BEFORE WE BEGIN...

 I made 2 super-short videos you can listen to while you're folding laundry, cooking dinner, or walking from the office to your classroom!

TRANSCRIPT

DAY 1: Clear the Desk

Hey friend, I’m Kristen Donegan—former elementary teacher and founder of Easy Teaching Tools and The Organized Teacher Club. I help teachers like you create systems that actually work in real classrooms, so you can spend less time at school and more time living your life. And this challenge is just one little step in that direction.

Welcome to Day 1 of the Classroom Declutter Challenge! I’m so glad you’re here.

Before we get into today’s task, I want to say something you might not hear often enough:

You are not lazy.
You are not disorganized.
You are not doing it wrong.
You're just trying to function in a system that makes it almost impossible to keep up.

Take a breath—you made it here, and that already matters.

Now, I know your time is limited. You barely get a second to breathe during the day, so I want you to know: I intentionally kept this audio short and today’s task simple. Not because I don’t think you can do more—but because I know you’re already doing so much. The goal is a quick win—one small shift that helps you feel just a little more in control.

So, here’s your task for today: the desk.

• Grab a bin or a box.

• Take everything off your desk and put it in the bin. Don’t organize, don’t sort—we’re not doing that yet.

• Wipe down the surface if you can.

• And then? Leave it empty. Nothing goes back for the next 3 days.

Now—I know some of you are already thinking, “But Kristen, this feels too easy,” or “What about all the papers? What if I lose something important?” or even, “I need that stuff to get my job done.”

I hear you. Truly.

But we’re not getting rid of anything—we’re just pressing pause on the clutter. You’re putting it in a safe spot so you can feel what it’s like to work at a clear desk. That’s all. And yes, it might feel uncomfortable at first. That’s normal. But that discomfort? It’s actually showing you just how overloaded your space—and your mind—have been.

And don't worry—we’ll deal with the box. We’ll tackle the piles. I promise. But for today, I just want you to feel the difference of having a desk that’s clear, calm, and yours again.

Before you start, take a quick before photo of your desk. And after you clear it off, take an after photo and share both in the group. Seeing your progress is not only powerful for you, but it helps encourage everyone else going through this too.

And here’s the fun part:
When you share your before and after photos during the challenge, you’ll be entered to win a free annual membership to The Organized Teacher Club—my monthly membership that helps you stay organized, set boundaries, and finally feel like you're not doing this alone. So don’t skip that part!

This task should take no more than 10 minutes. That’s all. And if that’s all the time you’ve got today, that is more than enough.

You’re doing something for you today—and I’m really proud of you for it.
I’ll see you tomorrow.