This is the perfect time to set goals for yourself that you’d like to see accomplished in the new year. At Southgate at Shrewsbury, we encourage and support our residents on their quests to reach their goals and remain exploring, growing and learning.
If you’re looking for an easy resolution for the new year that will positively impact many different areas of your life, then reorganizing and decluttering is the perfect choice. Ideally, you should strive to reorganize your belongings in a way that will last long-term and allow you to be more organized and productive each and every day with minimal effort.
Here are some tips for beginning your journey to home organization:
Sort Through Your Belongings: One of the first things to do when decluttering is sorting through the things you own and making two piles, one for things you’d like to keep and another for things you’d like to discard. Make sure that when you go through your items that you only keep clothes that you wear often and things that you use on a regular basis. When you’re done sorting, you can even donate the items in the discard pile so that someone else can give your unwanted goods a new purpose.
Clutter that could present a tripping hazard is especially important for seniors to be aware of. That means stacks of old magazines or old rugs that are curling up at the edges are definitely things that should go in the discard pile. Take a look around your home at ground level to make sure you get rid of anything that could present a hazard.
Set Daily/Monthly Goals: Staying organized requires practice and patience, so it’s important that you set new goals to stay on top of things. One way to do this is by setting a new, small goal for yourself every day or each month. Trying to organize your entire life at once will be overwhelming and daunting, so it’s best if you break it up into smaller goals across time so that you feel more comfortable approaching each task.
Make Important Items Easily Accessible: Items like medications that you take regularly and tax documents should be kept in a place within your home that is easy for you and others to access if necessary. When you begin to sort through your belongings, label important items and store them where they will always be safe.
For example, keep printed documents regarding your estate plan or will in a fire-proof box and alert a close friend or family member of where it is. For daily vitamins and medications, keep them in a 7-day pill organizer in your medicine cabinet near other items you use daily, such as your toothbrush.
Another option is to purchase a rolling cart that can be transported from room to room easily. You can keep everyday items such as cleaning products, kitchen utensils, and art supplies in the cart and take it with you throughout your home.
Invest in Convenient and Manageable Storage: If you’ve sorted through your belongings and now are looking for a place to store everything, consider investing in new storage materials. Instead of putting everything into large tubs that can get heavy and unwieldy, stick with smaller storage boxes and plan your organization style accordingly. For example, instead of putting all of your clothes for the warmer months together in one heavy box – split them up into transitional items, spring items and items for the warmest summer weather—or split them up by tops and bottoms. That will make it easier to find what you need and prevent you from having to move heavy bins.
It’s also important to invest in shelving that lets you keep storage bins at mid-level to avoid straining yourself by pulling them down from high shelves or from the ground. You can also do this by investing in wall hooks to hang in your home to easily access items that you use everyday, such as your keys, jacket, or tote bags.
At Southgate at Shrewsbury, our floor plans are designed for you to feel at home and at ease. Start the new year off right by organizing your living space and setting easy and attainable goals that will leave you feeling accomplished and refreshed.