How micro decluttering can improve your life according to experts
When clutter builds up, it can feel all-consuming, leaving you convinced you’ll never find the time to tackle it. That’s where micro decluttering comes in. This approach breaks tidying into short, manageable bursts, so no single task ever feels overwhelming.
"You don’t need to prepare for a day of sorting everything. Instead, you fit it in whenever it suits you, gradually making a noticeable difference in your home," says Melissa Denham, organisational expert at Hammonds Furniture.
Over a third of people say decluttering has a big positive impact on their mental health.
Decluttering your home, regardless of the method, can have a profound impact on your mental health. A recent survey of 2,000 UK adults by the Post Office found that over a third reported a significant improvement in their wellbeing. However, getting started and making changes can be challenging – the same study revealed that 44% of people struggle to let go of unused items, even if they haven’t been used in years.
- The 15-minute decluttering hack that really works
- Your messy home is making you sick. Here's how decluttering can help your physical and mental health
- Here's why our natural instinct to gather is fueling modern-day stress
Micro decluttering and wellbeing
There's plenty of research showing that decluttering your home can have positive effects on your mental health, while a cluttered environment can have the opposite effect.
According to Verywell Mind, having a messy, cluttered environment can create stress and interfere with your ability to concentrate. The actual act of cleaning and decluttering can boost your mood, encourage physical movement, sharpen focus, and help you feel more in control of your surroundings.
Even short, 15-minute bursts of decluttering can give you a sense of quick-win satisfaction. Tackling one small area at a time not only makes the task manageable but also provides an immediate sense of accomplishment, motivating you to keep going.
What is micro decluttering?
Micro decluttering means tidying and sorting your space in small bursts, for example, 15 minutes at a time. A short block like this feels manageable rather than overwhelming, especially if you stick to the time limit and make it part of your daily routine.
"Micro decluttering helps boost productivity. Achieving small wins, like clearing a bedside table or tidying a single drawer, creates a sense of accomplishment. That motivation builds over time as you chip away at one area bit by bit, making it easier to keep going, build up a rhythm and declutter fast," explains Melissa.
By setting aside a regular window of time each day, micro decluttering soon becomes a habit, and those small efforts add up to a big difference in the long run.
- Stacey Solomon shocked by Sort Your Life Out family's huge hoard of clothes
- 28 quick tricks to make your home feel brighter and better
- Banish the blues: 25 easy ways to feel happier
Micro decluttering jobs that you can do in 15 minutes or less
Ask yourself, "What small decluttering task shall I do today?" Pick one task and stick with it. Keeping things simple makes it much easier to get started. Once you know what you’re tackling, sort items into clear piles: keep, donate or recycle if it’s no longer usable.
Here are some easy micro decluttering jobs you can try at home:
- Organise shoes into a rack or tidy away seasonal pairs
- Clear out one drawer or shelf in your bedroom
- Tidy one cupboard or drawer in the kitchen
- Sort through your books and set aside any you won’t read again
- Go through old DVDs or CDs
- Empty out your bedside table
- Declutter your wardrobe by removing items you no longer wear
- Tidy a bathroom cabinet or drawer
- Sort through kitchen utensils or pantry items
- Clear a small area of living room clutter, like a coffee table or sideboard
Once you’ve chosen your task, set a timer for 15 minutes and focus on completing it. A timer helps you stay free from distractions and ensures the task doesn’t become overwhelming.
Make micro decluttering a habit
Building a habit takes time, but once a task becomes routine, it becomes seamless. The key is to pair your new 15-minute decluttering habit with something you already do, so you can associate it naturally. For example, spend 15 minutes tidying before your morning cuppa, then reward yourself with a hot drink once you’re finished.
The more you practice it, the quicker your brain will adapt, and decluttering will start to feel like a natural part of your routine rather than a chore.
“You might not even realise how much progress you’re making until you look back after a few weeks and see how much you’ve cleared. Without long, frustrating sessions of decluttering, you’ll find your home becoming more organised before you know it,” says organisational expert Melissa Denham.
What to do with unwanted items
Once you reach the stage of having items you no longer want, there are plenty of options for dealing with them. If they’re in good condition, consider selling them on platforms such as Vinted, eBay, Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace. If you’d rather avoid the hassle of selling, donate them to a charity shop, which will happily accept good-quality clothing, books and bric-a-brac.
For items that are broken or unusable, take them to your local reuse and recycling centre. Even damaged pieces can sometimes be restored or recycled, giving them a new lease of life instead of ending up in a landfill.
Trying more decluttering methods
No single decluttering method works for everyone, so it’s worth exploring different approaches to see what suits you best. Our guide to decluttering trends covers everything from cobwebbing to Swedish death cleaning, giving you plenty of inspiration to find a method that works.
