Top Ways to Get Organized this March

In the south, March is typically the time to open the windows and enjoy the fresh air while watching flowers bloom from their winter rest. The change in weather and atmosphere can bring motivation to accomplish cleaning and organizing to prepare for a spring and summer full of relaxation and fun. Here are a few steps you can take to have a head start on your spring cleaning and organizing: 

1. Avoid having your living room be the “dumping ground”. Shoes, toys and cups can easily pile up and take over your living room area. This makes it difficult to enjoy spending time with friends and family, since you may be focusing on what needs to be picked up. Take everything out of the living room that doesn’t normally belong there and try not to let it be a catch-all at the end of each day. 
2. Declutter your kitchen utensils. It is easy to accumulate an exorbitant amount of silverware, spatulas and measuring cups, but keep only what you need and use. This will relieve stress while preparing meals and you’ll be amazed at the amount of space you actually have once you get rid of those unneeded items. 
3. Empty and reorganize your pantry. Pull out the foods that are clearly expired and check labels on everything. This also helps prevent duplicates from being purchased, which is a common occurrence if you don’t know what you have in stock already. When you place everything back in the pantry, group like items together by category to make them easier to find. 
4. Move to your bedroom next. If storage is an issue, add pieces that will alleviate that stress. If you are a reader, put a bookshelf in the bedroom to keep your books organized instead of scattering all over nightstands and dressers. 
5. Check the bathrooms for expired and unused products. If your cabinets are full of half-empty hairspray bottles and lotions, evaluate what you need and what is worth keeping. Just like the pantry, taking time to look at what you have will prevent overbuying of more of the same items. 
6. Be sure to look through paperwork regularly (every day if possible). Junk mail and bills can pile up on the kitchen counter and use valuable free space. Try to set aside 5 minutes each day to go through your mail to make sure no important bills are missed and immediately throw away any unnecessary mail. Another step to take would be to sign up for paperless billing and alerts- this will both free up space in your home and assist the environment! 

Small steps and habits make for big changes over time. Once you are settled into a routine that works for you and your household, each day will feel more productive and it will be easier to relax when needed!