A more organized life is a common New Year’s Resolution. Being organized can be very efficient and means less time spent trying to find things…but it also takes a lot of time. It can even be a daunting task to try and become organized. When you begin, you may become overwhelmed with the amount of ‘stuff’ you have. We decided to begin researching some of the most popular tips, tricks and other information to help you stay on track. Keep reading to check out some of the awesome tips and cheat sheets we found to help you complete your goal of becoming more organized in 2016. We even have free printables. Enjoy a 30 Day Declutter Challenge, Konmari Checklist, and 52 Weeks to an Organized Home Challenge.
11 Things You Need to Throw Away
- Old Magazines
- Receipts, Bills & Documents – If you don’t want to throw something away, scan it and make it a digital file.
- Clothes – If you haven’t worn something in two years, donate it or sell it to a thrift store.
- Books – If you haven’t touched books in the last couple of months or if you don’t plan on ever re-reading them, sell them online or at a used book store.
- Medicine & Vitamins – Check expiration dates and how to properly dispose of medicine that you no longer need or use.
- Makeup & Perfume – Get rid of makeup that is too old or that you never use.
- Jewelry – Throw away any broken costume jewelry and even try to sell some you don’t plan on using online. For fine jewelry you can have it appraised and begin shopping on where to sell it.
- Food – Throw away anything that is old, unused, or rotting.
- Some Memorabilia – Trash cards and gifts you don’t have sentimental value too. You can also create a box rule. If it doesn’t fit in a designated shoe box, pitch it.
- Notebooks – Look through these and then throw them away…better yet, recycle them!
- Old or Unused Electronics – Try and sell these online or safely dispose of them.
10 Practices of Highly Organized People
- They write everything down.
- They give themselves deadlines.
- They take breaks.
- They have a home for everything.
- They have shared online calendars.
- They have a detailed email filing system.
- They tackle one task at a time.
- They have less stuff.
- They delegate.
- They set their alarms 15 minutes earlier than they have to.
20 Organizing Apps
If you are like us, you have your phone on you all the time. We love the amazing power that cell phones and tablets have. They also can help you make your life simpler if you have the right apps. Check out the lists below from KidsActivitiesBlog.com.
Scheduling & To-Do Lists
- Google Calendar
- Remember the MIlk
- Things
- 24me
Food Shopping & Meal Planning
- Dinner Spinner
- Big Oven
- AnyList
- Grocery iQ
- Saving Star
- Key Ring
Financial Organization
- RedLaser
- Home Budget with Synch
- Mint
Notes & News
- Evernote
Organizing – Why it isn’t working!
We also found this great article from JustAGirlandHerBlog.com. If you are always trying to become more organized but continuously fail, you can blame these reasons:
We take on too much. Learn how to say no and just do you!
We fail to plan.
We do too much planning. If you have no flexibility it’s hard to manage and stay on track when life happens.
We ignore broken systems. If something isn’t working or hasn’t worked in the past, figure out why and make a change.
We forget to reset.
Organization Ideas
Check out the following sites for some amazing organization ideas.
Check out these Free Printables!
30 Day Declutter Challenge – Popsugar
Konmari Organization List – JershaandDup – Best used with the new Konmari Book. Check it out on Amazon.
52 Weeks to an Organized Home – Home Storage Solutions 101
Sources: Popsugar.com, Lauren Conrad Blog, Kids Activities Blog, Just a Girl and Her Blog
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