Being the first few days of the 2023 new year, many people are taking the opportunity to make resolutions and set goals for the months ahead. One of the most popular resolutions is to declutter and organise the home, which can help create a fresh and clear start to the new year, both physically and mentally. If you’re looking to declutter your home for the new year, here are my 10 top tips to help you get started.
Start Small
Decluttering an entire house can seem like a daunting task, so it’s important to start small. Tell yourself that you don’t need to do the entire house in one go. Begin with one room, such as a closet or a bathroom, and work your way up to larger areas. This will help you stay motivated and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Set Goals
Before you start decluttering, it’s important to set specific goals for what you want to achieve. This could be as simple as decluttering one drawer a day or as ambitious as tackling the entire house in a weekend. Whatever your goals may be, write them down and keep them visible to help you stay on track.
Make Piles
When decluttering, it’s helpful to make three piles: keep, donate, and trash. This will help you sort through your belongings and decide what you want to keep, what you want to donate or sell, and what needs to be thrown away.
Get Rid of Duplicates
One easy way to declutter is to get rid of duplicates. For example, if you have three spatulas in your kitchen, consider donating or selling two of them. This will not only help declutter your space, but it will also make it easier to find the items you need.
Use Storage Solutions
Invest in storage solutions, such as baskets and bins, to help keep your belongings organized. This will not only help declutter your space, but it will also make it easier to find and access the items you need.
Digitise Your Documents
Paperwork can quickly accumulate and clutter up your space. Consider digitising your documents by scanning them onto your computer or using a document storage app. This will not only help declutter your space, but it will also make it easier to find and access important documents. Additionally, for things like bills, bank statements, and letters in the post, see if you can change these to be emailed instead of printed and posted out to you. Not only will it lead to less clutter in the home, but you’ll also be saving on paper and the co2 used to have these letters posted out to you.
Take Your Time
Decluttering is a process, and it’s important to take your time. Don’t try to do it all at once, as this can lead to burnout and frustration. Instead, work on decluttering a little bit each day or each week, and celebrate your progress along the way.
Tackle Sentimental Items
Sentimental items can be some of the hardest to let go of when decluttering. Take the time to sort through these items and decide which ones are truly important to you. Consider taking photos of items you no longer need, as a way to keep the memory without taking up physical space.
Don’t Forget About Digital Clutter
Digital clutter can be just as overwhelming as physical clutter. Take the time to sort through your digital files and delete any that are no longer needed. Organise your files into folders and back them up to an external hard drive or cloud storage. Both your mobile and computer can be cleaned up, go through your photos, call log, message log, and downloads and see what you can delete to keep your folders tidy and open up more storage space for other things in the future.
Stay Motivated
Decluttering can be a long and sometimes frustrating process, but it’s important to stay motivated. Remember your goals and the benefits of a decluttered home, and celebrate your progress along the way. Maybe telling yourself that once you finish a certain amount of rooms in the house, or when you finish it all, you can treat yourself to something that you’ve had your eye on as a little reward.
In conclusion, decluttering your home for the new year can be a great way to create a fresh and clear start. By following these top tips, you can successfully declutter your space and enjoy a more organized and peaceful home.