Get Organized…… for the New Year
It may only be December but New Year's resolutions always come to mind as the holiday season winds down. Generally people think of their physical health for resolutions. Eating better, exercise more and getting enough sleep are widely popular. But other things top the list as well and make your mental health a priority such as spending less time on a screen, making time for hobbies that are important to you and, you guessed it, finally getting organized!
January is also known as GO month in the organizing world. Simply short for Get Organized. This is a perfect time of year to start fresh, declutter your belongings that are no longer serving you and start the New Year with a clear home and mind. But what happens, just like most other resolutions, is you get burned out very quickly. It didn’t take one month for you to acquire all of your stuff so don’t expect it to take one month to sort through it.
For a lot of people your belongings are your memories. Maybe you have your grandmothers china that is still in the box or a wardrobe of clothes that aren’t reflective of who you are anymore. But you’re hanging onto to them for sentimental reasons or in the case of the china, maybe you want to display it but simply have no room to do so. It’s a process! You need to take it slow and steady. Have some clear goals in mind and remember it’s not going to get done in one day. Below are some tips to minimize the burnout.
Step 1 - Make a List
All of our projects start off with a list, whether a clients home or our own. I think it is much easier to complete individual tasks when you can see the big picture laid out in front of you. I walk each room making notes about what I want to accomplish. One space may be simply a junk drawer. Another space could consist of major decluttering, reorganizing, moving furniture and a decor upgrade.
Step 2- Prioritize
Once I have detailed notes for each space I want to tackle I need to decide where to start.
What area will make the most impact on my daily life to complete first?
How long will each project take?
Can I do this on my own or do I need input and help from another family member?
Step 3 - Organization Plan
After answering those questions you should see a semblance of a plan starting to form. It’s all about time management. You may be able knock the junk drawer out in an hour but you need to wait for the weekend to get going on the larger, more involved projects. Many people get overwhelmed on long lasting tasks. If it is going to take awhile, make mini tasks to keep the project moving. Honestly sometimes marking those quick projects off your list gives you the boost you need to keep going!
The weather also plays a big factor into organizational projects. The absolute worst time to do a garage or attic project is the summer and winter months. The weather is unpredictable and overheating in an attic is not the toll your body needs. This is a surefire way to start something you are never going to finish. Save these projects for the spring and fall.
Step 4 - Set a Deadline
Some people might not be a fan of this however if you keep pushing it off you will never get it done. You could say I want to have my closet purged and reorganized before we go away so I can pack with ease. Mark a date at least a week before you need to start packing. Take your list and give yourself mini tasks like discussed above- I’ll purge shoes Tuesday. Sweaters Thursday etc. Before you know it you are done without pulling your whole closet out at once and giving yourself decision fatigue.
If you’ve read this far and you are like yeah no it’s way too much to deal with on my own..we got you! Consider joining our online decluttering program to get tips and tricks on what to do. We offer them a couple of times a year and we have one starting January 1st. for GO Month. You will receive daily online support, weekly check-ins with an assigned home organizer that fits your schedule, and specific ideas tailored to your space for only $100.
As always we are happy to help you in person too! Reach out to schedule a free consultation today! Happy New Year!