How to Start the New Year Clutter-Free

So much of the new year is centered around self-improvement. People make resolutions about their minds, their bodies, and their relationships. Part of how you view yourself, however, has to do with your surroundings. The way you experience your space makes a huge difference in your peace of mind and confidence in presenting yourself. Starting the new year clutter-free can be the first step toward a new year and new you.

Take Stock of What You Have

The first step in decluttering is often figuring out what you actually have. When you own a lot of stuff, it can get lost in the sauce. Take stock of what you own. You might find some rooms are more cluttered than others, or that there are specific spaces you want to work on more than others. Taking note of these things can help you plan what you want for your space. Then you’ll have a solid path towards success. 

Give Yourself Structure

Decluttering for the new year requires giving yourself a guide towards actually accomplishing your goals. One of the most common results of new year’s resolutions is simply never finishing them, or worse, never starting in the first place. The type of structure you build for yourself will depend on your personality and workstyle but having that plan for how you want to work through organizing and decluttering will help you get started and stay committed. 

Give Yourself Incentive

It’s a common myth that motivation is required to get started with something. It’s actually the opposite; motivation often comes after you’ve started and proven to yourself the benefits of what you do. Don’t wait around for motivation; instead, give yourself an incentive to get started and keep going when motivation falls behind. Perhaps you’re looking to host a housewarming party in the new year, or you’re looking to transform your space for a new phase of your life. Whatever is driving you to do this, name it and keep it in mind when you’re feeling less inclined to keep working towards your goals. It can even help to physically write it down and post it somewhere, reminding you of why you started and why you want to keep going. 

Take It One Step at a Time

There are a lot of different aspects of decluttering, and it can be a bit overwhelming. Now that you have an idea of what you’re working with, as well as a structure and incentive, take a deep breath. You can’t declutter everything in a day. Take it one step at a time. You might start by spending 10 minutes on a junk drawer. Maybe you can set aside an hour for a linen closet. It’s okay to take time and take things slow. You’re on your own schedule, and you can adjust it as needed. Ironically, staying organized with how you stay organized will help the process go smoother and save you the stress and mental clutter.  

Let It Go

The biggest (and often the hardest) part of decluttering is learning what to part with. It’s easy to assume that everything you own is necessary to your life, and parting with things you’ve had for a long time can be difficult. As you go through your belongings, think about why you own the things you do. Is this something that you actually use, or is it a gift collecting dust you feel guilty getting rid of? Are you going to wear those clothes in the back of your closet, and do you remember when you last wore them? Asking yourself these sorts of questions is an important step in preparing for a decluttered new year. Once you’re able to work through this, you’ll find that you’re shedding the old you and stepping into the new!

Organizing and decluttering your space is a lot of work; there’s no doubt about that. It’s important work, however, and you and your peace of mind are worth it. Using this time of year as inspiration can create a launching pad for reaching your home goals and finally creating a space that reflects what you want. Get things started now, and your future self will thank you.