48 Things to Declutter Before the New Year for a Fresh Start

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Everyone always tries to get their lives together in January but why wait until then? Get a head start and declutter before the new year! 

A clean and tidy space really sets the scene for everything else you do! If you have some big resolutions and want to get organized for the new year, help yourself now by making sure all your most important spaces are decluttered. 

The best part is that decluttering can be done over time. You can focus on one spot at a time; before you know it, you’ll be clutter-free. 

Clutter creates stress 

I’m sure we’ve all had that feeling of total overwhelm when the house is messy. I swear I can’t do anything productive if dishes are in the sink or the living room is full of clutter. I just can’t think! 

The second the room is tidy I feel my mood change, I can focus better, and I have the motivation to actually get my tasks done. Isn’t it crazy how clutter influences our moods so much? 

There are studies showing that clutter actually raises our cortisol levels (aka stress hormones). So, it’s no wonder when you clean up your spaces you feel automatically better. 

Types of clutter 

There are a lot of different types of clutter. I’m sure you can list off a few types right now that are either around your house or at work. However, there are also some types of clutter that you may not think about but should! 

01 – Trash

Actual trash can pile up. Whether the garbage can is overflowing or you’ve left some food wrappers in places they shouldn’t be (I’m guilty of this), trash can amount to a lot of the clutter in our homes. 

It can be hard to determine what trash is sometimes. Of course, conventional garbage and recycling. But what about old magazines just collecting dust? Or the junk mail you never seem to toss? Or items that have broken and you mean to repair but never get to? 

Tip: if you hold on to something for more than a month and you don’t touch it (like a magazine for example), throw it out! You don’t need it and obviously don’t want it. 

02 – Paper/ digital clutter 

I put paper and digital together because often there are a lot of the same things (bills, mail, pay stubs, etc). Some people are more “paper people” and some have switched more to digital. Both are fine but they both add a lot of clutter to your life. 

Whether the mail is physically sitting on your counter or your email inbox reads “500 unread emails” it’s the same type of stress. I know when I see my email piling up it makes me feel a little claustrophobic and then I worry if I’ve missed something important in all that junk. 

03 – Future use clutter 

You know when you hang on to something because you just KNOW you’ll use it at some point? We have all done this with clothing (I’ll lose 10 pounds and it will fit again, I might wear this to a costume party, etc). Do we ever end up using these things? Hardly! It’s not worth holding on to every single random item just because we might use it again. 

04 – Stocking up clutter 

I know the deal at Costco seems too good to pass up but do you really need 10 boxes of pasta? 

This is a hard one because I love a good deal and if it’s something you’ll use often it can be hard to walk away from it. However, if your house is anything like mine (small) you probably don’t have a ton of storage space. 

Soon your house is looking like one of those apocalyptic bunkers and there’s no room for anything else. That can’t be healthy. So, be realistic with what you NEED and also what kind of storage space you’re working with. 

05 – Sentimental clutter

Now, I’m not saying to throw out your most treasured items. But sentimental things can be a big source of clutter. Often times people feel like they have to keep something if it’s been passed down from their grandmother or it’s something “special” in their family. I have some things like that for sure! I also love to keep birthday cards from friends and family. 

If possible though, be realistic with yourself – does this sentimental item really hold sentimental value to you, or are you keeping it because you feel like you have to? 

06 – Mental clutter 

Finally, you might not think about this as being clutter but it really is! The thoughts, worries, fears, endless to-do’s, and everything else you have going on in your mind holds a lot of weight and even though you can’t see them, they can really clutter your space. 

Tip: brain dumping can help you empty up extra space in your mind when you are feeling overwhelmed! 

Things to declutter before the New Year 

So, with those types of clutter in mind, here is a big long list of things you should declutter before New Year’s! 

Trash: 

– Any garbage laying around 

– Recycling 

– Anything broken 

– Anything missing parts 

– Check your garage/ storage areas 

– Empty paint tins, cans, boxes 

– Pantry (expired food, food you don’t like, etc) 

– Dishes that are broken or with big cracks 

– Worn-out clothing, bedding, pillows, blankets, etc 

– Expired products (makeup, beauty products, lotions, etc) 

Paper/ digital clutter: 

– Junk drawer 

– Mail 

– Magazines, books, notebooks, planners – if in good condition, donate! – Receipts 

– Take out menus 

– Email inbox – unsubscribe to things you don’t look at 

– Files on your computer

– Pictures on your phone 

– Notes app 

– Google Docs – delete things you don’t need anymore 

– Bookmarks tab 

Future use clutter: 

– Clothing – if it doesn’t fit, get rid of it 

– One-use items (kitchen tools for example) 

– Exercise equipment 

– Health/ wellness products (protein powder, supplements, skincare, etc – if it isn’t part of your current lifestyle, get rid of it) 

– Craft supplies for something you don’t plan on working on in the near future – Any items for hobbies you haven’t started 

Stocking up clutter: 

Any multiples of things you don’t need want, or like 

– Clothing in multiple colors 

– Mugs, cups, tumblers 

– Throw blankets 

– Books 

– Food that you don’t like/ want 

– Cutlery and utensils 

** you might not declutter a lot from this category if it’s items you actually use but just be mindful of your future purchases so you don’t go overboard here! 

Sentimental clutter: 

** This is not saying you need to get rid of your most special items but I can tell you there is something you are keeping that you don’t really need anymore. I go through my memory box every now and then and part with things I don’t feel I need anymore. It may be only 1 or 2 things but it’s still progress. 

– Old cards 

– Memory items (tickets to shows, receipts, cards, pictures, etc) 

– Photos 

– Old decorations 

– Tableware 

– Jewelry

Mental clutter: 

– Negative thoughts 

– Worries 

– Fears 

– Negative self-talk 

– To-do’s 

– Important things you need to remember 

– Responsibilities 

– Mental health concerns 

– Grudges, anger, negative feelings toward others 

In summary 

Decluttering is a big job, especially if you are going to tackle all those types of clutter. Starting small is key to not getting overwhelmed. Start in one room and go from there.

If your goal is to have a fresh start to the New Year then decluttering before January will be helpful as it takes time! Realistically, you can declutter whenever you want! 

What do you need to declutter in your life?