The start of the new year provides a chance for renewal. Clearing out clutter from homes creates calm spaces that support focus and daily routines. This process helps make resolutions easier to keep by reducing distractions. Check out these tips for sorting items by category, including routines and habits that maintain the changes over time.
Setting Goals for the Process
Start by defining clear goals to guide the decluttering. Write down what you want to achieve, such as a quiet office for better work or open areas for exercise. Divide the project into small parts, like one room per week, to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Set time limits for each session, such as 45 minutes, to keep the work manageable.
Prepare basic supplies, including boxes for sorting, labels, and trash bags. Approach each item with thanks for its past use before deciding to keep or remove it. Take photos before starting to track progress, and reward yourself after each section with something simple like a cup of tea. Planning this way on Sunday evenings helps build steady progress without pressure.
Sorting Wardrobe Items
Begin with the closet to remove unused clothes. Empty everything onto the bed and group by type, such as shirts, pants, and jackets. Decide on items used regularly, those worn occasionally, and ones rarely touched.
Remove extras like multiple similar shirts, and repair any small issues on favorites. Give away clothes that fit others well, and recycle those too worn to donate. Aim for about 33 key pieces that work together across seasons. Do this sorting on Tuesdays to update your daily outfits more easily.
Cleaning Common Rooms
Living areas often collect extra items, so focus on surfaces and storage first. Clear tables to hold only essentials like coasters, and limit shelves to meaningful items such as family photos.
Go through books and keep only those that inspire you, then pass others to a library. Organize cords and remotes to reduce mess. Handle these rooms on Saturdays to create spaces better suited for relaxation.
Handling Holiday Leftovers
After the holidays, extra items from gifts and decorations remain. Wrapping paper gets tangled, unused ornaments take up room, and new purchases add to piles. These leftovers make it hard to move forward.
Sorting creates extra waste, such as tangled ribbons and large boxes. Using a 10- to 20-yard roll-off dumpster in your driveway keeps cleanup efficient. Recycle paper and plastics separately, lo ad evenly, and schedule pickup soon after the holidays to clear space for new goals.
Adding Storage Systems
Use containers to keep things organized after sorting. Clear plastic boxes let you see contents easily, with labels like “Winter Clothes” or “Tools”. Install hooks on walls for bags and hats to save floor space.
Scan and store digital copies of papers like recipes to reduce physical items. Use rotating shelves in the kitchen to avoid stacks. Set up these systems on Sundays to make finding items simple and prevent new clutter.
Adding Daily Habits
Include short practices to make decluttering last. You can spend a few minutes each day putting things away, and you should follow a one-in-one-out rule for new items. Make sure you check areas monthly to catch small buildups. You may want to schedule full reviews every three months to adjust as needed. You can add rewards like fresh flowers for completed areas or notes about the changes. These steps help you keep spaces open year-round. Decluttering at the new year sets you up for better habits. Plan the work, sort the items, and enjoy your clearer home.