21-Day Use It or Lose it Clutter Challenge

I love a good clutter challenge. While slow and steady is a better approach for simplifying your life over a long period of time, it helps to pepper in a good clutter challenge. You’ll notice more momentum and interest when you do.

You’ll find the rules and some suggestions for the Use It or Lose It Clutter Challenge below along with a few other simplicity challenges that have helped me get rid of stuff. More importantly, these challenges created space in my closet, home and brain so I have more time and energy for what really matters to me.

If you don’t use your stuff, it falls right into the clutter category. Even if you purchased it with the right intention or got an incredible deal on your stuff, it doesn’t matter if you never use or enjoy it. You may hold on to it because you feel guilty for buying it in the first place or because you really believe you may use it someday. Put your belief to the test with this clutter challenge.

21-Day Use It or Lose It Clutter Challenge

We do this thing with our clutter. We hold on to it and promise ourselves we will use it someday. And then we break that promise over and over again. This clutter challenge will help you keep your promise to use it or lose it. Here are the clutter challenge rules.

Pick one of the suggested areas of your home (or choose your own).
For 21 days, set aside the items you use.
After 21 days, box up everything you didn’t use and hide the box for the next 21 days (while you work on a new space or category of stuff). If you don’t miss what you hide, or even remember what you put in the box, donate it.

Choose from these Categories and spaces for the Use It or Lose It Clutter Challenge

Only work on one space or category at a time. I suggest starting with the following:

Closets and clothes: Your closets may include clothes you only wore once and some you’ve never worn at all. Even with a big wardrobe, we usually wear a small collection of the clothes we own. Include clothing, accessories, jewelry and shoes. If it feels too overwhelming, start with one category at a time. For example, only apply the challenge to your shirts, shoes, accessories or pajamas. Or, use this wardrobe decluttering checklist. Save yourself the time and energy of sorting through all that stuff in your closet with the Use It or Lose It Clutter Challenge.
Skincare, cosmetics and toiletries: It’s easy to stock up here and things can build up quietly. I used to fall into the trap of buying something I didn’t want so I could get something I didn’t need for free! It’s easy to say you’ll “use it later” in this category of stuff and then you never do. Give yourself permission to use it or lose it. Use the challenge rules and you’ll see how little you really use or need. Understanding this will change the way you purchase in the future.
Small kitchen appliances: Be honest about your blender, crockpot, air fryer and toaster oven. What about those other uni-taskers? Do you use your rice cooker? Everyone uses different things in the kitchen. I haven’t used (or owned) a microwave in years but I use my blender and coffee maker every day.
Kitchen multiples: Let’s start with coffee cups! I used to own a bunch even though I always used my favorite each day. You too? Consider your other multiples too. See what you use for glasses, dishes, silverware, measuring cups and spoons. Don’t forget your wooden spoons and wire whisks. If you have extra boxes of pasta or other things in your pantry that you don’t plan to eat and they haven’t been opened, donate them to your local food bank.
Kid’s toys: Kids have their favorite things. They can also get overwhelmed with “too much stuff” just like us. Invite them to play the Use It or Lose It Clutter Challenge and donate their gently used toys to a local organization. This may be a good time to remind well-meaning relatives not to overdo it during the holidays.
Seasonal Items: During the holidays, use or lose your holiday decor. If you won’t use it this year, will you really use it next year? After getting rid of boxes of holiday decor, I realized that holiday magic doesn’t come from all the stuff, it comes from being able to actually show up and be present. For extra inspiration use this holiday decluttering guide.
Digital: It’s so easy to just add and add and add in this category. Pay attention to your phone apps, digital media (photos, docs and other things you save). What about email, social media and the time you spend online? There are many creative ways to approach the clutter challenge with your digital clutter.
Sentimental items. If you are ready to let go of sentimental items, this challenge can help. Gather your sentimental items and for 21 days, see if there is a way to enjoy, display or “use” your sentimental items in another way. If not, take a picture and box them up while you consider letting go. For more support, read How to Get Rid of Sentimental Items.

More Clutter Challenges to Encourage Your Simplicity Journey

Try any of these challenges or all of them (but not all at once). If you are just starting your decluttering or simplicity journey, it may take a few years to be completely clutter-free. Consider a new clutter challenge every few months to boost your slow and steady progress. Prioritize consistent decluttering but make it more fun and interesting by trying some of these clutter challenges.

The Project 333 Challenge

Thanks to this wardrobe clutter challenge I started in 2010, I’ve been dressing with fewer items in my closet and less decision fatigue for 15 years! All you have to do is to choose 33 items (clothing, jewelry, accessories, shoes) to wear for 3 months and hide everything else. Spoiler alert: doing it is much easier than thinking about doing it. Learn more here or read the book.

When I challenged myself to dress with less by creating the Project 333 Challenge, I realized that all the shopping I was doing was contributing to more clothes clutter, debt and stress. And, even more surprising, I noticed I had all kinds of stress and emotion wrapped up in the clothing hanging in my closet. I highly recommend trying this wardrobe declutter and/or creating a capsule wardrobe with the Project 333 challenge. After dressing with fewer items since 2010, I can confidently say that less is best.

30-day Declutter Challenge

Try this 30-day Declutter Challenge and commit to decluttering 10 minutes a day. Each day, focus on a specific area in your home to declutter. Don’t forget to modify this challenge based on your needs and schedule. Remember to donate, recycle, and properly dispose of stuff that you don’t need. From bedroom closets to your kitchen pantry, this challenge is a great way to tidy up your home, and help those in need through donations. Good luck and have fun with this daily challenge and checklist!

30-day Minimalism Game

Find a friend, family member, or coworker who’s willing to minimize their stuff with you next month. Each person gets rid of one thing on the first day of the month. Two things on the second. Three things on the third. So forth and so on. Here are more details about how to play the 30-day minimalism game.

10-10-100 (anti-procrastination) Decluttering Challenge

The secret to overcoming procrastination when it comes to decluttering is to build momentum. It also helps to trick procrastination into having fun. Instead of making your decluttering project a big chore, turn it into a challenge. Bonus: a challenge may interest decluttering resistant family members too.

Craft this decluttering challenge to fit your lifestyle. Pick any 10 spaces, set your timer for 10 minutes and remove at least 10 items per space. Make this challenge your own. Some spaces will take less than 10 minutes. If you don’t have the time or energy to work on 10 spaces in one day, spread your efforts over several days.

I’d love to hear about what challenge works best in your life!