Welcome back to the basics! Kathi Lipp is joined by Roger, her husband and fellow declutterer, and they are here to recap some of the best tips they have discovered about decluttering.
How do you declutter quickly? Kathi has an easy to follow decluttering system for you and it only takes 15 minutes.
Step 1 – Gather your tools. Kathi likes to use 3 tote bags. One bag is “give away,” one bag is “put away,” and one bag is “other rooms.” The 2 additional bags Kathi adds to the mix are a garbage bag and a recycling bag.
Step 2 – Pick a small area. This could be a desk, drawer, or shelf. Make sure it is something so small, you don’t have to move your feet for the 15 minutes you are decluttering. This will also limit the number of decisions you have to make and avoid B.S.O. (Bright Shiny Object Syndrome).
More decluttering tips from Kathi and Roger:
- Listen to something dedicated to your declutter time. Kathi listens to the Scientology: Fair Game podcast from Leah Remini.
- Body Doubling – Make yourself accountable by telling someone you will be decluttering. Or have someone in the room with you – this is also known as body doubling. It helps to have someone there to help you focus and accomplish your goals. Join Kathi’s Clutter Free Academy group on Facebook for some online accountability with a community who understands! Â
- Break big projects into smaller goals. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Find doable steps such as spending 15 minutes a day to declutter.
- After each 15 minute decluttering session, set your timer for another 5 minutes to take care of the items you have sorted into different bags or boxes.
- Remember that when you declutter every day, it keeps you from wanting to bring things into your house in the first place.
Don’t forget to give Clutter Free Academy a one sentence review on your favorite podcast platform! Thanks!
Sign up here for the Clutter Free Academy newsletter and be notified when future episodes are released.
The Accidental Homesteader: What I’ve Learned About Chickens, Compost, and Creating Home
Homesteading [hohm-sted-ing]
noun
1. an act or instance of establishing a homestead.
2. the act of loving where you live so much that you actively ignore the fact that your house is trying to kill you on a regular basis.
For Kathi Lipp and her husband, Roger, buying a house in one of the most remote parts of Northern California was never part of the plan; many of life’s biggest, most rewarding adventures rarely are.
Kathi shares the hard-won wisdom she’s gained on her homestead journey to help you accomplish more at home, gain fresh perspective, and give yourself grace in the process. Here’s a handful of the lessons Kathi shares:
- Prepare before the need arises
- Everything is always in process, including us
- Your best household solution is time and patience
- You don’t have to do everything the hard way
- Be open to new and better ways of doing things
- A lot of small changes make a huge difference.
Highly practical, humorous, and inspirational, The Accidental Homesteader will encourage you to live with more peace, joy, and contentment.
Order your copy of The Accidental Homesteader: What I’ve Learned About Chickens, Compost, and Creating Home here.
Links Mentioned:
Help Roger out – What is your favorite pillow? Tell us in the comments!
Meet Our GuestÂ
Roger Lipp
Roger helps teams reach their full productivity potential by teaching them the practical and simple steps to reach their goals. Roger and his wife, author Kathi Lipp, teach communicators how to share their message through social media and email marketing.
He and Kathi coauthored Happy Habits for Every Couple with Harvest House Publishers.
Transcript
More PostsÂ
The Me Project Day 3 Tossing the 8-Tracks (Getting Rid of Old Tapes)
Who Are You Listening to? Deciding What Goes into Your Brain Today: When it comes to the goal you have set for yourself, is there one voice that is holding you back? Think long and hard about the messages that you are letting into your mind. Is there a negative person...
The Me Project Day 2 – Less Than Perfect – What’s on Your Not To-Do List?
Less Than Perfect Lessening Your Load Today: Find another area of your life that you can cut back, do less well, or give up on altogether – either permanently or just for the duration of The Me Project – in order to give you the time and space to pursue your goal....
The Me Project Day 1 Knowing God’s Will for All The Parts of Your Life
What do you want from me? Knowing God’s Will for all the parts of your life Today: Spend time reflecting on the ways you have sensed God’s direction pursuing your goal. Your project for today is to write down all the ways that God has confirmed you working on this...
- #688 – Declutter Your Books in 15 Minutes a Shelf: Forever Shelf vs Flow Shelf for a Peaceful Library - September 23, 2025
- #687 – What’s Lurking Under Your Bed? Declutter the Forgotten Zone for Good - September 16, 2025
- #686 – Declutter Once and For All: Why Your Home’s Chaos Keeps Sneaking Back - September 9, 2025





