Decluttering still matters: A 30 day challange holistically

Updated in 2026.

For years, I told myself I just needed more storage bins, a better system, more motivation. But the truth was this: I didn’t need to manage more. I needed to let go with a good decluttering. And as a mom of two, I really want to learn the girls to let go of things we don’t need.

Decluttering for me started as a way to clean, but it became a way to breathe. Because I understood: clutter in my home and mind is interconnected. You already know that it is really difficult to concentrate on the task and finish a good job when everything around you is a chaotic mess.

A little bit of intro: the age gap between our girls is 3 years so I learned that they will need a lot of different toys and activities. However, I made sure they always get gifts that both of them can use: Connetix Magnetic tiles, Legos…

And for so many women and mothers, especially in the thick of busy, beautiful, messy life, decluttering is about more than tidy shelves. It’s about creating space to feel like yourself again.

So here it is a list of why decluttering holistically matters and your challenge, to make sure you won’t feel overwhelmed.

Table of Contents

Holistic Delcuttering

Clutter isn’t just physical; it’s mental, and it makes us feel stressed. Every item we see, step over, or shove aside sends a message to our brain:

“You should deal with this.”
“You’re behind.”
“You never finish anything.”

And even if we don’t consciously hear those messages, our nervous system does. A messy home spikes our cortisol levels, increases feelings of anxiety or guilt, and makes rest feel impossible, especially for women who often feel responsible for the flow of the home.

Let’s make one thing clear: this is not about becoming a minimalist with white walls and one spoon.😂 Like literally every time I speak about minimalism, my friends always ask me what I threw away today?

Decluttering is not about making your home Instagram or Pinterest-worthy, trust me, it’s about removing what feels heavy, so what matters can rise to the surface. It is about simplifying your life, your home.

It’s not about less. It’s about more room for peace. You literally need to make your home your safe place. This is why decluttering should be made holistically. It will learn you things with time.

What Decluttering Has Done for Me

I feel calmer as I walk into my home.
I spend less time cleaning and collecting toys and stuff from everywhere, and more time enjoying.
I know where things are, and that alone is a gift.
My mornings run smoother.
I feel more present with my family and I am more present as i spend less time organizing, cleaning and packing.

And emotionally? I feel less tied to the past.

Why It’s Especially Important for Women and Mothers

Women often carry the emotional load of the home and a lot of invisible load, too. We notice the socks on the floor, the random craft supplies, and the expired coupons. We hold the mental map of where everything lives.

So when there’s too much stuff, we carry all of it, visually, emotionally, energetically. And it affects us in every way. And what stress does? It affects our hormones, too. So I really think for us women everything is really connected.

Letting go of excess gives us our energy back.

How to Start Decluttering (Without Overwhelm, Little Bit Holistically)

You don’t need a weekend or a plan. You need a start. (Do not worry, I have a list for you at the end, in case you really need support) 😊

Begin with What You See Most

Start in the places your eyes land on every single day. These spaces shape how your nervous system feels without you ever noticing.

Take the kitchen counter. You stand there in the morning making breakfast, in the afternoon prepping snacks, and again in the evening cooking dinner. When it’s cluttered and chaotic, your brain is already processing “tasks” before the day begins. When it’s clean and intentional, it gives the kitchen a soul, a sense of calm that supports you from the moment you walk in.

Then there’s the nightstand. Your bedroom should feel like a refuge, not a storage unit for unfinished tasks. I cannot recommend a minimalist bedroom enough, not the Instagram kind, but a clean, soothing space with only what truly belongs. It changes how you fall asleep and how you wake up.

The bathroom shelf is another one. You’re there multiple times a day, brushing your teeth, washing your face, applying skincare, performing the tiny rituals that keep you going. When the space is tidy, it invites slowness and makes even quick routines feel more nourishing.

Start with one small area and simply notice how your body responds.

Ask Simple Questions

You don’t need complicated organizing methods, expensive systems, or a stack of decluttering books. Just ask:

Do I use this?
Do I love this?
Does this support the life I want to live?

These three questions create clarity without shame. They also move you away from perfection and into intention.

Let Go Gently

Not everything is easy to release. Some items carry stories, books we once loved, letters, old clothes, pictures, childhood toys, papers from seasons that feel distant now. These deserve tenderness.

Give yourself permission to feel whatever surfaces. Nostalgia isn’t clutter; it’s memory. But also remind yourself softly: your memories aren’t stored in the objects, they’re stored in you. If you’re sentimental (many moms are), photo albums are such a gift. Print the pictures. Hold them. Pass them down. That’s where the real stories live.

Letting go isn’t about erasing the past. It’s about honoring it without letting it take over your present space.

Don’t Aim for Empty

Minimalism is often misunderstood as stripping everything down to nothing. But a sustainable home it’s a supportive home.

The goal is not to throw everything out or turn your home into a showroom. The goal is to create a space that feels like a soft exhale when you walk into it. A space that doesn’t demand things from you the moment you enter. A space that carries you instead of draining you.

Decluttering as Self-Care

Yes, decluttering can feel like a chore, especially in motherhood. The weight of decision-making, the mental load of sorting, the emotional layers behind objects. But when approached gently, it becomes something so much deeper: a form of self-respect.

Decluttering doesn’t leave you with emptiness. It leaves you with room to breathe, to move, and to rest. It also gives you room for life to unfold without tripping over the past.

Decluttering Challenge: 30 Days to Clear Your Home, Body, and Soul

Listen to me, clutter is not just about stuff, it’s about energy. And when we clear space in our physical world, something shifts in our emotional and mental world, too.

If you’ve been feeling like your life is full, but your soul feels empty, or if you’re just craving a fresh start, this 30-day challenge is for you.

Clutter, mess will:

Spike your cortisol levels
Increase feelings of anxiety or guilt
Disrupt your sleep and focus
Make rest feel impossible, cuz your can not relax in a messy home

That’s why decluttering is a form of self-care. It’s a way to make your outer world reflect the inner calm you’re craving.

And the beauty of it? You don’t have to do it all in one day. You can take it slowly, one breath, one drawer at a time.

Not Your Usual 30-Day Decluttering Challenge

This challenge is divided into three gentle themes, so as I told you, this might not be a very usual, pinterest friendly decluttering list.

Home – create physical peace
Body – reconnect with your physical and energetic needs
Soul – clear emotional clutter and make room for joy

Do one task each day. Or do several when you feel inspired. Let it flow, not stress you. Like really. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.

Start small or go big, it is your choice, but you will see how I add a few things to make you smile.

1st week: Clear the Visual Noise (a.k.a Home)

Clear your kitchen counters – keep only what you use daily. You really spend a lot of hpurs in your kitchen, you might even start your day there, so make sure you enjoy the view.
Declutter your entryway – shoes, coats, bags—give everything a home. First step in, first impression. Clear enryway, clear and smiling soul.
Tidy your fridge – toss expired items, wipe shelves, breathe. Enjoy the organic food, make space for some veggies.
Clean one drawer (any drawer) – start with the messiest.
Declutter your nightstand – make it calm, not chaotic.
Clear your bathroom counter – toss old products, wipe clean.
Choose one surface to keep completely clear – and keep it that way for the month.

2nd week: Create a Home That Feels Good (Home + Energy)

Clean your mirrors and windows – let the light in.
Declutter your closet – keep what fits, feels good, and suits this season.
Go through one junk drawer or basket – organize with love.
Refresh your bedding – donate old sheets, wash what you keep.
Tidy your workspace – clear visual distractions.
Sweep your floors, slowly and intentionally – imagine clearing energy too. Use some oils to relax meanwhile, like lavander.
Light a candle in the evening – reward your space and your spirit.

3rd week: Care for Your Body (Body + Ritual)

Declutter your skincare products – what do you really use? Do you need toxins for your skin?
Organize your supplements or medicine cabinet – simplify, and just wha you really need.
Clean out your purse or diaper bag – make it light.
Go through your makeup – toss expired or unused, toxic makeup.
Take a slow shower or bath – scrub, oil, breathe deeply.
Declutter your kitchen pantry – toss what’s expired, organize with ease.
Plan and prep one nourishing breakfast – give your body a calm start. You can even meal prep a whole week. Just make sure you enjoy the process.

4th week: Nourish the Soul (Mind + Emotions)

Delete apps you don’t use – free your digital space.
Unfollow accounts that drain you – curate your peace.
Clear out your inbox – even 10 minutes helps.
Create a “joy corner” – a candle, a journal, a chair—your tiny sanctuary.
Let go of a guilt item – that book, outfit, or hobby you’re not into anymore.
Write a list of emotional clutter you want to release – fear, people-pleasing, guilt… then rip it up.
Start a ‘to-enjoy’ list – things that bring joy, not just tasks.
Spend 30 minutes with no screens – just be.
Celebrate your progress – write down what feels different in your body, space, and energy.

Declutter in KonMari Style

If you’ve already dipped your toes into the softer 30-day reset, and you’re craving more structure and commitment, this is for you. This is a deeper, room-by-room (and self-by-self) challenge, inspired by the famous KonMari Method—but with a holistic twist. Instead of just clearing clutter, you’re also clearing emotional weight, old energy, and patterns that no longer serve you.

“The best way to find out what we really need is to get rid of what we don’t.” — Marie Kondo

You’ll work through 5 categories (KonMari-style): Clothing, Books, Paper, Komono (miscellaneous), and Sentimental items.
For each category, you’ll ask: Does this support who I am now—and who I’m becoming?
You’ll also reflect on what energetic clutter (thoughts, habits, routines) you’re ready to release alongside the physical.

Category 1: Clothing

Keep only what makes you feel good in your skin, aligned with your current lifestyle and energy.

Pull out every item of clothing (yes, everything!) and lay it out. Hold each piece. Ask: Does this feel like me? Does it bring comfort, confidence, or beauty? Donate or repurpose anything that feels like a past version of you.
Mindful reflection: What have I been hiding behind in my clothes? What would it feel like to dress more like myself?

Category 2: Books & Content

Keep only what nourishes your mind and brings joy, not guilt or noise.

Take out all books, magazines, and journals. Release the “should-read” pile. If you haven’t touched it in a year, it may belong to an old version of you.
Curate a small shelf or basket of “soulful reads” to revisit slowly.
Bonus: Do a digital book and course detox. Unsubscribe from any content you no longer feel drawn to.

Category 3: Papers & Digital Clutter

Simplify the noise. Create space in your physical and mental desktop.

Gather all paper: bills, notes, to-do lists, old journals. Recycle or digitize what’s not needed.
Create a folder for only essential, living papers: medical, financial, and personal. Declutter one digital folder per day for a week (photos, downloads, emails).
Reflection: How much of my overwhelm lives in my inbox? What needs to be let go of, both digitally and mentally?

Category 4: Komono (Miscellaneous Stuff)

Bring intention to the “in-between” spaces: your kitchen, bathroom, workspace, etc.

Break it down by room or type:

Kitchen: Simplify dishes, gadgets, expired goods. Keep items that inspire peaceful meals.
Bathroom: Toss products you never use. Create a mini “spa shelf” for rituals that ground you.
Office: Declutter supplies and old notebooks. Organize your tools so they serve your creativity.
Entryway: What greets you when you walk in? Clear it. Make it beautiful.

Category 5: Sentimental Items

Honor your memories, but choose only those that truly spark something sacred.

Go slowly. Touch each item, thank it, and ask: Does this still hold meaning? Keep what genuinely makes your heart feel something. Release what brings guilt or heaviness. Finally, consider keeping memory boxes small and intentionally labeled (not buried in a closet).

And this is it.

When you finish all 5 categories, clean your home gently: open the windows, light a candle, play soft music. You’ll remember that your home is yours, not a storage unit for every version of your past self.

You don’t have to do this perfectly and follow the order. You can start again anytime with one tiny step: cuz one drawer matters just like one breath matters.

Decluttering isn’t about getting rid of stuff. It’s about making space for what stays—peace, ease, presence, and joy. A home that holds you gently, instead of constantly asking more from you.