Transform Your Life in Just One Month With Our "Get It Done" Challenge

Keeping any closet clutter-free is always a chore, regardless of its size. Even if your messes are hidden behind closed doors, you’ll be reminded of the chaos every time you go to retrieve a broom or a pair of shoes, and no one needs that stress in their life. Depending on how many closets you have in your home and the kind of state they’re in, organizing your closets may take you more than a few hours, but it’s a project well worth taking on. Just imagine the relief of being able to open your closets and not worry about all its contents spilling out!

“Start by sorting what’s in the back,” expert organizer and Keep This Toss That author Jamie Novak suggests. “The things you can’t easily see are often easier to decide what to do with: keep, sell, donate or recycle. Don’t pull all the contents of your closet out unless you have the time to finish putting them all back. Better off working shelf by shelf and a few hangers at a time. Be sure to leave a bag standing up on the floor of your closet to collect unused items to donate.” Using closet organizers can also help you maximize your space, which is especially helpful if you’re trying to organize a smaller closet. And as Ashley Murphy, co-founder of NEAT Method, points out, swapping out ”mismatched hangers with a new set of hangers in a coat closet” can make a big difference.

Once your closets are in good shape, the next step is getting rid of those things you no longer wear or use. Following the Konmari method can help you decide which items you want to keep and which ones no longer serve you, and from there, you can decide whether each item should be trashed, sold or donated. Selling your things takes time and effort, so you should probably only attempt to resell big ticket items (such as furniture, large electronics and appliances), as well as brand-name clothes, shoes and accessories in good shape. All else should be donated, unless those items are worn beyond use.

Decluttered items you can include in the donation pile include gently used clothing, games, toys, small electronics, books, dishes and housewares. Lucky for you, there are plenty of places where you can donate your clothes and other belongings and give them a second life. And if you want to make your life a whole lot easier, then turn regular donations into a habit. “Make this a recurring event — schedule a charitable pickup or drop off on a monthly basis,” Novak says. “Having a deadline to fill a bag for pickup is motivating and prevents the clutter from piling up."

Resolve the project of overstuffed drawers and closets simply by putting out-of-season clothes into storage. From roughly September to April, keep your spring and summer clothes tucked away in under-the-bed storage containers, and then switch your warm weather clothes out with your fall and winter clothes once the temperatures start to rise. For bulkier clothing items, vacuum storage bags can help you keep things contained (as well as protected until they’re ready to be worn again).

When you cut the items stored in your closets and drawers in half, you’ll have a much easier time finding what you need and being able to take inventory of your items. “Group the clothes by category, like sweaters or tank tops, and store them in smaller containers by category instead of one large jumbled tub,” Novak suggests. “And before you store anything, check the pockets. Stowing clothes for a season with candy or lip gloss in your pocket is a bad idea.”

Digital clutter can be just as cumbersome as physical clutter, and decluttering your life means sorting out your digital space, too. Chances are, you have hundreds of photos of pets, trips and family members taking up space on your devices and no idea what to do with them — even though deleting them seems out of the question. While physical photo albums are always nice, they also create clutter, especially if they remain untouched on your shelves. The best thing you can do is create a digital album for those photos so you can find them when you need them (but don’t need to worry about running out of storage space).

“Choose one backup to auto sync new photos with your phone,” Novak says. “Store photos in folders chronically and use the search feature to find what you need.” Trusted storage apps like Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox, Amazon Photos and Microsoft OneDrive can keep your memories safe and your devices decluttered. You can always invest in a portable external hard drive, too, if you want extra peace of mind.

Photos aren’t the only files you’ll want to keep safe and secure — you should make sure your important documents are backed up as well in case of data loss, ransomware attacks or natural disasters.

“​​Losing a file means wasted time recreating it,” Novak points out. “Set it and forget it with an auto sync to secure your files. This also lets you access them from wherever you are.”

If you have an Apple computer or tablet, then you can automatically back up all your files with Time Machine, which is built into your Mac. You can also use iCloud to store files, such as your documents and music. If you’re a PC user, then you can use Windows Backup to set up a regularly scheduled backup and a cloud storage provider like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive to store files.

In addition to deleting unwanted photos that are saved elsewhere, another way to clear up storage space on your devices is by deleting apps you don’t actually use. “Unused apps are one of the biggest wasters of valuable phone storage,” Novak says. Not to mention, having dozens of useless apps on your phone screen makes it harder to find the apps you actually do use on a routine basis.”

If you have an Apple device, then open your settings, tap "general" and select iPhone storage. Move through the list and tap the apps that say “never used” and delete them. For Android users, use the Files by Google app and navigate to the “clean” icon from the menu at the bottom of your screen. There, you’ll find a suggestion labeled “delete unused apps.” Once you’ve deleted any unused apps, Novak suggests “sorting other apps into folders on your screen — for example: shop, bank, games and social.”

Even if you’re not actively looking for a job, it’s always a good idea to have an updated resume on file for when and if that time comes. And if you don’t have a resume on hand, then now’s the time to make one. Paid services like Zety or free options like Canva can help you find a resume template that works best for you, whether you’re building a resume from scratch or looking to give an outdated resume a much-needed update.

“Once updated, keep a running list of accomplishments, accolades, awards and new skills learned,” Novak adds. “Don’t forget to keep a list of references as well. When you need them, you’ll be glad you did.” Take some time to make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date as well, because you never know what new opportunities may crop up if you make yourself available.

Maintaining a clean refrigerator and freezer doesn’t just keep you and your family from accidentally ingesting spoiled food — it also just feels good. “It is so refreshing to open the fridge door to a bright and organized space,” Novak says. Our clean refrigerator checklist will help you get your appliance sparkling again, but before you do anything, you need to toss any food that’s passed its expiration date.

“Search for unidentified frozen food and defrost to identify. Check StillTasty to confirm shelf life if you are unsure,” Novak suggests. “Then, designate each shelf and section of the fridge for a specific category of food, including one shelf for leftovers so they don’t turn fuzzy.” Just like when organizing your closets, you want to sort your refrigerator in a way that everything you need is in plain sight and nothing gets buried and forgotten in the back, because that’s when things are likely to turn funky.

Signing up for electronic mailing lists may seem harmless… that is, until your email inbox is full of messages about upcoming sales and deals that you have no intention of ever reading. Unsubscribing from all those unwanted listservs can be a bit time-consuming, but it’s a task well worth doing if you’re tired of deleting dozens of unread emails every day.

“To complete a (very satisfying) bulk-delete, search your inbox for the keyword “sender email,” then select all and click delete,” Noak suggests. “And before deleting the last email, be sure to unsubscribe.” And if you have a Gmail account, then you can use the Chrome extension Trimbox for Gmail to unsubscribe from mailing lists with just one click, which makes the job a whole lot easier.

Once you’ve unsubscribed from all those unwanted mailing lists, you can further clean up your email inbox by creating folders. Depending on whether you’re trying to clean up a personal or professional email box, you can create as many folders as you need to stay organized and keep important messages from getting lost in the shuffle. For instance, a “follow up” folder could be used for emails that require some action on your part, or a “reference” folder could be used for emails that contain receipts, reminders, instructions and other important documents you don't want to lose.

“Personally, I have three folders: 1. For Me to Do 2. Follow Up on This and 3. Archive,” Novak explains. Of course, there’s no correct way to keep your emails organized, so long as you make a system that makes important emails accessible and saves you from having to do endless keyword searches.

If you can't remember when your last dental cleaning was, then it’s time to get some appointments on the calendar. Make a spreadsheet for yourself to figure out when you last visited your primary care doctor, your dentist, your dermatologist, your optometrist and any other specialists you may see on an annual or biannual basis. Then, make sure you have an appointment in the books, either ASAP if you’re overdue or in the future if you’re not yet due for a visit.

Going forward, keep track of all your medical appointments in an Excel spreadsheet, an app like Capzule PHR or in a planner to make sure you never miss an important check-up. A smart suggestion from Novak: “Schedule all your yearly appointments in your birthday month so you won’t ever forget.”

Your mental health matters just as much as your physical health, and if you’ve been meaning to reach out to a mental health professional, then now’s the time to do it. Unfortunately, finding a therapist who’s a good fit isn’t always easy, especially if you’re looking for someone who accepts your insurance. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start by using your employer's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for referrals or ask another trusted professional.

You can always start by seeing who’s in your network and going from there. “If you have health insurance, call the number on the back of your insurance card,” Ecke suggests. “If not or you’d like to peruse on your own, Psychology Today and TherapyDen are directories you can use. Also, if you know a friend who is in therapy, asking for recommendations from them is a great way as well.” Even if the first therapist you try doesn’t end up being the right fit for you, making that first appointment is progress nevertheless.

While there are plenty of home repairs you should leave to the professionals, others — like patching a hole in your drywall or unclogging a sink — are simple enough for you to handle without help from pros. Commit to spending an hour or two taking care of those basic repairs all at once. “Start by making a list of everything you want to get done,” organizing and productivity consultant Julie Morgenstern suggests. “This simple task allows you to get it all out of your head, which frees your mind from the distraction of trying to remember everything. Once the list is done, you are in a much stronger position to start knocking them out one task at a time.”

Then, you’ll want to gather all the necessary tools and get to work. “Get out your supplies and a step ladder for minor repairs and tackle them at once,” Novak adds. “Paint touch-ups, glue on that coffee mug handle, tighten the screws on that pot handle and replace those burnt-out lightbulbs.” Check out our home maintenance checklist for simple home repair projects you can (and should!) tackle yourself.

Even though hanging art is a task that often takes just a few minutes of your time, it’s a task that almost everyone puts off for longer than they should. “Almost every one of my virtual clients has a piece of wall art that has been leaning against the wall waiting to be hung for far too long,” Novak shares. If you have a poster or photo you’ve been meaning to hang for ages now, then today’s the day to finally get it hung.

Before hanging your picture, make sure you gather your hanging hardware, figure out your ideal hanging height and make sure you have a level handy. And if you’re looking to upgrade a blank wall space and don’t have any art to hang, then we have plenty of DIY wall decor ideas for you to try out yourself.

Your home office is likely where you keep your most important documents and get your most critical work done, so keeping it tidy is imperative. Of course, that doesn’t mean keeping it tidy is easy. Start by taking everything out of that space, then give it a quick wipe down while it’s empty,” suggests Murphy. “Next, go through everything you removed and sort by the following categories: keep, move to a different room, donate, recycle, trash. Once you have done that, you can put the items you are keeping in the space where you want them to ‘live.’”

Not only will having an organized office look more inviting, but it'll motivate you to get to work, especially since you won't have to clear paper piles and junk out of your way to get the job done. Easy desk organization ideas can help you keep your workspace free from clutter, and if you need additional help keeping clutter at bay, then consider trying our 14-Day Declutter Challenge.

Have you been paying annual fees on credit cards you don’t need? How about monthly fees for streaming services you don’t use? It’s possible you’re subscribed to several services you have since forgotten about and don’t actually need in your life, and no matter how small the monthly or annual fee, those costs add up.

“Review statements for subscriptions you forgot you are paying for,” Novak suggests. “There may be some you can cancel.” With subscription tracker apps like Truebill and PocketGuard, you can easily cancel unwanted subscriptions, track your spending and credit score, automate savings and get help lowering your bills. However, you should also note that closing credit card accounts can lower your credit score, so unless you’re paying an annual fee, it’s best to keep those cards active, whether you use them or not.

Just like with food, cosmetics and medications expire, and chances are, you have drawers full of pills, creams and serums that have long passed their expiration date. Remove all the items from your medicine cabinet and makeup bag to make sure everything is still current, and get rid of anything that’s expired or simply not needed.

“For makeup, check the packaging for the little icon with a number inside — such as 6, 24, 36 — which tells you the number of months it’s good for,” Novak says. “Unused supplements, prescriptions and vitamins can sometimes be taken back to the pharmacy, or many police departments have safe drop boxes in their vestibule.” If a take-back option isn’t easily available, you can dispose of medications at home by flushing them (if they are included in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing) or disposing of “non-flush” medication in your household trash.

Nothing will make you feel more put-together than knowing everyone’s special days. Invest in a planner or desk calendar and jot down the birthdays, anniversaries and any other special occasions of your friends and family, using Facebook to fill in any special dates you may not know off the top of your head. “Don’t forget to include the year so you can calculate milestone birthdays and anniversaries,” Novak says. “And add a reminder a week before each birthday so you can get the gift or pop the card in the mail.”

To make things even easier, you can stock up on greeting cards that you can send out whenever you need them, including birthday, anniversary, thank you and sympathy cards. You’ll also want to make sure you have everyone’s current address on hand, along with stamps and envelopes.

Life becomes so much easier when you automate your payments. From credit card bills to subscription service fees, almost every payment you make can be made automatically so you never have to worry about being saddled with a late fee again. “Opt for paying bills online,” Novak suggests. “Set up auto pay for at least the minimum, and you can pay additional if you choose.”

Bills aren’t the only thing you can automate. Though a pricey initial investment, smart thermostats are a great way to save time and money in the long run, as they control your home temperature automatically, and installing one takes less than 30 minutes.

Tired of rifling through drawers and flipping through cookbooks in order to hunt down your favorite recipes? Though it may seem obvious, the most effective way to organize recipes is to simply put them all in one spot. Making your own recipe binder will save you from trying to remember where you wrote down your grandmother’s casserole recipe, and you can further organize those recipes by creating tabs and sorting recipes by cuisine type.

As Novak says, “A simple three-ring binder with tabs and clear plastic sheet protector is the perfect spot to slip in all your own personal recipes, family favorites, recipes printed off the internet or ones you tore out from a magazine.” You can also buy a dedicated recipe binder with recipe cards if you want to keep everything neat and uniform.