Over the course of the past nine months, many of us have spent more time in our homes than ever before. Due to the increased time at home, many of us have probably realized that we aren’t as organized as we’d like to be.

If your New Year’s Resolution includes home organization, but you are apprehensive to get started, know you’re certainly not alone. The idea of organizing an entire home can be both daunting and overwhelming, so we’ve compiled a few ideas to uncomplicate the process:

1. Pace yourself

Don’t make the same mistake that many aspiring organizers make by believing everything needs to be done immediately. Yes, you may start out strong, but burnout can happen quickly if you don’t have a plan in place to keep your momentum high.

Set realistic expectations by assuming the job is not going to take an hour or even an afternoon. Consider starting with one area or room, dedicating 15 to 20 minutes to organizing the space. After taking the allotted time, you will either start seeing progress and want to keep going or feel accomplished enough to wait before starting the next area.

2. Develop an exit strategy

It’s not enough just to sort through your possessions. You also need to have an action plan for the applicable items. Use boxes you collected over the holiday season to sort through all of your possessions. Box examples may include Toss, Store Elsewhere, Sell or Donate.

The next question you will likely ask is where you can donate items that you no longer want or need. You may be surprised to learn that you can support Wisconsin Lions with items taking up valuable space in your home.

Eyeglasses – Did you know that many developing countries lack the resources to manufacture quality lenses? The Eyeglass Recycling Center is working to help those who need eyeglasses to see clearly. At any particular time, the inventory available is about 125,000 pairs of glasses, which are then provided without cost to sponsors of Vision Mission projects. If you’d like to donate used eyeglasses, send them to 3834 County Road A, Rosholt, Wi 54473.
Hearing aids – the WLF Hearing Project works to promote awareness of hearing loss, knowledge about prevention, recognition and treatment. Wisconsin Lions collect and recycle used hearing aids for salvage credits then using them to reduce costs for purchase of new hearing aids for the project. Consider working with your club to organize a collection drive.  
Used cell phones – Next Tuesday, January 26, is International Mobile Phone Recycling Day. You can free up space in your junk drawer by donating your old mobile device. Contact the Wisconsin Lions Foundation for more information.

Who would have thought that by decluttering your home, you can also help an organization that is close to your heart – talk about a win-win!

3. Ensure all items have a home

Is there anything more frustrating than not being able to find an item because you don’t know the last place you left it? The best way to resolve this issue is to make sure all of the items in your home have a place of their own. Of course, that’s easier said than done.

Come up with a plan by envisioning all of the activities that will take place in each room and find a storage solution that will work for all of the necessary items. This task will be one of the biggest challenges but will likely yield the most long-term results.

4. Stick to a routine

After dedicating time to home organization, you will want your results to last. Whether you decide to spend the first part of your weekend decluttering the common areas or take 10 minutes each evening putting miscellaneous items away, find a routine that fits your lifestyle.

Home organization is a marathon, not a sprint! Do you plan on making organizing a top priority in 2021? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy organizing from Lions Pride!