(A quick read, because we’re busy parents, right?)
As 2023 is quickly approaching, it’s time to start thinking of New Year’s resolutions. If you’ve considered getting your home and life organized this year, you have come to the right place! Having kids running around can make it difficult to keep your home organized, but with these 4 simple tips, you can have a more productive and stress-free New Year.
For other great New Year tips, check out Life Declutters: Life & Homeschool
Just remember, this isn’t rocket science, but the basics of getting started!
1. Create a Schedule
Creating a schedule for your New Year resolution is a great way to stay organized and on task. To start, make sure you have a plan for daily tasks like making beds, tidying up the living room, or doing laundry. Even if you’re skeptical right now, I urge you to trust me on this one! Crafting a schedule doesn’t come easily for me either, but it does make life easier.
Similar to getting back into working out or improving your diet, take baby steps and progress gradually. If you go from eating whatever you want while being sedentary to suddenly running every day and only consuming salads throughout the week, a relapse is likely inevitable! To get you started, why not commit to making the beds every morning or end your day by wiping down the countertops? Of course, these aren’t set in stone; it can be whatever small task that is achievable and will make you feel like you have achieved something for yourself. From there, expand on the schedule. You’re an overwhelmed parent, so give yourself some grace!
Additionally, create reminders for yourself with post-it notes or an online calendar to remind you when tasks need to be done. We would encourage you to consider utilizing the Acrylic Wall Calendar by Merely Home! This is stylish and effective for keeping your busy household in the loop! And remember – don’t forget to involve all your family members in helping out! Once you get a cadence you’ll realize that setting up consistent routines will help keep everyone in the family aware of their responsibilities and become more organized throughout the New Year.
2. Get Rid of Clutter
Getting rid of clutter is often one of the first steps in getting organized. Take stock of all the items you have in your home, and determine what can be donated, recycled, or thrown away. Let’s go back to the beginning and start small, working our way up! Taking on a full day of decluttering could be daunting. We recommend taking it one room at a time or having everyone search for 1-2 items per day over the course of a week – whichever works best for your family. This will not only help clear up physical space in your home, but it can also help create a more positive mental environment for you and your family.
Additionally, if you need to buy any new organizational items such as containers or bins for storage purposes, make sure that they match the style of your home and are big enough to fit everything! Experience the convenience of Amazon.com and find customer-approved products at amazingly low prices with FREE shipping!
3. Develop New Storage Strategies
After creating a schedule and getting rid of clutter, it’s time to develop some new storage strategies. To start with, designate a specific area in your home for each item. For example, assign a space for backpacks, shoes, and coats by the entrance so that everyone is aware of where their items go when they come in from outside. Most significantly, hold each other responsible to maintain the organization! Assigning the location is easy, but maintaining is the challenge, right? If storage is an issue, consider purchasing some storage bins or containers to help organize all of your items. Labeling these bins can also be a great way to keep everyone organized and make cleaning up easier.
In our family, we strongly believe that every item should have its place. No, this doesn’t mean our house is pristine and flawless; after all, we are human with wild children! However, when it’s time to tidy up the mess, there is no need for us to hide things away in a drawer or closet—we know exactly where everything belongs because of accountability from each member of the household.
4. Get the Family Involved
To achieve organizational success and maintain your sanity, be sure to include the entire family in your New Year’s resolution plans! We can’t emphasize this enough – it is key for a smooth transition into 2023.
Try creating a chore chart with tasks assigned to each person and designate certain days for particular chores. Whether you’re short on time or creativity, these chore charts offered by Amazon.com provide an effortless solution! For young ones, make completing tasks an enjoyable game that leads to a reward such as candy or ice cream at the conclusion of the week. For more seasoned kiddos, offer them allowance money or extra time on their screens for the accomplishment of chores.
Setting expectations that include helping out around the house will ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to being organized. By teaching your family the advantages of staying organized, not only will they see the value in it but also develop habits that will prove invaluable to them as they grow. Furthermore, assigning chores is a great way to instill responsibility and organizational skills into your children at an early age.
So, Are You Ready?
The New Year is the perfect time to get organized and make a New Year resolution of keeping your home and life in order. By creating a schedule, getting rid of clutter, developing new storage strategies, and involving the whole family, you can set yourself up for success this year! With some dedication and hard work, you’ll have an organized home that will make it easier to enjoy time with your family.
For other tips and tricks to staying organized, check out this blog from Life & Homeschool
Happy New Year From Merely Home!
