101 Things You Can Organize in 10 Minutes or Less, Starting with Your Mind

101 Things You Can Organize in 10 Minutes or Less, Starting with Your Mind

Take 10 with Jen| Self-Care Boosters| Mindset| Empowered Self-Care
January 31, 2026•4 min read

If your home feels cluttered, and your mind feels the same, you are not alone.

January is National Get Organized Month, but getting organized doesn’t require an entire weekend, matching storage bins, or a complete reset of your life.

The most effective, sustainable organization happens in small steps.

That’s why I created this list of 101 things you can organize in 10 minutes or less. Think of them as quick wins that fit into real life, even when your schedule is full.

Before we organize a single drawer, let's begin where calm actually starts.

Start with Your Mind (2-3 Minutes)

1. Organize your mind with a breathing reset

Before touching a shelf, a basket, or a surface, try this simple breathing sequence:

  • Inhale slowly through your nose for 4 seconds

  • Hold gently for 2 seconds

  • Exhale through your mouth for 6 seconds

Repeat 3–5 times.

As you breathe, think of this reminder:

I don’t have to do everything.
I just have to begin.

This is not wasted time. A calm mind organizes faster, makes clearer decisions, and carries less frustration into the task ahead.

A Gentle Reminder Before You Continue

This is not a to-do list. You are not meant to organize all 101 things. There is no finish line, no deadline, and no “right” way to work through this list.

Instead, think of this as a "pick-one list", a menu of small resets you can do to regain a feeling of accomplishment, satisfaction, and control, anytime life feels cluttered or heavy.

Read until you find a task that feels easy. That’s your starting point. Set a 10-minute timer. Stop when it rings. Even if it’s not perfect, it still counts. Progress creates calm.


Free Download: The 10-Minute Organizing List

Want this entire list, including the breathing reset, as a printable list you can keep on your phone or fridge?

Click here to Download the free 10-Minute Organizing List and all of our free resources!


101 Things You Can Organize in 10 Minutes or Less

Your Mind

  1. Do a breathing reset (inhale through your nose for 4, hold for 2, exhale through your mouth for 6)

Quick Home Wins

  1. Junk drawer

  2. One kitchen drawer

  3. Utensil holder or crock

  4. Spice drawer or rack

  5. One cabinet shelf

  6. Pantry snack bin

  7. Refrigerator door

  8. Condiment shelf

  9. Water bottle cabinet

  10. Mug cabinet

  11. Cutting board area

  12. Tupperware lids only

  13. Dish towel drawer

  14. Grocery bag stash

  15. Reusable shopping bags

Living Spaces

  1. Coffee table

  2. End table drawer

  3. Remote control basket

  4. Throw blanket basket

  5. One bookshelf shelf

  6. Magazine pile

  7. Entryway surface

  8. Shoe pile by the door

  9. Coat hooks

  10. Catch-all basket

Bedroom

  1. Nightstand drawer

  2. Top of dresser

  3. Sock drawer

  4. Pajama drawer

  5. Jewelry tray

  6. Bedside charging cords

  7. One clothing category

  8. Closet floor

  9. Purse collection

  10. Sunglasses case

Bathroom

  1. Medicine cabinet

  2. Makeup bag

  3. Skincare shelf

  4. Hair tools drawer

  5. Under-sink bin

  6. Extra toiletries

  7. Travel-size products

  8. Linen closet shelf

  9. Bath towel stack

  10. Cleaning supplies

Work & Life Admin

  1. Email inbox (10-minute timer only)

  2. Desktop icons

  3. Downloads folder

  4. Phone screenshots

  5. Notes app

  6. Calendar reminders

  7. Rewrite today’s to-do list

  8. One work folder

  9. Password list

  10. Desk surface

Digital Declutter

  1. Phone home screen

  2. App folders

  3. Old text message threads

  4. Voicemails

  5. Photos from the past week

  6. Duplicate photos

  7. Cloud storage folder

  8. Browser bookmarks

  9. Open browser tabs

  10. Email subscriptions

Purses, Bags & On-the-Go Spaces

  1. Purse

  2. Wallet

  3. Gym bag

  4. Work tote

  5. Diaper bag

  6. Car console

  7. Glove box

  8. Trunk

  9. Backpacks

  10. Lunch bags

Paper & Clutter

  1. Mail pile

  2. School papers

  3. Permission slips

  4. Receipts

  5. Instruction manuals

  6. Coupon stash

  7. Warranty papers

  8. Filing bin

  9. Donation box

  10. Shred pile

Laundry & Storage

  1. Laundry room shelf

  2. Cleaning caddy

  3. Lost socks

  4. Extra hangers

  5. Seasonal accessories

  6. Hats and gloves bin

  7. Shoe basket

  8. Reusable containers

  9. Storage tote

  10. One mystery box

Life Reset Zones

  1. Planner or work bag

  2. Wellness supplies

  3. Prayer or reflection basket

  4. Nighttime routine area

  5. Tomorrow’s launch pad (keys, coat, bag)

Why This Works

Small organization wins create momentum. When your environment feels calmer, your nervous system follows. You think more clearly. You feel less scattered. You regain a sense of control.

You don’t need a perfectly organized home. You need a home that supports your life.


A Gentle Closing Reminder

If January didn’t go the way you planned, that’s okay. Fresh starts don’t expire. Just begin. Choose one item. Set a 10-minute timer. Ten minutes is enough, and so are you.


Want more gentle resets like this?

Inside the Take Care Tips Wellness Membership, you’ll find:

  • simple 10-minute wellness practices

  • realistic routines that actually stick

  • support for busy caregivers and helpers

  • encouragement for mind, body, and home

I created a little video to show you around. Click here to check it out.

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