The most popular New Year’s resolution for 2018  (and just about every other year of recorded history) is to get healthy.  That’s no surprise.  After all of the holiday binge eating and drinking, who couldn’t use a little New Year’s detox.  However, many people who make this goal, sadly don’t make it to the end of January without snorting sugar directly out of the bag.  Well, at least all of the cookies and fudge are out of the house (sigh).

Maybe it’s time to give the second place winner a little more attention.  Alas, coming in second for 2018 New Year’s resolutions is (drum roll) to GET ORGANIZED!  If getting organized is your focus for 2018, let’s start by packing up the ornaments and wrapping paper.  Once that’s out of the way, the following tips can help you get started on your decluttering adventure.

5 Tips to Help You Get Organized (and stay that way) in 2018

1. Have a Plan.  Hypothetically speaking (ahem), if you go a little crazy during the holidays, and then frantically lose your mind due to the resulting clutter and chaos, don’t act impulsively.  You might want to take that tangled mess of tree lights and send it on a rocket to the moon, but trust me… you’ll be longing for it in about 11 months.  So, start with a plan.  Map it out.  Have specific goals. Make lists. Maybe you had a few ornaments that never made it out of the box this year.  Start with those.  Success is all about strategy.
2. Rally a Support System.  You’re not in this alone.  Many people made this resolution with you.  Enlist friends and family.  Have fun getting organized. Designate a donation day.  See how many boxes and bags you and a few friends can bring to the local donation center.  I think you earned a bottle of wine after that (or a green smoothie, if you’re still working on that getting healthy thing.)
3. Take it Slow. You have all year.  You don’t need to meet your goal by the end of January, but make sure you’re making progress every month.  Maybe you’ll tackle one room a month.  Perhaps, your plan includes getting rid of 1o items a month for the next year.  Like I said, in Tip Number 1, it’s easy to go overboard and start throwing things out that you still kind of want because the holiday clutter has consumed the part of your brain that controls logic.  Give it time.  It will grow back, and then you can make some rational decisions.
4. Accept Your Emotions.  No doubt, getting rid of stuff is hard.  If it wasn’t, everyone would be organized, and I wouldn’t be writing this blog right now.  I’d be posting recipes for aforementioned green smoothies and bread-less sandwiches.  But, seriously, let go of the guilt, shame and frustration associated with clutter, and just start small.  Most importantly, know there is help, which leads me to Tip Number 5.
5. Get Professional Help.  Professional Organizers can help you through the physical and emotional aspects of decluttering.  Don’t be embarrassed.  Trust me.  We’ve seen things, and we don’t judge.  Our job isn’t to tell you what to get rid of, but to help you through the process and to make sure you can maintain it.

Maybe to get organized and to get healthy both made your New Year’s resolution list this year.  By making small daily changes to lead a more organized lifestyle, you WILL in effect become healthier.  You might not ever love kale juice, but you’ll love the counter space where your unused juicer used to be.

The Can the Clutter Team wishes you an organized, healthy and successful 2018!