A Fresh Start
It’s that time of year again. The holidays are over and your home starts feeling more chaotic rather than cozy. I begin feeling that way the minute we start taking all our Christmas decorations down. With all the hustle and bustle of the season, it’s normal to feel like things got out of hand, especially as you look around your home (glitter and all). One of my resolutions moving into the new year was to simplify and what better way to start than to declutter. I think it’s safe to say that I’m not the only one who loves to organize at the beginning of every year. I truly love to declutter and organize my home because when my home is organized so is my mind. Over the years, I’ve found some useful tips and tricks that might help you tackle your clutter more effectively and efficiently.
First, set realistic expectations. Decluttering can be overwhelming so instead of tackling everything all at once I found that dedicating each day to new tasks to be most effective. Every January I use this 30 Day Declutter Challenge Guide that keeps me motivated and on task. I also plan on getting the kids more involved this year as well whether that be helping me clean out the fridge or organize their toy bins. Blake is currently at the stage where he loves throwing things in the trash so it’s a win-win!
Second, is to organize and sort. I found that organizing items by groups of what you want to keep, sell, donate, or just throw in the trash to work best. When it comes to decluttering, I usually first gravitate to my clothes. I organize them by season and then begin grouping pieces that I want to keep and then move on to sell. If you’re local, I hope to have a tag sale this year so stay tuned! I then will usually donate items to Goodwill or a local children’s store (Once Upon a Child) and the rest will go in the trash (aka anything with lots of rips, non-washable stains, etc.) I repeat this process for other areas of my home as well such as my pantry, fridge and garage. Some of my favorite home organization products are shown below (click here to shop or on the image!)
Third, and what I constantly am working on is sticking to habits and a plan. Habits build over time and before you know it, you’ll feel less stressed since you built time in your day to complete some organizational tasks. It can be as simple as making sure you load and unload your dishwasher every day. Seems so simple but it can truly make such a difference. I like to start each day with a fresh perspective and sometimes when I walk out to dishes piled high in the sink it hinders that. Another small organizational task is making your bed daily. I read somewhere that if you make your bed daily, you’re setting your day up for success and a proactive mindset. Again, another small task that can be overlooked but can make a huge impact towards your day. I also love using our fridge calendar to keep me on track because then I don’t have to worry about forgetting something (mom brain is real!) You can shop our fridge and other calendars here!
Lastly, it’s ok to get off track. I used to get off track and that would completely deter me for the rest of the year. We are human and not perfect so if you find yourself throwing clothes in the back of your closet or groceries to the bottom of your pantry it’s normal! Just recognize it and instead of delaying “getting to it”, tackle it head on before the accumulation of whatever it may be gets out of control. Spend 15 minutes at the end of each day tidying up to prevent messes from piling up. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference it can make!
Just remember that decluttering doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey so don’t worry if you get off track or don’t have the motivation most days. As moms we have enough on our plates, but I can wholeheartedly say that when I started prioritizing small organizational tasks they began to lead to big wins. Start small and remember to celebrate your progress along the way. Here’s to a simplified 2025!
