Sometimes in life, when it comes to getting organised, you need a little (forceful) helping hand. A lot of the time, decluttering can fall by the wayside among our busy lives. Whether we just genuinely forget to do them or are procrastinating doing them, both the guilt and clutter tend to build up.
Being prompted, reminded and pressured is often the trick for kickstarting this motivation – as well as developing a routine that actually stands the test of time. Which is where the ‘call your mother’ method comes in.
I’ve been trying out this eye-catchingly named decluttering method to see if it is the simple mind-shift hack that makes organising and decluttering second nature – and less of a pain. Here’s how I got on and how you can implement it yourself in your own home.
What is the ‘call your mother’ decluttering method?
This certainly is one of the more curiously named methods I’ve tried, and I’ve tried one called the poop rule. And no, this method does not involve phoning your mum and asking her for help with the laundry. Leave your mum be – she’s done enough.
The ‘call your mother’ method was created by Shira Gill, a professional organiser and author of LifeStyled. The name comes from a real experience Shira had with one of her clients, who felt guilty that she never remembered to call her mother. Instead of relying on good intentions, Shira suggested putting a recurring appointment in her calendar.
Almost immediately it worked. It became a natural part of her routine within just a few weeks. No longer a chore or accidentally forgotten, setting deliberate reminders just makes something innate, automatic and easy. Think of it like this, if you have a birthday party or important meeting circled in your calendar – you’re not exactly going to forget it are you?
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It’s not just for repairing family dynamics either. Applied to decluttering, the method isn’t a specific sorting rule like Marie Kondo’s ‘spark joy’ or the ‘declutter by degrees’ rule. Instead, it’s about scheduling regular decluttering sessions so they become routine. For example, you might schedule:
- 15 minutes every Sunday to clear kitchen counters
- A monthly wardrobe edit on a specific day of the month
- A quarterly pantry clean-out
- A seasonal garage or loft declutter marked in the calendar
Deliberate specific reminders and scheduled events such as this hold us accountable, it’s much harder to put something off when it’s written in the calendar or been on the schedule for weeks.
How I used the ‘call your mother’ decluttering method
I’ve been trying out the ‘call your mother method’ for a few things in my day-to-day life. Namely, cleaning and decluttering – with a few life admin bits and bobs thrown in there for good measure. Living an organised life isn’t just about colour-coded cupboards after all.
My flatmates and I have been struggling with the busy schedules that come with the summer months to stay on top of our cleaning schedule lately. So, I offered this as a solution. Each of us assigned a day of the week to individually tackle some cleaning jobs. Each being able to pick our own day that suited our schedule made so much more sense then desperately trying to find a day when we were all free. And the effect of having a ‘cleaning day’ circled on the calendar made it immediately impossible to ignore. They all told me they found it effective. Cleaning after all isn’t exactly a fun activity, but reducing your ability to put it off makes it much easier to start.
An area of my home that seems to constantly be building in clutter is the entryway. Coats, shoes, bags and post find their not-so temporary resting place here. But as this clutter tends to be a natural side effect from the working week, it’s easily done. However, after using this method, ours is now looking far more inviting. Over the past month, I’ve been taking 15 minutes every Friday morning to spruce up the entryway. For added motivation, I even set a timer – but because I’m doing it so regularly, I’m often done with the task before the timer even goes off. Such a win!
I’ve also used the method to bring some order into my life to help me keep costs down and a healthy diet consistent. Using the ‘call your mother’ method, I put ‘food shop and meal prep’ into my calendar as I would a dinner with friends or an appointment. I’ve even cancelled a last-minute social plan because the calendar was booked out with this job. Once I’ve done that week’s food shop and meal prep, I make sure to book in the next one so I can keep the ball rolling while still adjusting to next week’s engagements. I’ve saved plenty of money and I’m eating better without really trying. What’s not to like?
My verdict
The ‘call your mother’ method is one of those rare organising hacks that’s very simple – and that’s exactly why it works. Rather than promising a magical way to make decluttering enjoyable, it tackles the real problem: remembering to do it in the first place. By treating household tasks like any other important commitment, I’ve found myself staying on top of clutter with far less effort than before. That said, it’s not a miracle cure. If you’re someone who habitually ignores calendar reminders or has an unpredictable schedule, it’s only as effective as your willingness to stick to it. But for anyone who’s tired of waiting until clutter reaches crisis point, this gentle dose of accountability could be the habit that finally keeps your home under control.
