Use This Checklist to Get Organized for the New Year.
Decluttering is something of an art form. You have to do this consistently enough that it becomes a habit, and you’ll be more successful if you subscribe to a specific decluttering approach or technique that will help you continually evaluate the things you have, determine if you need to hold on to them, and if yes, that’s where you put them.
However, before you can get organized for the long term, you need a place to start. I recommend starting the new year by going through your entire home using the decluttering checklist below.
New Year’s Tidying Checklist
Real decluttering is a process that takes weeks or months. You need to develop the habit of getting rid of what no longer serves you and constantly organizing what you decide to keep. But before any of this happens, you may be faced with an overabundance of clutter that can make it difficult to know where to start.
It’s worth taking some time to conduct a broad analysis, focusing on some key areas. First, throw away or donate something from these categories:
-
Get rid of anything that is faulty, faulty or outdated. This includes broken items you’ve vowed to fix, as well as odds and ends like stray device chargers and cords clogging your junk drawer. If you haven’t used your old MacBook charger since 2011, you probably won’t need it anymore.
-
Get rid of any duplicates. Think about unwanted kitchen utensils, a bag full of totes, or anything else that can be combined.
-
Toss out everything expired , from spices to cosmetics to gift cards, and trust that if you ever need that particular item again, you can get a fresh one.
-
Donate any clothing or bedding you haven’t worn or used recently.
-
Throw away any old documents you find , from holiday cards to bank statements from years ago. First, take pictures of everything you need or store them in a filing cabinet. (You still have a physical filing cabinet, right? You should. )
-
Throw away or give something that doesn’t match , like a mug that doesn’t have a saucer or a sock that doesn’t have a companion. You might find it later, but it’s probably not worth storing until you do.
-
Donate any single-purpose items you don’t use , such as art supplies, sporting goods or kitchen supplies.
This may all seem like common sense, but these are also the things that we all tend to hoard and are what create clutter in our homes.
Then find your personal decluttering method.
Many decluttering techniques promote making the process easier and talking about what you need and whether it sparks joy . I don’t think this is helpful because it gives you too much room for excuses about why you “need” to keep things you don’t actually need, and I’m especially against it if you’ve decluttered. your New Year’s resolution.
There’s no better time than the start of a new year to make quick, objective decisions about what stays and what goes. Take advantage of this “New Year, New You” vibe by being determined and letting go of what no longer serves you.
However, after the initial cleaning, you need to make decluttering a habit, and the easiest way is to find a method that works for you. In honor of the new year, I advocate for a “ one in, one out ” mindset. Decide that of everything you buy, you will throw away one (or more) similar items.
Last year I was very fortunate to adopt this philosophy in my wardrobe: when I wanted something new, I would put a matching item up for sale in my existing collection, and then allow myself to buy a new item only after the old one had sold (as a bonus). , it was also like getting a discount on a new product). It freed me from an overabundance of sweaters, bags, and shoes, kept my look fresh, and allowed me to share some treasured but no longer needed items with others. You don’t have to sell the items you’ve gotten rid of, but commit to not repurchasing anything you already own. Otherwise, next year you will end up where you started this time.