If your home is overflowing with clutter, there’s a gamified strategy that might help you tackle it: the 30-day minimalism challenge.
“The 30-day minimalism challenge or game was created by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known as The Minimalists,” professional organiser Regina Lark told HuffPost. “The Minimalists suggest decluttering one item on the first day of the month, two on the second day, three on the third day, and so on.”
On day 30, you’d conclude by letting go of 30 things. So, by the end of the month, you’ll have gotten rid of 465 total items.
“As a professional organiser, I think it’s a fun challenge, though it can get tough by the end,” said Bohne Leah, a professional organiser and owner of Be Organized Method. “There’s something to be said for starting a new habit slowly and consistently, and this challenge does both without feeling intimidating.”
Some people engage in the challenge individually, while others pair up with a friend and turn it into a competition. The goal is to see who completes the full month or lasts the most days.
Professional organisers see many benefits in the challenge
“If you have the time to find and declutter items each day, this can be a great strategy,” said Katie Hubbard of Turn It Tidy. “Not only does it help clear space, but it also encourages healthier habits by making you think twice before bringing new items into your home.”
Julie Naylon of No Wire Hangers Professional Organizing believes the biggest benefit is motivation.
“I think it’s a great way to motivate people who have difficulty getting started,” she said. “Turning decluttering into a game can make an otherwise daunting task feel more approachable.”
The challenge provides daily accountability and a sense of accomplishment, particularly if you embark on it with a buddy.
”It’s great to have support, encouragement and structure when you start a de-cluttering project,” said Lisa Zaslow, a professional organiser with Gotham Organizers.
She added that working with a professional organiser can provide a lot of that.
“Decluttering really comes down to a long series of decision making and problem solving,” Leah said. “When life is busy and your bandwidth is limited, even the smallest decision can feel overwhelming. I like that this is a no-pressure way to build your decision-making muscle slowly over time.”
But there are some potential downsides
“Although this is a great strategy for some, it is not my go-to method for decluttering,” Hubbard said. “First, I think it can be a slower process for a couple of reasons. Do you have time every day to find items to get rid of? And do you really want to wait 30 days to see a difference in your space?”
She added that she would prefer to set aside one day, focus on a single room and get it organised.
“Another thing to consider is that decluttering can be an emotional process,” Hubbard said. “Getting rid of belongings can bring up feelings of guilt, especially if you feel pressured to let go of something you are not ready to part with. By the end of the month, trying to find 30 items to discard in one day could feel overwhelming rather than motivating.”
Other decluttering strategies can allow for progress without these strict parameters and pressure.
“The biggest downside is that it prioritises quantity over quality,” Naylon noted. “Getting rid of 465 items doesn’t necessarily mean your home will be more organised. Someone could easily eliminate hundreds of old receipts, paper clips or other small objects without making a meaningful difference in their living space.”
She doesn’t believe the number of items eliminated should be the primary measure of success.
“I’ve been a professional organiser for over 20 years, but I’m definitely not a minimalist,” Zaslow noted.
“I have a lot of sentimental items, numerous collections – sea shells, tiny bowls and baskets, antique food containers – and a big wardrobe. So the idea of a ‘minimalism’ challenge doesn’t resonate with me, and that term might feel daunting for a lot of people.”
Sticking with something every single day is tough, and this particular challenge becomes more difficult with each day.
“The downside is if someone judges themselves harshly for not completing the whole 30 days,” Zaslow said. “The point of a challenge is to be motivating, not to beat yourself up! As long as you celebrate your wins, this could be a great way to let go of excess stuff.”
Leah also expressed concerns about people missing a day and subsequently feeling defeated and abandoning the challenge altogether.
“If that happens, don’t restart,” she said. “Just pick up where you left off, or double up on a day when it feels easy.”
If you want to try it, organisers shared a few tips
“Often, people get stalled in the decluttering process because they don’t want to simply toss useful items,” Zaslow said.
“Before you start the minimalism challenge, it can be helpful to decide what you’ll do with items that you’re letting go of. Find a nearby thrift shop or join a local Buy Nothing Facebook group so you’re prepared to easily clear things out.”
She recalled a client who had a hard time letting go of excess stuff, but fortunately lived in a neighbourhood where they could leave items on the curb for others to take.
“We created a fictional character named ‘Joe’ who could use anything, from an extra towel to a box of party invitations,” Zaslow explained. “My client was happy to fill shopping bags of items for ‘Joe.’”
Ultimately, the challenge is about getting more comfortable letting things go – whether it’s through recycling, donations, gifting, etc.
“If it helps, sing ‘Let It Go’ from ‘Frozen,’” Leah urged. “Challenges like this are appealing because they’re quantifiable, and we like metrics, at least at first. That clean structure can be sneaky for our achievement-driven brains, so try not to be too rigid with yourself.”
Remember that organizing is about making life easier, not making your to-do list longer and more stressful.
If you struggle as you reach the higher-number days, Leah recommended putting aside the pressure to “do it right” and simply moving on to the next day. Remember that organising is about making life easier, not making your to-do list longer and more stressful.
“I would encourage people to approach it as a motivational tool rather than a strict set of rules,” Naylon echoed. “Focus on progress, not numbers. If you only find five things to eliminate on day 20 – that’s still five fewer things cluttering your home. Start with easy decisions, such as expired products, broken items, duplicate kitchen utensils, or clothing you no longer wear.”
As the challenge progresses and you get more in the habit of decluttering, you can move into categories that require more thoughtful decision-making.
“To help it stick, try habit stacking,” Leah advised. “Attach the challenge to something you already do every day, like when you first wake up or while the coffee is brewing. Keep a donation bag or box by the door so items have somewhere to go right away. And if 30 days feels like too much, try a 7-day version first.”
Modifications go a long way in building sustainable habits. Lark suggested following her method of clearing out 10 things in one category per day, such as 10 water bottles, 10 vases or 10 articles of clothing.
“Since there are myriad games, plans, methods, suggestions and books teaching us how to declutter and organize, pick one and see if it works for you,” she suggested.
Moving away from pressure and negative self-talk can help you cultivate lasting changes.
“Remember, getting rid of things is only half the battle,” Naylon said. “The real goal is creating a home that’s easier to live in and maintain.”
