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As a homeowner, it’s common to accumulate stuff over the years and not realize it until your home is in disarray. If you’re ready to take a step towards organizing and decluttering your home, there is no better time than now.
No one is born organized. It takes time to cultivate healthy routines and habits, and commit to staying organized each day. And even if you believe you’re a disorganized person, you can create meaningful habits and easy routines to help you stay organized. We’ve gathered tips from experts in Miami to those living in Sacramento, on how to organize and declutter so your home will be back to looking its best in no time.
Always have a plan
Create a plan so it’s easier to start and stop decluttering. Don’t declutter haphazardly or you won’t see your progress. Go at your own pace based on the time restraints of your life because even 5 minutes is going forward. – My Simpler Life
Act as though your home is on the market
Whether you are selling your house and moving this year or not, your life will be better if you act like you are. Consider your possessions and ask yourself if you want to bring an item into the next chapter of your life. If the answer is no, let that item go and only keep things you truly love, use regularly or add value to your environment. – Mostly Organized
Put a recycle container as close to your mailbox as you can
It can be a classic blue bin, a wicker basket, an antique travel trunk, anything you like – doesn’t matter. What matters is the moment the mail is in your hands each day, separate out all the junk and toss it in that container. You’ll half the work involved in processing your mail once you get inside. – Lauren Williams, Certified Professional Organizer, Certified Virtual Organizer, Owner, Casual Uncluttering
Create a goal or to-do list
Want to get organized in the New Year? Instead of checking social media on your phone, create a goal or a to-do list on your phone. Use your time wisely following up on potential clients or responding to an important email instead. If you are on social media for 30 mins 3 times a day it will end up costing you 3 1/2 hours of your week. Being mindful of how you use your time, allows you to be more productive in the long run. – Organized Chick
Organize your thoughts
Lasting change doesn’t happen until we organize our thoughts. If our internal programming consistently tells us we’re not worthy, we never do enough, we aren’t loveable unless everything is perfect, it’s going to be very difficult to get and stay organized. Transform your thoughts and you will transform your life, including clutter – this is why I’m a coach and an organizer. – Spring Courtright
Accommodate the natural activity “zones” in your home
Are bill-paying and homework activities typically done in the kitchen? Designate a drawer or cabinet for the related supplies. Do you have (or want) a family game night in the living room? Store the games there. Do shoes collect by the door? Place a large rustic basket there to collect them. – Zen Your Den
Set a timer and get organizing
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the thought of getting started with decluttering and organizing, one useful trick is to set a timer for 30 minutes, an hour – whatever amount of time feels manageable for you. This gives you a jolt of motivation and breaks up a project by creating definite starting and stopping points, which helps with the feeling of overwhelm. Work on one space until the timer goes off, and do this consistently over time until you finish. – Sara Fritsch, Moxie Space Professional Organizing
Use labels in shared spaces
To keep shared spaces organized (such as kitchen cabinets), add labels to each shelf and tape photos to the inside of cabinet doors. That way, everyone in the household knows where things should be put away. – Basket & Bin
Find homes for all of your belongings
Make a conscious effort to find time each day to put things back items in their proper places. Go around your space and remove items that don’t belong then relocate them to where it’s supposed to be. Next, toss items that are trash/garbage or recycling. This helps you wake up to a neat and organized home in the morning. – City of Creative Dreams
Take it one step at a time
For many, when it’s time to get organized, getting started can be the hardest part. Emotional issues, ADD or other clutter- challenging disorders, limited skills, or simply an aversion to organizing all play a part in making just beginning very difficult. Here are some quick hacks to help you begin: Pick a small space like the corner of the desk or a pile of magazines. Set a timer for 15, 20, or 30 minutes. Engage a partner and schedule the time. We all have an organized friend or family love, yes? They can be there, virtually even, just to help you talk through it as you make the decisions. Build in a reward. Watch a movie with the family or make cupcakes. – Balance Organizing Service
To organize is to categorize
The more categories you have, the more organized your designated area becomes. For instance, separate your shirts between short sleeves and long sleeves, then correlate them by color, then situate them in a drawer from light to dark. The more refined your categories are, the simpler it is to find what you’re looking for. – Aristotle Organizing
Clear out unneeded “stuff” to make space
Make some intentional edits of your home, starting in one room, and working your way through your house. America does not have a space problem, we have a “stuff problem.” Donate, give away, or toss items you do not use. Your home will thank you, and you will feel so much freer without the junk weighing you down. – Home Sort
January 13, 2021 by Julia Weaver for RedFin
