Declutter and organize the home in 10 minutes

To really declutter, all you have to do is recognize little chunks of free time in the day. This is the best idea. I’ve taken a reader’s tip — figure out the things you can get done in the time it takes to brew morning coffee (Bunn) — and developed it into ways of organization that have changed my life.

Instead of fiddling with my phone during the three minutes it takes coffee to brew, I pour myself into a nearby task. I can empty and put away the clean contents of the dishwasher before the last gurgle. It’s close, but I load the dishwasher, including detergent, and press “start” in a cool 180 seconds. I can vacuum the entire kitchen floor, removing all crumbs and debris.

Once I realized what I could accomplish in three minutes, I expanded my mind and efforts to fill 10-minute chunks of time. It’s incredible how much I can accomplish in 10 minutes, mainly focusing on a tiny area. A drawer, a side table or a bathroom.

Instead of wasting what can add up to hours every day, start using that time to become more organized in just 10 minutes. Create a spot for incoming mail. Make sure you have the tools in place to manage your mail when you walk in the door with it. What’s on your coffee table that needs to be put away? Find a storage place for it.

To maximize 10-minute chunks of time has changed my life at EverydayCheapskate.com/10minutes.

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