How many of us are feeling the pressure to jump into spring cleaning this time of year? The season changes and suddenly everyone is deep cleaning their entire life, complete with labeled bins, spotless kitchens, and full “life resets” … and somehow, your junk drawer is still barely closing and you’re eating cereal for dinner (again).
It often feels like there’s this unspoken rule that you have to completely reinvent your life the second the weather warms up. But what if we told you that you don’t need to organize everything right this second? You don’t even have to do it all in a weekend! Skip the pressure and just start somewhere, because even the smallest reset makes life feel easier. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Declutter first, organize second.
Let’s start by getting rid of what you don’t actually need (we know it’s not fun, but stick with us!). It’s a simple fact … everything gets easier to maintain when you have less stuff to manage. Focus on one small area at a time.
Use the "keep, toss, donate" method.
Most of the time, the simple methods are the most effective. As you go through things, sort them into three categories:
- Keep: You use it regularly
- Donate: Still good, just not for you
- Toss: Broken, expired or unnecessary
Implement systems that last.
Create systems that fit your lifestyle and routine to make staying organized as effortless as possible. Here‘s how to get started:
Give everything a "home."
Eliminate the daily scramble of trying to find keys, bags, mail, and so on, by giving everything a designated place. Bonus: This makes cleaning up quicker when you know where everything belongs!
Use the 2-minute rule.
If something takes less than 2 minutes to do, do it right away. This one habit alone prevents clutter from building up over time.
Keep a calendar.
Stay on top of everything without mental stress by having one place to track your schedule, whether you prefer a digital or paper calendar. Use it to track everything, from appointments, to events, to deadlines.
Start meal prepping.
Taking a little time to plan and prepare meals helps eliminate decision fatigue and saves you time during the week. Read all of our best tips on meal prep in this post!
Keep in mind that meal prepping doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Even prepping a few lunches or dinners makes your week feel more manageable.
Make your night routine work for you.
Organization is in the small habits you repeat daily. Creating simple routines helps you stay on top of things without constantly feeling like you’re playing catch-up.
Take 10-15 minutes each night to reset and prep for tomorrow. Plan out your outfit, take a peek at what’s coming up on your schedule, tidy up your space. Mornings are a breeze (and significantly calmer) when you take the time to plan ahead the night before.
It’s all about creating systems that make your everyday life easier and less stressful, no perfect spring cleaning aesthetic necessary! Focus on small changes and build from there. Over time, those little habits add up, and before you know it, life feels just a bit more put together. Happy spring!