Decluttering Habits to Adopt in the New Year

2024 will soon be arriving on the scene, and with it comes the 'new year, new me' mentality. January is a wonderful time to implement new habits, fresh starts and daily routines for a healthier and happier life. And what better way to leap into the new year with intention than with the way we live at home? Our saddest goodbye and fondest hello each day at times takes second place when it comes to care. However, there is a direct correlation between our surroundings and our well-being. Like they say, a clean house means a clean mind. If your New Year's resolution is to declutter your space, this blog will help you adopt habits to help make decluttering part of your life, rather than something to check off your to-do list. Let's dive into creating a more clutter-free and calm environment that you can enjoy daily. 

One: Daily Quick Tidying

Dedicate a few minutes each day to tidy up the most commonly used areas within your home like the living room, kitchen, or bedroom. This can be anywhere between 5-20 minutes each day. Doing so will prevent small messes from accumulating and becoming overwhelming to handle on top of cleaning your home regularly. 

Example: Opening and Closing 

Consider applying an opening and closing shift in your home, like one at a restaurant. Before going to bed, pick up items that don't belong and put them back in their respective homes. This would also apply to the morning, before going to work do a short pick up and put away, that way when you come home there is less to do when you are already tired from a long day. 

Two: Set a Decluttering Routine

Establish a regular decluttering routine within your home. It could be a weekly or monthly task where you focus on specific areas, ensuring everything has its designated place to go at the end of the day. 

Example: Resetting The Entryway 

This is a zone where many personal and household items are often dropped without thought, causing it to become disorganized and chaotic quickly. When it is time to clean this area, assess the space and see what is working and what is not. This could mean that you need to de-scale the number of items you have, add closet storage, baskets with labels, extra hooks, or furniture to store shoes and act as seating. Being mindful about adapting environments to suit the needs of your family will make decluttering work for you. 

Three: "Clutter-Free" Zones

Assign specific areas in your home where clutter is not allowed to live. If your kitchen or living room acts as a catch-all for items that don't belong, these are perfect areas to designate clutter-free to get your space back. Make this change a family effort so that everyone is on the same page about picking up after themselves. 

Example: The Clutter Basket 

Clutter baskets are ideal tools to use when collecting items around your home that don't belong. To illustrate how to use the basket we will use the example of putting the basket on the staircase. While you are tidying up the living room and you find clothing, toys and electronics that don't belong, place them in the clutter basket on the stairs, so that the next time you go up, you can bring the items with you and put them away all at once. This saves you time traveling up and down and it allows you to complete the task efficiently. 

Four: Follow the 5-Minute Rule

If a task takes you less than 5 minutes to complete, we suggest doing it right away. Whether it's placing your clothes on a hanger, putting away shoes, or putting dishes in the dishwasher. Getting small tasks out of the way will prevent clutter from building up. 

Example: Don't Put It Down, Put It Away

The bedroom is a space where items tend to pile up throughout the week. From going through your entire closet trying to find something to wear to dishes piling up on the nightstand, and laundry taking over the floor. Taking up the habit of putting your laundry in your hamper, or bringing down your dishes each morning when it takes under five minutes will make cleaning the space much faster. Make the phrase "don't put it down, put it away" your go-to rule when it comes to cutting out the clutter. 

Five: Practice Mindful Purchasing

Before making a new purchase, consider whether you truly need the item. Avoid impulse buying and be mindful of what you bring into your home. This habit helps prevent unnecessary clutter from taking up space and derailing your progress. This is why the minimalist aesthetic is very appealing when decorating your home, having less means there isn't as much to clean up at the end of the day. 

Example: One-In, One out

If buying something new is necessary, implement the one-in, one-out rule. Each time you purchase a new item, like clothing for example, remove another piece of clothing in your closet. You can donate it, sell it or give it to a friend. This way you can keep clutter under control each time you shop, and having to let go of an item may make you question how much you want the item you are about to purchase.