Tag: decluttering

Create a Project for the Dead of Winter

Posted on by Jordank

There’s always a time of year when the #winter weather starts to wear on a person. Snow and cold likely find you indoors more than you want to be, and there are few holidays or occasions to provide a distraction. We’ve entered the year’s gray doldrums.

There’s a fantastic way to fight any boredom, anxiety, cabin fever or seasonal blues you might be feeling, however: Think up a new #project and get it off the ground! There’s extra time on the calendar, and you can defeat the winter weather to get something accomplished.

At #new year’s resolution time, the project might be yourself and your health. You might have started a dry January or be counting down to a dry February. You might set fitness goals such as losing X number of pounds or visiting the gym regularly.

You might decide to enhance your knowledge by learning something new — a language, a musical instrument, or a craft such as woodworking or pottery. The internet is full of free and reasonably priced classes; sites such as OpenCulture, MasterClass, Babbel and others help you get started.

Perhaps you’ve been planning a few small #household renovations — interior painting and redecorating, installing new insulation or shelving, and so on. As long as you’re trapped inside, you might as well get started on a project that makes your surroundings more inviting.

#Decluttering and #organizing is a great project to start now, since it can rapidly improve your home’s livability and your mood. The Spruce offers a 30-day challenge for the winter months, but you can adjust the scope of the project to suit your capabilities. ClothingDonations.org can help when you schedule a #free donation #pickup.

Projects don’t have to be huge to make a difference. Maybe you have a hobby you’d like to revisit. Maybe you’d like to finish one good book. Maybe you’d like to update your résumé, volunteer locally or help a family member with their project. Now’s the time.

Tackling a project can keep you from getting frustrated and bored during the dreary winter months. No matter what you might choose to do, you’ll feel more confident when you launch a new project and a sense of accomplishment when you complete it. Get it started!

Meet the New Year Head-On

Posted on by Jordank

The start of a #new year always carries hope for renewal. With the #holidays officially complete, people look to the future and think about how they want to spend the months ahead and what they might want to accomplish.

Six days old already, 2026 still holds ample promise for reaffirming #goals large and small. Everyone’s goals will be different; the important part is to acknowledge what they are and make concrete steps toward them.

Be intentional as you consider the year ahead. “It’s easy to get overwhelmed” by your goals, says Planoly. Write down the steps need to move ahead on any resolutions or plan, breaking the tasks down into achievable, bite-sized pieces.

Goals themselves don’t have to be huge to be life-changing. Success suggests 44 ways to “kickstart” a new year — everything from calling one of your kids to planning a vacation to #cleaning a #closet and #donating the excess #clothing to a #charity like ClothingDonations.org.

Medium suggests another 10 goals, including eating three square meals a day, buying a plant, spending time with your best friend, checking your blood pressure and going to a yoga session. These goals couldn’t be simpler, and yet, you will feel a sense of satisfaction and renewal if you complete one.

We at the Organizing Blog have many goals for 2026 (maybe too many). First, we’re going to continue to #declutter and #organize, of course, and report back to our many loyal readers what we’ve discovered about the process, ourselves and our surroundings along the way.

But we’re also going to tackle a few overdue #household #renovations, starting with new paint in the main bedroom and a complete bathroom overhaul. Satisfying these goals won’t be cheap, but few things are going to get any cheaper than they are right now.

For anything you put off until “next year,” that time has come. Make a list of goals and a plan for getting to where you want to be, Forbes says, and tell people about your goals so they can help. Measure your progress and course-correct when necessary, but never admit defeat.

Have a happy, productive and fulfilling new year!

What’s on Your New Year’s To-Do List?

Posted on by Jordank

The first days of 2026 presents many of us with much-needed days off, but they also can be a prelude to how you want the year to proceed. You could start by having or going out for brunch, Parade suggests. You could get started on new financial freedom by creating a household budget, or #organize your closets and #schedule a #donation #pickup with ClothingDonations.org. You could #clean out the refrigerator and pantry and finally get rid of those #holiday leftovers. Or you could binge-watch some TV and work on those personal #resolutions. There’s no wrong answer! #NewYear

The First Day of the Rest of the Year

Posted on by Jordank

Welcome to 2026! New Year’s Day can be one of the most festive and fortifying of the year if you do it right. You might treat yourself to a few hours of uninterrupted #relaxation by taking a hot bath or put on some quiet music. You can watch the Rose Parade or take in a few games of college football from the safety of your couch. You might spend a few hours taking down your #Christmas decorations and #organizing them for next #holiday season. Or you might launch an intensive #decluttering detox that extends well into the new year. The choice is up to you: How will you #celebrate? #NewYear

Simplify for a No-Fuss New Year’s Eve

Posted on by Jordank

Hosting a New Year’s Eve gathering doesn’t have to be a lot of work, says Real Simple. Limit the drinks menu to one batched cocktail, one non-alcoholic drink, and a Champagne or sparkling wine, for example, to make serving simple and flexible. You can also keep kitchen work to a minimum by having a dessert or appetizer potluck instead of staging a multi-course meal. A lineup of heavy apps and mini-desserts is great for noshing and many can be made well ahead of time, says author Jessie Sierra-Ross, so you won’t have to “play waitstaff” or miss out on socializing with guests. #NewYear