52 Weeks to a Simplified & Organized Home Challenge
Welcome to our 52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Challenge!
This simple-to-follow weekly guide was created to help you stay organized and on track all year.
By the time you finish, you’ll have decluttered and simplified every room in your house including drawers and closets!
I updated this post for 2024 based on your feedback and I greatly appreciate everyone who weighed in to make this challenge a success.
I know so many of you feel like when you have it together, it is much easier to help the rest of your family to get it together too.
It’s a sentiment we can relate to as well!
We’ll be kicking off the year by establishing new routines and focusing on healthy self-care habits.
We’ve also moved several tasks around to make things easier to manage during busy seasons.
My Mom asked if we could divide the challenge into quarters to make it more calendar-friendly which we were happy to do.
In addition, we’ve kept the focus for each month front and center which allows you to customize each task and move at your own pace.
If you feel like you have your daily routines nailed down already, feel free to start with February’s tasks and work your way through the year or mix and match if you like!
I can’t tell you how excited we are to start this challenge again this year!
The hustle and bustle of the holidays can be intense and it’s easy to get off track and let things slide.
No judgment here at all if you’ve found yourself in that situation.
We’ve found ourselves behind at times too!
About the 52 Weeks to a Simplified & Organized Home Challenge…
Just to be clear up front, this challenge is not your typical challenge.
Of course, we’ll be asking you to go through your cabinets, address the mess under the beds, tackle your garage and stacks of paper clutter, and lots of other things.
Our ultimate goal though is to help you create a simplified, organized, and clutter-free home you and your family can enjoy all year.
Setting Realistic Goals…
While we would love to carve out time to declutter and organize every space in our home in 30 days, that’s just not our reality.
We lead very full, busy lives with constant interruptions and demands on our time just like you.
It’s one of the biggest reasons we’ve decided to break these tasks down by the week.
That way, we can look at our schedule and decide if we can devote 15 minutes or more a day to each project or if we need an entire day to declutter, simplify, and organize each task.
Some of the items on this list might not take you very long at all.
For example, it would take maybe 3 minutes or less to organize my purse and wallet.
But my garage? It’s so bad it would take MONTHS!
Honestly, that’s the beauty of this challenge, you can customize it to meet your needs and your schedule.
To do that though, you’ll need to remember the keys to success.
Keys to Success for the 52 Weeks to a Simplified & Organized Home Challenge…
Key #1 – Decide You Can:
This is going to be a lot of work. But we want you to know you can do it!
To complete this challenge and stay the course for 52 weeks, you need to make up your mind you and your home are worth the effort.
Key #2 – Declutter by Letting Go of Items That:
- Are broken or are no longer being used
- Do not have a proper home
- No longer serve your needs or the needs of your family
- Are mentally weighing you down or items that you no longer love
- Clothes, shoes, and accessories that no longer fit your personal style or your body
- Home décor and accessory items that no longer fit the decorating style of your home
Key #3 – Contain and Store Items by Giving Them a Proper Home:
Things will start to get easier when both you and your family members know immediately how and where to put things away.
Contain and store items by using:
- Baskets
- Clear Bins
- Caddies
- Hooks
- Racks
- Trays
- Clear Jars
- Turntables
Key #4 – Tame and Maintain Simplified and Organized Spaces:
- Make time to properly put things away and go through your baskets/bins as soon as you start to see them getting cluttered.
- Take home only what you need or have a specific place for which includes things that are “free” (conference pens, flyers, sample products, etc.) or are a “good deal.”
- Ask yourself, “If I had to move or downsize today, would I take this item with me?”
- Being an intentional shopper when you are grocery shopping, clothes shopping, or shopping for home decor items.
- Only Handle It Once (OHIO) means picking up after yourself throughout the day and placing items back where they belong.
- Having a solid game plan for things like paper clutter, crafts your kids bring home, unexpected gifts, and other random items.
Key #5 – Get an Accountability Partner:
Developing simplified and organized living habits is a mindset and a lifestyle change you’ll be challenged to address each week.
There will be times you might slip up, get off track, or not *feel like* decluttering your spaces.
When that happens, you’ll need a pep talk from your accountability partner. That way, you can pick yourself back up, give yourself grace, and get started again.
You are worth the effort!
52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Challenge Guidelines:
- This list is meant to be a guideline for activities to help you simplify, organize, and declutter multiple areas of your life. It can be easily customized to fit your needs throughout the year. Especially, if a specific date doesn’t work well for your schedule, you finish a task early or you need more time than what has been allotted.
- If at all possible, don’t allow yourself to get more than 1 week behind or off track. If you find yourself off track at all, simply pick back up the following week and get started again.
- I highly encourage you to let go of “someday” items. As in “someday” I’m going to…make a quilt…finish that scrapbook….give that tiny bookcase a makeover…craft that Christmas gift…frame that old poster. You know which “someday” items you’re holding onto and we do too! If you don’t have a solid game plan in the next week to take action on a specific project with those items – let it go.
- If you plan to hold a yard sale with your home décor or clothing items, set a date, organize, tag, and designate a collection space for those items that are going to be resold. Taking care of those tasks will save you time in the long run. Otherwise, you’re just moving piles of clutter from one room to the next.
- Donate gently used items and recycle as much as you can. If you plan to donate items, give yourself a specific day each week you’ll drop the items off at the donation center. That way, they’re not cluttering up your front door. We drop off donations on the same day we pick up groceries!
Here is a look at the schedule we’ll be using over the next 52 weeks…
52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Quarterly Schedule:
(click on the image to print pages)
52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Checklist:
(click on the image to print)
Customizing This List To Meet Your Needs…
Every January, we write these tasks down in our planners.
But we also like to see what kind of progress we’re making each month which is why we created the 52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Checklist you see above.
As you are going through your calendar, feel free to customize the 52 Weeks to a Simplified & Organized Home Challenge at a pace that best fits your needs.
If you find yourself struggling to stay on track or need an extra push or motivation as the weeks turn into months, please reach out and let us know how we can help you be successful.
Always remember, you can do this!
You are worth the effort it will take to complete this 52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Challenge.
Bonus, you will be creating a home you and your family can enjoy all year.
We can’t wait to share our progress with you, hear your stories, and cheer you on along the way!
Other Posts to Help Keep You Organized This Year…
10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference This Year
Many blessings,
CoCo
I love how we have a week to get it done. I am definitely going to do the challenge. Thank you for getting it all organized for us.
Thank you, Lizzy, we feel the same way! We are way too busy to do big projects every single day but we can definitely do something each week. Glad you’re going to be able to use this system. Let us know how you’re doing and if we can help you in any way. Hugs, CoCo
Coco-thank you for this list, exactly what I needed to get the year started on the right foot! Every year I say I’m going to get organized and it falls by the wayside, this list will keep me accountable!
Speaking of a new year and challenges, I noticed in the last Front Porch you had “skincare routine” as a goal. Always overwhelmed by the product choices and seemingly complicated and conflicting information I always put it off. Last year I found Angie on youtube. She has a complete routine worked out! She researches and tests all the products (most unendorsed evaluations-she is only sponsored by a few) before recommending them, and so far everything has been spot on, my skin has never looked better and I’m in my 50’s! She has a printable morning and evening routine, which may seem intense at first. But I started slowly only adding a few products at a time (what she recommends as to not shock your skin with a bunch of new things). Her videos can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/HotandFlashy/videos
Thank you for all you do, your writing is so encouraging and uplifting! And love the Piper photos!
So excited you’ll be able to use this list to help you stay organized and accountable, Charlene! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you feel stuck or unmotivated at any time throughout the year. We’re definitely here to support you! Thank you so much for sending me the link to the video too. My skin is super sensitive and seems to break out easily so I’m excited to check it out and to hear you’ve had success with her recommendations as well. I’m grateful to have you as part of this community and for all your support and encouragement along the way. It means so much! Big hugs, CoCo
Thank you for the printable list! I’ve already started by reorganizing 2 closets this morning. Now, I have a project list (thanks to you) and can work through it. I’m tired of clutter and seeing “stuff” tucked into every available corner and not being able to use my closets for closets…LOL Have a great one! Hugs!
This makes us so happy, Benita! We’re super excited you’ll be able to use this list. We can definitely relate to seeing stuff tucked in every nook and cranny so consider yourself in good company 🙂 Please keep us posted on how you’re doing and let us know if you need anything. We’re cheering you on, CoCo
I need this SO bad Coco. This list makes me feel empowered enough to tackle my mess. Thank you!
You are so welcome, Bonnie, we are excited you’ll be able to use this information! Don’t forget to print out the checklist too so you can track your progress each week. Let us know how you’re getting along, ok? We definitely want to cheer you on. Hugs, CoCo
I’ll be following along and will get to some of these on the list. Thankfully, I am a pretty organized person. Now the other half of this relationship is not so unfortunately, I have to redo or reorganize a lot of it. My biggest challenge (besides the garage) will be the kids rooms. All three have moved out but left more than a tone of their crap. Not sure how I’ll handle it but I’m looking forward to getting my hands on it and trash bags handy! 🙂
So excited to hear this, Cindy! I know 52 weeks seems like a long time but they really do go by so fast. Our garage is DEFINITELY in need of a major overhaul. It’s just awful in there right now. I think when we all left for college my parents bought us 3 bins and we had to put all of our “memories” in there. Truthfully, I haven’t looked at those bins in almost 25 years but I’m pretty sure there is a warped candle in a champagne glass from prom, a ticket stub to grad night, and a couple of barbies 🙂
The hall closet and pantry look so good now! I love the feeling of a well organized home, it really helps me feel more relaxed and focused.
Speak to my heart, Heidi, me too! When everything is all neat and organized it makes me want to keep at it 🙂 Sending you hugs, CoCo
Very cool, such a great challenge! Getting organized is always a good thing. 🙂
I couldn’t agree with you more, Caleb! Thanks so much for your kinds words, CoCo
I can see that this is a post that I will return to over the months to come for inspiration.
Thank you, Karen! I just to try and knock everything out in January but quickly realized a little bit along and along was way more doable 🙂 Hugs, CoCo
These are great tips & love the schedule. All of the photos are so inspiring.
Such a sweet thing to say, Marie, I really appreciate it! I used to have an “all or nothing” kind of attitude when it came to decluttering and organizing. But for the past few years, I’ve realized a little bit of effort goes a long way 🙂 Hope you’ve had a great week, CoCo
I have been wanting to get more organized for a long time now but didn’t know where to start. The list you are sharing is exactly what I needed to get started. Thank you!
That is so exciting to hear, Catherine. I’m glad you’ll be able to use this list. Little by little, cabinet by cabinet, drawer by drawer, and closet by closet makes a huge difference. And is definitely worth the effort 🙂 Hope your weekend is peace-filled and relaxing, CoCo
Such an amazing challenge with great tips! Can you come organize my house lol This is one of my goals this year, hopefully, I can start soon
xo
Kristin
That would be so much fun, Kristin! I would gladly come over to help you any day of the week 🙂 Taking the time to organize even a drawer or a closet here and there makes a big difference. While it takes a bit of extra time the effort is definitely worth it. Hugs, CoCo
You’ve shared so many good ideas CoCo! So excited to try this. Thank you for sharing at Charming Homes and Gardens!
Thank you, Kim! It’s super easy to follow even if you decide to start with a completely different room or go at your own pace. I tried to stack everything at the beginning of the year so by the end of the year we’re celebrating an organized home and heading into the holiday season 🙂 Big hugs, CoCo
Great post! I enjoyed the morning routine one too! Getting up earlier at least three days a week has transformed my blogging productivity! I cannot believe how much more I have been able to accomplish with just an hour or two more in the morning!
That is really exciting to hear, Jenn, you’re right it really does make a huge difference. I swear sometimes I get more done in that quiet time window than I do for the entire rest of the day 🙂 Big hugs and keep up the good work, CoCo
Hi, when I click on the image above, it doesn’t take me to a place to print the entire 52 week checklist. Is it possible to access the list from another place?
Thanks so much for letting me know, Tria! I will see if we can upload the schedule and checklist by page instead of by document and see if that makes it easier to access. Thank you for the heads up, CoCo
You are really encouraging me to kick off this year more organized. I loved all of your tips, especially the quarterly checklists. These are so handy!
Hi Coco! I believe the key to successfully organizing your entire house in one year is to break it down into manageable steps! I love how you have broken it down into 52 weeks! This makes organizing so doable! Great job!! Blessings, Donna
Yay! I’m totally doing this CoCo! I can’t wait to start this home challenge.
Looking back at this list from last time and the things I accomplished are amazing! Still such fantastic tips and ideas. Our garage was the biggest and when it got done – girl, we can park two cars inside AND can find things we need throughout the year. Featuring this post tomorrow. Thanks for linking up on Farmhouse Friday! pinned
I’m in! I like the way you broke these tasks into quarters. It doesn’t seem overwhelming at all. I’m looking forward to getting everything a little more organized around here! Thanks for the challenge!