Start the new year off by getting organized. The key to making functional organization a habit is setting goals and expectations you and your family can follow. Although it doesn’t happen overnight, with a plan in place, you’ll be on your way to a more organized 2022.
Identify the Biggest Problem Areas
Understanding and prioritizing what spaces require the most work is the first step in creating an action plan to tackle the tasks. You should focus on organizing the areas that will have a positive impact on your home. You can write the benefits of checking each task off your to-do list to help keep you motivated to finish the organization project.
Set an Organization Plan that Works with Your Schedule
Trying to remember all you need to do or doing everything at once is setting yourself up for discouragement. Once you list all the to-do tasks, figure out specific time blocks for each one with everyone’s schedule in mind to simplify the project and ensure no one becomes overwhelmed.
Get in a Routine Organizing Mindset
Once you get into a routine that includes staying organized, it is easier to stick to it. As the small tasks become more familiar, you’ll check them off your list more quickly and efficiently, resulting in the overall cleaning project becoming less daunting. Before you know it, staying organizing will seem like second nature to you.
Preparation Tips for Getting Organized
Now that you have a plan for organizing your home follow these tips to tackle the project like a pro.
Reduce Clutter
Since less stuff equals fewer things to keep organized, it is best to sort the must-keep items and items that can be tossed. Find a place for keeping the important things by thinking about how often you’ll use them. Daily use items should be kept in an easy-to-access location, whereas once-a-year items can be stored away. When deciding if you can part with certain things, ask yourself the following questions:
- Are the products expired or out-of-date?
- Is the item broken?
- When was the last time it was used?
- Do you have multiple of the same product?
For usable items you no longer need, consider donating them. Many local organizations accept donations for a variety of things, from blankets and clothes to housewares and furniture. Check with local nonprofits and charities to see which of your accumulated items could be put to good use for others.
Repurpose and Rethink
Instead of purchasing new storage solutions, you may be able to use things you already have. Think of creative ways to use items you already have to help you neatly organize your home without breaking the bank.
- Do you have any furniture pieces that could make good storage solutions?
- What else could you put in a vase besides flowers?
Prioritize Your Organization Needs
After tackling the initial decluttering and organizing phase, you may realize you need new solutions for certain areas in your home. If you identify areas that often become disorganized quickly or require excessive cleanup, it may be time to invest in new organizational solutions for the space. For example, if your home office is a major pain to keep organized, you could purchase a shredder, binders, and bins for keeping paperwork neat and organized. While the upfront investment may feel like a lot of work and extra effort, in the long run, it will pay off and help you make the spaces less stressful to maintain.
While organization comes more easily for some than others, with a cleanup schedule in place and commitment to following through, you’ll be on your way to staying organized for the new year and beyond. Keeping your organization tasks simple and using solutions you can stick to will help you tackle your entire home.