The One Trick To Use In January To Make Decluttering Easier Throughout The Year

January used to be about doing a complete overhaul in every aspect of your life at one time. Resolutions were shouted at midnight on New Year's Day or silently written down where people could keep checking in on them. January 1 was supposed to be dedicated to putting these newly formed plans and habits into play. However, this can become taxing and even demoralizing, especially when it comes to goals like cleaning out and decluttering your entire home the first month of the year. As slower, softer introductions to a new year have begun to replace the need for a complete reboot, the process of organizing your home has also shifted. Rather than jumping into sorting, throwing, donating, and finding homes for everything as soon as the new year starts, it might prove more productive to use January to take stock of everything you already have, carefully notating and listing items you own so you can begin to make plans on where to begin.

By turning this month into a planning period, you can take some of the stress away and focus on the ideal way to go about decluttering, ensuring you don't get frustrated or overwhelmed. You don't even have to do this method all at once, instead taking one day to go over a room or space and jot down all of your items that reside in there. Use a notebook or even a large sheet of paper so you have plenty of space to write.

When going through each room, you can leave extra space near certain items that you're unsure about. These could be pieces of furniture, older electronics, and even general knick knacks. Write out pros and cons or ways you could use these (adding them to another room, regifting them, donating, etc) to help when you come back to actually sort through the room. For instance, if you know some old baskets in one room could give your home stylish storage in another, these may be starred or notated so you can set them aside when you organize the space properly. Having a list also allows you to go over it and make a plan before sorting, and makes each space seem more approachable. By checking your notes, you can also tell which spots might take longer than others.

While there are a variety of good practices and "best" ways to declutter your home, this method allows you to strategize and take stock of all your items in a slower, more intentional way. You will find where you have extra storage, and where you need to minimize or cut down. Set goals on what you want to get out of your declutter, like tidier rooms, more available shelf/closet/drawer space, or just a better concept of where everything is (and where it goes). If you've been missing this important step in decluttering your home, add it in before the month ends to get the most out of your clear-outs!