Inside: How to use the ‘365 Less Things’ decluttering method to simplify your home this year.
If decluttering has been on your to-do list for a while but you just aren’t sure where to start, you aren’t alone.
For many, the thought of decluttering our homes can feel overwhelming. Most of us have spent years – if not decades – accumulating all kinds of stuff.
From cluttered kitchen drawers to closets that are overstuffed with clothes that haven’t been worn in ages and garages stacked high with boxes and bins filled with who-knows-what, it can be difficult to know where to start.
If you’ve ever dreamed of a simpler, more peaceful home but aren’t sure where to begin – and aren’t ready to commit to dedicating hours of time to the task – the 365 Less Things decluttering method might be right for you.
This gradual approach revolves around a simple yet powerful concept: remove one item from your home each day for a year. Once 365 days have passed, you’ll have cleared out a whole year’s worth of clutter without feeling overwhelmed or sacrificing significant time to make it happen.
Ready to start your journey toward a simple, clutter-free home? Keep reading to see how the 365 Less Things method can help you make it happen.
The 365 Less Things Decluttering Method: Why It Works
It might sound overly simple, but this decluttering method works. There are a few reasons why:
Small and manageable steps build momentum.
One of the biggest hurdles to decluttering is that feeling of overwhelm. The idea of tackling your whole house at once can stop even the most motivated person in their tracks.
And for many, even breaking that down into smaller tasks – like focusing on a specific closet or room – is still too much to manage at once.
With the 365 Less Things Method, you eliminate overwhelm by focusing on one small, manageable action each day.
Removing one item is so simple, it’s hard to come up with an excuse not to do it. And over time, like with the snowball method, you’ll build up momentum as you experience the benefits of a less cluttered home, giving you the motivation to keep going.
Your busy schedule isn’t an excuse.
Lots of people justify living with clutter because they simply don’t have the time to address the mess.
The 365 Less Things decluttering method can fit into the busiest schedules. It only takes a minute to pick something to remove, making this method achievable for virtually anyone.
The slow pace encourages thoughtful decisions.
Unlike a fast-and-furious decluttering session, you don’t have to make any impulsive decisions with the 365 Less Things method. You’re only making one decision each day about what to get rid of.
This intentional and slower approach to decluttering gives you time to reflect on why you’re keeping certain items. Do they bring joy? Do they serve a purpose?
By the end of the year, you’ll have less clutter in your home and have a better understanding of why you own what you do.
Tips to Help You Simplify Your Home With the 365 Less Things Decluttering Method
If the 365 Less Things Method sounds like it might be a good fit for you, here are some steps you can take to make it work for you:
1 – Make a plan.
Before you begin, reflect on your goals for decluttering.
Do you want to improve the aesthetics of your home? Reduce mental clutter? Make your space easier to clean and organize? Something else?
Knowing your ‘why’ will keep you motivated to declutter during the year ahead.
You should also decide how you’ll track your progress. You can cross off days on a physical calendar, set a reminder on your phone, or choose another way to ensure you stay on track.
2 – Set some rules.
You don’t have to go crazy here, but it’s a good idea to get ahead of some questions that will inevitably arise at some point. What counts as “one item?” You probably want to specify that it’s got to be something larger and more meaningful than, for example, a single paperclip or pen.
Another thing to consider – how quickly do you need to get that item out of your house? You probably don’t want to head to a donation center every day, but you’ll likely end up getting rid of items that don’t necessarily need to go to the landfill.
Will you designate a place to store these items and take weekly or monthly trips to donate them? Post them on Facebook Marketplace for free porch pickup? Something else?
Set the decluttering rules that make the most sense to you and that will help you to make progress.
3 – Start with some easy wins.
Getting rid of sentimental items can be challenging for most of us. Instead of starting off with items that hold meaning and significance, build momentum by getting rid of things you’re less attached to.
The junk drawer in the kitchen, extra products you won’t use in your bathroom, or the clothes you haven’t worn in years might be an easier place to start!
By the time you’re ready to address those items with emotional value, you’ll have strengthened the habit of decluttering and refined the decision-making skills that can help you determine if you truly need to keep them.
4 – Be flexible.
A lot can happen over the course of 365 days. Chances are, there will be days when you forget or don’t have time to declutter.
You might take a vacation and spend a week on the beach instead of at your house. And that’s OK! If you miss a day, simply make up for it the following day.
The key to success is consistency over time – not perfection.
5 – Involve others in your home.
If you live with family or roommates, encourage them to join you as you declutter one item a day. Even children can participate by getting rid of clothes they’ve outgrown or toys they no longer play with.
Turning decluttering into a family affair can not only lighten the workload but teach valuable lessons about mindful consumption and generosity.
Final Thoughts on the ‘365 Less Things’ Decluttering Method
This approach to decluttering is an easy way to get started decluttering your home. Once you gain momentum, you could move on to a room-by-room approach to tackle the clutter in your home.
And even if you’re not ready to methodically declutter your space, you’ll still have made some progress in getting hundreds of items out of your home!
Start the new year by beginning to make progress toward your goals…one step at a time.
Do you think the ‘365 Less Things’ Decluttering Method could help you tackle the clutter in your home? Leave a comment and let me know what you think about this strategy!
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I think this is an approach I can start with and have determined I can easily remove one item from each room in my house, daily…it gives me hope that I will be able to conquer my tendency to procrastinate…since my husbands death it has been an ongoing problem to be motivated enough to want to complete any tasks in a timely manner…I still have many of his things (clothes, tools, etc.) that I haven’t disposed of…my mother and sister are also widowed and have been for many years, so they have already gone through and overcome what I’m dealing with…my mother is 89 and now I am dealing with the stress of her needs so I know this will be something I will definitely need to commit to if I am to be successful… thank you for giving me a manageable way to get started!
I’m so sorry for your loss, Linda.
Sorry for your loss bi know my children’s dad passed about 4 years ago. And now I’ve been widowed twice. So it’s very difficult getting rid of things especially as my widow pension was so modest I started with one thing. Get rid of plastics. Then clothes that needed dry cleaning. Oh and antiques. And then a lot of books and duplicate books. I’ve also gotten rid of a lot of furniture as it’s too difficult to move and clean large pieces. And as well a lot of tools to my son in law and grandson. Now I feel I can do this all the time. And I’ve only about 7 totes to purge as well as do this on a continuous basis with more books and things I’ve duplicates. Of laying around the house
I like your idea of choosing a category and getting rid of them, plastics, tools, etc. thanks!
I’m not sure I’m organised enough to commit to an item a day, but I did my own version of this last year, in that I set myself the target of getting rid of 366 items over the course of 2024, counting out every item that left the house to be donated, recycled or rehomed. I gained momentum towards the end of the year, and as a result now have 516 Fewer Things with which to start 2025, so it does work!
I am very happy I read your post. I feel exactly as you describe in your post. I have tried and failed many times I become depressed, make excuses. I can do it one day at a time. This is the best way for me. Thank you Julianna.
When my mom died I brought many of her things home so much I have forgotten who what I like. It’s time to be me again! I can’t wait to get started!!
also remember to remind yourself that the memory of your mother doesn’t reside in just an object, she is more than that to you and if it helps. Think of what that object means to her? you may think it’s something that reminds you of her or a memory you had with it and your mother but to her she might think nothing of it, or imagine her saying “don’t be silly, it’s just a spoon” or something 😅. I hope this helps. Another approach is to try Swedish death cleaning
This is a brilliant idea, it’s not difficult for me to declutter but the secret for me is that when new clutter enter my house to still get rid of an item in my house!
I started to seriously declutter last year. Before that I would have a donation box but it would take months to fill it. The one thing that got me going was the backward hanger method. I hung all my clothes for the season in my closet backwards. When I wore something, I hung it the normal way. At the end of season when it was time to change out the clothes, if a hanger was still backward, the item was donated because I knew I hadn’t worn it that season. I had made myself a rule that no matter what it was, expensive or inexpensive, if I didn’t wear it I donated it. It felt soooo good to let it all go. Good luck everyone.
I do this too! Such an easy way to help make decisions.
I love the idea of the 365 Less Things method! It feels like such a manageable way to declutter without getting overwhelmed. Taking it one day at a time, and just removing one thing, makes the whole process feel a lot more doable. I’m definitely going to give it a try! Thanks for sharing this method!
Well done to all of the above, this method sounds foolproof to put into action. The only thing I would say is be careful what you choose to declutter, you can really regret not keeping a particular item as I have found out!!
I here that often, Veronica, and wrote a post addressing it here: https://www.thesimplicityhabit.com/decluttering-regret/