Time to Get Organized

By Melissa Abati

We all have "stuff" and struggle with not knowing exactly where to put it or simply having too much of it. Possessions scattered about instead of putting away in proper places create clutter The longer we delay decisions about what should go where and follow through with putting those items into their designated places, the more chaos ensues within us, ultimately taking a toll on our mental health

However, a new year brings a fresh opportunity to reduce the clutter within our homes and minds and enjoy the inner-peace that accompanies a more organized lifestyle Below are some tips that will help you overcome clutter, get organized, and feel more peaceful in the new year

Start in One Space and Remove Everything

Once you ' ve narrowed down the particular area you'd like to organize, perhaps it's the one giving you the biggest headache Take everything out of it This may be a drawer, a closet, a pantry, or even an entire room This will allow you to review each item and determine if you need it or if it's part of the clutter weighing you down Purging is key here to avoid just organizing clutter Starting from empty, your space will be much easier to reorganize

Ask Yourself the Tough Questions

Some of the most well-known professional organizers (i e , Marie Kondo, Emily Ley, and William Morris) have narrowed down several key questions to ask yourself while looking through what you'd like to declutter These questions will help you decide what items to keep and what you can let go of, such as, "Is this the best, my favorite, or necessary? Is it useful or beautiful? Does it spark joy? Would I try to get this back from my ex after a bad breakup?"

Finding answers to these questions can be challenging, especially when emotions are involved, but being honest with yourself will allow the best results. Give yourself permission to donate, sell, give, trash or recycle the items cluttering your life

Remember your garage when organizing

Your garage space often becomes a landing place for other household items that don't have a designated home Since this is typically a larger space, the clutter in the garage can feel overwhelming It's best to pare down and downsize your belongings before investing in any storage solutions you may want to purchase later Take old paint, motor oil, and other toxic substances to your local hazardous waste drop-off location Donate used sports equipment, old furniture, and unnecessary household items you no longer need Once you ' ve decluttered, you ' re better able to determine if an additional storage system (shelves, hooks, workbenches, rails, cabinetry, etc ) is necessary to keep you organized moving forward

Stick to a Simple Daily Routine

Repetitive actions each day will help create habits to keep you organized. So, practicing actions like making your bed every morning and placing your keys and wallet in the same place every afternoon will help you stay organized and significantly improve your quality of life

Give Everything a Home

Even if you ' re unsure where something should go, realize all your belongings need a place to reside A good rule of thumb is to store items in the space where you use them Putting something away is much easier if you put it where it belonged when you used it Once all your items have their proper homes identified, please put all your belongings away daily to make sure your organization goes ahead

Group Like Items Together

Keeping things together will reduce the chaos of having too many things This allows you to visibly see what all you have If you own something extra, it'll be easier to let go of it, leading to less clutter Once you have your items sorted into groups, you can separate them into categories, then, even further, into colors within those categories For example, in your closet, group all your dresses together, then arrange them in color order

Realize it's Okay to Part with a Gift

Although receiving a gift from someone is meaningful, the gesture doesn't necessarily mean the object you were given is an item you like or find helpful If not, it's okay to get rid of the gift However difficult that may be, doing so does not disrespect the gift-giver or the intent behind the act. Remember, it's the thought that counts!

Practice the "One In, One Out" Rule

This is exactly what it sounds like: when you bring something new into your home, it's time to let something else go Keeping a "Donate" bin or basket handy is suitable for housing these items temporarily This strategy helps slow clutter accumulation.