Stick to Your 2025 Decluttering Goals

Make 2025 the year you ‘actually’ stick with your declutter and organization goal!

HELLO 2025! Another year to fail at our goals, right? NOPE!! Not this one!

You are going to stick with it. I will show you how to commit and accomplish what you set out to do in the new year. Over the past few years, I have had numerous failed attempts to declutter. Failed attempts to simplify, organize, and maintain consistency. I understand your hesitation. I am right there with you. Now I realize what I was doing wrong. I was making it too hard. This whole time I was attempting to follow the methods that worked for others. Their lives are vastly different from mine. Yet, I thought I could achieve the same results….. (Hit myself on the head moment, “Duh”.) no wonder I kept failing. But you know, “go big or go home right”? Too funny, to just now realize -that famous little quote is not always the best way to approach everything.

First thing first, be real with yourself. You need to look at how much time you will have daily or weekly to make your goal happen. No lying to yourself, stretching the truth, or ‘squeezing’ it in when you do not have that kind of time available. Instead, make that booty sit down and truly LOOK at your time. I came to the realization that I can only make this happen in 15-to-30-minute increments. Knowing this has given me the chance to make this happen. To fail again is NOT in the cards this year. This new plan is not a quick fix. This new plan is not a once and done. This new plan will stretch my patience. It will take me all 52 weeks of this year to accomplish this goal. The difference this time around, I completely understand the time frame. I am committed to making this happen slowly but surely. To help me out, I am setting little goals throughout this year. In the end, this drizzle of doing, will add up to that one big goal. Are you with me? Join me for this journey and let’s reach our goals together!

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Operation: Get My Sanity Back

1. Make Your Plan

• Walk through every single room of your home. Make a list of what bothers you with the organization of the space. You have 5 minutes, set your timer if you need to. This should be a quick process because, let’s face it, you know immediately when you walk in a room what doesn’t feel right. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! I created a printable to make sure I didn’t misplace a random notepad/notebook. Gain access to the printable and learn more about my process here.
• After jotting down what immediately hits you, start getting into the drawers in the space or other nooks and crannies. Remember, you are creating your action plan. I repeat – DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!

2. Prioritize

• Once you have walked through your home, prioritize the areas based on what will bring the most immediate relief.
• Since I used my printout for each space, I numbered my pages. I chose to start with an area that was quick and easy, that was number one. I chose to do a harder area and then mix in the easy ones as I went along. (You stay motivated by those quick ones, and it can break up the harder to do areas of your home.) You can choose to number your pages or pick one like you would cards. (That method may keep things interesting. LOL!) I left myself notes in the ‘Notes’ section on what to start with in each area. Once my plan was laid out, I was ready to attack.

3. Time for Action

• Ugh. Now it is time to get down and dirty and actually do the work. The process that works best for me is the Keep, Donate, Trash method. I know you have seen this everywhere, but it really is a good method.
• If the job is small, then I grab a container or basket for the Keep, a box for the Donate, and a trash bag or trash can for the Trash.
• For larger jobs, I grab laundry baskets, bigger boxes and maybe one or two trash bags.
• Get the Trash out first! This makes the Donate and Keep items so much easier to sort through.
• If you have not used something in so long it is collecting dust, throw it in the Donate box. Like most of us, I tend to keep stuff way too long. Now, I am trying to not be that person. Although, I will continue to keep certain things. My crafty self cannot get rid of everything if I see a potential project for it! How am I planning on managing these items? Find out here.

4. Group Your Items

• Now that everything is sorted, start grouping your items. (Now may be a good time to find a label maker and a few containers that you like as well. DO NOT think that you will label something at a later date, it will NOT happen. DO IT NOW!)
• Group by categories first. Example: Papers, Pens, Chargers, etc.

5. Clean.

• Wipe down or scrub the area you are organizing before putting anything back. Why bother moving everything without cleaning it right?
• Best time to deep clean if you have time.

6. Organize Smartly

• I like to organize by looking at all my items first and seeing what I use the most. I want easy access to those items. Example: In my junk drawer, I reach for the tape and the glue the most. I look for the random screws and keys the least. I place the glue/tape at the front left of the drawer. This spot gives me quick and easy access. The screws/keys go in the back right corner.
• I can’t tell you specifically how to do this. We are all made differently and what works for me might drive you crazy. Make the system work for you and those in your household.

What does this look like when you literally only have 15 to 30 minutes at a time? Hard. That is what it looks like. It will get frustrating, especially when you want the time to finish an area, but you just don’t have it. Hang in there. Do what you can because doing a little is better than doing nothing. That drawer may be all you can tackle today and that is okay. The next time you open it to find something, you will be so happy! With time being precious, make notes on your page where you leave off. This will help you when you can return to your project. Stay focused on the outcome, boot the negative thoughts. Snail’s pace or souped-up organizational maniac, do this with the time you can. No one is judging you.

Also, do not feel like you need to organize your home to look like the latest TikTok post. It doesn’t have to be picture worthy unless you want it to be. It can be Dollar Store, Dollar General, or hand me down organizers. YOU are the only person that this needs to make happy. Do what works best for you and within your budget. I sometimes want something to look a certain way. It makes me feel better. That is when I start letting those creative juices flow. I do not have a ton of extra cash to throw at my decluttering project at this time. I need to use what I have on hand or what I can get at a reasonable price. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box even in organization!

Don’t forget to check back in for my updates, hints, and tips as I sort through my home and learn. (Follow me on Social! Links at bottom left of page.)

Let me know if you have any questions or have joined my journey. Feel free to share anything you have found most helpful during this process! Trust me, we all want to know!!

I am cheering for you!