January is National Get Organized Month
Don't take on too much at one time. Take your time and just tackle one room or even a section of a room at a time during a weekend. For instance, if your office is overloaded with too many things that need to be done, go through everything on your desk before you tackle those files. If your bedroom may be a bit much to handle in one sitting, try going through your closet and dresser.
A good rule of thumb in determining what is a necessity and what needs to go is to ask yourself one question: have I used/worn this in the last year? If the answer is no, you can get rid of it. An exception to this rule would be family heirlooms and holiday decorations. Of course, if things are tucked in every nook and cranny, you may want to consider passing along those family heirlooms sooner than you thought to make room for those things you need.
Once you have decided what you are keeping and what you are getting rid of, you will need to determine what is trash, what can be sold at a garage sale and what should be donated to your church or charity. Garage sales are great ways to get rid of things you don't need and get paid for them as well. However, charities are always on the lookout for clothes, appliances, furniture, etc. that is in decent condition. Some charities will even come pick up bigger items if you ask.
After the cold winter months are behind you and winter clothes need to be stored away, consider using stackable, transparent containers so you can easily see what clothes are in which bin.
These are just a few ways to help you get started in your organizational efforts this month. If you have any other tips that we should consider, I'd love to hear from you.
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