I have lived in Minnesota my entire life.  I’m not a fan of January.  It’s cold and dark.  It seems one by one, houses put away their beautiful Christmas lights. The days are short, and the temperatures drop.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I prefer warm (even hot) temperatures and more sunlight.

But there is one positive thing that I can say about January.  It is a month of new beginnings. I don’t set resolutions for myself.  But, I always have goals.  You can bet my goals have always included healthy eating and some kind of fitness accomplishment.  I also may have a goal to improve my home in some way, to achieve a certification, or to travel.

Since I became a Professional Organizer, I learned January has a name.  It’s GO (get organized) month.  Of course, I think this is great!  It’s actually perfect timing as we spend more indoors than ever in January.

So, to help you get started on some organizing projects, I am giving you 5 ideas.  Pick one. Do it.  Repeat. Your life will soon be lighter and brighter!

Tips To Get You Started

1.  Go to your closet.  Turn your hangers around.  At the end of each season, you will know what clothing you don’t wear because the hangers are still turned around.  Evaluate those pieces.  Can they be donated or recycled, or do you want to give them one more season?  It’s a great way to thin things out and maybe even rediscover some clothes you forgot about!

Here are some more tips on editing your closet!

2.  Use trays, bins, or baskets to corral your items.  When you go to organize a drawer or cupboard, first empty it.  Then sort the items and declutter.  Start a trash bag, a recycle bag and a donation bag (or box).  Clean the space.  Before putting things back, put them in a container to help keep them tidy and organized.  You can even use gift boxes that may be lying around.

Use bins and baskets to containerize items in a pantry

3.  Go through the linen closet.  Say goodbye to linens that don’t fit any of your beds, or those worn out and tired.  Put sets of linens in baskets or bins, labeled with the sheet size.  Has anyone else spent valuable time trying to figure out what size the sheet is??

I like to put each set of sheets in one of the pillowcases.  You can then pull the entire set out as one item.  So easy!

Start the year out with fresh linens

4.  Keep a donation box going at all times.  It may even be a good idea to put one in every closet.  That way, if something doesn’t fit, or will no longer be worn, in the box it goes right then and there.

5.  Last, but not least, pause before buying or acquiring items given to you.   Do you need the item? Do you already own something similar?  Do you have something else that could do the same job?  Do you have a place for it? Purchasing items has become so easy.  We can do it anytime, anywhere without even really thinking.

I encourage us all to take some time to think before acquiring more things.

Click here for an excellent article on this topic.

I wish you happy organizing and lighter living in 2025, as well as health and happiness.

And always remember-summer is coming!!