10 Ways to Combat Clutter for Good!

One of my main goals this year, like many others, is to be more organized this year. I've recently started college to work on getting my bachelor's degree, so when I'm balancing that with family life and blogging, the only way I'll stay sane is to have a system and to clear out clutter.

A new survey reveals that the average American stockpiles 23 unnecessary items in their home and 57% keep things for sentimental reasons, while a third procrastinate throwing out items they no longer need. Commissioned by ClosetMaid®, this study also found that homes are so bad that one in five is being accused by friends or family members of being a hoarder.

We moms are busy. Life is hectic and there's no shortage of messes. Sometimes we need a little kick in the pants (figuratively) to get us motivated enough to make our own lives easier, because let's face it, getting organized is a huge undertaking. The benefits, however, are definitely worth the time it takes to get there. 

If your goal is to be more organized in the new year, then you're not alone. Here are ten tips from ClosetMaid to help you combat clutter and become more organized in 2018:

• Remember that consistency is better than intensity, so be sure your resolutions for decluttering and organizing are reasonable and not so ambitious they are destined for failure. 
• Create a drop zone for things like briefcases, purses, totes, and backpacks that come in and out of the home frequently. 
• Fight the paper war by discarding catalogs, solicitations and advertisements you get in the mail and set up a system for addressing personal correspondence, bills, etc. on a regular basis. 
• Organize clutter digitally by scanning old photos and documents and storing them on your computer instead of boxes or file cabinets that take up precious space. 
• Select a single project and stick with it until complete rather than taking on multiple ones at the same time. 
• Get a system in order that will help manage and organize your belongings.  There are plenty of products on the market that meet all needs, budgets, lifestyles, and tastes. 
• Be ruthless in your closet and get rid of things that are out of style or no longer fit.  Treat yourself to ultra-thin hangers to make more room and take away the visual noise. 
• Don’t make the mistake of simply moving stuff to new locations.  Evaluate what you have and if it’s worth keeping.  If it’s not, do not procrastinate, discard it immediately rather than relocating to a new space. 
• Learn to delegate chores and hold family members accountable for managing their own belongings. 
• Don’t get tripped up in nostalgia and hold onto things just because they evoke memories.  If it’s that sentimental, take a photo of the item and then toss it away.

Do you have any organizational goals? Comment below and let us know what your biggest problem area is.