We typically associate springtime with a major declutter day, but the new year might be the best time to get organized. As you’re packing up the tree, figuring out where to put all those Christmas gifts and decompressing after the rush of the holidays, it’s a great time to purge your closets and get things in order. Whether you set a resolution to get organized, or just need a New Year’s refresh so you can focus on your other goals, now is a great time to begin.
“People want a fresh start in January. The gyms are busy. Everybody’s buying fruits and vegetables, and now they want to be organized,” says Elizabeth Smith, a professional organizer and the owner of Simplifying Your Life.
Declutter coach and professional organizer Christa Jones, owner of Rose City Professional Organizing, says January tends to be a busy time for her business — and it can be a good time to take control of your space. “You can just kind of hunker down and focus on yourself and your family and a fresh start,” says Jones. “It’s nice to start the new year with a clean slate and decluttering is a huge part of that.”
Both Smith and Jones say what they hear most is “I don’t know where to start.”
While they approach decluttering differently, they both agree: You need to pull everything out and start sorting things. Smith advocates for taking it in small increments, while Jones suggests getting a sitter, turning off your phone and tackling it all at once.
“You want to be able to stay in the space. And so, bring all your supplies into the space that you’re working in and set that time aside,” Jones says. “It’s going to take longer than you think.”
While Instagram and Pinterest are full of organization trends and aesthetically pleasing containers, you don’t need to spend money to get organized, says Smith. Dollar Store bins work just as well as the trendy ones the influencers hawk on TikTok. “If someone says ‘I don’t have a budget but look, I’ve got these cardboard boxes’ I’m like, giddy up. I can still label a cardboard box,” Smith says. What matters most is knowing your own organizing style and finding what works for you — not what looks best in photos. Smith recommends organizing based on how you actually live your life — with habits that work for you and keep your most used items accessible.
Decluttering is also a psychological process. Whether you’re helping a parent downsize or debating donating those baby shoes, getting rid of sentimental objects is challenging for a lot of people.
“There are so many emotions and underlying reasons why we either don’t get started, or get overwhelmed in the middle of it,” Jones says. “It’s good to ask for help whether it’s a friend or a family member or a coach. It’s a lot easier with somebody there to help you emotionally process.”
Basements and storage spaces are especially difficult. Jones likes to start with the bathroom or the pantry to help clients build up their decluttering muscles to make it easier when it gets to the more heady stuff — it’s easier to toss expired food than a gift from a grandparent.
“The more reps you do of decluttering, the stronger you get,” says Jones.
