January is a time for resolutions and this month not only can we resolve to be healthier we can also resolve to organize and declutter our homes. With this being Get Organized Month, I’ll provide you with tips throughout the month on ways to organize your home.
Before we can organize we must first declutter. Everyone has their own definition of clutter. What I consider clutter is not necessarily what my best friend would consider as clutter. Clutter can be loosely defined as anything you don’t use or love. If you have not used an item in the last year, and you don’t have a specific place for that item, you need to get rid of it.
Here are some simple steps to make your resolution to organize a realty:
1. Set concrete, measurable goals
Setting goals helps you to keep focused on your mission, which is to remove the clutter and chaos from your home. Organizing your home cannot take place all in one month, it must be a process throughout the year. Set a goal that is obtainable for YOU. Goals must be personal in order for them to be achieved. What is most important to you? Consider getting rid of one item every day. Seems like a pretty easy goal and considering that will remove 365 items from your home it can be a great motivator.
2. Remember one day at a time
Certainly setting a goal for the year can be motivating but it can also be daunting for some. Don’t let overwhelm keep you from accomplishing your mission of decluttering. Focus simply on today. What one thing can you do to declutter one small area of your home. Don’t pick an entire room or even an entire closet to start with. Pick one drawer or one shelf in a closet and set a kitchen timer for 15 minutes. Remove all of the clutter you can within that 15 minutes. By setting a timer it gives you a concrete amount of time you have to concentrate on one thing. Anyone can concentrate for 15 minutes and every little bit helps in the process of organizing your home.
3. Find a clutter buster buddy
Keep yourself on task by finding a friend that also wants to declutter for 2010, or include your family members in the effort. Create a task list and share it with your friend or family members. Your family members can then be involved in the effort to declutter. By including either friends or family you create accountability partners who can help you stay on track.
4. Setbacks will happen
There will be days when you either don’t feel like decluttering or the tasks of everyday life get the in way of making progress. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Setbacks are a part of making progress in any area of our lives that we want to change. The goal is to not let those setbacks totally derail your efforts and keep you from making progress. Start each new day fresh. If you are list creator, make sure and add one 15 minute session of decluttering to your task list for the day.
What are your goals for organizing and decluttering in 2010? Please share them in the comments below.
