Each year 50% of the population makes New Year’s Resolutions. Out of those resolutions getting organized ranks number 2. Having a clean and organized home has been proven to reduce stress and improve your mood. If you are one of those who has made getting organized their resolution here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Start in one place
Many attempts at organization fail when the task of cleaning up the entire house seems too overwhelming. If there are several areas in your home that you want to get under control, start with just one. It is up to you to decide which one to start with but once you have one selected stick to it. Once you complete the one area, reward yourself and then move on to the next.
- Allow plenty of time
Don’t expect getting organized to happen overnight. Depending on the area, schedule an hour or two each day to work on getting an area organized. If you are able to dedicate more time on the weekend it is suggested that bigger areas such as a kitchen or garage be reserved for this time.
- Clean house
When you start on the selected area, go through the contents. Donate or hold for a garage sale for anything you don’t want or can’t use any more. For clothing use the year rule of thumb; if you haven’t worn in the past year, it’s time to say goodbye to it.
- Storage Solutions
Once your home is decluttered find easy solutions to help with organization. Bins for items, extra racks for clothes, hooks for jewelry or baskets for towels.
- Maintenance
Maintaining your organized home is the most important part of all. Dedicated a few minutes each night to picking up. This will help with day to day cluttering.
