January tends to inspire us all to embrace that fresh-start energy, but it can be hard to find the time…or any actual energy. We’re here to remind you that it doesn’t take a total overhaul to feel more organized.
Read more here about how being organized can improve your mental health!
Sometimes all you need is a small purge in the right places. Here are 20 simple things you can declutter this month to reset your home and headspace and start the year off right
Kitchen Goods
- Kitchen appliances: If you haven’t pulled out your pressure cooker or old toaster in a few years but it’s taking up space in your cabinets it may be time to remove them from your collection.
- Spice cabinet: Not only is this a good time to toss anything that’s lost its potency, but its a good time to check for duplicates and anything that is basically empty.
- Chipped dish-ware: Toss the plates, bowls, mugs, etc that you know are on their last leg.
- Old or mismatched Tupperware: Similarly, toss any food storage containers that have lost their lids, are stained, or have been warped by the dish washer.
- Unused cook books: It’s easily to accidentally hold onto too many cook books without ever cracking them open to make the recipes. Donte the ones you haven’t opened and don’t plan on using.
Health & Beauty Items
- Old nail polish: Toss those bottles that are basically glued shut and don’t paint on smoothly anymore.
- Old makeup brushes: Depending on how often you use them, it’s recommended to toss out your makeup brushes every few years (or months depending on how often you’re using them).
- Expired makeup: Each type of makeup has a different shelf life and some are more quickly used than others, but if you’ve been holding onto an old eyeshadow palate for a few years too many, this is your sign to toss it and grab an upgrade.
- Expired medications: If you haven’t gone through your medicine cabinet in a while, take a look at both prescription and over-the-counter medication to be sure you’re not holding onto anything that isn’t safe to take.
- Expired sunscreens: Sunscreen doesn’t work if it’s past its expiration date, which can be dangerous if you realize that too late! Check the dates on your sunscreen bottles and toss the old ones.
Tech Items & Digital Spaces
- Your phone’s home screen: Take a few minutes to look through any apps that are taking up space but you don’t use. This is also a great time to check on any apps you may have forgotten that you’re subscribed to!
- Email subscriptions: It’s always a good time to clean your inbox, but taking a few minutes to unsubscribe from emails you don’t read will help keep it cleaner in the long-run.
- Instruction manuals: If you need to find the information later you can find it online!
- Old charging cables: If you have any old iPhone cables or other charging cables lying around your house there’s no need to hold onto them!
Miscellaneous
- Sock drawer: Get rid of any sock without a pair or that has holes in it.
- Coats and outerwear: As the weather continues to get colder, take note of the coats you’re not pulling out of your closet and donate them.
- Holiday decorations: As you start or continue to put away your holiday decor, take a look at what you didn’t put out this year and what you don’t plan on putting up next year.
- Old sheets and bedding: It’s great to have extra sheets, pillows, and blankets, but if anything is stained or has holes in it, now is a good time to toss.
- Unused craft items: Find a reused craft store near you that takes donations.
- Old notebooks: Any old notebooks that only have a few pages left or empty notebooks you also don’t plan on using.
Even choosing a handful of these areas to declutter can reset the tone of your entire space. Pick a few, knock them out, and enjoy the extra breathing room! And if the list you put together feels never-ending? A personal assistant can help you knock out the clutter and stay on top of the rest. Cheers to a calmer, more organized year.
