We spend a little extra time indoors over the winter months, so maybe spending time organizing our stuff is a good idea.  Every year, when boxing away Christmas, I feel the need to put my hands on other items that need to be sorted, thrown out, or moved. If you find yourself in the same spot, here are the top four things I organize starting every January.

Pantry

The one area in the house that is constantly being reinvented and often times, disorganized. Everyone, when in a hurry, will put whatever cereal box in whatever spot they want. They won’t put the canned tomatoes with the others, but will chuck them haphazardly in there without a care. So much so, I’ll forget what is even IN the pantry. (Truth: I once found the end of a bread loaf stuffed behind jars of pickles and pasta sauce.  It was beyond a science experiment.) I feel like the winter months are a time to make soups with the forgotten cans of beans and half used boxes of pasta. And, at the same time build up for the rest of the year by restocking sugar, flour and other baking items from the holidays.Winter is time to “stage” my pantry for the rest of the year. (Check out a step by step:  https://www.clutterkeeper.com/organize-your-pantry-like-professional/) BONUS: Take a good look at your spices.  Are you holding on to any from your college days? Is there a long forgotton jar of paprika in there? 

Computer File Cleanout

How many random files are currently living on your desktop? Or stuck in draft status in your email? When I look at my own desktop I have random downloads from the school and recipes I wanted to try. I might even have a funny meme that I intended to print and share with someone.  What I know I have is electric junk and I need to slim it down. I see myself with a cup of coffee and a power session of deleting in my future. 

Kids Clutter

You name it, we have it.  Or my kids have it hiding in a drawer on or a shelf.  It’s all the random stuff that collects daily from the kids’ lives. An old party invitation or a friendship bracelet or the study guide for the geography test from last year.  It all adds up and collects more dust and more items. In my home, I have three dumping zones for clutter and they are all currently full.  My goal is to roll right up to the zone(s) in question with trash can in hand and get to work.  If it’s not needed, it’s dumped right there and then. But I have to admit to you all, once done I have another zone created of stuff that needs to be saved and stored. This is an ongoing event. I’m never really done with it.  If you think you have a problem like mine, consider https://www.thesimplicityhabit.com/how-to-get-rid-of-countertop-clutter-for-good/ 

Calendar Out Your Year

For real, I actually began doing this every winter in the days between Christmas and New Year’s as part of family vacation planning. I (mostly) plan out my year at this time.  Once the kids report back to school, I dig out the school calendars and mark major events like Spring Break and Teacher Work Days. Then I look at what days I want “off” (in quotes because I don’t think we really ever have a day off). For example, I like to block Mother’s Day as a day off.  I also like to block the last Monday of the month as a day off. Think about events that you’ll want to remember that aren’t so obvious, like your HOA Annual Meeting, and definetley don’t forget your mother-in-law’s birthday.