Declutter, Organize, & Reset For The New Year

“Get a fresh start for the new year! A clutter-free and organized home can be just the beginning you need to transform your year from chaos to comfort. Whether you need to clear out a single closet or do a deep cleaning of your entire home, there’s no better way to get a fresh perspective for the new year than with a fresh, clean home.”

~ SAFKEEP.COM

“The start of the New Year is always an exciting time filled with resolutions to live healthier and happier for the next 12 months. One surefire way to do that is cleaning up and decluttering your home, as clutter takes up physical space, drains mental energy, and causes a ton of stress and anxiety. Eliminating clutter in each room is an impactful way to make a living space really feel like a calming sanctuary.”

~ AMERICAJR.COM

There’s something about the New Year that just makes me want to declutter and organize. I’ve always been a tidy and organized person and have literally cleaned out closets and drawers seasonally my whole life. But I used to have SO much more stuff and it was a BIG task. My path to a more minimal way of living began 17 years ago when I moved from a 2,000 sq. ft. house (with a barn) to a 750 sq. ft. cottage. I remember going through my stuff 3 times (and subsequent yard sales and donation runs) to let go of 75% of what I owned to make that move. Then a few years ago (during the pandemic) I started watching YouTube videos about cleaning, decluttering, and organizing, and those led me to the concept of “minimalism”.

Minimalism, contrary to common misconceptions, isn’t about deprivation or sacrifice. Instead, it focuses on embracing quality over quantity. Minimalists are thoughtful in their selection of items, ensuring everything owned serves a purpose and enhances their experience. There are many levels of minimalism - I identify mine as “cozy minimalism” which is defined as “more style, less stuff”. Bottom line is that I only keep things that I use or need or LOVE!

While you may not choose to be a minimalist like me, studies do show that there’s a wide range of benefits that come from decluttering and organizing your home. These include a sharpened focus, boosted mood, and a positive wave of productivity. Decluttering and organizing stuff gives you greater control of your life, energy, and finances while eliminating stress. It allows you to rediscover what you already own, donate or sell what you no longer need, and have your home looking its best. Who doesn’t want that, right? For me, the words that best describe my experience is FREEDOM (time, energy, and money) and PEACE. Having less stuff offers more space for focus, gratitude, and meaningful work.

“Remove clutter ASAP. There’s a reason you feel so good after cleaning. Your home is an extension of your aura. Get rid of old belongings that aren’t aligned with who you are anymore. Old things carry old energy. Broken things carry stuck energy. Release them all.”

~ THE DRAKONTAS CONNECTION

I understand that this may seem like a daunting task for many people, but making even small improvements in your home will undoubtedly lead you to a more organized and peaceful life. Here are some tips to help you get started.

DECLUTTER

The first step to getting your home organized is decluttering. It doesn’t cost anything and is the #1 way to establish a bit of organization in your home. Many people who try to maintain organization do the process backwards, by buying containers first. Buying containers is actually the last step in the process. Sorting and purging come first. Then group like items together, figure out where you want those to live, and then you go get the containers.

Where to start? First of all, keep in mind your “why”. You may even want to write it down and put it on your fridge to keep you focused and motivated. Then, choose one space at a time to avoid overwhelm. Pick somewhere small like a junk drawer, bathroom, or linen closet that will provide a quick win. (This actually increases your serotonin levels, which can help you stay motivated.) Begin by doing a quick tidy-up removing and putting away anything that doesn’t belong in the space before you start the decluttering process.

Take care of yourself. Make sure you are rested, drink water, and have food and snacks to support your well-being and to avoid decision fatigue. Make it fun by listening to music, audio books, or You Tube videos. “Body doubling” is a very effective method where you have a friend or family member do it with you. Personally, I like to play You Tube videos to inspire and motivate me as well as give me tips and tricks for the process.

Here are some YouTube channels that you might find helpful. I’m including different types of approaches, so hopefully one might resonate with you:

JOSHUA BECKER - BECOMING MINIMALIST

THE MINIMAL MOM

CLUTTERBUG

A TO ZEN LIFE

Prep for success. Gather 4 bags or boxes for garbage, recycling, donate/sell, and “time will tell” (this is for the items that you’re not sure about). Then go through everything in that space and decide quickly. Do you use/wear it NOW? (6 months to a year is a good time frame on this one.) Do you NEED it? Do you LOVE it? Would you buy it again? Does anybody want this when I die (where applicable)?

Once you’ve finished this process for each space you’ll have a good idea of what you might need to organize it.

If you’d like a more detailed list on decluttering room by room, this is a great blog about it:

HOW TO START DECLUTTERING YOUR HOUSE: A ROOM BY ROOM GUIDE

ORGANIZING

Organizing your home can be truly life changing. And when everything has a designated home, it’s easier to keep things organized. But organizing is not one size fits all. There are actually different styles - not everyone is like Marie Kondo (I am!) or The Home Edit (which would drive me insane!). To learn more about finding what system works best for you, check out my blog:

WHAT IS YOUR ORGANIZING STYLE?

MAINTENANCE

Maintaining a decluttered and organized home takes upkeep. Spend a few minutes each day tidying up, putting things back in their designated places, and staying organized. A good time to do this is right before bedtime - think of it as “tucking” your home in for the night. Waking up to a clutter-free space is such a great way to start each day!

Do periodic decluttering seasonally or once a year. Decluttering is like peeling an onion layer by layer and, once you build up your decluttering muscles, you’ll find it gets easier and easier. Keep a “donation” box handy so it’s easy to add things to it on a regular basis.

Be mindful of what you allow to come in to your space. When shopping, ask yourself if you have space for this item? Where will it “live”? Do I really need/love it? Lastly - and this one can be challenging - let your friends and family know what you’re up to. It has taken awhile, but most of them now know that I would prefer spending quality time with them (my #1 love language) or receiving gift cards or consumables for gifts rather than things. Another way that my son and I have dealt with this when we want to give a gift is to share our Amazon wish lists with each other. That way our money is being spent on something that is actually wanted and needed.

Since I’ve been living and maintaining my home this way for awhile now, it’s pretty quick and easy for me to go through all my closets, cupboards, and drawers seasonally. But a couple of areas where items continually come in and go out need a more thorough re-set and that is my fridge, pantry, and laundry/storage porch. So that’s been my recent project and it feels SO good to have them tidy and fully stocked again! YAY!

“Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.”

~ NATE BERKUS

The new year brings a perfect time to step back, take a deep breath, and resolve to get your home organized and clutter-free. Remember, the goal isn’t to create a home that is simply empty, but one that is filled with purpose, meaning, and peace.

Are you ready to create a clutter-free and organized space? Sometimes getting started is the hard part. I’m available for help with kitchen pantries, refrigerators, closets, bathrooms, drawers, cabinets, bedrooms, laundry rooms, playrooms, and more. Click HERE for more infomation.

JoAnn Newton is a Master Massage Therapist, Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant, and Spiritual Counselor with a private practice in Graton, California.

Happy, Healthy Living!