30 Minute Organizing Tasks to Take on This Month

January means it’s time to get organized! Daunted by the idea of addressing your entire home in an entire day? There’s no need to do so—instead, break down your tasks into chunks so that everything feels much more manageable. In fact, you’d be surprised at how much you can tackle in just 30 minutes! Pick one of these half-hour tasks from DMV area pro organizers to do every day this week and watch the state of your home transform right before your eyes.

Refresh Your Bathroom Countertop

You utilize your bathroom countertop every day, multiple times a day, but when was the last time you really gave it an overhaul? Eryn Donaldson, the founder of The Model Home, recommends taking 30 minutes to edit your setup to get rid of unused products, expired items, and clutter. First, remove everything from your countertop and then toss the things you never reach for or are in poor condition. “Wipe down the surface and return only the essentials, perhaps grouping them in a small tray or organizer,” Donaldson instructs. “This small change can make your mornings feel more serene and streamlined.”

Sort Through Paperwork

Make this the year that you stop letting paperwork accumulate in your home. “Grab one stack of papers—whether it’s mail, bills, or miscellaneous documents—and dedicate 30 minutes to sorting, shredding, or filing,” Donaldson suggests. “Reducing paper clutter not only frees up space but also ensures you don’t miss important documents, giving you peace of mind as you start the new year.” Be sure to then pick up some file folders where you can safely keep the documents you do need.

Photo courtesy of Professional Organizer Lisa Malone

Address a Small Section of the Closet

You’ll likely need more than 30 minutes to organize your entire closet, but you can definitely address a small section of it in this amount of time—maybe your blazers or button-downs. “As you go through your items, sort them into four categories: keep, donate, relocate, and discard,” says Lisa Malone. She notes that most people only wear about 20 percent of their clothes. “Often, those favorite pieces are in the laundry or sitting on a chair because our closet is cluttered with things we don’t wear or that don’t belong there,” she says.

Deal with the Junk Drawer

Let’s face it, everyone has a junk drawer! If yours is looking a little chaotic, follow Rachel Rosenthal’s advice and spend 30 minutes dealing with it. “Start by emptying the drawer, tossing trash, and grouping similar items together, like pens, batteries, or takeout menus,” says the founder of Rachel & Company. Once you have done this, take measurements of the drawer. If you have small containers or dividers on hand, add them inside, otherwise, you can order a few. In the meantime, it’s fine to store items by category in Ziploc bags, notes Cheryl Larson, the founder of Cheryl’s Organizing Concepts.

“This project is valuable because it transforms a chaotic space into one that works for you, making it easier to find what you need and reducing daily frustration,” Rosenthal says.

Keep in mind that not everything that was originally in your junk drawer needs to stay in there. “Decide what items are better somewhere else,” Larson says. “Batteries, markers, and notepads are nice to have at hand, personal items might be better in your bathroom or purse, and office supplies can go in your desk.”

Go Through the Pantry

When was the last time you sorted through all of your canned and dried goods? “It’s important we start the year off right, starting with getting rid of expired food,” says Lavender Menakaya, the founder of Lavender Organizes. She offers a tip for making this process less overwhelming. “Instead of pulling everything out, concentrate on one or two categories of food like canned goods or spices,” the organizer says. “Simply throw out or donate the expired food and put back the non-expired food,” she adds, noting that the following week, you can move on to the next category of food.

Sort Through Your Car

One final 30-minute organizing project you can tackle this month is organizing the storage compartments in your car. Caroline Dockery, the founder of Categorically Caroline, recommends going through the glove box, arm console, back seat pockets, and more. “Discard trash, consolidate important items into an easy-to-reach bag or bin, replace cleaning or personal hygiene items, and double check car maintenance things like emergency kits, tire pressure gauges and the like,” she says. “It’s also a great time to verify when your car registration will be due this year!”

Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9