Unclutter Your Life for the New Year

A New Year means an opportunity for a fresh start and the possibilities are endless. It’s all about letting go of the old and embracing the new. Over the course of a year, we can accumulate a lot of things in our home, work space and our life and it’s important to come up with a plan to make sure you reign in 2013 with a clean slate and live in a clutter-free environment.

According to Denise Linn, author of Feng Shui for the Soul, clutter is: any “object that is not loved or used, half-finished and never-started projects, anything that has been broken for a long time or has parts missing, unwanted gifts that are kept 'in case the person visits,' partially used old make-up, clothes that don’t fit, and piles of magazines and newspapers that will never get read.”

Here are a few tips on how to unclutter your life and prepare for what 2013 has to bring:

Declutter

• Be open to new things coming into your life, by getting rid of the old.
• Imagine what you want in your life, if there is anything that doesn't support that imagine then get rid of it.
• If you haven't used something in over six months, you don't need it. Let it go.
• Fill your home with the things that raise your energy level and make you feel good, and get rid of the things that drain your energy or are broken.

Organize

• Come up with a system that's not going to be impossible for you to keep up with and follow.
• Organize your primary wardrobe closet.
• Experience serene mornings by saving time and reducing stress with an easily visible set of choices. We recommend organizing clothing by type, such as short sleeve, long sleeve, pants, skirts, jackets, and suits, and then within each category also sorting by color, from light to dark. This arrangement allows you to create many more outfit combinations and actually see what you have.
• Label every box or bag you stash or store this year. It's a key element to an organized new year.
• For your workspace, try to reduce the use of paper. According to Darlene Jeter in 5 Ways to Declutter Your Life, paper clutter is the number one problem for businesses. If you need reminders use a notepad for them, and if you have drawers use them to store documents in an organized manner.

Take these quick tips and put them to use in the New Year. They will be sure to make your life easier, and will allow you to start 2013 fresh. Here’s to a happy New Year!