How many years in a row has this resolution been on your list? Or did you lose your list? 
Here’s the quick and dirty on how to get organized:
Have a home for all of your stuff.
This is essential. There is no way you can avoid clutter if you don’t have a designated space for everything. Look around and take inventory of your clutter. Then designate homes for everything that is lying around and put it all away.
The biggest clutter culprit; The paper trail:
Where does incoming mail land in your home? Even if you are not a highly organized person, you have to create a system for mail and the paper trail of life.
Banish the paper trail once and for all:
- 1.Create files for everything. If you have a file cabinet, use it. I have files for everyone in the family (yes, even the 2 year old). If a piece of paper constantly clutters you, make a file. If you don’t have a file cabinet, expandable files, binders, even small boxes with lids work great for your paper.
- 2.Cancel all subscriptions of magazines and newspapers that pile up unread. Maybe get the paper only on weekends, when you actually have time to read it.
- 3.Go to the source. Opt out of junk mail and catalogs at OptOut.com
Next up; all the other stuff of life that seems to crowd us out of our home and leave us feeling cramped. These are things like toys, books, clothes, shoes and nick knacks.
Group like things together.
For example, all office supplies go in our mail center, a place designated for all mail. This makes sense to us and our family because it seems a logical place to store stamps, envelopes, pens, paper and so on. Everything needed to send a letter or a bill is all in the same place.
All different groups go in its individual basket; musical instruments in one basket, toys in another. Books are all grouped on the book shelf.
Grouping helps with clean up, and I think our son likes knowing where his stuff is. Except, for his happy meal toys, they get thrown out in the middle of the night (shhh, don’t tell).
If you have little ones in the house, this grouping system works well because it’s simple, making it easy for them to help out with clean up.
Purge, purge, purge:
Keep a box in the garage, top shelf of your closet, laundry room, wherever, and throw stuff in. If it clutters your mind, throw it in the box. If you are constantly bringing things in, you must constantly get stuff out.
Then schedule a time, maybe once a month, to go through the purge box and let it all go. Whether you donate it or it needs to go in the trash, your purge box needs to be cleared out or it will just become another hub of clutter. Remember you want to remove the clutter not just move it around your home.
Think before you buy; ask do I really need this item?
If you do make a purchase, then use the ”in/out rule”: think of your purchases as replacements, not additions, meaning if you buy a shirt, you must get rid of a shirt. If you buy a book, you must get rid of a book. Donation is a great way of letting go of your stuff and it allows others to use, love, and enjoy the things you no longer want or need.
Perfection isn’t your goal. Your home probably won’t look like the ones in Architectural Digest and why would it. Those homes don’t look lived in, ever. (I do have a theory though, that people who’s houses look like that have a huge bin of junk somewhere, and I want to find it.)
With a little work, your home can be clutter free. You’ll be amazed how much better you’ll sleep at night, knowing you can find what you need and not feel overloaded with stuff.
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