With the new year upon us, most of us are looking to be a better version of ourselves. And for many of us, we are also looking to be more organized.
Here are 6 easy organizing tips for the new year.

1) Sort through the junk drawer

Junk drawers are a necessity, but they need some help once in a while. Tip: Once they’re organized, don’t try to eliminate them or the loose change and batteries will end up in another drawer. (Trust me on this one, I’ve tried.) Just try to organize your junk drawers every 2-3 months.

2) Keep a list of your passwords in a safe place

With all the recent hacking stories in the news, I do not recommend keeping this list electronically. My recommendation is to write them down (in pencil) in a small notebook. When required to change a password, erase it and write down the new one. Keep your list in the same place so it never gets lost!

3) Ditch your mismatched socks

Everyone has socks that just don’t have a match. Next time you find one or open that sock drawer, spend an extra 15 minutes to sort through the socks. The ones that don’t have a match should be ditched. If you find one, hold onto it for a week or so and then move on. Missing socks are a part of life and shouldn’t burden you! If you don’t want to throw them away, toss them all into a zip bag and donate to Goodwill, or another place that will also recycle clothing items.
If you want to make sure that ALL your socks ALWAYS have a match, you can do what my husband does and only buy one type of sock! I’ve adopted this method for myself and each of our kids and won’t go back.

4) Keep your party essentials in one place

Designate one shelf in a utility or linen closet for all your party supplies, such as paper plates, cups, utensils, napkins, vases, etc. Have another spot for streamers, balloons, and then actually use them! A clear, sealed container works well to protect disposable eating goods from collecting dust. Doing this will not just keep them organized and in one place, it will make setting up for your party that much easier! Grab the bin and BAM! You’re ready. This same concept can apply to swimming gear, camping supplies, picnic stuff, etc.

5) Consider additional shelving

Adding additional shelving is a easy and a great way to organize almost any space. Consider adding shelving, cabinets, or hooks in the kitchen, closets, laundry room, bathrooms, basement, garage, etc. Some shelving can be purchased ready to go, or others can be built for a reasonable cost.

6) Keep track of your instruction manuals

To keep them organized, store your instruction manuals and receipts for major purchases all in a centralized spot. I recommend using a 3-ring binder with plastic sleeves or a folder.
Another option is to ditch the manuals altogether and find a link to them online. Look up the item number, copy the link to the manual, and place them all into a document on your computer saved as “Instruction Manuals”. This will save a bit of time when you replace the batteries in your remote and can’t find out how to re-program it.