A new decade is upon us! This has me reflecting on all the many victories and challenges of the last ten years, and how my role as a designer / organizer has played a part. Looking forward to the year ahead, I sat down with Robin McGraw alongside award-winning author Cheryl Hunter for a conversation about all the ways we can set ourselves up for a fresh start and successful new year! The full conversation is available for streaming on Robin’s podcast “I’ve Got a Secret” - live now as the first episode of 2020! We cover all the ways we strive for clarity and productivity, and ways to enact new habits that will set you up for success in all parts of your life for the next year.

In keeping with this, I want to talk aboutt a few ways you can use your closet as a catalyst for starting 2020 on the right foot! Our mission is “to calm the chaos of everyday life” — and this really sums up the way I see the closet when it comes to personal productivity and peace of mind! Like it or not, your environment does play a role in your ability to think clearly and be productive, and this is especially critical in the space where many of us start and end the day!

I often stress to clients, the secret to an organized space is to PURGE, PURGE, PURGE. We all accumulate so many “things”, and it’s important to take stock regularly of what pieces you’re actually using and enjoying. Anything you haven’t worn in a year needs to go — this is only cluttering your closet and your mind, and taking up valuable space for something new that you would potentially love!

Don’t let the task at hand overwhelm you! Break it down into more palatable parts. Whether it’s cleaning out your closet, making a lifestyle change, getting in shape — it’s important to focus on the small victories. You have to walk before you can run, so tackle one category of your closet at a time.

But how can you stay accountable?! This is a question for any new habit or resolution. My rule is that you should always involve someone else who can keep you accountable for your goals. Maybe it’s a trusted friend, a personal trainer, or a professional organizer. In the case of a closet clean-up, it can be anyone who will help you make quick decisions, and keep the task playful and fun! Have some wine, try on clothes, laugh about the forgotten trends still hanging in your closet… Don’t look at a closet purge as a chore, but as a way to decompress and declutter both mentally and physically!

Your closet will set the tone for your day in the morning, and for your sleep in the evening. If this is a stressful experience, it will inevitably clutter your mind and your life. Go into the new year with your life in order — Don’t hang onto anything unnecessary that is cluttering your life, mind, or closet!