New Year, New Resolve: Here’s to a Less Cluttered 2025

As the new year begins, I find myself in a familiar spot: standing among the clutter that has slowly accumulated throughout the house. This time, I’m determined. I’m really going to do it. I’m going to get organized — and, by golly, this time I’ll actually stay organized!?

The truth is, I’m already a step ahead of my usual New Year’s clean-out, thanks to a good friend who stood in my pantry doorway a few months ago, shaking his head. “What?” I asked. “I know where everything is.” But I wasn’t fooling him, and it made me realize I needed to stop fooling myself too.

I want to be organized, but sometimes the sheer size of the task is overwhelming. So, I find myself gravitating toward other activities. More enjoyable ones, like playing pickleball or getting lost in a great book. For a while, I was an enthusiastic follower of Marie Kondo — if an item didn’t spark joy, out it went. I still try to stick to that principle, but let’s be honest: the spark joy test takes discipline, like any other method for bringing order to a home.

Stay on top of it, all yearlong?

Feeling ready to commit (once again) to getting organized, I reached out to some of my most organized friends for their best tips on maintaining tidy, clutter-free spaces. A common theme quickly emerged: staying on top of clutter requires ongoing effort throughout the year, not just a burst of enthusiasm in January. Regular trips to Goodwill (or your favorite thrift store) to donate unused items are a great start; cutting back on unnecessary purchases is another key strategy. Sorry, Amazon!

Keep it simple and don’t be overly nostalgic?

Keeping it simple is at the heart of my friend Sandra Parnell’s strategy, and her approach resonated with me. “If my ‘system’ is too complex, it just won’t get used,” she said. “If I have to move four storage tubs to reach the one I need, it’s not going to happen, at least not in my house.”

One of my personal challenges is being sentimental about the treasures in my home, whether it’s a scarf from Spain, a dish that belonged to my grandmother, a book my dad gave me, or the heart-shaped pillow my late husband held after his heart surgery more than a decade ago. Letting go of items tied to memories is tough for me.

Sandra shared her own mindset: “I ask myself, ‘When I’m no longer here, what will my kids do with this?’” She realizes that most of the time, these items would likely be discarded, so she figures, “We might as well save them the trouble and toss it now.” This isn’t a natural step for me, but I can see how it might clear up a lot of space, especially at the top of my closet. (By the way, if anyone is interested in a 2015 Dellin Betances bobblehead, let’s connect!)

Sandra also asks herself when she last used an item.? Some people set a guide of one or two years; if you haven’t used it or worn it within that period of time, toss it.

Keep your space usable

For Sylvia Esparza, keeping her home organized is crucial to her sense of well-being. An accomplished cook, she spends a lot of time in the kitchen but maintains a minimalist approach even there. “I won’t buy a tool unless it serves multiple purposes,” she explained. To keep things tidy, she also transfers most bulk foods into containers for a cleaner, streamlined look.? Sylvia’s knack for organization extends into every corner of her home, even her paperwork.?

Kids moving out?? Make that space your own!

When children grow up and move out, we often find ourselves with newfound space — but it’s up to us to make the most of it. If your grown kids’ bedrooms still look like they live at home, now might be the perfect time for a refresh.

Sylvia converted one of her three grown children’s rooms into a workout space, while the other two still have beds for family visits. The extra closet space now holds Christmas decorations and other items. Her kids are allowed to store containers in the backyard shed, but her youngest (and most recent to leave home) has a deadline to clear out her room before mom steps in to do it herself.?

Sandra takes a different view when it comes to repurposing kids’ rooms. “Don’t bother,” she says. “Kids are like boomerangs. You’ll just end up organizing and reorganizing as they come and go.” Still, she has set aside a few keepsakes from her son’s childhood that she thinks he might want someday.

If Sandra needed a reminder of the benefits of keeping our possessions to a minimum, she got it when she spent a month in Central America.? “After seeing how simply the locals lived and how happy they were, I firmly believe we all have too much stuff.”

Simple and happy.? That sounds like a great goal for 2025. Happy New Year!