It’s easy to accumulate clutter.  Sometimes we acquire things through the normal course of life…we start a family, pick up a hobby, or renovate a house.  Other times we over-buy and end up with too much stuff.  And there are even occasions where clutter enters our house because someone has given it to us or they haven’t taken their belongings with them.  These are just a few examples of how clutter accumulates, but did you know there are numerous things you can do to help keep clutter away?

Clutter Free Mind Set

First, develop a clutter-free mindset.  Give yourself permission to get rid of things.  Personally, I’ve been guilty of holding onto things because they didn’t meet a set of pre-conceived criteria I had in my head e.g. they didn’t have holes or weren’t worn out.  I could still wear them etc.  After reading Marie Kondo’s book, “The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up”, I realized that if I didn’t like something and wasn’t using it by choice, I didn’t have to keep it.  I gave myself permission to get rid of it.  Boy was that freeing!

What criteria do you have for discarding items?  Have you limited yourself?  Do you need to give yourself permission to get rid of things?

Next, make a commitment to act quickly!  The longer you hold onto something the harder it is to get rid of.  My old room at my parent’s house is a prime example of this.  They have my extensive stuffed animal collection from when I was a child.  I don’t really care about those items anymore.  My daughter has declared that she doesn’t care about my precious Cabbage Patch doll or life-size Raggedy Ann.  So, why haven’t I gotten rid of them?  Well, it’s hard to get rid of something you’ve had for 30 years.  They become nostalgic.   So, if you don’t want to end up with your kids stuffed animals someday (ha) make a commitment to act quickly and discard things as soon as they become obsolete to you.

Daily Routines

Great!  Now that you’re in the right mindset and committed to acting quickly.  Let’s talk about some simple practices you can do on a daily basis to help keep clutter away.  The more small things you do on a regular basis, the fewer decluttering events you’ll need.

Put New Habits in Place ASAP

The other day, we got a Chariot / Bike Trailer for my kids to ride in.  My son quickly chose the right side and my daughter reluctantly got the left.  The next time they got in the Chariot, can you guess where my son sat?  You guessed it, the right side!  It was now his side of the Chariot!  Humans are funny that way.  Often, what we do in the beginning, is the thing that sticks.

So, in order to keep clutter away, start with strong habits and solid routines as quickly as possible.  Here are a few for you to consider:

• Clean off the kitchen counter every night
• Have the kids put away their toys after every play time
• Put outdoor gear up when you come inside e.g. hats, shoes, sunglasses
• Sort mail daily
• Hang up your clothes (or put them in the laundry) immediately after you take them off
• If clothing doesn’t fit one of your kids or is broken and unrepairable, take it out of circulation immediately
• Have a designated home for EVERYTHING
• Do the daily “Hive Five.” Find 5 things every day that you do not need or no longer want.

These simple routines are easy and don’t require a lot of time upfront. They are practical ways to keep clutter away!

Take Advantage of Little Chunks of Time

Clutter can easily accumulate in many places including your home, your car, or your purse.  We just talked about a number of ways to keep clutter away from your home, let’s consider how to keep it away from other areas as well.  The car…this is a total danger zone if you have young kids.  I call my back row the goldfish graveyard.  It’s easy to accumulate clutter and junk in the car- things I never brought in there, but by taking advantage of little chunks of time, we can stay on top of it.  Every time you get out of the car, make sure you and every passenger grabs the trash, cups, backpacks, etc.  Clear your car out after each trip.

To keep your purse, backpack, or bags sorted, clean them out while you’re waiting.  Maybe you’re in a carpool line, waiting for a ballet class to end, or even at a stop light.  These little chunks of time can be optimized to help keep clutter away!

Buying Practices

Another great strategy for keeping clutter away is to never bring it in your house, to begin with.  Think about your buying practices.  Are you a sucker for a good deal?  Have you ever bought some shoes because they were deeply discounted and then never actually wore them?  Maybe, there’s a sale on toothpaste at the grocery store and instead of buying just a couple of packages, you buy 10, because, “hey, you’re sure you’ll need them someday…maybe.”

Thrifty shoppers and stock-pilers are at risk of over-buying.  Buying things they think they’ll use, but then don’t.  That stuff becomes clutter.  Assess your buying practices. Before making a purchase or buying in bulk ask yourself these questions:

• Do I really need or love this item?
• For grocery items, will I use this before it expires?
• Do I need to buy it now or will it go on sale again in the future?
• if you really need the item and if you can use it before it expires.

Avoiding Clutter Traps

Finally, avoid common clutter traps to keep clutter away.  Birthdays and Christmas are times when we can accumulate a lot of things.  Reconsider your gift-giving strategies.  Think about giving experiences instead of physical things.  Make sure you’re really dialed into what family members want.  If your child isn’t into Paw Patrol, then for crying out loud, don’t give them a Paw Patrol stuffie.  If your husband is particular about his clothing, then don’t go and buy him a bunch of shirts.  (of course, I’m speaking completely hypothetically here…this NEVER happens in my home 😉 (

Another common clutter trap is vacation swag.  It’s easy to feel like you need to get something for family members every time you go away.  The kids have come to expect it haven’t they?!?  This stuff typically becomes junk in your house.  Try not to get it at all, but if you’re compelled, think about practical things you can get.  Instead of the keychain that will break in 5 minutes, can you get earphones they’ll use on their next trip?

Finally, promotional giveaways are the third common clutter trap we’ll touch on in this post.  You go to the bank and they give you a coffee cup, your realtor gives you a calendar, and a family-friendly restaurant hands out small toys to the kids.  All of this stuff accumulates in your house and rarely has a home.  Before you know it, you’ve got clutter!  It’s okay to say no to these freebies.  Make a practice of not bringing them into your home in the first place and you’ll keep clutter away for good!

Keep Clutter Away

Decluttering does not have to be a regular event at your house.  By having the right mindset, dealing with clutter quickly, and implementing daily routines, you’ll easily prevent unwanted clutter from accumulating.  Keeping it out of our house, to begin with is even better!  Changing your buying practices and avoiding common clutter traps will help minimize the number of things you need to get rid of and keep clutter away!

Looking For More Ideas?  Check out these posts:

• KonMari Shortcuts – Alternative Decluttering Methods
• Common Decluttering Barriers & Solutions
• Expert Tips For An Organized Home

Eighteen months ago I set out with the goal to start blogging.  I committed to myself that I would dedicate at least one year to this new side hustle.  The challenge, I have two young kids, a part-time job, no family around except my husband, and what felt like no margin in our lives. Despite having very little time to work with, I was able to write over 100 posts, create thousands of pins, dabble in other social media platforms, and dedicate countless hours to learning about blogging.  If you find yourself in a similar predicament, read on for practical tips to make time to blog as a side hustle.

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read my Affiliates Disclosure.

Get clear on your “why”

If you are considering starting a blog, have recently started a blog, or have been blogging for a while, make sure you are uber-clear on your “why.”  Why is blogging important to you?  What makes it a compelling investment of your time and money?  The end goal, what is it?  What are you working toward and why is it worth the struggle?

By being clear about your why, you’ll make time when you feel like you have none.  You’ll stay up late or get up early if that’s your only option.  Your “why” will help you get back up when you’ve been knocked down, set back, or disappointed.

Determine how much time you can commit

Next, define how much time you can commit.  What’s realistic for you?  Are you working a full-time job?  Do you have young kids?  Maybe your spouse travels a lot.  The reality is, we all have different constraints and if you’re starting a blog as a side hustle, you need to be clear about those constraints and how much you can squeeze in.

Some people dedicate 10 hours a week because that’s all they have.  Other’s do 20 hours.  While others are able to fit in 40 hours.  The point, there’s no right or wrong answer.

True, it might take you more time to make traction with your blog if you’re only able to dedicate 10 hours a week, but it might not.  I know of other successful bloggers that have made that model work!  It’s not about how much time you spend, but the focus and quality of the time.  It’s good to have a goal and then to hold yourself accountable to that goal.  Be realistic!

Acknowledge the trade-offs

As a third step, be upfront about the trade-offs.  There will be trade-offs.  For me, I get less sleep.  I spend less time surfing the internet or doing hobbies than I used to.  There are times when my family is outside playing and I’m working on the blog.

By acknowledging the costs and the trade-offs up front, you are better prepared for when they come.

Get support

To be honest, the trade-offs can be tough in the here and now.  It’s important to make sure you have a support team to encourage you in the difficult times and help fill in the gaps when you need it.

If you have a young family, it’s worthwhile to make sure you and your spouse are on in agreement about the priority of blogging.  If you’re blogging as a side hustle, it will bleed into your family time.  There are just so many hours in a day.

My husband and I work hard to be on the same page regarding the priority of the blog.  We have conversations about the end goal and why this is an important endeavor in the long run.  We remind ourselves of the original vision and how this blog is not a hobby, but a business that I’m growing.  His support is priceless to me and allows me to work on this side hustle in any crack or crevice I can find.  In more ways than this, I am blessed to have him as my partner!

Maybe it’s not a spouse for you, then find a friend to be your champion.  I jokingly call one of my dear friends the “President of my fan club.”  She consistently shares my posts on Facebook, comments on my posts, tells her co-workers about my site and asks me how things are going.  She encourages me during difficult times.  Everyone needs a Natalie!

Find Your Zone

So, you’ve defined your why and how much time you can spend.  You’ve acknowledged the tradeoffs and built a support system.  Next, you need to find your zone.  Some people work better in the morning and others at night.  Some families have margin in the morning and others at night.

Figure out where your zone is.  What works with your family’s rhythm.  Do your kids wake up super early?  Do they require 110% of your attention?  Then the morning probably isn’t the best time for you.

Do you find yourself with heavy eyelids after 7 p.m.? If so, then the evening might not be the time for you.

I know many bloggers that get up before the crack of dawn and they find this as their most productive time.  I wanted the mornings to work for me, but they didn’t.  While I personally had energy in the morning, it was totally dependent on my having a good night sleep (ahem how many kids or pets were in our bed, who was sick, and how late I got to sleep).  My ability to focus and get work done in the morning was dependent on how late the kids slept.  There were just too many variables for me to be consistent in the morning.

The evening, on the other hand, was my zone.  With the kids in bed, I could work uninterrupted and dedicate a solid chunk of time to getting my thing done!

Prioritize

More than likely, as a side hustle, you probably have limited time.  I’m thinking 20 hours or less.  That means you need to be really strategic about how you spend your time.  There is endless work you can do as a blogger.  There are always more posts to write, more pins to create, and more tweets to tweet.

Decide what your goal is and prioritize from there.  Are you trying to increase traffic?  Then focus on content creation and promotion.  Are you at the point where you’re ready to make money?  Then product testing and creation are where you may want to focus.  Things like updating your Pinterest Board Covers, tweaking your About page, or reading everyone’s comment in XYZ Blogging Facebook Group will not help you reach your goal.

Define your goal and be laser focused!

One of the things that helped me to know how to approach blogging and how to focus my time was the Elite Blog Academy (EBA).  I was so thankful to find EBA.  It served as a compass and provided direction for me. I didn’t want to waste time researching and finding untested advice.  Ruth Soukup and the Elite Blog Academy were a game changer for me and helped to chart my course.   Grab their free Essential Blog Post Promotion Checklist.

Be determined

Last but not least, be determined!  For the majority of people, blogging is not a get rich quick type of thing.  I’ve heard that on average it can take approximately 2 years to make real money.

There will be ups and downs in the journey.  Chances are, the less time you’re able to dedicate each week, the longer it may take (there are exceptions to this).  Remind yourself of your vision.  Remind yourself that it’s a good INVESTMENT of your time to build a business online.  It takes very little up-front financial investment and you can do it on your terms as your schedule permits.

Bottom line, be committed and don’t give up!

You May Also Want To Read:

• How To Work From Home With Kids In the Mix
• The Truth about Blogging – Race of Endurance
• Standing on Giants Shoulders – Top 5 Recommendations for New Bloggers