The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, (the ummm what?). This rule can be a powerful tool for decluttering and prioritizing. Here’s a 30-day plan to help you get better at it as a beginner.
Days 1-5: Understand The 80/20 Rule
Day 1-2: Research the 80/20 rule and its application in decluttering, understand that roughly 20% of your items often contribute to 80% of the clutter. It’s the dang sticky hand I keep finding on my coffee table. 🤫 It just found its home in the garbage.
Day 3-5: Start observing your living space. Identify areas or items that seem to cause the most clutter and stress. Take notes or pictures. Every flat surface in my home! 🤯
Days 6-10: Assess Your Priorities
Day 6-7: Make a list of the areas or items you identified in the previous step. Prioritize them based on how much they impact your daily life.
Day 8-10: Begin decluttering by focusing on the top 20% of items that cause 80% of the clutter. Set a goal for how many items you want to declutter each day. Children/humans take ten extra steps or 30 seconds to flippin’ put your stuff away. I’m perfect so I leave nothing out said no one ever. 👸👀😬
Days 11-15: Understand The 80/20 Rule
Day 11-12: Start sorting through the items in the prioritized areas. Create three categories: Keep/Donate/Sell, and Discard.
Day 13-15: Begin organizing the items you’ve decided to keep. Invest in storage solutions like bins or shelves if necessary.
Take a look at a few of our personal favorites
Storage Cubes
Drawer Dividers
Drawer Organizer
Stackable Bins
Shoe Organizers
Days 16-20: Review & Reflect
Day 16-17: Review your progress so far. Take note of how decluttering has affected your daily life and well-being.
Day 18-20: Reflect on any challenges you’ve faced during this process and how you’ve overcome them. Adjust your approach if needed.
Days 21-25: Extend to Other Areas
Day 21-23: Apply the 80/20 rule to other areas of your life, such as your work tasks or personal relationships. Identify the most valuable activities or connections.
Day 24-25: Start decluttering and prioritizing in these other areas, focusing on the most impactful ones.
Days 26-30: Maintain & Fine-Tune
Day 26-28: Develop a system to maintain your decluttered spaces and prioritize your time effectively. This many include regular cleaning routines and a task list.
Day 29-30: Fine-tune your decluttering and prioritization skills. Continue to observe how the 80/20 rule applies to various aspects of your life.
Remember, the 90/20 rule is a guideline, not a strict rule. It’s about identifying what’s most important and letting go of the less valuable. Regularly practicing this principle will help you maintain a clutter-free, carefree, and more focused life. Good luck with your decluttering journey! Message us on our social media with your story or comments about the 80/20 rule.
