UPDATED FOR 2021!
Feeling the Urge to Purge? With the KonMari movement in full swing this year, who isn’t? Let’s capitalize on that urge with a new Challenge! Consider this your engraved invitation to join the 40 Bags in 40 Days Declutter Challenge.
WHAT IS THE 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS CHALLENGE?
It’s a declutter challenge where you commit to removing 40 bags worth of household clutter within a 40-day timeframe from your home. The Challenge started as a lenten challenge so it typically begins on Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Easter.
If you did the math, and you’re thinking, “That’s more than 40 days,” you’d be correct! Apparently, we get a day off from lenten resolutions on Sundays, so each week, you’re granted one day off from the challenge.
So in keeping with the 2021 lenten calendar, we’ll begin the Challenge on February 17th and end it the day before Easter (April 3rd).
WHY IS THE 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS CHALLENGE SO AWESOME?
If you’ve attempted to declutter before but haven’t made much progress, a short-term challenge like this can be just what you need to kickstart your decluttering efforts.
If you observe lent but struggle with what to “give up”, you can focus on giving up your clutter to meet your lenten obligation.
The best thing? You’ll have others who are in the trenches with you (and we all know that it’s easier to tackle a goal with some cheerleaders and accountability partners!)
40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS CHALLENGE — THE DETAILS
What defines a “Bag”?
You aren’t required to fill a certain-sized bag. In fact, you don’t even have to use a bag. Any size or shape of container is okay. It’s up to you to determine what makes sense.
Do I have to donate everything?
Nope! You’ll likely end up with items that are trash, items that can be donated, and items you want to sell. All of it counts (even the trash)!
Related: Make Money While You Declutter – Places to Sell Your Decluttered Items
Can I work ahead to build in some days off?
Absolutely. In fact, remember that you technically have 46 days between Lent and Easter eve, so there are built-in day off days each week during the Challenge. If you’re feeling super motivated and on a roll, you might end up filling up several bags on a particular day.
In that case, you’ve carved out some wiggle room to take a few days off when life gets in the way. Just make sure that you’ve removed 40 bags out of your house by the end of the Challenge period.
What if I don’t have 40 bags-worth of clutter?
If the idea of removing 40 BAGS worth of stuff from your home feels impossible, count your blessings because you are in the minority! You can still join in on the decluttering fun by getting rid of 40 ITEMS during the Challenge period (consider it the lite-version of the Challenge!)
How can I stay motivated and connect with others doing the Challenge?
Share your successes and challenges with others who are participating! Share your progress in the comments below, or on Instagram (tag me @refined_rooms) and use the hashtag #40Bags40Days.
40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS CHALLENGE — PREP WORK
1. Write down what areas of your home you plan to declutter. Keep this list handy so that you can refer to it during the challenge.
2. Complete the decluttering prep tasks outlined in this post (gather containers, designate a staging area for donations/sellable items, decide where you’ll donate/sell your items).
3. Become a subscriber. Subscribers have access to a ton of decluttering goodies housed in my Organizing Printables Vault, including this 40 Bags Challenge Tracker printable & the Declutter Tool Kit).
4. Take advantage of the free decluttering resources on the blog
Refer to these posts for motivation and practical decluttering tips during the Challenge:
GENERAL DECLUTTERING
NO BRAINER THINGS TO TOSS BY SPACE
SELLING DECLUTTERED ITEMS
Will you join me for this year’s 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge? Comment below with the room you plan to declutter FIRST!
Pat says
Stuck in books right now. I think I’m ready to release them then I touch them and they move deeper in, not out! Some I’ve read and loved. Some I’ve relied on but seldom turn to for advice or guidance anymore. Some on recent politics, I start then discard because I can’t live it and read it. I’ll go crazy. Did find Leonard Cohen’s Book of Longing that a lover left behind. It stays. As for the rest…help!
Natalie Gallagher says
Books are HARD. One pro tip I’d offer…don’t touch the books. There is actually research that shows that touching objects makes us form a stronger attachment to them. Perhaps there’s a friend or family member you can recruit to help you declutter. You can identify the books you want to let go of, and then let your friend do the handling (i.e., putting them in the donation box and even delivering them to the donation location)
JEAN BALTER says
The timing is ,as Tony the Tiger would say, “Grrrrreeaatttt”! Here it is March 23, 2019 AND I still have Christmas decorations declaring homestead rights in bags/bins, on & under my table and stacked on the floor of my dining room. That’s my starting point. Thanks for the tips and encouragement.
Natalie Gallagher says
LOL Jean! You are so welcome. And I love that you have such a concrete plan for starting. That’s the hardest part!
JULIE HOEZEE says
YES- please make it a no (plastic) bag challenge. Goodwill loves boxes or NO bags. Thanks!
Natalie Gallagher says
Julie, the name of the Challenge is coined by others…not original to me 🙂 Again, use whatever container you like to contain the clutter!
Billy says
Wonderful inspiration! Thank you!
I only wish it would not be plastic bags. Our fellow creatures in air and sea, as well as our water and soil are destroyed and poisoned by plastic by the millions. And each one of us humans already has 28grams of plastic in us, let alone in mother’s milk. So, please, if some of you could use other containers, card board boxes (from grocery or liquor stores) or use bigger items you want to declutter to hold smaller ones, or a coat or T-shirt to bundle other clothes in…..
Thank you for considering!
Natalie Gallagher says
Billy — it doesn’t have to be plastic bags at all. In the Challenge details section of the post, I mention that you can use any container (box, paper bag, whatever works). I love your other ideas for bundling items. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas!
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
I don’t know if I could do 40 bags in 40 days but even just 10 bags would be a great start. I really like this challenge. Thanks for sharing the idea at #HomeMattersParty
Natalie Gallagher says
Indeed! 10 bags would be a great start! Start with that goal and if you feel inspired, keep going!
Nothy says
I’m in. I did a large bag yesterday and a small one today. I am determined to do this.
Natalie Gallagher says
What type of clutter did you tackle first??
Lorelei says
Excellent! I’m in and starting in storage and main closet in basement …
Natalie Gallagher says
Awesome Lorelei! I’m tackling my home office bookshelves today!
Sahana says
I should do this. Thank you for sharing with us at #HomeMattersParty . We would love to see you again next week.
Natalie Gallagher says
Why Thanks Sahana! Yes, come join the Challenge!
Emma T says
I could do with this challenge to get rid of more clothes and kitchen and larger stuff.
Natalie Gallagher says
Go for it Emma! Come join us in the Facebook group!
Trish says
I want to go through my house and declutter from each room. I should be able to do 40 bags
Natalie Gallagher says
Awesome Trish! Be sure to join the Facebook group and keep us informed about your progress!
Katrina Luzier says
I plan on starting in my closet. I have clothes and shoes that I no longer wear that need to go so I can make room for new clothes in the correct size.
Natalie Gallagher says
Awesome Katrina! Check in on the Facebook group and report on your progress!
Shaye says
I must declutter my kitchen first. I am excited about this challenge! Decluttering my house is way overdue and it’s something I keep putting off. I NEED accountability to stay motivated.
Natalie Gallagher says
Shaye, I tackled my kitchen over the holiday break (had my Hubby to help me go through each and every cabinet and drawer). Can’t tell you how good it feels! Be sure to join the Facebook group and report your progress each day to get that accountability piece that you need!
Ninna says
I have so much Crudder (how my 3-year-old granddaughter pronounced it 18 years ago) that I could do 40 bags a day if I had the energy!! I’m going to start with the clothes in the bedroom…SO many clothes and only one little body to wear them. Yet I wear the same 5 things all the time!! I guess that’s what happens when you retire, maybe… All I know is I have a ‘fashion history’ of my life that dates back 45 years and six sizes. Time to get rid of that cool jeans skirt I wore in junior high!!
Natalie Gallagher says
Crudder…LOL! I’m laughing Ninna because I have my own “fashion history”. It may not date back to junior high, but it definitely dates back to my “pre-kiddo” life and probably encompasses 4 sizes 🙂 Sounds like a great place to start