NYC Professional Office Organizer’s Tips to Declutter After the Holidays
As the holidays come to an end and we begin to prepare for the new year, it’s the perfect time to declutter and organize. Getting your home and office back in order after parties and impromptu gatherings can feel stressful. Taking the time to organize, declutter, and maximize your space are all crucial steps to starting the year off on the right foot. Here are some tips from this NYC Professional Office Organizer to help you stay stress free after the holidays.
Create space in your home by getting rid of what you no longer need. The holidays bring with them excess especially in the form of gifts like sweaters, gloves and scarves that you may or may not want. To create space in closets, cabinets and dressers for these new additions to your wardrobe consider making a donation to your favorite charity. Try places like Dress for Success or Career Gear to donate your unused business clothes, or NY Cares to donate your old coats. The stress of tackling the sorting of your belongings can be greatly reduced when you consider how your gift will help someone less fortunate who really needs it this holiday season.
Free up space in your pantry by donating to your local food bank. Instead of trying to make room for the unopened food that was purchased specifically for the holidays, gather it up along with any other items that are cluttering up your cabinets. Donate it to a local food bank or other charitable organization. If you are in NYC, check out City Harvest and Food Bank NYC. You can even save on the post-party stress by donating your leftovers. Send them home with family and friends, or pack them up and share them with someone who you know might not have any plans
for the holidays or who may be struggling to put food on the table. Check out any local organizations who may accept donations of leftovers such as Rescuing Leftover Cuisine.
Organize your holiday decorations. Before packing up the decorations around your home and office, take some time to sort them and assess their condition. If there are any items that are broken and are ready to be officially retired, now is the time. Only pack those ornaments and decorations that you intend to use again as you want to save your valuable storage space specifically for these items. Make a shopping list of decorations that will need to be replaced and tape it to the outside of one of the storage containers so that it will be accessible. As you pack up the containers, be sure to clearly label each one so that they can be placed on the shelves in an appropriate order.
As the excitement and fun of the holiday season winds down and we return to our regular schedules, taking the time now from the festivities to declutter will save you time and effort in the long run. For more business and home office organizing strategies reach out to this NYC Professional Office Organizer.