5 Easy Ways To Getting Organized In the New Year

Following weight loss and health goals, getting organized is one of the top New Years resolutions that people make each year, and with good reason too.

Organization, and the act of getting yourself organized, is a feeling unlike anything else. You know exactly where everything is. You’re less stressed because you’re no longer always searching for every little thing. It’s right where you left it!

Basically, we all want to get organized. To keep the cute little planners and label everything, clearing our lives of junk and clutter once and for all. New Year, new me, new organization skills.

While this is all well and good, it’s one thing to say you’re going to become organizing royalty and another thing entirely to actually achieve that. Organization may look simple and cute on social media, but in real life, reaching that point can be even more stressful than remaining a disorganized mess.

But, in the end, it’s all about how you approach the task at hand. Sit down, write it all down, and figure out where you want to start and where you want to end up. That right there is getting you on the right organizational track.

And if you need a little helping hand as to where you should start, follow these five simple ways you can become a more organized and stress-free person in 2018.

Keep A Planner

You can’t be a planner if you don’t have a planner! This small tool will help you out BIG TIME when you begin your organization journey. Use it to document weekly chores, both those that haven’t yet been done and those that have. Write down all of your bills, when they’re due, and check them off when they’re paid. Keep track of all your doctor’s appointments, lunch dates, dinner plans, meetings, phone calls, and more. Put everything you want to remember and all the things you need to get done in that planner.

Starting off can be a bit daunting, especially if you’re worried that you might not be “planner” material, but it’s ok. There’s no wrong way to set a schedule and map out your daily, weekly, and monthly routine.

Plus, there are hundreds of different planners to choose from out there. From small, simple travel-sized planners, to huge wall planners, to even apps that can be easily downloaded on your phone. There’s a planner for every style and need. It’s just about getting out there and finding the right one that will inspire you to embrace your inner planning guru.

And don’t worry, there will still be room for spontaneity in your life. It’ll just come at more convenient times.

Don’t Be Afraid To Throw Things Away

Say hello to the shredder, the recycling bin, and the trash can. These three are going to be your best friends this year. After you’ve bought your planner and committed to keeping track of your life a little better, it’s time to de-clutter, de-junk, and detox.

One of the most important steps to take when beginning your journey to becoming organized is to rid yourself of the things that you don’t need. We’re all guilty of holding on to things that we haven’t used in a long time, but haven’t gotten around to throwing them away.

Whether it’s sentimental value or procrastination, we let the junk pile up, and instead of dealing with it, we shove it in a corner to deal with at a later date. That later date has finally arrived, and it’s time to say goodbye to all of that which you no longer use.

Go into each room of your house and make a list of everything in that room that you DO use on a regular basis. Those things are there to stay but whatever isn’t on that list is now fair game. Take some time to really evaluate the items you keep around. Get rid of that pile of papers from college or those dirty old sneakers with a big hole in the sole.

Not only will you be more organized after you’ve gone through everything, but removing the smallest piece of clutter can relieve more stress than you can imagine. So get to tossing!

Invest In Labels

Ah, labels. They’re every clean freak’s dream, but for some, the thought of having to even think about putting a label on something is a nightmare.

Yes, labels can be deterring at first, especially if you’re someone who doesn’t like to be “told” where to put things. But these little items can come in handy and make your life so much easier. You just have to decide what’s label-worthy.

For some people, everything needs to be labeled. But, for others, it’s only the necessities like bill stubs, tax forms, legal documents, and other necessary paperwork that can be labeled and put in a file cabinet.

Regardless of how far you want to take your labeling endeavors, a little goes a long way, and a lot goes even further. It’s all up to you. Taking this seemingly small step can make life easier and will up your organizational game that much higher in the process.

Establish A Nightly Routine

Many people are early risers, whether they want to be or not. It could be a requirement of work or school, what comes with having young children or pets, or a lot of different things.

Regardless of what causes you to have to roll out of bed before sunrise, early mornings never go as planned. You think you’ll have plenty of time to shower, get dressed, make breakfast, and leisurely drink your coffee before heading out the door, but it rarely ever happens. But you can make the mornings a little easier by planning the night before.

Establish a nightly routine that will make your mornings simpler. If you can, shower at night, pick out your clothes for the next day and have them set aside, so you don’t have to go searching. Prep your coffee pot the night before or set a timer if your machine has that capability.

Make sure your bag, keys, wallet, and anything else you might need for the day are near the front door and ready for you to grab them and go. If you can prep any of your breakfast the night before, do it.

These small, simple steps will make all the difference, and you’ll start each morning less stressed and more prepared to tackle whatever the new day may bring.

Just Say No

A huge part of becoming an organized person is knowing when you’ve reached your limit. Maybe you want to juggle work, volunteer groups, committees, and other activities, but there comes a time when you don’t have enough hours in the day to do it all. And if you do try to squeeze everything in, you’re going to be left frustrated and full to the max with disorganized chaos.

Even the calmest person in the world can only handle so much.
So, start setting limits for yourself. Grab your trusty planner, sit down, and write out everything you want to do, and then figure out everything you can do. It’s absolutely acceptable to say “no” to something if you just don’t have the time for it.

In the end, you’ll be glad that you did. Becoming an organized person is all about balance and knowing when something works for you and when it doesn’t. So get out there, put your best foot forward, and get organized!