Organize Now Challenge: Declutter Your Life and Transform Your Home {introduction & kitchen}(Ep 12)
Welcome to the Organize Now Challenge!!! Woo hoo...super excited!!! I don't want you to just look at this challenge as another thing on your To-Do List. I want you to get excited! I promise if you stick with me this WILL be life-changing!
How do I know this? Because I have been helping people get organized for years and the reason why I LOVE what I do isn't because I have OCD it is because when someone I work with finally, truly understands the blessings that come with getting organized and more importantly the blessing they can be to others...I get PUMPED UP!
I want YOU to reach your full potential here on this earth and can not do this if you are not organized. Remember I said FULL potential...sure you can be successful, reach goals, make money, and buy lots of stuff if you are not organized but you can do SO much more on this earth if you clear the clutter.
I encourage you to stick with the challenge and not give up. An organized home does not happen overnight. It takes one small step at a time. Most of us don't have all day to organize so from this point forward your goal is to focus on one area per week. Schedule time to do this. You may want to chart your progress...this particular challenge is going to be 12 weeks long. Just imagine what we can get done together in 12 weeks if you commit! So without further ado, we are going to start with the kitchen!
Ok, I am going to give you 2 HUGE reasons why you should get your kitchen super organized this week and next:
- This is an area of your home that most people see.
- You spend more time in the kitchen than any other room so it is imperative that it is easy to find what you need when you need it AND it is not cluttered!
So if you have the book open up to Week 22. This week we will cover the most visual areas in the kitchen:
- Countertops
- Refrigerator (the outside)
- Paper
- Walls
Organize Now Challenge: Your Journey to a Clutter-Free Life Starts Here
Are you ready to transform your life in just 12 weeks? The Organize Now Challenge is here to help you tackle the clutter and reclaim your space and your time. This isn’t just another task to pile onto your already overwhelming to-do list. It’s about creating a better, simpler, more organized version of your life, one step at a time.
Why does this matter? Because clutter isn’t just about stuff—it’s about how it affects your ability to focus, relax, and be your best self. When your home is clutter-free and organized, you’ll find more time and energy for the things you truly love.
Today, we kick things off with the heart of the home: the kitchen. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get started together.
Why the Kitchen Matters
Your kitchen is more than just a workspace—it’s the hub of your home. It’s where meals are made, family conversations happen, and friends gather. It’s also one of the most visible and frequently used areas in the house.
When your countertops are covered in cereal bowls, mail piles, and random objects, it’s not just inconvenient; it’s draining. A cluttered kitchen makes preparing meals harder and entertaining stressful. Let’s fix that.
Setting the Tone: Small Steps, Big Wins
Getting organized isn’t about perfection or tackling your entire house at once. It’s about small, consistent efforts. Start by giving yourself just 29 minutes a day to focus on one small area. This challenge will guide you through 12 weeks of bite-sized goals to simplify your space and make real progress without burnout.
The Week 1 Focus: Kitchen Surface Areas
To ease into the challenge, we’re starting with all the visible surfaces in your kitchen. This is a game-changer for creating a calm, functional space. Here’s how:
Clear Your Countertops
Your countertops have one job: to help you prep and serve meals. They’re not an office. They’re not a storage space for paperwork or gadgets you never use.
- Remove everything that isn’t related to cooking, baking, or serving food.
- Focus on appliances: Only keep the ones you use at least twice a week on the counter. For example, coffee makers and toasters are daily-use items. Blenders and less-used gadgets? Tuck them into easily accessible cabinets.
- Aim for simplicity: Try to keep at least 75% of your countertop space clear at all times.
Give Paper a Home
Mail, school papers, and other documents often pile up in the kitchen. Here’s how to keep them under control:
- Use a shallow basket or tray as a temporary home for new paper.
- Toss junk mail or unnecessary papers immediately.
- When the basket starts to overflow, move the contents to their proper place.
Avoid letting paper take over your counters. A designated container will keep things tidy until you’re ready to handle them properly.
Tidy Your Refrigerator
The fridge is another hotspot for clutter, with papers, photos, and magnets covering the surface. Clear it off and keep only the essentials.
- Move necessary reminders or schedules to one small section or the side of the fridge.
- Consider alternatives like a magnetic board inside a cabinet door for a cleaner look.
Evaluate Your Walls and Decor
Take a moment to walk around your kitchen and look at the decor. Ask yourself:
- Do I still love this?
- Does this add value or joy to my space?
If something feels outdated or unnecessary, remove it. Empty walls are perfectly fine. It’s better to have space than stuff you don’t enjoy.
Quick Tips for Simplified Surfaces
- Broken or unused items? Toss them. Don’t keep what doesn't work or add value.
- Basket method: Place items that belong in other rooms into a laundry basket. Organize those separately to stay focused on the kitchen.
- Visual check: After organizing, step back and see how your kitchen feels. Notice how removing the clutter makes a difference.
Look Back and Celebrate
Once your kitchen surfaces are clean and clear, take a moment to reflect. How does it feel to walk into the space? Are you calmer, more energized, or relieved?
This feeling—this freedom—is what the Organize Now Challenge is all about. Stick with it for 12 weeks, and imagine the transformation your entire home can undergo.
Join the Movement
This is just the beginning. Snap a picture of your progress and share it with our community in the Organize Now Challenge Facebook group. You’ll find encouragement, accountability, and inspiration from others on the same path.
You can also follow future updates and resources on JenniferFordBerry.com or connect with us on social media at The 29 Minute Mom. Together, we’ll make sure this challenge is as fun and rewarding as it is effective.
What’s Next?
Next week, we’ll dive inside the kitchen cupboards to tackle a deeper layer of organization. It might be a bit trickier, but don’t worry—I’ll guide you every step of the way.
For now, celebrate the wins from this week. Every small step adds up to big changes. Let’s make this year the year you finally take control of your home, your clutter, and your time.
Ready to change your life? Commit to the Organize Now Challenge, and let’s do this together!
*You can follow along with this challenge in this book:
If you're ready to break free from discontentment, and overwhelm, and step into a life of purpose and abundance, Power House is your opportunity. This program empowers you to unlock your unlimited potential. Over 6 months, learn to enhance productivity, achieve greater organization, create wealth, eliminate mental and emotional clutter, and feel energized about life. More details here.
Foundations: Get your workspace completely organized! Learn a time management system that will allow you to get more done in less time. Clear away any clutter that is distracting you from being your most successful self, so that you can earn more money in your business.
About your host, Jennifer Ford Berry: Jennifer is the host of the Make Room podcast (formerly The 29 Minute Mom podcast) and the founder of the Created Order Neighborhood, an online community of women who want to live a life of order and purpose. She is the author of five books, including the Organize Now! series and her latest, Make Room. Jennifer was previously the regular organizing expert on the TV show Winging It, Buffalo Style. , and has appeared as a guest expert on several television and radio shows, as well as in national magazines and newspapers. Jennifer lives in western New York with her husband and two children. She works both hands-on and virtually with her clients to help them eliminate clutter and live their dreams.
Where to find Jennifer:
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