“The first hour is the rudder of the day.” – Henry Ward Beecher
Let’s face it. Mornings can be tough. In many homes, they are famous for containing too much to do and too little time.
But mornings set the mood for the rest of our day. They have the potential to energize us or drain us. They have the opportunity to lift our spirits or drag us down. They can start us on the right foot or the wrong foot.
Given the fact that mornings are so important, it’s wise to spend a few minutes each night preparing your house for tomorrow’s sunrise. After all, a clutter-free house in the morning means less stress, less anxiety, and less time getting prepared for the day. And that benefits everyone in the home!
Contrary to popular misconception, you don’t need to spend hours each night cleaning the house to accomplish a clutter-free morning. Instead, simply stay ahead of the clutter by tackling these ten 60-second decluttering projects before you go to bed each night.
1. Return shoes/coats to closets. In the winter, add gloves, hats, and scarves to the routine.
2. Recycle junk mail and newspapers. A new day brings new mail and new news. Keep your table or counter space clutter-free in the morning by removing today’s.
3. Put away articles of clothing. Some go in the laundry. Some go back in the closet. But none should be left on the floor. It helps to have a minimalist wardrobe.
4. Store media out of sight. Put back all dvd’s, cd’s, video games, and remote controls that were used during the day. The first time you walk into that room tomorrow, you’ll be glad you did.
5. Process coins and receipts. I’m sure it was your husband who left the contents of his pockets on your dresser, but either way, it’ll take you only 60 seconds to put those items where they actually belong.
6. Clear all bathroom surfaces. The first place you’ll go in the morning is the bathroom. It’s also a surprisingly easy room to keep clutter free. Invest the 60 seconds every night to make it happen.
7. Clean-up homework. Get your kids into the habit of putting away their schoolwork each night before bed rather than scrambling around each morning to find it.
8. Put kitchen items away. Granted, I’m assuming you’ve done some cleaning up already after dinner. And if you have, it’ll only take you another 60 seconds to tidy up anything that got left out.
9. Put back toys. Realistically, life doesn’t allow a clean toy room every evening. But if you have a toy room apart from your living room, spend 60 seconds returning toys to the room where they belong. Or better yet, get your kids into the practice of doing it themselves.
10. File paperwork. Stay on top of paper and office clutter by handling it the day it arrives.
If you are not in the habit of doing these things, it’ll definitely take longer than 10 minutes the first time. But once you get a handle on each area, the entire project will take you less than 10 minutes… and your morning you will thank you!
Image: BeatPlusMelody
Ally says
If I don’t do these things of an evening, I certainly regret it the next morning! I love waking up to a clutter free house.
I also agree with the ‘handle it once’ concept. I deal with paper immediately – notice board, recycling bin or file storage. I am teaching this concept to my kids. My 8yr old daughter is getting really adept at cleaning up after herself.
Sam Matla (Minimal Blog) says
Awesome post, thanks for sharing.
I do some of these things in the evening, just before bed, so in the morning there’s less to worry about. I have found that I’m far more focused in the morning when I’ve cleaned up a bit, it gets me in a mood!
Anne says
Tidying before bed is so simple, yet so easy to NOT do. I am finding that the more we minimize, the less I even have to do this. The house feels better to wake up in just because there is less stuff. BUT there is still plenty of room for improvement!
As far as toys go, we have very few, but I find that if I not only clean them up but rearrange them slightly as well, the kids are much more likely to engage in quiet play–making my mornings even better!
Josie says
I love simple truths like this. So easy to forget but so easy to do too if you set your mind to it.
AlexM says
This is a great list. We have informally followed almost the same routine since moving to our small house. In the morning, I’m the last one to take a shower and leave the house. When I’m done with the shower, I spray white vinegar and water on the shower stall walls and use a squeege to get rid of the drops. It takes one more minute to spritz the vanity mirror and sink, then wipe it all with a paper towel. I take a quick wipe at the outside of the toilet and throw the piece away and then continue in with my routine (while I am still wet!). If I do this, we are never embarassed when someone needs to use our bathroom. If there is one room I hate slime, it’s in the bathroom! Well…. the kitchen too!
handleitonce says
While I think this is very good advice, I have to say I’m amazed that anyone would wait until the end of the day. In our family, we go by the rule that after you use it you put it away. With bills and all other mail, it’s “handle it once”, meaning don’t look at it and put it somewhere to handle later. Take care of it now. With newspapers (we only get one on Sundays) the inserts are put in recycling immediately, then the newspaper is put in the newspaper basket and anyone who takes out a section to read it, puts it back when they’re done reading it. Our kids put homework away as soon as they’re done. No dishes lay around in the kitchen. Whoever used them puts them in the dishwasher. Books, toys, electronics are all put in their places when not in use. Before going to bed, everyone puts away the one or two things they’re using, puts their clothes in the hamper (if necessary), leaves the bathroom as they found it (uncluttered), and turns out the light for good night’s sleep. If you procrastinate during the day or leave things around, nighttime becomes drudgery, as does morning, because things have gotten out of hand!
Mark Adam Douglass says
I really like your handle it once idea.
handleitonce says
Thanks! This has been an incredible way to minimize the clutter of everyday life. It works for papers from school, USPS mail, e-mails, phone messages,laundry, dirty dishes, etc. Anything you handle, handle it just once: pay it, answer it, return in, throw it away, recycle it, file it, put it in the dishwasher, put it in the drawer/closet … almost anything. There is never clutter. Everything in its place (and hopefully a place for everything!). Works when doing outside chores as well!
Paula says
I love your advice, but what do you do if a spouse absolutely refuses to go along with it? My husband is notorious for NEVER putting things away! And sometimes he gets mad when I put his things away because “he wasn’t finished with it yet!”
Niki says
Paula, that is tricky. I think the worst thing you can do is nag or push someone to change. In my experience, if you remind him kindly how much it bothers you to come across his clutter, he will eventually try to pick up after himself out of respect for you if nothing else. I’ve always found that pointing out the frustration it creates for you, rather than making it seem like he is a failure somehow because he doesn’t see it as clutter, is a much kinder and more effective way of getting someone to pitch in. It obviously takes repetition and time on your part, but it avoids hurting his feelings and turns it into nudging him positively rather than dragging him negatively.
Cindy says
Absolutely never nag. It’s HIS house, too, and you can’t very well impose your own standards on him. If something bothers you because it’s out, then you put it away. I’m the one who needs orderliness, so I can easily put more effort into getting the result I want. And as you put things away, think of how you are blessing your husband by doing this for him. Realize that if his things are left around the house, it means he is still there! Lots of people would give ANYTHING to have those dirty socks back in the floor because that would mean they were still blessed with their loved one’s presence. Amazing how when you adopt a different attitude, you actually begin to feel differently, and then you may see changes in him as well. I know this from experience. :)
lupe says
Great plan, you have great family.
swalia says
procrastination is the main reason for clutter accumulating in our homes.Clutter is difficult to get rid of and always ready to sneak back if we don’t stay alert.stop procrastinating and start decluttering…and what better time than the morning itself?
Mark Adam Douglass says
I’ve been implementing many of these ideas for a while, and love waking up to a clear, simple house every morning (well, almost every morning. Occasionally arriving home late means I can’t get it all reset).
Thanks for the reminder of the night-time reset.
Bethany@OurSoCalledLife says
I love waking up to an uncluttered house! We used to be really disciplined, with the evening tidying-up, and it just started the day off a lot better. It goes even quicker, with fewer possessions, so we really need to get back to it, after our current round of “purging.”
Alessia says
I always do it. I like having nothing around when I wake up. I always clean the kitchen before going to bed, it could be weird, but there is nothing on my appliances because it creates me chaos when I cook; I always fix the clothes in the closet because I would never not bear clothes on my chair! So everything is always more spacious in the morning :)