Decluttering can get overwhelming if you just jump into it! Instead, plan your progress.
I’ve created this printable to help you plan, keep track of your progress, and stay motivated. 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS is designed so that you have one day off per week, most people take Sundays off but you can pick the day.
To use this printable:
- First, plan all the areas you would like to declutter. Don’t forget to allow more days for larger projects like a garage or basement.
- Second, chart your actual progress starting with the day and what you did, how many bags you got, whether you donated, recycled, or discarded the bag.
- USE PENCIL! I cannot stress this enough.
Click here to download the 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS printable:
For more information about 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS, please read this post. If you’d like to join our facebook community, click here.To receive weekly emails, click here: https://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/whbs-newsletter/.
Alana says
I’m looking through the pages of your site and I’m trying to figure out how this works. It seems like it should be super obvious, but the connection between the 40 bags and how to declutter isn’t clicking for me. Is the goal to have 40 bags of unnecessary or unneeded or unwanted stuff and the end of 40 days and filling at least one bag a day?
Ann Marie Heasley says
You are decluttering one area of your life per day, no more than that in order to keep it manageable. You don’t need to have a bag per day, or you may have more each day. It depends on the spot you are working on. I use the term 40 bags in 40 days to convey the scale of suggested decluttering efforts, not just pick up an item and call it a day. You need to do what works for you in your situation, if a sandwich baggie is all you can manage then great! 🙂 The challenge is to totally refresh your home and I want it to help you out in a big way.
I hope this makes more sense! Feel free to email me, [email protected] if you have any other questions.
Bridget says
This is an amazing idea…..especially for Lent which is a time we should reflect…on what he have and how much of it we don’t actually need. Am going to deffo do this in 2018 Lent over in the UK.
Hope says
I’m IN! Jumping in with both feet actually. Looking forward to LESS.
Leanna Hecker Panian says
I’m so glad I came across this, I have lived in the same little house for over 30 years, 3 floors, I started to clean out the hoard…but had to move in with my Mom for the last 4 years and my house was put on hold….now that my Mother has passed, then my 2 sisters unexpectedly, I inherited more stuff that doesn’t fit in my house…Now that things have settled down I have started to clean it out, donate, give to people who need or want it…or in the garbage…it’s very over whelming…I think with this idea of 40 bags in 40 days I could do that and not seem so fixed on the stuff as a whole. Although sometimes I think it would be easier to move to a bigger house…lol.
AYESHUNG TERESA says
Thanks Ann i really want to get this 40bags of dirt out of my live
AYESHUNG TERESA says
Thanks i have downloaded it
Katarzyna says
I will do the 40 bags in 40 days. For my husband and kids i prepare 3 bins and tolled them to take out every day one thing they don’t use, play, wear for a next 40 days
Angie Albright says
Hi. I tried to subscribe to the emails, but received the error message “recipient has too many email requests.”
Jamie says
Thank you for creating this awesome idea. Greatly appreciated to give me that extra boast I needed
Cindy says
Any suggestions for how to decide where to start? Kitchen, living room, barhrooms, bedrooms? They all need work!
Ann Marie Heasley says
I either start with something really easy or something really bothering me, but not a room that is overwhelming. Something I can get an “easy victory” of sorts, it seems to motivate me personally to keep going. I hear you. It’s tough when they all need work! I kinda just pick.:)
Ewa says
I started with my desk. Then my closet., dresser, my room overall. Then bathroom. Leaving room , kitchen and basement. Hope this helps. Small things at the beginning, but the ones that you use the most. It’s very rewarding experience.
Sarah says
Starting March 1! I’m so excited 🙂
Jo says
Great idea! Thanks for sharing. But when i print the sheet all i get is the paper full of the sheet with all the columns and rows but no header and no numbers at the side. Please advise. Thank you
Ann Marie Heasley says
Oh no! When you print it, is there a setting for you to check “fit to page”? When I check that, it prints out the right way. If it isn’t checked, it’s totally wonky. Let me know if that helps! You can also email me at: [email protected].
Veekaye says
I am also a bit of a hoarder. My husband once cleared out a lot of my things and threw them away while I was gone. I’m sorry, I should have said EX-husband.
A think that most people don’t understand about hoarding is that we hoard because of lingering pain from past trauma. Throwing away your hoarders things without their consent is abuse. Please don’t do it. Please be compassionate and work with them to help them let go. That’s the decent thing to do.
Ann Marie Heasley says
I agree wholeheartedly, Veekaye. I’m so sorry that happened to you. Going through your own items is great, but I do not advocate going through other people’s items or getting rid of them.
Diana says
Veekaye, Thank you for speaking up! When I read that other post I thought the same thing. I am a bit of a hoarder too and would be extremely upset if my husband (or anyone for that matter) got rid of my stuff without my consent. I plan to try for 40 bags. I did it 2 years ago and felt great about it. But if someone did it for me, I think would still be upset.
Iuliana says
True
Julie says
I will also be playing along but i work full time so it will be hit and miss.I wish everyone luck. I’m not anticipating an easy job since my husband is a hoarder ( maybe that’s harsh) but he keeps sentimental things.
Penny kafai says
So, I have printed the PDF. Now is the next exciting step. My hubby if away for three weeks so intend to clear out his cupboards and dump it before he comes home….. He’s a bit of a hoarder!
Thank you for the kick start!
Ann Marie Heasley says
You’re welcome, Penny! Best of luck, I’m over here rooting for you. 🙂
K Yates says
I do that same thing. Hubby never notices that his treasures are even gone. Lol
Ann Marie Heasley says
I have updated the printable and all issues have been resolved. Thanks for letting me know there was an issue!
Kris says
Hi,
Is there a 2016 DeCrapifying Challenge?
@whbsblog
Wendy says
I love this idea, and will be playing along, albeit at a slower pace. This printable is being cut off at the top (for me). I’m wondering if it was made for a larger sheet of paper, like A4, or perhaps it’s an issue on my end?
Thanks for the motivation!
Ann Marie Heasley says
Thanks for letting me know! It was being weird when I was converting to a PDF. I’ll take a look and see if I can fix it. 🙂
MiMi says
It cut off when I printed it too. I adjusted the size to 80% and printed the full page.
Ann Marie Heasley says
I wonder why it’s doing that. :-/ Thanks for the tip!
Jennifer says
Click the “fit to page” option on your print screen and it will adjust the chart to…fit to page.
Ann Marie Heasley says
Thank you for replying, Jennifer! Forgot to mention “fit to page” in the post.
Barbara Fox says
Yes, I was going to mention that too!
Susan says
I printed mine at 80% and everything fit on the page.
Katherine says
I just clicked on “fit to page” and it worked fine
Maureen says
Yes, ‘shrink to fit’ or ‘fit to page’ box should be clicked.
Ginger Esplin says
I had the same issue, so I clicked the box that said “fit to page” and it worked.