2019 is here- yes, we’re freaking out too. While the new year brings about feelings of promise and hope, it can also be a stressful time preparing for what lies ahead. Whether it be kids transitioning to elementary or high school, a new job, or a new mindset going into 2019- we tend to bury ourselves in planning. A cluttered home can be an unwanted source of stress that keeps you from transitioning smoothly, and while we may not want to begin our year cleaning, there’s no better way to clear your head and space. Here are five tips to help you get started decluttering both mentally and physically to ensure a prosperous new year:
- Start Small.
Looking at a house that is wholly cluttered can be the greatest motivation killer. We trick ourselves into thinking that the job is simply too big to tackle today, so we’ll have to get to it another time. Rather than attempting to declutter your whole home in one sitting, start room by room, even if it takes several weekends. Getting started can be rough, but once you see the transformation in the first room, you’ll be itching to get the rest of your home looking the same. If tackling one room still seems daunting, start with a piece of the room. If it’s your office, start with your desk drawer. If it’s the bathroom, start with the medicine cabinet, and so on.
- Go in with the mindset that you need to get rid of things to create more space for 2019.
Holding onto items that have no significant meaning, memory, or function attached to them is how clutter piles up. When you start to declutter, go in with the mind set that you will be throwing things out, donating, selling, or passing down to family. Before taking the plunge, grab a heavy-duty trash bag, a bin for donations/selling, and a bin for passing down. This helps prepare you mentally for the reality that something has to go.
- Go Through with It.
If you’re donating items, pick a day that you have time to go donate those items. Placing them in their appropriate bin won’t reduce clutter unless you get it out of your home. If you’re selling items on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, take photos NOW and post them NOW. This leaves you no room to debate whether you actually want to sell- trust us, you do. (Side note: be realistic in your expectations of what will sell and what won’t. If an item has low prospects of selling, donate it. Get it out of your house). If you plan to pass down items to members of the family, let them know right away with a quick text and photo accompanied with a promise to bring it with you on the next visit. The chances that you’ll go back and decide to keep these items is less if you’ve promised them to someone else.
- The Closet Hanger Experiment.
If you haven’t already heard- this is the best way to declutter your closet (possibly the most intimidating space to declutter, both mentally and physically). This weekend, turn all of your hangers so that they hang backwards. Every time you wear something, when you go to hang it up, hang it properly. It’s a long process, but at the end of 2019 when all four seasons have come, get rid of anything that is still hanging backwards. If you didn’t wear it once in 2019, we can confidently say you won’t wear it in 2020.
- Out with the Old, In with the New- In That Order.
Say no to TJMaxx, say no to West Elm, say no to Pier1- for now. Before you bring new items into your home, take care of what currently occupies your space. This can be an incredible driving force to get your home decluttered. After all, we all like new goodies, especially with the start of a new year. Shopping is a reward, so make sure you’ve earned it!
If you need help, you can always call TruDesign. We’ll help you decide what to donate, and we’ll shop for all the amazing new pieces you’ll love. We’ll even place your new items in your home for you. We’re ready when you are- start 2019 refreshed and clutter free.