The new year serves as a natural blank canvas, providing an opportunity for new behaviors to blossom and old ones to shed.

And one of the best ways to begin this next chapter is to organize yourself and the environment around you. Research indicates that mess can raise stress and induce anxiety, while clearing it may improve your mental health along with your work and personal relationships. Discover simple ways to remove the clutter from all areas of your life so you can march into the future with a healthier outlook.

Make it a habit

A well-organized life is formed from habits, so focus on establishing routines, whether it’s weekly meal-planning sessions, a morning meditation practice, or an evening cleaning ritual. This can help provide structure and predictability, simplify daily tasks, and lessen decision fatigue; the more decisions you have to make, the more your mental energy becomes depleted. Consistency is key here—it can take anywhere from one to six months (or even longer) to form a new habit depending on what it is. This may mean giving more deliberate effort in the beginning, but if you stick with it, you’ll eventually develop positive routines that can ultimately create more ease in your day-to-day.

Manage your time

Given that time is our most valuable resource, good time management is crucial to great organization. Digital calendars and task-tracking apps like Todoist are among the slew of valuable tools available to help you take charge of your available hours. Other solutions include time blocking, or allocating specific chunks of time for various tasks, and the Pomodoro Technique, which involves doing short bursts of concentrated work followed by breaks. The former may enable you to better stay on top of your to-do list, while the latter may offer a boost to your concentration and productivity.

Tidy your home

A messy space may often reflect a messy mind. To help clear this clutter, take some time to neaten up your living spaces for a calmer environment.

Clean out
Working room by room, go through every item to determine which ones may not be conducive to an organized area. For help discerning what’s a keeper and what’s expendable, consider the KonMari Method, a popular approach that promotes throwing away anything that does not “spark joy.” Ask yourself if that old, tattered sweater still makes you happy or if that gift your coworker gave you has been helpful. If the answer is no to any item, then go ahead and donate, recycle, or throw it out.

Store items
Once you’ve whittled down your belongings, make useful investments in storage options to stow them in an aesthetically pleasing way. From vibrant baskets to simple, elegant containers, these vessels will help you clear messy areas by giving everything its place. And don’t forget to take advantage of vertical space with pegboards, shelves, and hooks. However you prefer your storage, consistent maintenance is vital to a clean abode, so regularly plan decluttering sessions every few weeks to keep your spaces neat and tidy.

Limit technology usage

Although technology is a valuable tool, it can also be a source of disarray and disorganization. Psychology Today notes that too much use of it can cause feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and isolation, leading you to feel less in control of your daily to-do list and relationships. One way to help combat this is with digital organization. Consider eliminating seldomly used apps, unsubscribing from certain marketing emails, and keeping your workstation, whether at home or in the office, free from electronic distractions. You may even want to set aside particular hours for online use and designate tech-free areas inside your house.

Build financial wellness

Though often neglected, financial organization is a pillar of general well-being and will make you more able to reach your long-term goals. First compile all your financial records, then decide on a system to keep everything easily accessible; you could use digital tools that track income and expenses, spot spending trends, and help you stick to a budget. Also consider automating your savings contributions and bill payments, which can streamline your monthly financial task list and allow you to avoid the stress of having to stay on top of all your expenses. And don’t forget to review your subscriptions and memberships—cancelling any you don’t use will mean fewer costs you have to remember to track.

Balance your work and life

Nothing can make your life feel messy like your work bleeding into your personal time; if you aren’t able to find a healthy work-life balance, it could cause other areas in your life to suffer and unwanted disarray to manifest. To better prevent this, clearly define the lines separating your home life from your career, whether this be with yourself, your family, or your colleagues. Set a hard end time for your workday, commit to not checking emails after hours, and let others know about your boundaries. And if you work remote, create a specific area where you focus only on work-related tasks. Making a clear distinction between work and home can be a rewarding way to ensure a more orderly life.

Organization is an ever-evolving task. The secret is to find routines and systems that fit your personality and lifestyle. Keep in mind that progress—not perfection—is the focus here. So begin 2025 by creating stepping stones that can lead to a productive and fulfilling year ahead.