Start the Year Organized: The 15-Minute Reset That Actually Sticks
January has a way of making us feel like we should “fix everything” all at once. New routines! Clean house! Perfect systems!
But if you’ve ever tried a big reset and burned out by day three… you’re not alone.
This year, let’s do it differently: small, quick, doable. The kind of reset you can complete even if you’re tired, busy, or easily distracted (hi, ADHD brains—we see you).
The goal (and what it’s not)
This is not a full-home declutter.
This is not “buy a million bins and label everything.”
This is a 15-minute reset that gives you an immediate win—and builds momentum without the pressure.
All you need is:
a timer
one laundry basket or tote (your “collecting bin”)
a garbage bag + a recycling bag
That’s it.
The 15-Minute January Reset (ADHD-friendly + low pressure)
Minute 0–2: Choose your “landing zone”
Pick one visible spot that’s been quietly stressing you out:
kitchen counter
entryway table
dining table corner
the chair that’s become a clothes pile (you know the one)
Rule: Only one area today. That’s the secret.
Minute 2–7: Remove the obvious trash + recycling
Set your timer for 5 minutes and only do:
garbage
recycling
dishes to the sink
No sorting. No organizing. Just clearing.
This step alone often makes the biggest visual difference.
Minute 7–12: Use the “collecting bin” method
Grab your laundry basket/tote and do a quick sweep of anything in that zone that belongs elsewhere.
Examples:
mail
random cords
toys
hair clips
mugs
papers
Important: Don’t put things away yet. Just collect.
Minute 12–15: Put away 10 items (not everything)
Now choose 10 things from the basket and put them where they belong.
If you want an extra ADHD-friendly trick: start with the easiest wins (objects with obvious homes). Momentum matters.
Anything left in the basket is not a failure—it’s a “later bin.”
The “Later Bin” rule (so it doesn’t become a new clutter pile)
If you keep the basket, give it a boundary:
Put it somewhere specific (closet shelf, hallway nook, pantry corner)
Label it (sticky note is fine): “Put Away”
Set a tiny follow-up goal: 5 items a day or one 10-minute session this weekend
Small + consistent beats big + once.
5 tiny organizing wins to keep going this week
If you want to ride the January motivation wave without burning out, try one of these per day:
Clear your sink before bed (even halfway counts)
Reset one surface (bathroom counter, coffee table, nightstand)
Delete 20 photos from your phone (timed, not perfect)
Set up a “drop zone” by the door (hooks + small basket)
Do a 5-minute laundry roundup (hamper only—no folding required)
A mini checklist you can screenshot
15-Min Reset Checklist
Pick ONE landing zone
Trash/recycling/dishes only (5 min)
Sweep clutter into a basket (5 min)
Put away 10 items (3 min)
Park the basket + label it “Put Away” (2 min)
If you want support (and less decision fatigue)
Sometimes the hardest part isn’t the time—it’s the decisions:
Where does this go? What system should I use? Why does this keep coming back?
That’s exactly what we help with at Simplify Life—especially for clients with ADHD or busy schedules who want organizing that feels realistic.
Want a fresh-start reset done with you (or for you)?
Send us a message and we’ll help you create simple systems that actually last.
