The holiday parties are over. The Christmas decorations have been taken down and stored away. You’ve toasted to a new year and made some resolutions. If you’re anything like me, these include the perennial ones to eat healthier and deal with clutter.
Each year, I start with energy and good intentions. These are easily derailed, but 2024 was a little different because of the death of my mother. My wife and I traveled to England to help my sister and brother deal with my mother’s estate. My wife, an energy powerhouse and not quite as encumbered by grief as the rest of us, set the standard as she went through my mum’s things. We found it is a little easier to declutter someone else’s belongings than our own!
We brought a few lessons back to our own home and set about taking some small steps. Voilà: an organized spice rack, winnowed-down snack shelf, and linen closet makeover. Next up, the games closet and the study. 2025 could be a banner year!
Here’s what we learned in the process:
Step 1: Set Your Intentions
Before diving into organizing, take a moment to reflect on what you want to achieve. Ask yourself:
- What areas of my home cause the most stress?
- Which spaces bring me joy, and how can I create more of those?
- What habits can I develop to maintain a clutter-free environment?
Writing down your goals can keep you focused and motivated throughout the process.
Step 2: Start Small for Big Results
Decluttering can feel overwhelming, but tackling small, manageable areas first can build momentum. Choose one of these to get started:
- A single drawer or cabinet: Sorting through one confined space can give you an immediate sense of accomplishment.
- Your bedside table: Clear out old books, empty glasses, and random items to create a calming oasis.
- Your entryway: Organize shoes, coats, and bags to set the tone for a welcoming home.
Step 3: Adopt the “Four-Box Method”
When decluttering, use four boxes labeled:
- Keep: Items you use or love
- Donate: Things in good condition but no longer needed
- Recycle: Items that can be responsibly discarded through a recycling program
- Trash: Broken or unusable things
Work systematically through each area, placing items into one of the boxes. Quickly dispose of or donate items you no longer need.
Step 4: Reorganize with Purpose
Once you’ve decluttered, organize your remaining items in a way that makes sense for your daily life. Consider:
- Storage solutions: Use bins, baskets, and labels to keep things tidy.
- Vertical space: Install shelves or hooks to maximize storage.
- Accessibility: Store frequently used items in easily reachable places. (For example, we have a key bowl near our front door.)
Step 5: Establish New Habits
Organizing isn’t a one-time event; it’s a lifestyle shift. Here are some habits to maintain your progress:
- One in, one out: For every new item you bring home, donate or discard an old one.
- Daily resets: Spend 5-10 minutes each evening tidying up.
- Regular check-ins: Schedule quarterly reviews to reassess and declutter.
Step 6: Celebrate Your Progress
Remember to celebrate the small wins along the way. After the fifteen-minute timer goes off, I treat myself to a nice cup of tea and a biscuit (cookie for you American readers). My wife tends to relax by diving into her favorite book.
By starting small and staying consistent, I hope 2025 will see a new year’s resolution come to fruition. Here’s hoping you’ll join me.
Michael comes to The Move Makers with many years experience of caregiving. At university in England, he volunteered to visit seniors in their homes and do their weekly shopping. After teaching English in Japan (where he met his Oregonian wife), he moved to Portland and was a stay-at-home parent—he calls it being ‘a domestic engineer,’—for many years. Most recently, he spent several years employed by a senior living center as an in-home caregiver. Michael is also a writer and has written several (as yet unpublished) novels. In his spare time he likes to hike, read, volunteer at a food pantry, and go to the theater. His motto is “Do everything with a Smile.”