Declutter Your House in the New Year for Your Mental Health
Updated: Sep 12, 2022
Declutter Your House in the New Year for Your Mental Health
Having a decluttered house reduces stress and improves sleep, which is what we need to get the New Year started on the right foot. With this in mind, packaging retailers RAJA UK has revealed tips on how to declutter your home and has provided a helpful calendar to make cleaning throughout the year as easy as possible.
TIPS TO SUCCESSFULLY DECLUTTER YOUR HOME
Use the three piles method: Divide your stuff into three piles; things you’ll keep, things you’ll donate or sell, and things that you’ll throw away or recycle. This way you have clear actionable intentions for each item.
Be brutal: To have a successful clean, you’ll need to be brutal. If you haven’t used the item in six months and you don’t envision using it, it’s likely time to get rid.
Tackle one room at a time: Select one room and work through it until it’s clean and tidy. This reduces the risk of burnout that may occur if you take on too much in one go.
YOUR CALENDAR TO DECLUTTER THROUGHOUT 2022
The New Year can be a stressful period, full of expectations and resolutions you might be struggling to stick to. However, studies show that 35% of Brits found decluttering their home to be a therapeutic experience and one that we can control. While blitzing the entire house from top to bottom might feel daunting, a light, general tidy-up combined with some specific monthly focuses can make the job feel far more manageable. Take a look at the calendar below to make decluttering across 2022 as easy as possible.
January – Take down your Christmas decorations and store them in cardboard boxes, so they’re ready for next year. – Return or donate any unwanted Christmas gifts.
February – Rearrange the kitchen by checking the expiry date on canned goods and get rid of anything that is out of date. – Donate or sell small appliances and cooking utensils that you no longer use.
March – Organise your bathroom, including your medicine cabinet and vanity drawer. Check to see if products are still in date and dispose of items that have expired.
April – Sort through your clothes and minimize your winter wardrobe. Donate or sell items you didn’t use. – Do the same for your children’s closet. See what clothes fit them (and will still fit in the next six months).
May – Clear out your hallway in May. Remove any winter coats or boots and replace them with lighter spring layers like jumpers or raincoats. – Dust and clean the area to freshen it up.
June – Sift through your storage space, such as a garage, shed, or attic. Organize it into specific zones, one for household tools, sports equipment, seasonal decorations, and garden supplies.
July – Craft items such as paints, sewing, and other bits can create clutter quickly. Store various craft items in cardboard storage boxes. – Organize your books, board games, and DVDs in your living room or games room.
August – During the summer holidays, clear out your linen cupboard. Recycle well-used towels, sheets, blankets, and linens, or donate them to your local animal shelter.
September – Tackle your home office space by getting desk organizers, such as pen pots and filing systems for documents that you have to keep.
October – Now it’s the end of summer, repeat the process you did in April with winter clothes. Look at the items you didn’t use and sell, donate or repurpose them. – Store away your sandals, flip-flops, and other summer shoes. Get rid of the ones you won’t use next year. – If your child’s closet is beginning to overflow, don’t forget to donate or sell items they didn’t use.
November – Sort out the decorations that you packed away in January. Donate or sell what you won’t use. – Again, make sure you’re up to date with what is in the kitchen cabinets that you organized in February.
December – Enjoy Christmas in a clutter-free house.
About the Author
Julie Painter is a freelance copywriter who has written for a host of digital publications, delving into the worlds of tech, housekeeping, and business.