15 Fantastic Ways For Organizing Games

1. Beat the Timer

When I’m dragging my feet, I grab a kitchen timer—or just use the one on my phone—and set it for 15 minutes. I choose one task or area, like a junk drawer or a messy nightstand, and I try to finish before the timer runs out. It adds a fun, competitive energy—like I’m racing against time. Sometimes, I surprise myself with how much I can get done. Other times, I finish a bit after the buzzer, but I still feel great because I started. That’s usually the hardest part.

2. The Color Game

This is my go-to when the whole house feels chaotic and I don’t know where to begin. I pick a color—say, blue—and go around the room picking up everything blue that’s out of place. I return it to where it belongs, and then pick another color and do it again. It helps me focus when my brain wants to do a million things at once. Plus, it turns into a mini workout if I’m dashing around the house. It’s a great one to do with kids too—they love the color challenge!

3. Roll the Dice Declutter

This one started when I found an old pair of dice in the back of a drawer. I thought, “Why not turn this into something useful?” Now, whenever I want to do a quick round of decluttering but don’t want to commit to a huge project, I roll the dice. If I roll an 8, I find 8 items to donate or toss. It’s quick, easy, and adds just the right amount of randomness. And I swear, something about the dice makes it feel like a fun dare instead of a task.

4. Category Shuffle

Sometimes I get stuck in the idea that I need to finish an entire room, which can be overwhelming. So instead, I play the category game. I’ll focus on one type of item—like water bottles, batteries, or throw blankets—and gather all of them from around the house. Then I organize, consolidate, or donate from there. It helps me see how much I actually have (spoiler: way more than I thought), and I end up reclaiming more space without even touching an entire room.

5. The Ten-Item Toss

This one’s saved me on so many low-energy days. I tell myself, “Just get rid of ten things. That’s it.” It could be an old magazine, a stretched-out hair tie, or a coffee mug I don’t love anymore. It’s such a low barrier that I can’t talk myself out of it. And more often than not, once I hit ten, I realize I’m in a groove and I just keep going. But even if I stop at ten, I’ve still made progress. That feels like a win.

6. Yes, No, Maybe

I like to think of this as speed-dating my stuff. I take a pile of something—jeans, books, beauty products—and quickly sort each item into a “Yes” (definitely keep), “No” (bye-bye), or “Maybe” (not sure yet) pile. The key is to go fast and trust your gut. You can revisit the “Maybe” pile later with a clearer head. It helps me be honest with myself and not overthink every decision. Bonus: it’s kind of fun to pretend I’m hosting my own little home makeover show.

7. Playlist Power Hour

If I need a boost, I crank up my favorite playlist—usually something dancey or nostalgic—and get moving. I challenge myself to get through a specific organizing task in the time it takes for three to five songs. I don’t check my phone, and I don’t stop to scroll. I just ride the rhythm and let the music carry me through it. It turns a boring chore into something that feels energizing and kind of like a dance party. Highly recommend.

8. Mystery Bag Challenge

This one is weirdly thrilling. I grab a random bag, box, or bin—usually from under the bed, in the closet, or in the garage—and dump it out. The challenge? I have to sort, organize, and deal with every single item inside before I walk away. No saving it for later. I’ve discovered missing socks, expired coupons, and once, a gift card I forgot I had. It’s a total mixed bag (pun intended), but it feels like uncovering a mini mystery every time.

9. The Dice Drawer Drill

Here’s a game I made up while procrastinating on cleaning out my kitchen drawers. I mentally numbered each drawer, rolled a die, and let the roll choose my target. If I rolled a 4, I had to open drawer #4 and clean or organize it, no excuses. It added an element of surprise and helped me break through the dread of “Where do I even start?” Now I use this trick in my bathroom and office too—it’s quick, effective, and keeps things fresh.

10. Trade-Off Game

This rule has completely changed how I bring new things into my home. If I want to buy or bring in something new—like a cute vase or a cozy sweatshirt—I have to let go of something similar I already own. It’s a simple “one in, one out” policy that keeps clutter from sneaking back in. It also makes me more intentional about what I actually want to keep in my space. Suddenly, that new item has to earn its place, and I love that.

11. Alphabet Game

This one is such a blast when I’m feeling playful. I work my way through the alphabet, looking for something to clean, organize, or declutter that starts with each letter. A is for art supplies, B is for baking pans, C is for cords—so many cords. I don’t always get through the whole alphabet in one go, but even five or six letters in, I’ve made a solid dent. And the fun part? It feels more like a word game than work.

12. Reverse Scavenger Hunt

Instead of looking for specific items to keep, I look for things I don’t need. I walk around the house with a small basket and try to fill it with anything I can donate, toss, or recycle. Old receipts, stray socks, half-used hotel shampoos—nothing is safe. It flips the usual “I need to find this thing” energy into something way more empowering: “What can I let go of today?” It feels freeing every single time.

13. The 1-2-3 Rule

This little formula is my secret weapon on days when I’m short on time or motivation. I put away one thing, toss or donate two items, and clean or wipe down three surfaces. That’s it. It takes maybe five to ten minutes, but it always makes a visible difference. And more importantly, it shifts my mood. It’s like telling myself, “Hey, you did something today.” That positive momentum adds up over time.

14. Picture Perfect

Whenever I’m organizing a particularly cluttered spot, I take a quick before photo. Then I clean, sort, and arrange until I feel good about the space—and snap an after photo. I don’t do this for Instagram (though you totally could); it’s just for me. The visual reminder of how far I’ve come is powerful. And on days when I feel like the clutter is creeping back, I look at those photos and remember, “I’ve done this before. I can do it again.”

15. Buddy System Bingo

If you’ve got a friend, sibling, or partner who’s also trying to get their home together, this is so much fun. I create a bingo card filled with small organizing tasks—“clear a kitchen shelf,” “donate five items,” “clean your purse”—and we both work on filling out our cards. First one to get a bingo wins…bragging rights, a coffee, or a little prize. It keeps us both motivated and accountable. Plus, there’s something extra satisfying about checking off those little boxes.

This post is all about organizing games tips!

You may also like:

• 17 ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE IDEAS FOR ORGANIZING KITCHEN UTENSILS
• 29 EXPERT TIPS FOR ORGANIZING KITCHEN DRAWERS LIKE A PRO
• 9 GENIUS WAYS FOR ORGANIZING KITCHEN CABINETS POTS AND PANS