Our modern culture has focused on consumerism, and the problem of the accumulation of stuff, most of which we do not need, has permeated our lives. It is time to turn this situation around and implement a monthly decluttering schedule that cultivates a reasonably streamlined living.
We suggest a decluttering strategy that you can sustain without dealing with the overwhelming prospect of losing that initial new year energy and resolution.
A general guideline: make it a habit to put away all stuff after using them. This makes organizing and cleaning that much easier. Clean as you go.
January: family room
You can reassess the need for various gadgets, artwork, magazines, coffee table books, games and toys. Get a bin where you can put those you want to sell, donate, or throw away.
February: kitchen
Throw away worn towels or make them into rags. Dispose of unneeded tools, appliances, freebie cups, tupperware, dishes, and cookware, as well as expired spices and food.
March: crafts and hobbies
Clear out stash such as unused tape dispensers, spent pens, shreds of ribbon, and gift wrappers. Organize materials such as gift-wrapping supplies. Donate spare yarn, fabric scraps, and scrapbooking paper.
April: home office
Sort your stacks of files and shred, recycle, or throw them away. Go paperless as much as possible. Organize and declutter computer files, back up important documents, sort mail, and empty junk.
May: cabinets
Sort through various bottles of medicine, cosmetics, skin-care products, and similar stuff and throw away those you do not need and are expired. Shop online to avoid overbuying.
June: clothes
Sort winter clothes before storing and assess and declutter summer and spring clothes as you use them. Donate, sell, or throw them away as needed.
July: garage, shed, and yard
Organize your tools, gardening supplies, outdoor décor, and furnishings, and dispose of broken and unused ones. Hold a garage sale for sellable items and donate unsold items to charity.
August: laundry room and linen closet
Sort and organize towels, linens, and washcloths and recycle or dispose of worn-out and damaged items. Clear out cupboards and empty containers.
September: photos
Organizing photos into themed albums. Sort through pictures and frame favorite ones. Back up essential pictures while organizing them in the cloud. Tag photos as you upload and organize them so you can easily find them when needed.
October: dining room supplies
Up your game entertaining friends by streamlining and sorting your tablecloths, napkins, placemats, serving pieces, dinnerware, and décor. Dispose of or recycle stained and worn-out ones. Build matching sets with distinct themes.
November: entrances, hallways
The busiest areas in the home also need attention. Store away stray things. Add drawers, hooks, and shelves where coats, shoes, and other stuff can be placed.
December: holiday decor
Streamline holiday decorations and dispose of those you do not need. This will be easier to do while you are setting them up.
Feel free to follow this schedule and guide strictly or modify it according to your individual needs and preferences. By the end of the year, you will have made a more spacious, fresher, and clutter-free home and hopefully sustain it moving forward.
