The holidays are over and it's time to tidy up your house to start the new year off right. If you don't like that or don't really like it, here are six tips for clearing out clutter and keeping it out so you don't have to worry about an untidy house.
1. Set achievable goals.
Don't try to clean the whole house in one weekend. It's much better to finish a task, especially one that you've probably been putting off for a while, and then break it down into small goals. For example, focus on the desk one week, the closet the next, and so on.
2. Involve the whole family.
Who does what can vary for each family member, but the process will be more fun if everyone works together.
3. Reward yourself.
Schedule a fun activity after everyone has completed their task. The reward doesn't have to be big; it could be going for an ice cream, or watching a movie or going for a walk.
4. Consider going paperless.
If you keep a lot of papers, you should consider integrating your organizational workflow more digitally. Buy a scanner to digitize those documents you can't throw away but rarely need to look at, such as device manuals, product warranties, etc.
5. Make organization part of your routine.
Think of organization like a diet. Consistently healthy eating and exercise is better for you than going on a crash diet. For example, instead of tossing your mail on a desk to review later, change your routine, and at the very least sort your email into categories before doing anything else.
6. Be successful.
Set up systems and develop a structure that integrates organizing and tidying into your daily routine, just like brushing your teeth or showering. If you're having trouble managing your laundry, consider what you can do systematically to improve the process. If you have a large family, you can make a rule that only laundry that is in the laundry room or in a central laundry room is washed. That way you don't walk into a teenager's room and find socks that have been under the bed for three weeks.
Once you've rummaged through your stuff and determined which ones to keep and which ones to clear out, you have a few options. Instead of throwing things away, give them to charity or think of friends or family who can use them.
