Frequently Asked Questions About the Daily Tidy-Up Habit
Starting a new habit, even one as simple as a 10-minute tidy up, can bring up questions and challenges. Here are answers to some of the most common hurdles people face when trying to build a more organized life.
How do I even begin a daily habit when I’m buried in a backlog of old clutter, especially paper?
This is a very common feeling of being overwhelmed. The key is to separate the backlog project from the daily maintenance habit. Don’t try to conquer a mountain of old paper during your 10-minute tidy. Instead, treat the backlog as a separate, temporary project. Dedicate 15-20 minutes a day, or a few hours one weekend, solely to working through that pile. Put on some music, set a timer, and just start sorting into three boxes: Keep, Shred/Recycle, and Action. Once the backlog is cleared, your daily tidy up will be what prevents it from ever coming back. You can start the daily habit in a different room while you slowly chip away at the big project elsewhere.
My family or roommates aren’t on board. How can I implement this without becoming the house cleaner?
This is a delicate situation that requires leading by example and focusing on shared benefits. You cannot force others to adopt your habits, but you can influence the environment. Start by consistently applying the 10-minute tidy up to your own personal spaces and to the common areas. When others see the positive, calming effect of a consistently clear coffee table or kitchen counter, they are more likely to become interested. Frame it as a team effort. Say, “Let’s set a timer for 10 minutes and see how fast we can reset the living room together.” Making it a quick, collaborative challenge is more effective than nagging. Also, ensure your systems are incredibly easy to use. A clearly marked basket for shoes by the door is much more likely to be used than a complex system hidden in a closet.
What do I do with sentimental items that don’t have a logical “home” or “zone”?
An organized home is not a minimalist, empty home. It’s a home where everything has a place and is treated with intention. Sentimental items are important, and they deserve a special home. The solution is to create a dedicated zone for them. This could be a “memory box”—a beautiful, designated box where you keep cherished cards, photos, and small keepsakes. For larger items, you might dedicate a specific shelf on a bookcase or the top of a dresser as your display area. The goal is to honor these items by giving them a curated space, rather than letting them float around as clutter. This allows you to enjoy them without having them interfere with the function of your daily living spaces.
My apartment is just too small for any real organization system. What is the single most important thing I can do?
In a very small space, the single most impactful action is to define and fiercely protect one single reset point. Maybe it’s your small kitchen table, your desk, or even just the one clear countertop in your kitchen. This surface is your anchor. Commit to making sure this one spot is completely clear and wiped down by the end of every day. This small act creates a powerful pocket of calm and order. It gives your eyes a place to rest and proves that order is possible, even in a tiny footprint. From there, focus on going vertical. Use wall-mounted shelves, hanging organizers, and anything that draws storage upward to free up precious floor and surface space.
I’ve tried starting habits like this before, but I can never make them stick. How is this different?
The reason the 10-minute tidy up is more “sticky” than other habits is its low barrier to entry and its immediate, visible reward. The key to making it permanent is a technique called “habit stacking.” Link the new habit to an existing one you already do without thinking. For example: “After I finish brushing my teeth at night, I will immediately start my 10-minute tidy up.” Or, “While my morning coffee is brewing, I will reset the kitchen counters.” By piggybacking on an established routine, you don’t have to rely on memory or motivation. The old habit becomes the trigger for the new one, automating the process and weaving it seamlessly into the fabric of your day.
