With 2010 fast approaching, taking a few minutes to go through these easy decluttering steps will go a long way to helping you declutter and get organized in the new year. These are simple steps. While they may not turn your life around on their own, they will give you some quick success to get you off on the right foot.

1. Set up an inbox
Grab a tray or a cardboard box and set up an inbox. Any tasks you need to perform or pieces of paper (such as bills you need to pay, or letters you need to respond to) you need to act on goes into this inbox. When you bring the mail home, put it into your inbox (unless you are acting on it right away) so when you need it, you’ll know exactly where it is!

2. Set up a landing strip
A landing strip is similar to an inbox, but for physical things instead of actions. It is where you place everyday items when you come home from work. Items like your purse, cellphone and keys can be stored on your landing strip, so you will save time in the mornings because you’ll always know where they are.

3. Start using online banking/bill payment
Online banking is safe and easy these days. If you’re not already signed up, talk to your bank and they will be able to help you. Paying bills online instead of writing out cheques and mailing in payments saves you time and money (since you don’t have to buy stamps). Check with any service providers you use (cellphone, cable, hydro, etc) to see if they have an online option, so you can receive an email when you bill is ready, instead of waiting for it to arrive in the mail.

4. Give away five items to charity
Quickly go through your home and find five items to give to your favourite local charity. These items can be clothes, books you’ve finished reading and know you won’t read again, or even some of the new items you got for Christmas. Before you know it, you’ll have removed 5 unnecessary items from your home. If you find more than five, that’s fantastic, but don’t stress yourself. Five is enough for now; this list is supposed to be easy.

5. Empty out one drawer
Take one drawer in your home and dump everything out of it! It’s ok if you pick a small drawer. Wipe it out with a damp cloth, for that snazzy new-drawer feeling. Now only put items back into it that actually belong there. Outright garbage goes into the trash (or recycling). Take items that belong elsewhere to those other rooms. Put the remaining items, the ones that are useful and belong in this drawer, and put them back in as neatly as possible. Now you can feel good that you’ve cleaned out an entire drawer – what a great way to feel going into the new year!

What is your favourite easy decluttering method?

This post is part one of a two-part series on Decluttering in the New Year. Part two will be up tomorrow.
Part one: 5 Easy Ways to Declutter in the New Year
Part two: 5 Hard Ways to Declutter in the New Year

Photo by Koka Sexton

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