Becoming & Staying Organized in the New Year

With the new year comes new year resolutions.  If you are like many of us, being more organized usually makes the list and for good reason!  Living in an organized, tidy, clutter-free space is beneficial to your mental well-being.  You’re able to think more clearly, reduce anxiety, and feel less overwhelmed when everything is in its rightful place.  Even better, these benefits extend into every room of your house!  For instance, your bedroom; you will sleep better at night when you aren’t overwhelmed by chaos.  Additionally, if your office is decluttered and organized, you will be more productive at work.  Being organized truly is a resolution worth keeping!   Perhaps adding a custom closet might just be the tool you need to do so!

Are you ready to make 2024 the year you become and stay organized?  Making a resolution is the easy part while keeping it is the challenging part.  In the spirit of new beginnings, we have compiled a list of our most valuable tips to help you succeed.  By following these 5 tips you will not only become organized in 2024, but you will also create a lifestyle to ensure you stay organized for years to come!

1.  PUT THINGS AWAY RIGHT AWAY

One of the biggest secrets of people with an organized home is they rarely need to dedicate an entire weekend to tidying and cleaning up.  By putting things back in their rightful place as soon as they are finished with them, they don’t let clutter and chaos take over.  In turn, they never allow their home to get disorganized in the first place!  How wonderful is that!  So, the next time you walk in the door, hang up your coat instead of throwing it over a chair.  Go through the mail you just brought in instead of letting it pile up on the counter to be dealt with later.  When you finish using a glass put it directly in the dishwasher and when you are done reading your book put it away where it belongs.  While doing these tasks may seem tedious at first, doing so will create a habit of putting everything away in its proper place.  By doing this you will save yourself tons of time in the future!  Pro tip:  If you (or someone else in your household) is in the habit of leaving things out long after they’ve been used, it’s time to commit to the one-touch tidying rule – don’t put things down, put things away.

2.  A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE

This may seem obvious but if you are going to put things back where they belong, you need to give everything a home.  A lot of things already have a dedicated spot to live but if an item doesn’t, you need to designate one.  Maybe you need a bin or an organization tray to create a home for items.  See our gallery of closet accessory options to learn what options you might incorporate.  Perhaps adding some shelving and cabinets might give you the extra storage space you need to properly organize.  On the other hand, if you are struggling to find a spot for something, it may be time to get rid of it.  Ask yourself if you really need it, most likely you don’t.  You will be amazed at how much time you will save (looking for that item you know you have somewhere but just can’t remember where) by having a place for everything!

3.  SHOP WITH INTENTION

If you are more mindful of what you are buying, you are less likely to buy things you don’t need.  People with organized homes don’t get tempted by flash sales or clearance items, instead they are methodical about their shopping.  The less things you have to manage, the easier it is to get and stay organized.  People who shop with intention carefully identify what it is they need, do their research and purchase exactly what they want.  Another great rule to shop by is, don’t buy anything unless you know exactly where it’s going to go in your home.  By planning out exactly where you will put an item before buying it you will dramatically reduce the chance of clutter!

4.  DECLUTTER REGULARLY AND DISPOSE OF ITEMS YOU ARE NO LONGER USING

People with tidy, organized homes make decluttering on a regular basis part of their normal routine.  Like most things, keeping your home organized and clutter free takes maintenance.  To help ensure you are not holding on to items longer than needed, try adding in regular decluttering sessions from time to time.  A lot of the time basements and garages can harbor items that are no longer serving us.  For many of us, getting rid of the stuff we no longer need is easier said than done.  But it doesn’t have to be such a daunting task; consider leaving a “donation box” somewhere that you can toss items into as you come across them.  Pro Tip:  When you are decluttering items don’t forget to set aside time right then to drop off those donation items.  Otherwise, those boxes will end up living in the trunk of your vehicle for months.

5.  MAKE TIDYING UP PART OF YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

Last but definitely not least!  To keep your home clean and neat, you need to add tidying up to your daily routine. Let’s face it, we are all human and life happens, making it impossible to always keep your home immaculate.  Try not to stress about it and remember doing a little, frequently goes a long way in keeping your home clutter free.  Taking just 10-15 minutes at the end of each day to tidy up can make a world of difference when it comes to staying on top of those random items that invade your space.  Pro Tip:  Keeping surfaces (kitchen countertops, desks, and end tables) clear at all times makes your home feel and look organized.  It’s important however, to be realistic about this and realize that some surfaces offer up “easy to access” storage opportunities.  The trick to finding the happy medium is to find stylish and sensible canisters for containing such items!

CUSTOM HOME ORGANIZATION FOR HOMEOWNERS IN MN, WI & BEYOND

Need help creating a home organization plan in the new year? At Closets for Life, we specialize in all areas of the home, including closets, garages, kitchens, home offices, laundry rooms, pantries and more. From cabinetry finishes to the right layout to match your needs and space perfectly, our closet design and installation team can create customized storage solutions that make getting and staying organized a breeze! Contact our custom closet design team today to schedule a free in-home consultation.