All clear for the New Year

As we approach January 1st it’s easy to get carried away with grand ideas - whether it’s plans for changing habits or setting clear goals. But how about trying something simple but effective that gives us a sense of accomplishment to start the new year? Let's face it, after Christmas, most of us are ready for a tidy and a declutter!

Some people don’t wait for spring for a good clear out - it can be a good way to start a new year and feel like you’ve got a fresh start - but how to start? Let’s look at some approaches and tips for making it just a little easier. 

BREAK IT DOWN

Whether you’re tackling an entire attic full of decades of family stuff, or an overflowing wardrobe - it helps to break the task down into manageable chunks. 

Areas & Categories:

This might be sectioning it out into areas - that bit of the attic, or the top part of the wardrobe. You might choose categories: toys or photos in the attic, or just shirts and t-shirts from your wardrobe. 

Boxes:

Using designated boxes can help get things at least tidy from the start rather than piles you just keep moving! This might be a junk box for those odds and ends. Put on labels for what you have in there (cables, chargers, etc) that you might need but can put away neatly out of sight. You can have a box for things you want to keep but need to put somewhere else, one for things you can definitely discard, or one for the charity shop.

5minutes:

Can you chunk your declutter into time? Just saying ‘I’ll do 5 minutes today’ can be a great way to start. That can also become a habit of saying you’ll do 5 minutes every day and maybe 10 minutes at a weekend to keep on top of any clutter spread! I also like the approach where if a job takes less than 5 minutes you should do it then and there and don’t put it off!

DIGITAL DECLUTTER

For many of us, our life is often centered around computers and/or devices; and a digital declutter can seem as daunting and as time consuming as a household one. Alongside following some of the tips above like chunking tasks (deleting emails, sorting photos) and doing it in 5 minute bursts; there are some other tips to try. 

Be prepared: 

Card reader + micro sd card

Make some folders on your phone/tablet/computer for different categories - whether this is for email (purchases/bills/needs a reply) or photos (family/friends/trips) - and that way you can easily just transfer things over so it’s tidier without spending too long deliberating what you want to keep. You can also help yourself by getting a Micro SD and card reader to store them all on to save space on any device - without needing to delete them just yet! There are card readers that will fit your phone and laptop/computer to make transferring quick and easy.

Like physical, like virtual.

Just like a tidy desk and workspace can help, so can having a clear desktop on your computer or laptop. Set yourself some actual time to get it clear - as well as that downloads folder! 

Digital Hygiene

This is a good time to check what email lists you’re still subscribed to and to unsubscribe. Whilst you’re at it - changing your passwords isn’t a bad idea! 

Check your settings - have you got 3 or 4gb of memory used up on all those memes in your friends' WhatsApp group? Are they all automatically saved? Have a thorough check of what you could have missed in your settings. It might seem like common sense but if you don't know where to start, click this guide here and these tips might help for your phone settings.

SPREAD SOME JOY.

It doesn’t all have to be an onerous task - a nice idea I saw recently was why not send something you don’t need as a gift? Maybe when you’re sorting out your books you see one that a friend might enjoy - scribble a quick note and get it in the post. A small ‘thinking of you’ package can mean more than you think! It’s even easier now with either Post Office or services like InPost that let you prep everything at home, including postage.

Whatever you decide to tackle, good luck and I hope it helps you start the New Year with some clarity!

If you’re having a clear-out as a prelude to putting your home on the market, don’t hesitate to get in touch for a no obligation, confidential chat to discuss your options.