While losing weight and quitting smoking are two of the most popular new year’s resolutions, getting organized is also pretty high on the list. Have you ever noticed that you concentrate on your work and sleep better when the room you’re in isn’t piled with clothes and junk? In a survey last year commissioned by the National Sleep Foundation, it was shown that people can sleep better when their bedrooms are clean and comfortable. A clean, uncluttered space is typically more enjoyable to be in than the opposite. So, simply follow these organizational tips to start living a cleaner, more comfortable life.

1. Clean out and organize your closets. Wait a second…what’s inside your closets isn’t visible when the doors are shut. Why should you clean them first? Well, there’s probably some stuff sitting out that could stand to be in the closet, and it’s going to be hard to fit it in there if there’s no space. So, take out your junk and make piles: keep, throw out, and donate. In general, if you haven’t used something in a year, it’s probably something you can get rid of. Once you’ve done that, organize what’s left. Closet shelves and organizers come in handy here, and they’re usually available for pretty cheap prices online or in department stores.
2. Next stop: the bedroom. It’s time to get rid of the old clothes you haven’t worn in years. If it doesn’t fit or it’s really outdated, throw it away or donate it to someone who’ll use it. As far as the rest of the room goes, it’s all about comfort. Keep walls, furniture, and decorations clean and fairly simple. Don’t use loud colors as more than accents. Also, don’t skimp on bed linens – buy the best ones you can. Indulge in anything that helps you sleep!
3. Don’t use half of your office space as storage. Life is full of distractions already, without boxes of stuff piled by your desk. To keep yourself more focused on work, keep your space clean. Also, it’s really easy to just throw random papers into the office somewhere. Go through all of them, recycling the stuff you don’t need and filing the stuff you do. Clearly label some file folders or drawers to keep all of your important papers organized in. A fun tip for the office is to create an inspiration board. Clip or print some things that inspire you to get work done and pin them up on a board, so that you can be inspired each day.
4. Organize your pots and pans. A clean kitchen is a happy kitchen. Get rid of kitchen clutter! Throw out some of your old, stained plastic containers. Donate any old pots and pans that you no longer use. Also, it’s time to go through your junk drawer. We all have one! It’s that drawer that you throw random things from your pockets, your purse, or your countertop into. Most of what’s in the drawer can probably be thrown away, and the drawer can be used for something more practical and useful, like food, silverware, or clipped recipes. Don’t have enough cupboard space? Check out this cool kitchen pegboard idea.
5. Deep clean your living room. The living room is where you most likely spend a good chunk of time. It’s a place to gather, to have fun, and to relax. Since this room is such an integral part of your space, it’s really important to keep it clean. Recycle or file the pile of old mail and magazines you’ve got on the coffee table. Don’t leave any food laying around, and vacuum often. Keep your couch and other furniture open, clean, and inviting. Make sure you’ve got nice lighting. If you really unleash your style to decorate the room, and you’ll enjoy the space more and keep it cleaner. Check out these living room feng shui tips for some help with setting up your space.
6. Clean up after kids and pets. While your pet may like to wallow in its own scent, that doesn’t mean you should smell like him too. Keeping your furniture and floors swept and vacuumed and pet-hair free can make a big difference in how clean your space appears. Tackle any stains that may be eyesores. Also, if you’ve got children, make sure to go through and get rid of their old toys every so often, so that they have fewer to leave lying around the house and in piles on their bedroom floors.
7. Cleaning the bathroom isn’t fun, but somebody’s got to do it. While many people hate cleaning the bathroom, it’s very important for the cleanliness of your space as a whole. It only makes sense that the room you clean yourself in should be just as clean. An easy way to do this is to wipe down the sink, toilet, and shower a couple times a week. That way, there won’t be any buildup of soap scum or other dirt and grime. Also, go through your medicine cabinet. Not only do old medicines take up space, but they can also be dangerous. Throw out anything that’s past its date or doesn’t look or smell right.
8. Stop carrying garbage around with you. Are you a student? Clean out your book bag. A woman? Clean out your purse, wallet, and makeup bag. A man? Get rid of the old cards and receipts in your wallet or man bag.
9. Organize your activities. Start keeping some sort of calendar or notebook. A small notebook, and app on your phone, or a dry-erase board in your entryway will do the job. Keep track of appointments, due dates for work or school projects, grocery lists, important ideas, etc. You’ll be surprised by how much more organized it makes you feel. It may be hard to remember to do it right away, but if you keep at it, you’ll fall into the groove.
10. Organize your happiness. Keep your new year’s resolutions. De-stress, take vacations, get rid of distractions, get in shape, treat yourself occasionally…it’s much easier to keep your space enjoyable if your life fits the same definition.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 16th, 2012 at 3:45 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.