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As the chaotic year 2020 finally comes to its long-awaited end, let’s ring in a new chapter with an organized new year to-do list. Shutdowns, shortages, remote learning and WFH have upended everyone’s routines. Take back your life in 2021 by getting and staying organized and creating new healthy habits.
Why organizing for the new year will raise your spirits
Decluttering and organizing isn’t only about cleaning. Actress and mom Eva Amurri Martino talks about the other ways it impacts her life. “I’m one of those people who feels emotionally and mentally scattered if my home environment is a mess,” Martino previously told Mom.com.
Psychologist Sherrie Bourg Carter agrees. “Messy homes and work spaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed,” she told Psychology Today. Which is the last thing anyone needs to feel right now. These organizational, decluttering tips will help de-stress you in the coming year.
Easy organizing hacks for your new year to-do list
1. Baby steps: Your #1 organizing hack
Be easy on yourself and take baby steps to achieve your goals. As time-management expert Charlotte Siems said, “Having twelve children taught me a few things, and how to get a lot done is one of them.” A trick she recommends is setting a timer for ten minutes while you handle a seemingly overwhelming and nagging task. Ten minutes is a small amount of time, but it’s enough to make a dent. You might even feel inspired to keep going!
2. Hit send: Organize your email
Take control, whether you have 20 or 2000 excess emails. Delete old or unimportant emails. To keep your inbox clean, unsubscribe from those pesky marketing emails. (Or use an online service like Unroll.me).
3. Get to work: Update your resume
Chances are you haven’t updated your resume in a while. Even if you’re not looking for a job, you never know when you might need a current resume for an unexpected opportunity. “You should update your resume every six to 12 months to add new skills and experiences,” career expert Vicki Salemi advised.
3. Do I know you? Organizing your address book
That nice couple you met on a trip four years ago and never got drinks with? Chances are you never will. Delete or archive the entries you haven’t used in a year. (Or those you don’t even remember!)
4. Digital detox: Organizing your desktop
Nothing is more distracting than a desktop overflowing with icons. Tidy it by creating a filing system and putting each file in its designated folder. These desktop organizing wallpapers are a nice finishing touch.
5. What’s that thing for? Organizing your computer accessories
You’ve probably got a box or drawer full of tangled cords and mysterious doodads. If you don’t know what it’s for, throw it out. If you have too many extras, throw them out. Group like with like, and store in clear plastic bags. A travel organizer like this one is also useful.
6. Is this still edible?: Organizing the pantry
Who knew we’d ever buy 44 cans of beans and 10-pound sacks of flour? With more to store, there’s more to organize. Your first step is cleaning out your pantry and making a list of what’s there. Throw out anything expired. Organize with budget-friendly dollar store containers for bulk items and baskets for grouping.
7. The Death Star: Organizing your closets
Start small and get it done step by step. Some tips: Divide the contents into categories (shoes, tops, bottoms, accessories), or by area (shelving, rungs, floor space). Here are some steps to managing your clothes closet and deciding what to keep or purge. You can modify these steps to take care of anything from linens to kids’ toys.
Start a planner and more inspirational organizing tips from lifestyle gurus
Dig deeper with guides from these organizing gurus
- Books and digital courses from Marie Kondo, author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, will spark more joy in your life.
- Instagram influencers Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin of The Home Edit have their own Netflix series and have organized the homes of celebrities like Kim Kardashian West and Reese Witherspoon.
- Happiness expert Gretchen Rubin has devoted her latest book, Outer Order, Inner Calm to strategies for creating and maintaining organization in your life.
Keep your life organized with these planners
- Best-selling, customizable planners from Erin Condren are designed to help you achieve goals and reduce stress.
- Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer was created for moms, and includes an activity calendar, meal planner, and budget helper.
- The MomAgenda helps you manage your kids’ schedules.
- Ban.dō’s Daily Planners promote self-care and come in a variety of artistic covers.
- Keep it simple and budget-friendly with the AmazonBasics Daily Planner.
- The undated Clever Fox Planner PRO promises to help you create your life vision.
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