The global spread of Covid-19 has changed the world as we know it. So, while we’re at home and if we have the opportunity, now is our chance to tackle a few things on our ‘to do’ list that we’ve been putting on hold. If the thought of tackling a mountain of stuff is overwhelming, start decluttering a room 15 minutes a day. If you’re ready to take on a project, here are some great ways to get started.

1. Clean Out Your Closet

It’s officially Spring and it’s time to swap our wardrobe from cold weather to warm. Start a donation bag for items you no longer intend to wear. Now is a great time to assess and clean out your closet.

2. Declutter Your Pantry and Food Cupboards

Work on one shelf at a time. Organize items in separate groups: canned food, spices, condiments, etc. Throw out any expired items. Wipe down shelves and take a look at how you want to organize them. Place post-it notes on each shelf i.e. canned food, spices, etc. Once you have a clear idea where you want things to go, you can shift things around easily.

3. Clear Out Your Medicine Cabinet and Toiletries

Simplify your essentials by getting rid of any outdated medicine and products you’ve found you’re allergic to.

4. Get Rid of Paper Clutter

The first step is to go paperless with bank statements and bills. Sort through your drawer full of old mail. Call or check your local library’s website to see if you can donate old magazines and newspapers. Store important receipts in a binder, or better yet, scan and save them on your computer.

5. Declutter Your Inbox and Unsubscribe From Unwanted Emails

Use your email filters – it’s an invaluable tool. Assess your inbox and write down a list of keywords used by your more eager senders. Type each word in the filter and unsubscribe. Next, mass delete all of the emails from that eager sender.

6. Free Up Space On Your Hard Drive 

Open your download folder and toss out the files you no longer need in the trash. Empty your trash. Clean up your cloud storage. Archive onto an external hard drive if you have one handy.

7. Organize Your Vanity 

If you have a large nail polish collection, you could use cookie jars to store similar colors together. If you have a spare sunglass case, they make the best containers for makeup brushes. While you’re at it, now is a great time to clean your makeup brushes.

8. Manage Your Phone

Delete and organize apps by creating folders on your phone. You will have to refer to your phone’s manual or simply Google ‘organize apps on my iPhone/Android’. Manage photos and albums. Clean up your contacts; eliminate anyone you don’t remember and delete duplicate contacts.

9. Check Your Nightstand Drawers

The top of your nightstand should only be your lamp and maybe a book or two. Organize your drawers and keep only the little things you absolutely need by your bedside.

10. Clean and Organize Your Handbag and Wallet

Start by emptying your bag and your wallet. Throw out old receipts and scan and save important ones in your computer. Place loose change in a jar. If you have the products handy, here’s a helpful link on how to clean your bag (click here). Next step is to assess the interior pockets inside your bag. You may want to put your essentials – wallet, keys, sunglasses, lip balm – in the easiest spots to access.