you but really wouldn’t take long?  That WILL take a while to finish, but which could be broken into tiny chunks? (Take some time with that last one – it can be clutter-changing (I mean, life-changing!).

This is a random list to get you thinking.  Your challenges won’t be the same as mine, but if reading through this helps spark thoughts about what you would add to your own list, how you could use those unexpected pockets of here and there time – then this will have been a success.

And hey – pro tip!  Have a separate list for home and office if your work takes you outside your home these days.  I even have one of things I can do while I’m sitting in the car, because I spend so much time sitting in carpool.  Think outside the box!

17 decluttering tasks that take less than 10 minutes:

1. Sort today’s mail; recycle/shred junk mail; get bills, etc, to an “action station”
2. Pay a couple bills
3. Empty dishwasher
4. Load dishwasher
5. Fold some laundry (even if you’re not folding all of it) – leave the last few minutes to put it away!
6. Delete emails; unsubscribe from any you regularly don’t read; keep a list of “Stores I like” if you’re afraid you’ll forget about the stores if you don’t get their emails anymore
7. Write a birthday card
8. Update calendar to include travel/prep time for events
9. Pick up and put away seven items from any flat surface; repeat if there’s time
10. Call to schedule a handyman/furnace repair/other home maintenance needed
11. Call to schedule doctor’s appointments, etc. (pro-tip – if you typically end up on hold, you can probably do another of these tasks while you’re waiting!)
12. Shred papers
13. Change a light bulb
14. Refold one drawer of clothes that’s gotten messy; use it as an opportunity to curate, then add “less favored clothing” to your donation station
15. Carry that box of Xmas decorations down to the basement
16. Pump your bike tire (yes, even before you need to ride your bike next time; ask me how I came to think of this one…)
17. Clean the humidifiers earlier in the day – before you go to fill them at bedtime and are exhausted and realize they are super gross again…(I know this is not just me….)

What will go on your list?  Contact me and let me know!

~ Danie