5 tips for clearing space

I’ve lived in various small apartments in big cities my entire adult life, and for the past three years I’ve lived in the same 650-square-foot apartment in New York City—a one-bedroom oasis that I truly love . I didn’t initially think I would be in this space for so long, but let’s face it: moving is difficult and expensive. Plus, since I’ve customized my apartment to truly suit my needs and reflect my style, I don’t have to spread my wings and leave my little nest. What’s one of the main reasons my tiny apartment won’t fit? I clean up regularly every month.

5 Tips to Help You Tackle Your Monthly Clutter Problem

I’ve always loved organizing – ever since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed getting rid of unnecessary items and keeping only the essentials. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely not a minimalist, but everything in my apartment has its place and purpose. While I do have stacks of coffee table books and boxes of decorations that I will keep in the future for a larger apartment, you will never find unnecessary “stuff” in my home. Now I keep my space (and myself) free of clutter.

1. Choose a new area of ​​your home to focus on each month

It’s funny because my monthly organization isn’t something I schedule on my calendar or write down on my to-do list. Instead, I naturally tend to engage in the process every few weeks. However, if decluttering doesn’t come easily to you, that’s okay.

Each month, choose an area to pay special attention to, whether it’s your medicine cabinet, makeup drawer, bar cart, junk drawer, etc. Then, make a bag of items that can be donated or given to a friend, and another item that can be thrown away or recycled. By focusing on just one drawer or bin each month, you won’t get overwhelmed or make hasty decisions.

2. Don’t let donations stand still

Luckily, my apartment is located near some great thrift stores where I can easily drop off the items I have ready for my monthly decluttering. Make sure you discard unnecessary items efficiently, too, so your entryway isn’t flooded with reusable bags you’ve been meaning to take to Goodwill.

I love to thrift, so donating also means I can browse new items. Yes, this may seem counterintuitive, but honestly, I find that after cleaning, I’m much wiser about what I choose to bring home because I’m still in that tidy state.

3. Solve cleaning problems step by step

There’s no need to completely overturn your schedule to accommodate a monthly cleanup. My most productive monthly cleanups happen when I have 30 minutes to spare during the workday and need a distraction other than staring at a screen.

Don’t assume it will take you more than half an hour to complete an organizational task. You’ll feel more productive if you can incorporate a quick drawer cleanout into your daily schedule. Of course, areas like your closet need more free space—save that for the weekend!

4. Ask yourself if you would keep some things if you moved

I spent some time earlier this year toying with the idea of ​​moving, which led me to be extra hard on myself during my cleanup and see what I thought was worth keeping. Although I decided to renew my lease for another year, I still find myself seriously thinking about whether I really want to move (or pay a moving company to move!) another box of coffee table books (which are my largest) Bad habit! ) into the apartment of the future.

As you might ask yourself, if you real When you’re out at the bar and need that last cocktail, make an effort during your next decluttering spree to ask yourself if you really need the extra cookbook, vase, or tablecloth—whatever—or if you can put it in a donation box. After a while, this will become a habit!

5. Host a mini sale

Earlier this summer a collector friend of mine teamed up with me to host a small yard sale in another friend of ours’ basement and it was a huge hit! It may sound cheesy, but it brings me so much joy to see other people enthusiastically picking up books I haven’t touched in years, or obsessing over accessories that are begging to be displayed in their new home. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to make a little (actually, quite a bit!) extra cash. Just make sure you’re spending your money on something with a purpose and not on an after-sales shopping spree.

final thoughts

Need more inspiration? I’m always motivated to get organized after watching some of my favorite creators’ “Sunday Reset” videos on TikTok. While these cleaning jobs are much larger in scale, they are definitely inspiring and will make you realize how quickly you can tackle those pesky drawers that have been bothering you for months. highly recommended!

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