The start of a new year is the perfect time to tidy and organize your home, but tackling such a large task can feel overwhelming. If you’re not sure where to start with decluttering, here are 9 hacks to make the process less stressful and more productive.  

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1. Start with the Obvious

The easiest way to begin the decluttering process is removing anything that cannot be used again because it is broken, empty, or expired. The first place that may come to mind is the pantry or refrigerator, but consider other areas of your home too. Your spice rack, medicine cabinet, and toolbox, to name a few, all likely contain items that are no longer useable and should be moved to the garbage.  

2. Toss Anything That’s Not Useful

After you’ve tossed out all of the obvious items, start considering what else you have in your home that isn’t useful anymore. If you have several pairs of socks or earrings that are missing one half, you’re probably not going to wear them again. If you have a bunch of writing utensils that are dried up and don’t work, they’re just sitting and taking up space. Removing items you’re never going to use again will keep your home a productive space.  

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3. Collect Items Along the Way 

One of the best ways to clear out a little at a time is by keeping a basket around to collect misplaced items throughout the day. If you live in a home with more than one story, the stairs are a great place to have one of these. As the day goes on, the basket will fill up with things that need to go upstairs, and then in the evening, you can take it up with you and put everything away in its proper place.  

4. Focus on Small Sections 

It’s easy to lose motivation to clean and declutter when you’re trying to take on a whole room in your home, so keep your attention on one small space to begin with. This could be one cupboard in the kitchen that is overloaded, one dresser drawer that can barely close, or a bathroom cabinet where you must dig to find what you need. By focusing on small sections of your home, you’ll be able to slowly work through the decluttering process and feel accomplished while doing so. 

5. Keep Surfaces Clear 

Sorting and removing unnecessary things from your countertops and end tables is a great way to focus on one area at a time. These are often the easiest places for things to pile up, and having messy surfaces can make it difficult to do basic tasks like cooking, so clearing these off will make a big difference. It will help your home feel less chaotic, and you’ll feel like you can function in it again.  

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6. Think Outside the Box 

An easy and helpful way to get clutter out of your home is to bring it to a local shelter or thrift store. When you’re collecting items, consider donating more than things like clothing that doesn’t fit or old toys that don’t get played with. Any books you don’t plan to read again are a great option, or dishware and utensils that stay in the cupboard and don’t ever get used. Thinking outside the box when gathering donation items can decrease your clutter significantly.  

7. Get Creative with Your Keepsakes 

Decluttering items that have sentimental value can be challenging, so finding unique ways to preserve them is key. For example, if you’re someone who keeps greeting cards, ticket stubs, and other things that have a memory attached to them, you could make a junk journal to keep them all together in one place. Getting creative with the ways you organize important keepsakes can help the process be both enjoyable and productive. 

8. Go Digital with Documents 

According to the National Association of Productivity & Organizing, we only benefit from around 20% of documents we save, while the other 80% are rarely acknowledged. To help remedy this, sort through your file cabinet, and scan everything that is absolutely necessary to keep onto your computer. Then toss the rest. Saving everything on a hard drive means that you can still print the important things if you need them, but they also aren’t taking up valuable space in your house.  

9. Decorate and Organize 

For the items you just need to organize, decorative items to hold your clutter can help to make your home feel more put together. Consider a ladder for your living room or bedroom to drape your extra blankets over, or a cute basket to hold all your child’s or pet’s toys. Doing this will free up space while also making your home look more aesthetically pleasing.  

No matter which methods you choose to declutter your space, the most important thing is making sure that you’re keeping items that make you happy or are useful and necessary. Anything else can go!