The weeks leading up to the New Year are a sweet spot for letting go. There’s something
motivating about closing one chapter before opening another. You don’t need to overhaul your entire home. Just focus on a few key areas that quietly collect clutter and mental weight throughout the year.
1. Fridge and Pantry
Start the New Year feeling fresh by clearing out your fridge and pantry. Toss anything expired, questionable, or that you realistically won’t eat. If you haven’t used a pantry item in the last six months, chances are you won’t suddenly fall in love with it in January.
Take a hard look at your freezer, too. Make it a goal to use up older items before adding anything new. And don’t forget herbs and spices; many lose flavor long before the jar is empty. Just because a spice rack has a spot labeled “cardamom” doesn’t mean you need to keep it.
2. Linen
Closet
Linen closets quietly multiply. This is a great time to pare back and donate. Animal shelters often welcome old towels, sheets, and blankets. A simple guideline:
-- Keep no more than three sets of sheets per bed
-- Guest beds really only need one
-- One mattress pad per bed is
plenty
Extra dust ruffles, worn sheets, or mismatched
pillowcases can move on.
3. Paper, Publications and Old Information
Old magazines, newspapers, printed newsletters, and random paper stacks from years past can go. If you haven’t referenced them by now, you probably won’t. Information is easier than ever to find digitally, and
keeping piles “just in case” only makes future sorting harder.
Recycle what you can and enjoy the instant visual relief.
If you’re craving a clean slate and a clear plan, Goodbye Clutter is designed to help you let go,
step by step, without overwhelm. 4. Kids’ Rooms & Closets
Before the post-holiday influx, help kids sort through what they already have. Explain that
making space now makes it easier to enjoy new things later.
A helpful rule: for every item added to a wish list, choose two things to donate or let go of. It encourages thoughtful choices and helps prevent overwhelm, both for kids and parents.
5. Liquor Cabinet and Bar Supplies
If you have a liquor cabinet, this is a surprisingly satisfying area to edit. Opened bottles don’t last forever, and novelty purchases tend to linger far longer than intended.
Keep a simple, realistic selection based on how you actually entertain, not how you imagine you might.
The same goes for
bar tools. If you don’t use it, you don’t need it “just in case.”
6. Recorded and Saved TV Shows
If you’re saving shows on a DVR or streaming watchlist but
never getting to them, it may be time to let some go. If weeks (or months) have passed, you’re probably not missing much. Many shows have episode recaps online if you truly need closure.
Freeing up this digital clutter can feel just as good as clearing a drawer.
7. Mental Clutter (The Most Important One)
The most powerful decluttering happens in your head.
If you’ve been telling yourself that you’re always overwhelmed, always behind, or “just not organized,” those beliefs quietly run the show. Before your home, or your schedule, can feel lighter, you have to believe change is possible.
Being organized isn’t about perfect containers or matching labels. It’s
about:
-- Knowing where things are
-- Paying bills on time
-- Showing up when you need to
-- Creating systems that support real life
Organization is simply life running
more smoothly...and that’s something you can have.
On another note...New Year, Ready for Anything: Simple Essentials to Start Fresh: Everyday items that support fresh starts, gentle routines, and a more organized, intentional year ahead.Essentials for the New Year
