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40 Bags in 40 Days Decluttering Challenge

In 2011 I announced I’d be decluttering during the 40 days of Lent. It was way before Konmari, before instagram, and before the recent minimalism or simplifying movements. No one talked about their messes!! I felt like I was the only one struggling with feeling like I had too much stuff.

I was blown away by the response. People messaged and commented to say I wasn’t alone, that they felt the same way yet didn’t know how to get out from under their messes. That year I hosted the 40 Bags in 40 Days™ Decluttering Challenge as a way to connect with and support other people looking to live with less.

What is the 40 Bags in 40 Days Decluttering Challenge?

It is a forty day period (coinciding with the 40 days of Lent) where you go through your home and declutter one area a day. The 2020 40 Bags in 40 Days™ Challenge starts Feb 26th and goes to April 11th. Since I started hosting the group challenge in 2011, millions of people have learned about #40Bagsin40Days and countless participants have changed their life, created more manageable homes, and refocused their outlook.

 

There are several ways to complete the challenge:

1.) Daily Email Course

Doing 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS™ on your own and self-motivating yourself with the options below will always be free.

If you’d like support from me personally, with daily reminders and in-depth, room-by-room tips, you can sign up for the e-course.

I created this for people who requested a more in-depth option to make sure they complete the challenge – and it did! People who had tried the challenge in the past reported much greater success completing it with the e-course. You’ll also receive an invite to an exclusive version of our popular Facebook group.

Our course is currently closed, sign up to be notified when the next course opens soon:

2.) Printable Progress Tracker:

The free progress tracker will help you plan and keep track of your progress. You’ll also be sent a link to a list of areas in your home to declutter, as well as a list of non-stuff things to simplify. When you decluttering, it may look worse before it gets better. Writing things down will help you to see your progress and motivate you to keep going!

Get your free printable 40 Bags in 40 Days™ progress tracker:

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3.) Other support options:

  • Like our facebook page for inspiration on simplifying your life, tackling your clutter, and more. We’ll also host facebook lives with tips on decluttering throughout the challenge.
  • Follow on Instagram to see daily progress in my stories, and use the #40bagsin40days hashtag.
  • Join the 40 Bags in 40 Days™ Facebook community; we have 82,000+ members and growing. Be sure to answer the required questions.
  • We also offer a more personal, exclusive group with enrollment in the e-course. We’ll do daily check-ins and weekly live video chats. This is the best way to ensure you complete the challenge, use the money you’re saving not buying extra clutter!
  • Go through each day of your plan and get rid of stuff. It’s really as easy as that!

4.) Tell everyone you know!

Share this link on facebook, instagram, or talk about 40 Bags in 40 Days™ with friends. I want everyone I know to join us. I want everyone you know to join us. I want to change our lives, see your progress. Big or small, embarrassing or beautiful. I want to help you become a better version of yourself. Because you know what?

  1. Your home should not make you feel overwhelmed or stressed.
  2. You likely have (or buy) excess stuff you don’t need.
  3. The stuff won’t make you happier.
  4. You do not need to be embarrassed.
  5. You are not alone in this!
  6. You can do this.

Everyone has messes. The trick is to edit our home and life. Get rid of the excess noise begging us to pick up after it. Remove the clutter so everyday messes are manageable!

I want your home to be a place where you are surrounded with only the things and people you love. You shouldn’t feel controlled by the paper clutter, the craft supplies from projects never carried out, the furniture Great Aunt Sally passed down to you, nor clothes telling you what size you used to be.

 

Join us!

We are all here for you and want to see you succeed. We want to free you from the unnecessary stuff in your life keeping you from being happy.

 

Comments

  2. This is awesome! I was looking for someone to help me on Facebook with my clutter problem and they directed me to using this method. I’m starting early because I absolutely HAVE TO and want to get this done NOW. I have been in a deep depression over the past two months, and I know part of it has been due to my home clutter, I just didn’t know how to even begin dealing with it because I would see everything and get overwhelmed and just wouldn’t even start with anything. I’m now on day three of your challenge and I’ve already gotten my living room probably 3/10 of the way done and that’s something I never thought I would do. It feels so much better. Your method has literally changed my mental health and that has to be a good thing to know yourself, knowing you have made me a better mommy and wife just by creating this idea for people to get involved in. I’ve been taking before and after pics for the past two days so when the challenge actually does start I will post all my progress in Facebook in your group but I just wanted to say thank you!!!!

    Reply

  3. This is exactly what I need!! My house stresses me out and overwhelms me. We have too much stuff…no matter how much I pack and give away it isn’t enough…we need a major overhaul…

    Reply

  4. I have been wanting to start a challenge like this, but as a flight attendant, its hard for me to do Daily challenges. Is there something comparable to this challenge but as a Weekly thing?

    Reply

    • Hi Kacie – good question. I can’t think of anything off the top of my head, but do recommend pacing it as you can. Stretching it out to a bag whenever you are home or able to do it – not 40 days – instead taking as many days as you need. You can double up when you feel a burst of inspiration, however I don’t recommend aiming for that long term, it can lead to burn out.

      Best of luck to you!

    • Thank you! That’s what I was thinking of just doing it when I could. It’s hard to do anything with my job lol.

  5. Hello! I have just come across your page and am ready to start the challenge – even if I am a few weeks behind! I tried to sign up for the eMails and it was saying it was unavailable. Have I missed the timeframe to get in on the eMails? There is still a month left in the challenge and would like to get as many tips as possible. I grew up in a packrat house and have taken those tendancies to my own house. I am ready to de-clutter!!

    Reply

  8. On board! It is so funny that I’ve been apt to do this and this whole movement came at a perfect time!!! Thanks for the encouragement!

    Reply

  10. I can’t wait to get this done this year. Last year was a disaster and I am hoping this year I’ll be doing much better. I did this about five years ago and I loved it :). My office the biggest area that needs immediate cleaning and it’s driving me nuts, since my husband and I have different ideas on how to ‘shed’ and ‘file’. I will be doing this on instagram only though, since me and Facebook aren’t in good terms (FB is fine people in FB aren’t lol).
    Let’s get started 🙂
    Dhurata

    Reply

  11. Can’t wait to start this. I tried last year…and it didn’t happen!! But, I am doing several new things this year. I will accomplish this!

    Reply

  13. We are looking a doing this in our synagogue as a project between our festivals of Pesach (passover) and Shavuot when we count the omer. All the items donated by members of our community would then go to different charities.

    Thank you for your inspiration to declutter our house and help charity too.

    Reply

  14. Hi Ann Marie!

    Since the “garbage bag” image is your image for 40B40D, and being mindful of your copyright, etc etc… Would you be willing to create a printable of 40 garbage bag images that my son could colour in?

    I’m imagining eight rows of five garbage bag images, to be printed out on an 8.5 X 11 sheet. What do you think?

    Sincerely,
    Miranda

    Reply

    • Hi Miranda! I have this coloring book printable: , which also allows for you to plan ahead or chart progress.

      My friend, Lacey at Catholic Icing, has a cute 40 bags coloring printable page as part of her Lenten planning pack:

      Hope that helps! 🙂

  15. I don’t understand why this needs to be done every year. Surely once is all it takes – and from there, stop impulse buying. If you only have essentials in your home, there shouldn’t be any need for this mammoth purge every year, just occasionally donating items that are past their best or no longer fit or have been outgrown (eg. children’s toys).

    Reply

  17. Great idea! I don’t think I can work on this 440 days on a row because I’m still working. It’s just me and I even hired a professional organizer a couple years ago to help me. The house still looks better Thani it did before that but the paper piles have cropped back up. It’s totally on me – she taught me what to do but you get busy, throw it on the table and next thing, there are piles again.
    Maybe if I do it by myself this time, it will stick better

    Reply

  18. I am so excited to start this “40 Day Challenge” for Lent and hope that someone in need will get much out of this cathartic purge! 🙂 Thank you for all the great tips. I am hoping I can find a close Good Will or Planet Aid/Salvation Army in the Liberty area so I can drop off my bag every day or two. That way, the spare bedroom won’t be cluttered with 40 boxes or bags come April 15th! 🙂

    Reply

  19. Hi there.. This is the first year i have seen this challenge… and this year is at the perfect time in my life when i need to get it done… This will help me … I HOPE…. to down size like my hubby has wanted me to do for years… 🙂

    I am looking forward to this challenge and seeing where I finish in 40 days…

    Good luck to all on the hard choices to be made 😉

    Reply

  21. Looking forward to this challenge. My house is cluttered, my finances are cluttered and my life is not going in the direction I would like. So, this comes at a perfect time! Looking forward to 40 bags out the door and getting a fresh start.

    What a wonderful idea.

    I am starting with my office on hopes that I can see the floor in 7 days…then I will pick the next room! I am taking pictures today of the before!!!

    Thank you for initiating this.

    Reply

  22. Ann Marie, I signed up for the email course and also signed up for facebook just to get your videos, etc. and to be on the “exclusive version of the facebook page.” I look forward to the additional information and inspiration. Thank you!

    Reply

  23. 2 Questions … where do we officially sign up and if I purchase the email course and am not on facebook, will I miss the videos, etc.?

    Thank you!

    Reply

    • I am not on FB either. Is there a way to share with a group. And to get email reminders. Some groups have a chat room or a group checkin on their website which is really nice and especially for us non FB folks. I love your articles on the 40 day challenge. Thank you.

    • Yes! Do the bulk of it during naptime! 😉 Otherwise, begin by filling him up with love for 15 minutes of reading and snuggles and a snack! Let him know the game plan so he can be involved. Then play some dance music and have him toss the items into your bag or baskets you are using to sort. When he gets tired of that, have a special tub of toys or a sensory bin (full of sand or something not too messy) for him to play with. Switch the tubs out so he doesn’t get bored. Take dance breaks.

  25. I think this is exactly the thing I need! We just moved into a new (much bigger) home and I was hoping to de-clutter along the way so we could enjoy the extra space. I think looking at one bag a day going out the door will be more of a victory than a negative feeling where I question whether I am going to need those things again at some point and wont have them. We have already donated a ton of stuff and I look forward to starting this challenge tomorrow!

    Reply

  26. I’m in the process of decluttering my house. One of the reasons why it’s taken me so long is that I hate knowing that my junk goes in a landfill if it’s not recyclable or can be donated, like old, unwearable clothes. Turns out you CAN recycle old ratty clothes/fabric! It gets repurposed into everything from carpets to insulation.

    Goodwill used to do send unwearables to a textile recycler, but no longer does, so you’ll have to go elsewhere — otherwise they just throw it in the trash. Companies such as H&M, Patagonia, and North Face will, though, and you can find the nearest drop off here: http://search.earth911.com/

    Reply

  27. I did my own version of this in my basement last month. I started Jan 1st and I did my entire Basement in 40 days. Before anyone comments with the one day per room, I want to say I removed 135 bags/boxes and 3 pieces of furniture. This challenge has already changed my life. But I’m ready for step two. The rest of our lives.

    Reply

  28. I’ve gotten rid of a lot of stuff in the past several months, but there’s more where that came from. Now that I have retired at a fairly young age for retirement, I’m in. I give up Facebook for Lent, so I’ll be following on Instagram.

    Reply

  31. My house is a uncontrolled disaster. My finances and debt are totally out of control. I have no money put back for emergencies. And to top it off I had hand surgery on January 16th which is also the day I started a online masters program. Talk about totally underwater. So I started by saying this is the year I figure this out. I found different yearly savings plans on Pinterest. So much per pay x 26 pays a year. I started with a small one. Second I found a 90 day challenge for my finances and debt issues. I am currently on the second week and it is slow paced to give time to make those changes part of my life. That only left the house (and the yard/garage). Then I saw your email message. It was a God send. I plan to do this. REALLY DO THIS! It will end about 5 days after I go back to work so perfect. I didn’t know how to tackle all this stuff. I became widowed 2 1/2 years ago and my husband was a pack rat, God love him. I haven’t even hardly started on anything and I think it is time. Wish me luck and we will see how it goes.

    Reply

    • Wow Courtney! Your story is exactly like mine only I didn’t want to say it! And I didn’t have hand surgery so I have NO EXCUSE! You inspire me!! I have to get moving! Like YESTERDAY!! Thank you!

  33. I’ve done this a couple of times but never signed up officially. My rule is though that to count nothing should go to landfill. Of course some things just can’take be recycled so they have to go in my rubbish – but as you say elsewhere the problem is bringing in stuff which can’t be recycled or reused in the first place. I’m a hoarder and a collector too which doesn’t help! Want to be rigorous with clothes and books this year.

    Reply

  36. Good morning! I signed up for the challenge knowing that 2017 was the year of decluttering my home and surroundings. I’d already made that commitment in my mind. When I read through the information, I decided to make my plan without delay because we had major travel plans during the 40 days starting March 1st. I penciled in areas and dates I’d be home starting January 13th so that I could finish the 40 days with your group. WELL . . . as of this morning, I’ve worked on my plan for 5 days AND . . . results are: 7 bags for donation, 14 bags of STUFF that no one needs lying around the house. My garbage collectors are not very happy with me unless they are counting on me for job security. I feel like I’ve barely begun, but already feeling accomplished and less frustrated as I move through the areas that have been cleaned. And, not to forget, my daughter who’s living with us at the moment, got into the act on Monday, and cleaned out both refrigerators (house and garage) of stuff that needed to be tossed. This was at least another large trash bag of out of date, inedible, empty containers. I’m not proud of all the stuff that was here, but definitely excited about the rest of this journey. Thank you for the inspiration and easy way to accomplish this. Grateful!

    Reply

  37. We completely emptied and went through our attic in 2015…Goodwill was very happy with us, and now everything is organized so we can find anything we need. (We put a floor in it while everything was down.) We attempted the same thing with closets last year (including adding shelves, etc.), but a surgery hampered that plan. I plan to get my house back with this challenge. BRING IT ON!

    Reply

  38. I saw a list someplace in earlier information I read about this project that gave suggestions for 79 places to clean–and now I can’t find it. Can you help?.

    Reply

  39. thank you so much. I now have no excuse to do something for Lent. No better way to increase happiness and ease of daily life than this. progress is progress. So, doing a little bit each day is the best way of nothing getting too overwhemled all at once.

    thank you again,

    Reply

  41. Please tell that you are teaching people how to donate and recycle these items and not just encouraging them to contribute to trash issue in our landfills.

    Reply

    • Absolutely. I have several posts on donating, one with a list of places to donate based on the item. I am a big fan of shopping second hand and recycling old items, such as baskets/boxes for organizing, rather than buying new.

      However, some items do need to be recycled or thrown away. The damage is done when you bring the unnecessary item in your home. I do hope that it is eye opening, almost like a last resort, and helps people change their habits. The garbage bag is simply a means to get the items to where the need to go.

      Thanks for your comment! I really do hope this challenge will help people to think twice about their overall consumption. I know it has opened my eyes immensely.

    • 3/1 I need the post for places to donate.
      Old Christmas cards. Files. Brain trainer equipment. Rope. Computers, wedgewood stove and 100. Polypropaline sheets for lining shelves and more

      I am excited t start today March 1. I am not on social media so this de clutter for lent is great.
      I will send to friends and de clutter teacher

  42. I signed up last year and didn’t get around to it. I already get your emails so if I sign up again will I get double email?
    I would also like to join your Facebook group. What do I need to do?
    Thanks, a stressed clutterbug!

    Reply

    • If you already get emails, no need to sign up again! It will probably tell you “sorry, you’re already subscribed” or something like that.

      Click the link to the Facebook post in the post to join and we’ll approve you shortly. You can also either search “40 bags in 40 days official” in the Facebook search bar, or click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/40bagsin40daysofficial

      Glad to have you joining in this year! 🙂

    • No! 🙂 We have people starting everyday, and we’ll all be here cheering you on. I’ll keep sharing tips well after the 40 days. I left the dates off the printable this year for this reason. If you’re ready to join, it’s not too late!

  45. Jumping in today! I was going to give up chocolate, but this challenge to de-clutter is much more in tune with getting my family more organized and helping my husband and I work toward goals to improve our lives together! Excited to join in!

    Reply

  46. I will be starting the de-cluttering next week. My grandkids are visiting this week, so it will start when they leave. I can’t wait to have a neater, more organized house!!

    Reply

  49. I’m a tweeter (found this on twitter) so will be participating there. I think this will hit all the high notes…giving up, doing good and giving to others.

    Reply

  50. This is a great ‘push’ for me. Yesterday I got hit with a ‘clean out the jewelry box’ bug right in the middle of changing sheets so I stopped and did it. Only took an hour and I have a bag ready for the thrift store and some notes attached to family pieces for future pass-alongs. Today? Well, thank goodness I can start tomorrow.

    Reply

  52. I am so happy I signed up last year . At age 62 l’m not quite over the hill. In fact still working full time etc.. But, the days seem shorter. I used to do the spring clean once a year for one week. Those days are gone now I work in fits and starts but de cluttering is central to managing a home alone working at my age. That it co insides with lent is so spiritually thought provoking.
    Thank you for solving more than one issue and helping me so much.

    Reply

  54. I don’t do facebook. Or any other similar sites…call it one of my decluttering moves. So I was happy to see I can still participate with this! Very important to keep our lives simple and clear of overwhelming things. There are some things you simply can’t do anything about – this is not one of those things! Just get up and do it – I have been for years. I’ve even managed to go through all the old family photos and record them on backup materials for myself and send them on their way to other members of the family who wanted them. Talk about a feeling of accomplishment!
    I applaud everyone taking part in this! We can share unused, unwanted items with others who need or want them and maybe save a little of our ailing world in the process!
    Thanks for such a down-to-earth approach to making all our lives a little brighter and lighter!

    Reply

    • 3rd Year for me and I am falling more in love with everything in my home. This year I am fasting from facebook during the challenge to be more intentional about nurturing real life relationships. My home is almost completely declutterred, except for a million photo boxes that need to be sorted, some scanning and distributing the photos to my sons. I also need to confront organizing a monster of a 4 drawer filing cabinet that I store docs in for my home based business. Both of those projects will take all of 40 days! Godspeed all our efforts during this journey!

    • So encouraged to see your post. I too had decided to “fast” from Facebook for lent and wondered if I could still do the “40 bags”. I’m going to do both!

    • I’m having a digital detox too – I’m off Facebook,Twitter, Instagram and games. I’m missing them, but I’m using the time they free for my 40 bags and a Lent Bible study.

      Day1, only 2 items are left in my e-mail inbox to be dealt with then deleted.

      Hope it goes well for everyone,

    • Impressive!! This is my 3rd year and I am so onboard. The attic is weighing heavily on me and that is my goal this 40 days. We want o move in 2-3 years (after living in this house for 30 years) so it is important to begin the release! I try to do this all year long, but March 1 (40 bags in 40 days) is an inspiration. Thank you!

    • I just tackled my four door filing cabinet and let me tell you IT WAS HARD WORK!! I am one organized soul to begin with but there’s a line when you go from organized to hoarder. It took me almost two full months, working evenings and fourth Saturdays to go through it all. Of course as you start cleaning it out you find stuff that should be filed elsewhere and so you move it over there and then realize that you also have to look through that pile to. However I got it done! I found manuals from baby items for my son (who is now seven!), Old insurance policy manuals, old information on vehicles we no longer own, manufacturer book info for the washer/dryer from our old house, etc. Thankfully a lot of it was paper that I can recycle or shred. And the only money out of pocket was for a box of hanging files, manila files, and labels. Good luck!! You’ll be so pleased when you’re done!!!!

    • Wow. I think this post really got me hooked. I was debating, and as I’d already decided to do a facebook fast myself this year during Lent, I had almost convinced myself that that PLUS the 40 bags challenge (which I hadn’t heard about until the last few days) was too much…but maybe not!

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  • Day 2 of drywall taping in the dining room, mudroom/laundry room! The first time we walked into this (former) kitchen, the seller’s realtor laughed and said “everyone walks through here with wide eyes and big plans, but Chip and Joanna Gaines aren’t going to bust in the door to help out!!” Unfortunately he was right and they haven’t busted in. 😏 We knew there was potential in this “tear down” property. We knew we could transform things, and yet I had no idea how or if we would get to see it happen. If you’re living in construction mess or dreaming of the after, take heart. You’re not alone! We will get there!

About Ann Marie

Ann Marie Heasley

Hello! My goal is to help you seek beauty in your everyday life. Here I’ll share my experiences and offer tips on how to simplify, seek beauty, create a home you enjoy, or declutter through my annual #40bagsin40days challenge.

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