Have you tried micro-organizing? Professional organizers say it makes 'small wins accumulate to be big wins' with just 10 minutes a day

When you're constantly busy, finding the time to organize things can be hard, which is where micro-organizing at home can come in handy. Its cumulative benefits mean small actions add up to a big impact over time, with minimal effort and time from you.

Simply taking a minute or two here and there to focus on just one small area can add up to make a clear difference to your space, experts say, without needing to set aside any large chunks of time in your already busy schedule.

In fact, say our pros, it's the key to avoiding overwhelm, boosting your organizing confidence, and the beauty of your home at the same time. Here's how pros recommend completing this time-saving organizing tip, and why it's so effective.

Why you should try micro-organizing at home

Rather than worrying about never finding the time to perfect your home organizing ideas once and for all, micro-resets (tackling one small area at a time) could be the key to a tidy home.

As Barbara Brock, professional organizer and founder and CEO of Barbara Brock, says, 'When one takes on an organizing project, it’s best to tackle one area such as a drawer or shelf. This small project will not be so overwhelming and will boost one’s confidence.'

It's why we recommend micro-organizing as a home organization secret weapon.

Vanessa Ruiz, professional home organizer at Sparkly Maid San Antonio, agrees, adding, 'By breaking work into small sequential steps, such as tidying one drawer, or putting together one category of item, people can see the progress that they are making, while keeping stress levels low.

'Micro-organizing allows people to work within the confines of their busy lifestyles, makes maintaining systems easier, and ultimately, frees up time for what really matters to them.'

Here are three easy ways to implement the habit in your own home:

1. Identify small visible zones

As Vanessa says, the easiest way to implement micro-organizing into your home routine is by identifying small visible zones around the house that you can focus on in small pockets of time with ease.

'Every type of item should live in a defined place that makes putting things away easy, so a messy environment is not created,' she says.

Essentially, if an item doesn't have a specific space to live, such as a drawer or cabinet, when it's not in use, it will float around the house and add to visual clutter.

2. Take 10 minutes a day

Once you've identified areas around your home that you want to prioritize when micro-organizing, take 10 minutes a day to establish order in one of them, recommends Vanessa.

'Select one place; for example, organizing your bathroom shelf, snack basket, or a desk drawer, to reorganize,' she says. 'Small wins accumulate to be big wins fast as a part of your routine.'

Then, once you've identified the spot you're going to micro-organize, be it a shelf, countertop, or cabinet, start by removing everything, advises Barbara, taking pointers from the chaos decluttering method.

'A space is visually appealing and gives us a sense of purpose,' she says. 'What do we want to return to this space?'

If you prefer to keep things a little more tidy and contained, you can corral the items in a storage basket, such as the Rosecliff Heights Bavan Rattan Basket available at Wayfair.

Next, separate the items into 'like in kind,' Barbara explains. 'This will help you to see costly duplications, what’s needed for repair, and help you decide if this is what you want to return,' she explains.

After all, this unconventional organizing method to limit clutter is best paired with some micro-decluttering alongside it. Collect any items that you no longer want in a plastic storage bin, such as the Latching Storage Box available at Amazon. You can decide whether to donate or sell decluttered items later.

Then, pop any items you are keeping back into the space, with a specific and permanent home to help maintain the area moving forward.

3. Use labels

Finally, use labels to ensure established order sticks – literally.

'Clear labels reinforce the habit and allow everyone in the household to contribute to the organization process,' explains Vanessa, and are particularly effective if you're organizing a home with kids in mind.

The children in your house can take 10 minutes a day to return toys to their correctly labelled home, helping to avoid any playroom organizing mistakes, for example. Excluding children from age-appropriate tasks is something people with tidy homes never do.

We recommend the bestselling Brother P-Touch Label Maker available at Walmart easy labeling. Alternatively, bins from Wayfair with chalkboards built in, as pictured above, are a great way to micro-organize easily and adapt your systems over time to best suit your current needs and be more sustainable at home.

Woven bins with chalk labels are also available from Wayfair in brown and natural colorways.

What to shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

FAQs

What is micro clutter?

Micro clutter is caused by all those miscellaneous items that pile up around the home, eventually becoming macro clutter if left undealt with. For these areas, we recommend decluttering accumulated pieces.

Meet our experts

Barbara Brock

With a background in interior design, Barbara began professionally organizing in 2001. She's also the former president of NAPO®-NY (National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals™ - New York Chapter).

Vanessa Ruiz

Vanessa is a cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid San Antonio. As a senior team member, she helps families create spotless, clutter-free homes using eco-friendly products and trusted cleaning systems. Known for premium results and reliable service, Vanessa makes organizing and cleaning simple for clients across San Antonio.

Next, learn about the things professional organizers never do when decluttering, so you can avoid them, too.