Phrases such as “getting organized” and “KonMari method” get thrown around a lot in the new year. We make goals to become a brand new “you’. Sometimes we keep those goals and sometimes, not so much. There’s a reason you keep making the same resolutions year after year. 

It’s incredibly easy to gain the motivation to clean and tidy up your home in early January, but by the time we get to March, April or May come along, sometimes you’ve fallen back into your old habits. 

Have no fear! There are strategies both physical and mental to help you get back into a mindset to ensure your hard work lasts well into the spring and beyond. Here are four ways to start your 2020 off right!

Start Small!

Start by making a plan for yourself. It’s very easy to get overwhelmed when we make a general statement that we want to “get organized.” To prevent that feeling, start with a list of specific actionable ways you want to get organized. For example, try doing things that don’t exactly have anything to do with your home. Try organizing the apps on your phone or your digital photos and make one photo book. You’ll realize how good you feel! 

Make Tidying A Part of Your Routine

At night, take the time to put items strewn across your house back into their appropriate places. Set a daily cleaning checklist that you can stick too. You might include making the bed every morning, using a lightweight vacuum for easy transport from room to room, or even something as simple as doing the dishes every night before you go to bed. Be creative and find what works best for you. Just a few minutes a week can make the time between those deep cleans last even longer. One of our favorite tricks is to set a ten-minute timer and see how much we can accomplish!

Use a Label Maker.

Labels may seem like a trivial step because you know what something is or remember where something gets stored. However, if you or someone in your family struggle with keeping organizational systems in place, using a label maker to mark your areas clearly will define your organization so that you can be held accountable. For example, if a stack of folded clothing in your closet says “crewneck sweaters” there is less of a chance you will put a v-neck sweater or t-shirt on that pile. The label serves as a gentle reminder and helps you keep your sanity!

Clean the Entryway. 

It’s the first thing you see when you walk into your home. Set the right tone by organizing the discarded shoes, coats and other miscellaneous items that inevitably will begin piling up. Add hooks for coats and bins or a cabinet for shoes. Remember to have enough hooks for guests to hang their coat up as well. Chances are, by giving some TLC to your entryway, you’ll feel motivated to give some to the rest of your living space as well. 

And that’s it! Four small but simple steps to organizing your house for 2020! By following these steps you’ll feel less stressed when guests or potential homebuyers come over. 

Thinking about buying a home in 2020? Register for our Homebuying 101 Workshop? It’s easy! Just click this button.