Getting your home organized can sometimes feel like an insurmountable task. When things have been neglected for a bit and have built up, it can be pretty difficult to motivate yourself to declutter and organize. But during this time of year, when you have family and friends dropping in periodically or gathering at your home for Thanksgiving and Christms festivities, it’s much easier to organize and clean beforehand than face scrambling at the last minute. Here are some great tips to help you motivate yourself to get organized ahead of the holiday season.

Make a list. 

Get a pen and some paper (or open up a computer doc if that’s easier) and just do a brain dump. List all the things you want/need to accomplish around the house, no matter how big or small. Getting everything out of your head and onto paper helps get your mind more organized and ready for the task at hand. When you’re finished, sort and order your list in whatever way helps you most, whether it’s by room, by task, or by order of importance. Highlight the things you need to accomplish first.

Plan an event. 

A really good way to force yourself to be motivated to clean and organize is to plan an event for a later date. It doesn’t have to be anything major—maybe just having some friends over for dinner or a wine night. But having an event marked on the calendar gives you an end goal, a deadline to work toward that will keep you motivated.

Get ready.

We’re not talking about running out to buy all the organizational containers your little heart desires. This will just add to the clutter for now. We’re talking about getting yourself ready. It’s tempting to just roll out of bed and get things started in your pajamas or sweats, but getting up and getting ready will put you in a work mindset and help you stay on track later. Get up, get showered and dressed, put on some comfy clothes and sneakers, put on some upbeat music or an audiobook, and get ready to work! 

Start with the task that makes the biggest impact.

Starting with the most impactful task helps you see progress right away and keeps you motivated. Often times, this means starting with decluttering and getting things off the floor and onto an elevated space, where you can sort through them later. Seeing less of the visible clutter will also help you feel calmer and less overwhelmed.  

Enlist help.

If you’re feeling too overwhelmed, call on a friend or family member who can help you get started. It sometimes takes a more subjective eye to help you figure out what kind of clutter you can get rid of and what areas need work. If you need more official help, look into a professional organizer who can come in and help you get into the right mindset and give you great tips for getting organized.

Make it fun. 

Set challenges for yourself. Set a timer and see how much you can accomplish in just ten or fifteen minutes. Reward yourself when you complete a task (but don’t get off-track). If you’re sorting through clothing or a collection of some sort, take it outside or into your favorite room to get the job done in a happier environment. 

Bring in fun organizing tools. 

Once you’ve finished the decluttering process and things don’t seem quite so impossible, you can start to bring in organizational bins or tools that inspire you. When you can see what you have left to organize and the space you have in which to store it, you’ll know exactly the type of organizing tools you need. Have some fun with it! Find bins or baskets in your favorite colors and textures. Making things look nice will assist you in wanting to keep it organized all the time.