I have one big bin where I put miscellaneous face masks, cleansers, creams, and the like. Of course, I had to keep the momentum going, which is part of why this method is so successful, so I moved on to the second shelf, which is the catch-all of all catch-alls. I couldn’t believe when my timer rang that it had only been 10 minutes - and how much I was able to accomplish! I also cleaned my bins and rearranged how they sit to make things easier to grab. I also love having a place for everything, so I put all of my travel-sized toiletries in an old coffee container I’ve been meaning to put to work. I found an empty sunscreen tube, several bags of dried-up gummy vitamins from trips past, and some nearly empty product packaging I was able to consolidate (cough drops, razors, laundry sheets). Ultimately, if you spend 100 minutes, the goal is to have 100 items you’re ready to get rid of. You can then spend another 10 minutes in that same area or move on to another.

What Is the 10-10-100 Decluttering Challenge?Īccording to Courtney Carver of Be More with Less, the 10-10-100 decluttering challenge involves choosing one space, setting a timer for 10 minutes, and then selecting 10 items to get rid of before the time is up. Going through my piles and collections of stuff isn’t exactly how I want to spend my limited free time, but of course I knew it was time. And that’s why when I heard about the 10-10-100 decluttering challenge, I knew I had to give it a try.Īs I reorganize my one-bedroom apartment that I haven’t decluttered in full in nearly three years, there are plenty of pockets of clutter (read: junk) I’ve been wanting to tend to, but have been putting off for months.

That’s probably the same reason there are so many number-based cleaning and organizing methods - like the 90/90 rule, the 3-second rule, and the “ 27 fling boogie” - because sticking to simple, easy-to-remember guidelines can help take the stress and chaos out of tidying up.

The average human attention span is also said to be around 10 minutes, which makes it a perfect duration for various activities such as reminders, short breaks, or productivity techniques like the Pomodoro Technique.When it comes to decluttering your home, the feat itself is intimidating enough that procrastination tends to win (consider me guilty!) - but anything that helps decompartmentalize the chore into smaller, more digestible (and less scary) tasks is a surefire way to ensure it gets done. Nowadays, the 10-minute timer is highly accessible and can be found in many common household items such as microwaves and cell phones. However, these technological ancestors of the 10-minute timer we know today were a bit less portable and convenient to use. Most digital devices, smartphones, and computers have a built-in ten-minute timer, but standalone devices are also available.įun FactDo you know that the first known timers were actually water clocks? They were invented in Ancient Egypt around 1500 B.C. It's a great way to manage time effectively, stay disciplined, and ensures that certain tasks or activities don't exceed the allotted time. The timer begins as soon as you start or activate it, and it will notify with an alarm or a sound at the end of the designated ten-minutes. This can be utilized for a multitude of purposes, including but not limited to setting aside a dedicated period for a task, keeping track of cooking times, limiting children's screen time, or even for workout sessions. A 10-minute timer is a simple and efficient tool which helps to monitor time in increments of ten minutes.

10 min timer with music