New Year, Better Me: Be the professional organizer you wish you could hire

Being organized always feels like a destination to reach, but if you’ve ever tried decluttering the spare closet, you know it’s more of a lifelong journey. We know how great it feels to sit in a space that’s organized and clean, so why is it so hard to get things in order?

Getting organized is time consuming, which is why it gets put off week after week and month after month. After a lot of frustration, you may be ready to throw in the towel and hire someone to do it for you. Before calling in the professionals, try some preventative measures that will put you in a good place to be organized and clutter free.

At Curbza, we’re kind of obsessed with decluttering and organizing. Our goal is to share the benefits of decluttering, including saving money, making money, saving time and having more space. There’s so much more to decluttering than just clearing out the garage (although that’s a great step), so we’ve compiled a list of tasks to tackle a few times a year that will save you tons of time in the long run.

Update (or start) your address book

Address books seem so outdated in the world of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the rest. These websites are a great way to stay in touch, but nothing beats a handwritten card or letter. Kick the year off by updating (or starting) your address book. If you have to send a virtual message to get the address and phone number you need, no problem. Once you have it, you’ll have it forever. Get your addresses in order, and don’t forget the birthday line. Sending out cards and notes to friends will have you feeling connected to the people that matter, and not to mention, super duper organized.

Create a home inventory

Having a record of everything in your home may seem excessive, but it’s really responsible. Cataloging your belongings, especially your valuables, will come in handy if anything were to happen and you needed insurance. It’s easy and free to create a home inventory with Curbza. Download the app and start recording your inventory. You’ll have a private stash started in just a few clicks, and of course, the app is free. We have a blog post all about creating a free home inventory right here.

Downsize

Downsizing your stuff will downsize your stress. If you already follow our blog, you know we’re all about decluttering and making money off of stuff you don’t use anymore. Here’s our top tips on how to start decluttering. A downsize and declutter session is a great way to kick off the year. After bringing in Christmas presents, host and hostess gifts over the holidays, you’ll probably find there’s more in the house than before December hit. Start the year with a decent declutter, and you’ll really feel like you’re starting fresh.

Start meal planning and prepping

You’d be surprised at how much time and money we waste when we don’t know what’s to eat. Planning and preparing meals for the week in advance may be something you’ve always imagined doing, but have just never tackled. Some of our favorite YouTube channels have amazing tips on the best meals to prep for the week and how to do it efficiently. We recommend checking out Mind Over Munch, who shares some really affordable meals that include vegan options, desserts and more. The Domestic Geek has also perfected the art of meal planning, and provides some really great ideas for saving time, money and calories when planning dinner.

It’s impossible to promise that this year is going to be mess-free, clutter-free and free of wasted time. It is, however, possible to make promises to ourselves that we’re going to try our best to stay organized, which will in turn, make life so much easier. What’s your secret to staying organized, or what’s the number one habit you want to adopt this year to make yourself more organized? Let us know in the comments below!