Before the holidays, we started to declutter our home. We had boxes unopened from when we moved in THREE years ago. I mean seriously, get rid of crap. We loved decluttering, and it really does make all the difference. We were going to sell things and keep putting it off, so I just decided… stop procrastinating and discard it all.

Here are eight ways to declutter for the New Year:

Give yourself five solid minutes. Do a little bit each day for only five minutes, or break up into five minutes every half hour or hour. You will get distracted, so allow for that and track the time. Buy a timer here.
Give away one item each day. I felt amazing giving back (especially in the winter) a bunch of clothes for men, women, and kids. If you can part with a little bit by a little bit, you will be amazed at how quickly the results happen.
Fill one trash bag. You will be shocked by how fast this bag fills up. Pack it up, and then drop it off the same day. I find that if I don’t do take this step, then I will let the sack sit in my car or garage for months. Purchase trash bags here.
Make a list. Find out what you need to get rid of, make a list, and check it off. I love lists period. Separate what you want to donate, sell, or keep. It is the easiest thing to do.
Take the 12-12-12 Challenge. This event is something super simple. All you have to do is locate twelve items to throw away, twelve items to donate, and twelve items to return to their proper home. This method is an entertaining and exciting way to organize 36 pieces in your house quickly.
Experiment with items. If you think you might wear it again or use it again, try it on and see how it looks. If it is something that you like and forgot how good it appeared, then add it to the keep section and make a list of when you can wear it
Use your imagination. If you have not worn or used something ever, or it is in the original packaging, the chances are you do not need to keep it. Go ahead and discard it now before it takes up space again where it is.
The Four-Box Method. As I started to declutter, I brought in four boxes: trash, give away, keep, or relocate. I would place items in every room into one of the four categories. This approach might take some time, but it will benefit you in the long run.

No matter what technique or route you choose, you are making progress and strides. Every little bit does help, and you will feel great knowing you eliminated stuff collecting dust.

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Now that the “colder” months are ahead I find myself getting bored easier. I really dislike being cooped up in the house all the time and easily get cabin fever. I need to keep busy doing things, both physically and mentally.

Usually in the summer months we can get outside constantly. From mowing the lawn and yard work to swimming to evening walks. So now what to do? We can all use new ideas for activities, so I put together this list to help you get organized and fend off feelings of cabin fever.

Reduce your smartphone apps. You know all those annoying apps on your phone you used once and never used it again? I know you have some too. Just delete them! It makes finding the ones you use so much easier! Plus you’ll have more room for pictures.
Unsubscribe from emails. This one was my biggest project. I have so many emails coming in from stores that I never shop at, and never will. So I unsubscribed from them so that I could focus on the emails I do like.
Pick a closet to clean. I like to try to keep things organized and clean. So when I clean a closet, I get rid of clothes, blankets, and sheets. I reorganized it so that I could actually shut the door and when I open it nothing falls out.
Purge and organize cabinets. I know you have a junk drawer in your kitchen. The kind that you struggle to open because there is so much stuff in it. Stuff that you didn’t even know was there or haven’t used in months. Take everything out, clean the drawer, and don’t be afraid to throw things out!
Clean your digital calendar. This is another one of my favorite tasks. I have events and activities on my digital calendar from my old house, several are years old. I put them in my calendar so I could stay organized and didn’t forget things, but now they need to go. I was still getting notifications for those things so it cleared up space and time when I deleted them.

Some other options may include painting, cleaning windows, or sorting through old clothes. Make your list now, before the hustle and bustle of the holidays to prepare for those long, cold, winter days.

Are there other things you’d have on your list? Consider adding something that you have been putting off this year. Take some time to clear your mind and enjoy the time inside.