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Organization

Fresh Year, Fresh Start: Cleaning out your home for the new year

January 5, 2021 by Karen Liester Leave a Comment

Many of us could not wait to close the door on 2020 and usher in the new year– and all the positive karma we hope comes with it! As you look forward to 2021 you may have spent some time thinking about your intentions for the coming year, whether for personal or professional growth, health and fitness, or family goals. Let’s face it, 2020 was stressful, and while many people look to each new year to freshen up their lives, this year more than ever people are looking inward to reexamine what is important to them. But one thing that is just as important as setting intentions for your behaviors or habits is creating a peaceful and joyful place in which to practice your intentions

If you, (like most Americans), spent a record amount of time inside your home last year due to the pandemic, you may have accumulated more stuff than you have in previous years. Many people acquired new hobbies to pass the time at home, started – and some even finished! – home improvement projects, or simply went a little overboard with boredom-induced online shopping. If this sounds familiar, it may be time for a decluttering session.

Living with too much stuff can cause stress, anxiety, and depression. People with too much clutter in their environment also tend to suffer from relationship issues, sleep problems, and chronic allergies or asthma. 

So, before you pack a suitcase and hop on a flight for that vacation that got cancelled last year, take some time to clean out your home for the new year. Here are a few strategies recommended by professional organizers.

1. ONE CATEGORY AT A TIME:

This method is used by Marie Kondo, author of the bestselling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and TV show, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. She advocates for decluttering items by category: clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items, in that order.

2. ONE ROOM AT A TIME:

Another method is to focus on one area at a time. It could be a room, the garage, or the attic. If that amount of space is still overwhelming to you, break it down to one closet, one cabinet, or one drawer at a time. 

3. ARRANGE KEEP, SELL AND DONATE SPACES:

As you progress through your decluttering, it will save time and energy if you have already designated areas to accumulate items that are to be kept, sold, or donated. Then you can deal with each group of items once you have everything separated.

…and voila! You’re done!

Unless of course you want to take it one step further. Once you have cleaned out your home, you might adopt some of these habits for preventing clutter from piling up again:

1. Set a rule where you don’t purchase a new piece of clothing, toy, book, or gadget without getting rid of something you are no longer using.

2. Get into the habit of always putting everything back in its place. This will keep you from purchasing items you already have but can’t find or forgot about.

3. To prevent clothes from piling up, try choosing your outfits for the coming week every Sunday, and don’t let clean laundry sit unfolded.

4. Look through your refrigerator and pantry before shopping and shop with a list of needed items.

5. Live by the rule that if you haven’t used it or worn it in the past year, chances are you don’t need it.

Best of luck to a successful + clutter free new year!

(PS-If your goals for 2021 involve spending more time outside, make sure to check out this post to know the best trails to hit during the winter in Idaho Falls!)

I am a local realtor, and independent contractor at Keller Williams Realty East Idaho. I am Idaho Proud and have an intense appreciation and love for southeast Idaho and its residents. I’d love to help you find your next #Idahome, or if you’re already settled into your dream home, let’s stay connected through our mutual passion for this amazing corner of our state!

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Making it Home, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cleaning, Decluttering, Idaho Falls, New Year, Organization

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@karenliester on Instagram

Some days-this is my office...but not often! I hav Some days-this is my office...but not often! I have been able to work from the office for most of the year, but when the kiddos moved to virtual learning last spring, I had to adapt to sharing a workspace with them at home.
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I want to know! Is this YOU? Have you been working from home for months now (with little ones, furry ones, or both scurrying underfoot)?
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If you've mastered the dining table office space, what ONE piece of advice would you share with a work-from-home newbie?
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Please! Share your wisdom in the comments below so we can make the best of what seems to be an ever-changing situation!
Is everyone done decking the halls??? . Right now Is everyone done decking the halls???
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Right now I’m resisting the urge to keep decorating knowing it will all be down in a week or so!
Here's a link to the @airbnb I posted about in my Here's a link to the @airbnb I posted about in my stories today.
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https://abnb.me/VTE0JJTukcb
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Or you can search AirBNB (Idaho Falls) for "The Historic Emerson"
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❤❤❤
Give the spankin’ new homeowners in your life a Give the spankin’ new homeowners in your life a housewarming gift they’ll use from day one!  Here are my top 10 to get the ideas flowing:
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▪️Gift cards to home improvement stores (things like rakes, garbage cans and light bulbs are usually in short supply for a first time home buyer especially!)
▪️Gift cards to local takeout and pizza places (with a stack of paper plates to go with it!) I’m looking at you @lucysnypizza 
▪️A personalized welcome mat (have you seen @letterfolk mats? They’re a fave!)
▪️Customized stationary, address labels, wall plaques, etc. (@etsy has you covered here!)
▪️A pizza baking stone and a @papamurphys gift card (check out @bedbathandbeyond for a great stone)
▪️A WiFi password display sign
▪️A photog session for them to pose in front of their new front door (DM @meganowensphotography, she’s amazing 🙌🏻)
▪️Local goodies for out-of-staters (I love @farrsicecream spud bars or huckleberry candy, or @reeds_dairy cheese curds and ice cream!)
▪️Hand wash and lotion set (perfect for the rona + house guest + flu combo season we’re in)
▪️A “new home” holiday ornament (I got the cutest one from @magnolia)
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New homeowners, we celebrate you-enjoy your first Christmas in your new home!
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What’s the best housewarming gift you’ve received???
This has been long past due. It’s time to announ This has been long past due. It’s time to announce the employee of the month. 
🥁🥁🥁
#Hamilton 🎉
This guy-he hasn’t sold any houses that I know of, but man, his dedication to his work is simply unmatched! (As long as his work includes sleeping 21 hours a day!)
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We 🖤 you sweet boy! You earned it!! 😘
#Hamilton #Trashpanda
🍊🍊🍊For a quick little Saturday afternoon 🍊🍊🍊For a quick little Saturday afternoon project, this one sure packed a punch! 🍊🍊🍊
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I can’t help but smile everytime I pass my little pantry. Small spaces are often overlooked, but @urbanwalls was the perfect solution to this easy DIY #transformation, and I’m 100% convinced anyone with a pair of scissors and a stool could knock a project like this outta the park!
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If you find yourself in the .0003% of people that don’t own scissors-I’ll hook you up! 😉
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Even better-if you go to start your project this weekend and realize you just need a bigger pantry-I can definitely help you there as well! 🏡
😍Feeling sentimental and reflective? Me, too!⁣
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I look back and before I castigate the year as a total loss, I actually find myself finding so many reasons to be infinitely grateful.
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I have learned so much, and for the first time in a long time-actually took some time to just...pause. It felt like letting out a long overdue exhale.
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This somehow allowed important things to rise to the surface. Really important things!
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Before diving headfirst into 2021, I hope you’ll join me in taking time to reflect on 2020—we’ll never have another one like it! What did you love? What was hard? What did you accomplish? What will be better about 2021 for you and yours?!
There’s a humbug-of-a-myth out there that you ha There’s a humbug-of-a-myth out there that you have to wait until spring to sell; that no one is looking to buy in December or January. Nothing could be further from the truth—buyers are out there 24/7/365!⁣⁣⁣
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Here are 5 very merry reasons to sell your home this winter:⁣⁣⁣
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1. You’ll face less competition.⁣⁣⁣
2. You’ll get more attention from buyers’ agents⁣⁣⁣
3. Buyers are more serious.⁣⁣⁣
4. Your home already looks its best.⁣⁣⁣
5. You’ll enjoy a quicker sales process.⁣⁣⁣
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Internet searches for “buying a home” peak in the winter months so if you’re thinking of selling, don’t wait. Need an experienced realtor who knows our area to help? Send me a message and let’s chat.

#idahofalls #idahofallsrealtor  #idahofallsrealestate #idahofallshomesforsale #loveitorlistit #eastidaho #eastidahohomes #eastidahohome #idahome #ilovemyidahome #sellersmarket
We're heading into the final week of October (my f We're heading into the final week of October (my favorite month of the year), and then winter will be upon us. This week is full of spooky haunted events and attractions, and if you haven't tracked down a costume yet-this is the last weekend to find one before Halloween. If you just find yourself out and about, you MUST find your way over to White Sparrow Country store in Rexburg. It's the sweetest little spot full of southern fried pies, ice cream, penny candy and home décor! Have a great week East Idaho-and make sure to STAY (safe) + WANDER!
Let's get spooky! If you found out that a recent d Let's get spooky! If you found out that a recent death occurred in your dream home, would you still buy it?
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