A new year comes with lots of new opportunities, it allows us to make a fresh start towards our goals, and also asks us to get our life back on-track.
So, with an open heart and a big smile, give yourself the wings to fly! A new year is a great time to think about what we want to clear and cultivate every year blissfully– in our lives AND our homes.
To help kick off every year wondrously, here are 8 of the most optimal organizing tips to help you get and stay organized!
1. Set the intention of how you want your home to feel
Did you know that there is a connection between how you feel and the state of your physical space? Whether you are tackling everyday clutter like creating an organizing system for your mail, keys, and bags at the front door or accumulated clutter in your closets, think about how great it would feel to know exactly what you have and to easily be able to find it while loving your space. Set the intention to feel more relaxed, less stressed, and happier in your space, and you’ll be one step closer to cultivating a home and life you love.
2. Pick one space and feel empowered
Our emotions are obstacles. Stop feeling powerless and choose to be empowered and in control of how you want to feel in your home this year! If you are a newbie to organizing, a great space to start with is holiday decorations because it is fresh in our minds and decision making will be easier. You know exactly what you just used and what you didn’t, allowing you to strengthen your decision-making ability. Alternatively, if you are feeling more confident, you can start in a space that feels most cumbersome to you. You will feel so much better once you get started!
3. Declutter & categorize
Most people don’t realize that decluttering is the first step to getting organized. It’s impossible to get organized without knowing the different types and quantities of items that you have. Once you know what actually needs to get organized, you can begin to create a proper home for them.
Start with pulling everything out of the space you are working in, a group like items together, and then review, edit and purge what you have outgrown, no longer use, or don’t love anymore. Let go of things that no longer serve your current lifestyle.
PRO TIP: To avoid feeling overwhelmed, break larger projects into smaller projects. For example, try decluttering one drawer per day in your kitchen to keep the organizing process manageable instead of tackling everything at once. The goal is to set ourselves up for success!
4. Get Unstuck
If you don’t use or love something, but you can’t quite let it go, ask yourself why? Why is it special to you? Where did you get it? Who gave it to you? It’s important to get to the root of why an object is so important to you. By doing this, you can keep that wonderful emotional feeling while streamlining your physical space.
5. Organize Before You Buy!
People love to buy product solutions before doing the physical and emotional work of organizing. If you declutter first and understand the types and quantities of items you need to store, it will be so much easier and more efficient to purchase (or repurpose) optimal solutions. And don’t forget to measure in between decluttering and purchasing so you can avoid returns!
6. Create sustainable systems (to stay organized)
Creating sustainable solutions that can be maintained on their own are essential to staying organized. Often times you can repurpose what you already own. Labeling and leaving space for room to grow is imperative. In terms of maintaining, once the designated areas become full or too crowded, it’s time to go through and declutter again!
7. Be Kind to Yourself
Everyone wants to get organized at the start of the year. But most people fail to recognize how much stuff they actually have! I like to remind clients that they didn’t get into this overnight, and they aren’t going to get out of it that fast either! Organizing is a skill that most people need to learn. It takes time, patience, and love, so instead of judging or criticizing yourself for not going through those papers, acknowledge your commitment and intention to cultivating a life you love. And remember, some progress is better than no progress!
8. Outsource and/or ask for help!
We often view asking for help as a weakness or a bad thing. You shouldn’t feel bad or embarrassed that your home doesn’t look or feel the way you want it to. Be honest with yourself and acknowledge what you do and don’t want to do. Some people don’t have the time or interest to execute the actual act of organizing. If this is you, ask a friend to come over and help you as it’s always more fun to go through your items with someone or outsource the project to a vetted Professional Organizer. Either way, you are sure to reap the benefits of being organized, which can include feeling less stressed, frustrated, and fatigued!
Once you integrate these tips into your lifestyle, you will start seeing results, and you will feel so much better, productive, and have a clearer mind – all of those “to do’s” take up precious real estate in your head!
Having a system in place will make it so much easier to manage all the items that flow into your house without it ever becoming clutter! Enjoy the freedom your NEW NORMAL brings!
