Simple
Steps to a
Clutter-Free
New
Year
By Lauren Taylor
One of the top resolutions we make is to streamline and get organized.
Eliminating excess stuff and stressful commitments can pay big
dividends to emotional wellbeing.
• Home organization experts say you should start with the bedroom.
Just the room itself affects your mood and the quality of your sleep.
Getting it organized can make a huge difference to your daily
outlook.
• After getting rid of unnecessary clutter, the next step is to
organize what remains in a way that makes it easy to stay
organized. Take a new look at things you have on hand.
Tension rods to organize cookie sheets? Baskets in the
refrigerator or freezer? Magazine bins for aluminum foil and
plastic wrap?
• Use technology to help streamline your life. There
are several apps that can help with managing your
family calendar, grocery shopping, gardening and
wardrobe. Check your bank’s app to see if there
is the option to deposit checks via a smartphone
instead of needing to go to the bank. There is also
an app to help with recycling. If TerraCycle or your
municipal recycling doesn’t take an item, check Earth
911’s iRecycle app.
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If you don’t try to do work on all your objectives at
once, you are more likely to succeed. So, pick an
easy goal or a really important one and focus on
getting your year off to a good start!
Image by Sergio Roberto Bichara
• Set up your recycling station and let the kids manage it.
TerraCycle has several Brigade programs that accept all
brands and items in a category. For instance, send in
personal care/beauty packaging and household
cleaner packaging regardless of brand. You earn
money for each item, which can be donated to a
favorite charity.