Remove the clutter

Many people have new year's resolutions.  If you know anything about setting goals (which isn't that what a resolution is anyway?), you need to set attainable goals.  I can say I'd like to lose 50 lbs, but if I don't exercise and am not willing to change a variety of things in my lifestyle, it isn't a realistic goal.  Instead, it would be more reasonable to set the goal of working out a minimum of 3 days a week.  That is a reasonable and reachable goal.  And, who is to say that once that goal is reached, I can't add another goal.

A good goal is to remove clutter from your life.  Having organization in your home helps you to be a more well-rounded and organized person.  Same idea with goals....start small.  Your big goal might be to get your life/home organized, but it won't happen in one day.  Let's start with one room at a time, maybe even one SIDE of a room.  You know yourself best and you know what you will and won't do. You can read all the books you want, but you have to take that jump and start it!  You might even want to start with your phone. Really, your phone?  Yes! Your phone.
Monday: delete any apps that you don't use.
Tuesday: delete any old voice mail messages.
Wednesday: delete videos.
Thursday: delete photos (all those oops and accidental ones.  Or if you are a parent, the 1000's of photos that your children take of the floor or their chin!)
Woohoo!  In 4 days you quickly cleaned up your phone.

Here are other small things you can do in a day, in a short amount of time:

*get rid of all the dry cleaning bags from your closet
*remove all the wire hangers from your closet
*get rid of 5 pairs of shoes, 5 shirts, 5 skirts, 5 pants that for whatever reason you don't wear anymore. (if you find more than 5 of any category, good, but not necessary)
*attack the junk drawer
*clean under your bed
*pick one child's bed a day, for a week, and clean under their beds (warning, you might find scary stuff!)
*clean out the plastic cups you get from places you visit
*get rid of 1/2 of the water bottles you have shoved throughout all your cabinets
*reduce your cookbooks by half
*pick one room a week and start on one side of the room and work in 30 min shifts throughout the week. By the end of the week, you should be able to tackle the room without being overwhelmed.
*When you open your email for the day, unsubscribe to the first 5 email lists you are on.  Only save the ones that you frequently shop.

If you are like me, you have a few email accounts.  This one will take a bit more of your time, but pick one email a week and begin by deleting and organizing your emails.  Make folders and save in
folders if you think you need it for later.  I am sure you have a lot of junk email clogging up your email. This is a task that could easily take a few hours.  Set the tunes on and get working.

The important thing to realize is that it took a while for all this clutter to get in our homes and lives and it will take time and effort to get it out of your house.  Don't get frustrated and don't get overwhelmed.  Stay the course and stay strong!