21 Easy New Year's Resolutions You Can Actually Keep

By Barbara Reich
Author of Secrets of an Organized Mom

One of the most common New Year's Resolutions is to get organized. Yet it's easier said than done, and getting organized can be a tall order. What if you could get organized in 30, 15, or even 5 minutes or less each day? Here are my top 21 organizing resolutions you can actually keep.

5 Minutes
1. Memorize the credit card number you use most. You'll be amazed at what a time-saver this is.
2. Throw out any markers or pens that are out of ink and pencils without erasers.
3. Throw out any mismatched socks. If the mate hasn't shown up yet, recognize that it's probably long gone.
4. Discard all of the unimportant receipts cluttering your wallet. Let's face it; you can't return the Starbucks latte, so why hang onto the receipt?
5. Throw away that box/bag of wires/chargers that's been collecting dust in your closet for years. If all of your electronics are functioning, there's nothing there that you need.
6. Make your bed.
7. Empty the dishwasher.

15 Minutes
1. Throw away all expired medicines/toiletries from the medicine cabinet.
2. Gather all of the bathroom products you don't use and donate them.
3. Discard all of the Tupperware tops that are missing bottoms and bottoms missing tops.
4. Register online with the Direct Marketing Association's registry to keep junk mail to a minimum. Less paper clutter means less stress.
5. Sit at your computer and unsubscribe from all of the companies that send you unwanted emails.
6. Edit your bulletin board. Discard all of the invitations and notices that have long passed.
7. Make appointments for your annual check-up and teeth cleaning and your children's, too.

30 Minutes
1. Clean out the refrigerator. Throw away all expired foods and group like foods together. Clean inside the drawers and the backs of the shelves.
2. Book airline and hotel tickets.
3. Plan your weekly menu and grocery list.
4. Check your children's bookshelves for books they've outgrown.
5. Fold and put away your laundry.
6. Audit your lingerie drawer. Discard anything droopy, stained, or stretched out.
7. Submit medical bills to your insurance carrier.

Barbara Reich is a professional organizer based in New York, NY. Her tough love approach turns organization and clutter from chore to lifestyle. Her book Secrets of an Organized Mom will be on shelves in February. For more tips from Barbara, please visit her Facebook page or www.secretsofanorganizedmom.com or follow her on Twitter.

Related Links: Buy Secrets of an Organized Mom
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