Happy New Year! There is always a special spark of motivation in the New Year to create an organized home. At this time when resolutions are made, goals are considered and new ideas are formed, creating an organized home can influence how we feel, work and live. Plus, finding ways to donate the things we no longer need through an organized home can support our local communities too.

Professional organizer, Liz Jenkins, Owner of A Fresh Space is sharing her best tips to help you find more time, more energy and more money through an organized home. Check out our list of the best charities and organizations to donate all of your home excess here. 

3 Steps to an Organized Home

What would motivate you to get organized in 2022? How about more time, more energy, and more money? All of these things are possible when you are organized!

Find more time when you aren’t spending it looking for things and you have more productivity doing the things you want. Find more energy because you sleep better knowing things are done and in their proper place. And finally, find more money when you aren’t replacing things you already own, you aren’t paying late fees or missed appointment fees, and/or you aren’t wasting valuable work hours dealing with issues related to disorganization.

 

All of these impact productivity at home and in the workplace. Both the physical stuff (clothing, kitchen, garage, etc.) and time (schedules, tasks, etc.) are important in creating an organized home and life allowing you to find the time, energy, and money to do the things you want.

Step 1: Clear the Physical ClutterEdit out any items that do not serve you in your life right now. 

• Create ‘memory boxes’ for items that are sentimental or you want to keep for posterity – these items don’t need to clutter up your main living spaces.
• Hit the low hanging fruit first when decluttering such as expired foods, outgrown or worn out clothing and broken items.
• Declutter one space at a time OR one group of like items at a time. For example, go through all jackets even if they are stored in various locations. 
• Be ruthless and keep in mind that someone will love the items you no longer have use for (*read our list of charities for great places to donate)
• Do not give in to the urge to sell things for what you paid or find just the right place to donate (*our list will help.) This can be a hindrance to actually getting things out of your house. 

Step 2: Clear the Mental ClutterThis means having a calendar and a to-do list.

• Update your to-do list at the end of each day to clear tasks out of your mind. If your brain realizes that you won’t forget things, it is much easier to sleep.

• Reduce your commitments. Depending where you are in your life, having fewer things on your list means you’ll have more bandwidth for the things that are really important. Limiting kids’ activities, volunteer commitments, networking functions, etc. means that you’ll have the brain space to focus on the things that you’ve chosen.
• Getting rid of clutter in your home also helps reduce mental clutter.
• It’s ok to say no! No is a complete sentence. Just because someone asks does not mean you are obligated to do it unless you truly want to AND you have the time/energy to do it. 

Step 3: Create Systems & Locations for Things. Everything should have a system and/or a place in your home.

•  Find an app or a paper planner that you like and stick with it! I use Google Calendar for everything — from hair appointments to client meetings. I color code everything and set notifications so I’m always on top of my time. 

• There are a ton of task management apps but for families, Cozi is great.
• Bins and baskets are helpful for corralling items — but only if they are labeled! Labeling also allows the whole family to know the system.
• Use your vertical space — adding tall shelving or wall mounted racks means you can get things off the floor and into zones that make sense.
• Store items near where they get used. If the volume is too much, set up a ‘backstock’ area in a closet or garage to replenish when stock gets low.
• Use the Montessori method of ‘stations’ for different activities. This works for more than toys! Create a breakfast zone, a snack zone, and a smoothie zone in your kitchen or a drawer that holds all of your yoga gear so it’s quick and easy to grab.

Much of an organized home and life is clearing the clutter — both physical and mental. But even more, is creating the space in your head and your home to allow you to evaluate what is important to you…and what is not! Happy organizing.

 

If you need more help getting organized, feel free to drop us a line at hello@afreshspaceorganizing.com or follow us on Instagram @afreshspace for great inspo & tips! Click Here for the Best Local Charities & Organizations to Donate Home Items.

Red Dog Dumpsters — If you have a lot of trash that cannot be donated, consider renting a Red Dog Dumpster. This do-it-yourself solution for cleaning out and getting rid of junk gives you 7 days to keep the 10 or 15 yard dumpster in your driveway, plenty of time to go through storage rooms and basements, and as soon as your done, Red Dog will come back and pick it up, sometimes on the same day you call! No dump or travel fees, just one flat price to fill up a dumpster and reclaim your storage space. You could also share a dumpster with your neighbors or block. ABTN readers and clients get 10% off a Red Dog Dumpster with the code AMANDA22.

Written by : Sarah Wilson