This "Get It Done" Challenge Will Motivate You to Totally Organize Your Life in Just One Month

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Procrastinating may be easy, but it makes your day-to-day life harder in more ways than you probably realize. Every time you say, “I’ll do it tomorrow,” you add another task to an ever-growing list of annoyances you’ll never want to tackle — when really, those individual tasks would probably only take a fraction of your day to complete. If procrastination is a habit you hope to banish in the new year, then our Get It Done Challenge will help motivate you. With this 31-day challenge, you’ll be able to get a fresh start in 2025 and finally address those projects you’ve been putting off for far too long.

Getting organized won’t happen in a day, and that’s more than okay. In fact, spreading your to-do list out over the course of the month will make that list seem far less daunting. “By visualizing the end goal and breaking down the tasks to get yourself there, it helps each task to not feel as overwhelming and puts the goal within reach,” says professional organizer and interior designer Jeffrey Phillip. “With each successful task completed we also gain more confidence and energy to do the next. We create our own positive reinforcement to continue to push ourselves forward and make more changes.”

Even if those small tasks don’t seem like a big deal, ticking little things off your to-do list can make everything in your life feel more manageable, which gives you a major self-esteem boost. “If your house has become a depression den, it's really easy to let it continue to slide into unmanageable territory,” explains Kate Ecke, LCSW, owner of The Unconventional Therapists. “The simple act of taking care of our environment can be incredibly beneficial to our mental health. You’re sending yourself the message that you care enough about yourself to take care of the space you live in.” The best part: None of the individual tasks in this challenge should feel overwhelming — especially since the majority of these to-dos take less than 30 minutes to complete.

Ready to make your day-to-day life feel more organized in 2024? Our 31-day Get It Done Challenge will help you do it, one day at a time.


Day 1: Organize your closets

Keeping any closet clutter-free is always a chore, regardless of its size. Even if your messes are hidden behind closed doors, you’ll be reminded of the chaos every time you go to retrieve a broom or a pair of shoes, and no one needs that stress in their life. Depending on how many closets you have in your home and the kind of state they’re in, organizing your closets may take you more than a few hours, but it’s a project well worth taking on. Just imagine the relief of being able to open your closets and not worry about all its contents spilling out!

“Start by sorting what’s in the back,” expert organizer and Keep This Toss That author Jamie Novak suggests. “The things you can’t easily see are often easier to decide what to do with: keep, sell, donate or recycle. Don’t pull all the contents of your closet out unless you have the time to finish putting them all back. Better off working shelf by shelf and a few hangers at a time. Be sure to leave a bag standing up on the floor of your closet to collect unused items to donate.” Using closet organizers can also help you maximize your space, which is especially helpful if you’re trying to organize a smaller closet. And as Ashley Murphy, co-founder of NEAT Method, points out, swapping out ”mismatched hangers with a new set of hangers in a coat closet” can make a big difference.

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Day 2: Donate things you don’t need anymore

Once your closets are in good shape, the next step is getting rid of those things you no longer wear or use. Following the Konmari method can help you decide which items you want to keep and which ones no longer serve you, and from there, you can decide whether each item should be trashed, sold or donated. Selling your things takes time and effort, so you should probably only attempt to resell big ticket items (such as furniture, large electronics and appliances), as well as brand-name clothes, shoes and accessories in good shape. All else should be donated, unless those items are worn beyond use.

Decluttered items you can include in the donation pile include gently used clothing, games, toys, small electronics, books, dishes and housewares. Lucky for you, there are plenty of places where you can donate your clothes and other belongings and give them a second life. And if you want to make your life a whole lot easier, then turn regular donations into a habit. “Make this a recurring event — schedule a charitable pickup or drop off on a monthly basis,” Novak says. “Having a deadline to fill a bag for pickup is motivating and prevents the clutter from piling up."

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Day 3: Store your seasonal clothes

Resolve the project of overstuffed drawers and closets simply by putting out-of-season clothes into storage. From roughly September to April, keep your spring and summer clothes tucked away in under-the-bed storage containers, and then switch your warm weather clothes out with your fall and winter clothes once the temperatures start to rise. For bulkier clothing items, vacuum storage bags can help you keep things contained (as well as protected until they’re ready to be worn again).

When you cut the items stored in your closets and drawers in half, you’ll have a much easier time finding what you need and being able to take inventory of your items. “Group the clothes by category, like sweaters or tank tops, and store them in smaller containers by category instead of one large jumbled tub,” Novak suggests. “And before you store anything, check the pockets. Stowing clothes for a season with candy or lip gloss in your pocket is a bad idea.”

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Day 4: Sort photos into digital albums

Digital clutter can be just as cumbersome as physical clutter, and decluttering your life means sorting out your digital space, too. Chances are, you have hundreds of photos of pets, trips and family members taking up space on your devices and no idea what to do with them — even though deleting them seems out of the question. While physical photo albums are always nice, they also create clutter, especially if they remain untouched on your shelves. The best thing you can do is create a digital album for those photos so you can find them when you need them (but don’t need to worry about running out of storage space).

“Choose one backup to auto sync new photos with your phone,” Novak says. “Store photos in folders chronically and use the search feature to find what you need.” Trusted storage apps like Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox, Amazon Photos and Microsoft OneDrive can keep your memories safe and your devices decluttered. You can always invest in a portable external hard drive, too, if you want extra peace of mind.

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Day 5: Back up documents on the cloud

Photos aren’t the only files you’ll want to keep safe and secure — you should make sure your important documents are backed up as well in case of data loss, ransomware attacks or natural disasters.

“Losing a file means wasted time recreating it,” Novak points out. “Set it and forget it with an auto sync to secure your files. This also lets you access them from wherever you are.”

If you have an Apple computer or tablet, then you can automatically back up all your files with Time Machine, which is built into your Mac. You can also use iCloud to store files, such as your documents and music. If you’re a PC user, then you can use Windows Backup to set up a regularly scheduled backup and a cloud storage provider like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive to store files.

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Day 6: Delete apps you no longer use

In addition to deleting unwanted photos that are saved elsewhere, another way to clear up storage space on your devices is by deleting apps you don’t actually use. “Unused apps are one of the biggest wasters of valuable phone storage,” Novak says. Not to mention, having dozens of useless apps on your phone screen makes it harder to find the apps you actually do use on a routine basis.”

If you have an Apple device, then open your settings, tap "general" and select iPhone storage. Move through the list and tap the apps that say “never used” and delete them. For Android users, use the Files by Google app and navigate to the “clean” icon from the menu at the bottom of your screen. There, you’ll find a suggestion labeled “delete unused apps.” Once you’ve deleted any unused apps, Novak suggests “sorting other apps into folders on your screen — for example: shop, bank, games and social.”

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Day 7: Update your resume

Even if you’re not actively looking for a job, it’s always a good idea to have an updated resume on file for when and if that time comes. And if you don’t have a resume on hand, then now’s the time to make one. Paid services like Zety or free options like Canva can help you find a resume template that works best for you, whether you’re building a resume from scratch or looking to give an outdated resume a much-needed update.

“Once updated, keep a running list of accomplishments, accolades, awards and new skills learned,” Novak adds. “Don’t forget to keep a list of references as well. When you need them, you’ll be glad you did.” Take some time to make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date as well, because you never know what new opportunities may crop up if you make yourself available.

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Day 8: Clean out your refrigerator and freezer

Maintaining a clean refrigerator and freezer doesn’t just keep you and your family from accidentally ingesting spoiled food — it also just feels good. “It is so refreshing to open the fridge door to a bright and organized space,” Novak says. Our clean refrigerator checklist will help you get your appliance sparkling again, but before you do anything, you need to toss any food that’s passed its expiration date.

“Search for unidentified frozen food and defrost to identify. Check StillTasty to confirm shelf life if you are unsure,” Novak suggests. “Then, designate each shelf and section of the fridge for a specific category of food, including one shelf for leftovers so they don’t turn fuzzy.” Just like when organizing your closets, you want to sort your refrigerator in a way that everything you need is in plain sight and nothing gets buried and forgotten in the back, because that’s when things are likely to turn funky.

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Day 9: Unsubscribe from unread email newsletters

Signing up for electronic mailing lists may seem harmless… that is, until your email inbox is full of messages about upcoming sales and deals that you have no intention of ever reading. Unsubscribing from all those unwanted listservs can be a bit time-consuming, but it’s a task well worth doing if you’re tired of deleting dozens of unread emails every day.

“To complete a (very satisfying) bulk-delete, search your inbox for the keyword “sender email,” then select all and click delete,” Noak suggests. “And before deleting the last email, be sure to unsubscribe.” And if you have a Gmail account, then you can use the Chrome extension Trimbox for Gmail to unsubscribe from mailing lists with just one click, which makes the job a whole lot easier.

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Day 10: Organize your email inbox with folders

Once you’ve unsubscribed from all those unwanted mailing lists, you can further clean up your email inbox by creating folders. Depending on whether you’re trying to clean up a personal or professional email box, you can create as many folders as you need to stay organized and keep important messages from getting lost in the shuffle. For instance, a “follow up” folder could be used for emails that require some action on your part, or a “reference” folder could be used for emails that contain receipts, reminders, instructions and other important documents you don't want to lose.

“Personally, I have three folders: 1. For Me to Do 2. Follow Up on This and 3. Archive,” Novak explains. Of course, there’s no correct way to keep your emails organized, so long as you make a system that makes important emails accessible and saves you from having to do endless keyword searches.

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Day 11: Manage your doctor appointments

If you can't remember when your last dental cleaning was, then it’s time to get some appointments on the calendar. Make a spreadsheet for yourself to figure out when you last visited your primary care doctor, your dentist, your dermatologist, your optometrist and any other specialists you may see on an annual or biannual basis. Then, make sure you have an appointment in the books, either ASAP if you’re overdue or in the future if you’re not yet due for a visit.

Going forward, keep track of all your medical appointments in an Excel spreadsheet, an app like Capzule PHR or in a planner to make sure you never miss an important check-up. A smart suggestion from Novak: “Schedule all your yearly appointments in your birthday month so you won’t ever forget.”

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Day 12: Find a therapist

Your mental health matters just as much as your physical health, and if you’ve been meaning to reach out to a mental health professional, then now’s the time to do it. Unfortunately, finding a therapist who’s a good fit isn’t always easy, especially if you’re looking for someone who accepts your insurance. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start by using your employer's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for referrals or ask another trusted professional.

You can always start by seeing who’s in your network and going from there. “If you have health insurance, call the number on the back of your insurance card,” Ecke suggests. “If not or you’d like to peruse on your own, Psychology Today and TherapyDen are directories you can use. Also, if you know a friend who is in therapy, asking for recommendations from them is a great way as well.” Even if the first therapist you try doesn’t end up being the right fit for you, making that first appointment is progress nevertheless.

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Day 13: Tackle basic repairs

While there are plenty of home repairs you should leave to the professionals, others — like patching a hole in your drywall or unclogging a sink — are simple enough for you to handle without help from pros. Commit to spending an hour or two taking care of those basic repairs all at once. “Start by making a list of everything you want to get done,” organizing and productivity consultant Julie Morgenstern suggests. “This simple task allows you to get it all out of your head, which frees your mind from the distraction of trying to remember everything. Once the list is done, you are in a much stronger position to start knocking them out one task at a time.”

Then, you’ll want to gather all the necessary tools and get to work. “Get out your supplies and a step ladder for minor repairs and tackle them at once,” Novak adds. “Paint touch-ups, glue on that coffee mug handle, tighten the screws on that pot handle and replace those burnt-out lightbulbs.” Check out our home maintenance checklist for simple home repair projects you can (and should!) tackle yourself.

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Day 14: Hang art

Even though hanging art is a task that often takes just a few minutes of your time, it’s a task that almost everyone puts off for longer than they should. “Almost every one of my virtual clients has a piece of wall art that has been leaning against the wall waiting to be hung for far too long,” Novak shares. If you have a poster or photo you’ve been meaning to hang for ages now, then today’s the day to finally get it hung.

Before hanging your picture, make sure you gather your hanging hardware, figure out your ideal hanging height and make sure you have a level handy. And if you’re looking to upgrade a blank wall space and don’t have any art to hang, then we have plenty of DIY wall decor ideas for you to try out yourself.

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Day 15: Tidy up your desk

Your home office is likely where you keep your most important documents and get your most critical work done, so keeping it tidy is imperative. Of course, that doesn’t mean keeping it tidy is easy. Start by taking everything out of that space, then give it a quick wipe down while it’s empty,” suggests Murphy. “Next, go through everything you removed and sort by the following categories: keep, move to a different room, donate, recycle, trash. Once you have done that, you can put the items you are keeping in the space where you want them to ‘live.’”

Not only will having an organized office look more inviting, but it'll motivate you to get to work, especially since you won't have to clear paper piles and junk out of your way to get the job done. Easy desk organization ideas can help you keep your workspace free from clutter, and if you need additional help keeping clutter at bay, then consider trying our 14-Day Declutter Challenge.

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Day 16: Close unused accounts and cards

Have you been paying annual fees on credit cards you don’t need? How about monthly fees for streaming services you don’t use? It’s possible you’re subscribed to several services you have since forgotten about and don’t actually need in your life, and no matter how small the monthly or annual fee, those costs add up.

“Review statements for subscriptions you forgot you are paying for,” Novak suggests. “There may be some you can cancel.” With subscription tracker apps like Truebill and PocketGuard, you can easily cancel unwanted subscriptions, track your spending and credit score, automate savings and get help lowering your bills. However, you should also note that closing credit card accounts can lower your credit score, so unless you’re paying an annual fee, it’s best to keep those cards active, whether you use them or not.

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Day 17: Get rid of expired makeup and medications

Just like with food, cosmetics and medications expire, and chances are, you have drawers full of pills, creams and serums that have long passed their expiration date. Remove all the items from your medicine cabinet and makeup bag to make sure everything is still current, and get rid of anything that’s expired or simply not needed.

“For makeup, check the packaging for the little icon with a number inside — such as 6, 24, 36 — which tells you the number of months it’s good for,” Novak says. “Unused supplements, prescriptions and vitamins can sometimes be taken back to the pharmacy, or many police departments have safe drop boxes in their vestibule.” If a take-back option isn’t easily available, you can dispose of medications at home by flushing them (if they are included in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing) or disposing of “non-flush” medication in your household trash.

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Day 18: Make a special occasion calendar

Nothing will make you feel more put-together than knowing everyone’s special days. Invest in a planner or desk calendar and jot down the birthdays, anniversaries and any other special occasions of your friends and family, using Facebook to fill in any special dates you may not know off the top of your head. “Don’t forget to include the year so you can calculate milestone birthdays and anniversaries,” Novak says. “And add a reminder a week before each birthday so you can get the gift or pop the card in the mail.

To make things even easier, you can stock up on greeting cards that you can send out whenever you need them, including birthday, anniversary, thank you and sympathy cards. You’ll also want to make sure you have everyone’s current address on hand, along with stamps and envelopes.

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Day 19: Automate everything

Life becomes so much easier when you automate your payments. From credit card bills to subscription service fees, almost every payment you make can be made automatically so you never have to worry about being saddled with a late fee again. “Opt for paying bills online,” Novak suggests. “Set up auto pay for at least the minimum, and you can pay additional if you choose.”

Bills aren’t the only thing you can automate. Though a pricey initial investment, smart thermostats are a great way to save time and money in the long run, as they control your home temperature automatically, and installing one takes less than 30 minutes.

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Day 20: Put together a recipe binder

Tired of rifling through drawers and flipping through cookbooks in order to hunt down your favorite recipes? Though it may seem obvious, the most effective way to organize recipes is to simply put them all in one spot. Making your own recipe binder will save you from trying to remember where you wrote down your grandmother’s casserole recipe, and you can further organize those recipes by creating tabs and sorting recipes by cuisine type.

As Novak says, “A simple three-ring binder with tabs and clear plastic sheet protector is the perfect spot to slip in all your own personal recipes, family favorites, recipes printed off the internet or ones you tore out from a magazine.” You can also buy a dedicated recipe binder with recipe cards if you want to keep everything neat and uniform.

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Day 21: Go paperless whenever you can

In addition to being bad for the environment, paper bills and statements usually only function to clog up your mailbox and create junk piles throughout your house — especially since you can likely access that same information online. Making a pact to go paperless will help you reduce your footprint and save you a lot of paper shredding time that could be better spent doing something else.

“Opt for paperless statements, read digital magazines, unsubscribe from catalogs and stop bringing home every newsletter and pamphlet,” Novak says. You can visit CatalogChoice to opt out of receiving unwanted catalogs for good and switch to online paperless credit card and bank statements. And if you have stacks of papers you’re looking to eliminate, invest in a scanner so you can make electronic copies of those documents and get rid of the originals.

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Day 22: Organize important documents into binders

While most everything can be retrieved electronically, you’ll want to keep hard copies of some important documents around, such as insurance policies, pension plan documents, business licenses, marriage licenses, vehicle titles and loan documents, house deeds and mortgage documents, wills and powers of attorney. For those papers, create clearly labeled binders that you can store in a safe place and access at any time.

“Forget the filing cabinet,” says Nova. “A medical binder, a house binder and a vet binder for pets makes it easy to access paperwork related to each topic.” Likewise, you’ll want to create a secure location for storing your birth certificate, social security card and passport.

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Day 23: Declutter your wallet and purse

If your purse is filled with more receipts and gum wrappers than actual useful items, then it’s probably time to take inventory of its contents. Organizing your wallet and purse will make finding the things you need a whole lot easier and may even help you rediscover a misplaced debit card or tube of lipstick.

“Recycle the receipts and trash the scraps of paper,” Novak says. “In handbags, collect loose change and give everything, like keys and your sunglasses, a specific pocket. Use extra make-up bags to contain things like hair ties and packs of chewing gum.” You can even go the extra mile and get a handbag organizer to keep the contents of your purses neat and tidy.

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Day 24: Clean out your car

Few things are more embarrassing than shuttling around guests in a dirty car. Unfortunately, the more time you spend in your car, the more likely it is to fill up with fast food bags and other junk that only continues to accumulate. “The console and glove box can be catch-alls for all sorts of clutter,” Novak says. “And you may be surprised to find a bag of donations from last year still in your trunk.”

The only way to stop this pattern is to give your car a thorough cleaning so you’re never tempted to trash it again. Depending on the state your car is in, cleaning your car both inside and out may take up to an hour (if not more!), but you’ll be rewarded with instant gratification, as well as an overall sense of calm and order. As Morgenstern points out, “Focusing on the outcome of the project (rather than at the project itself) often gives you the boost you need to get in motion.”

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Day 25: Create a list of your passwords in a safe app or offline file

Who hasn’t wasted several hours of their life trying to remember their passwords for various accounts and websites? If you’re ready to retire the guessing games, then try recruiting the help of a password manager, which is essentially an encrypted digital vault that can handle all your login credentials while still maintaining password security. Create an account with a free password manager like Bitwarden or a paid service like LastPass and never have to worry about getting logged out of your accounts again.

If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of using an app, you can always manually jot down all your important passwords on a piece of paper that you keep in a secure location. And as Novak points out, you should “make sure someone you trust knows where to find them in the event of an emergency — someone should know how to access your information.”

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Day 26: Make a weekly exercise plan and commit to it

The benefits of regular exercise are endless — not just for your physical wellbeing, but for your mental health as well. But if you don’t currently have an exercise routine, it can be tricky to know how to start one, especially if you’re not clear on your goals. “It's really important not to go from zero to 100 miles per hour, both because extreme changes to your fitness aren't sustainable and because you'll increase your risk of injury, overtraining and burnout,” says health strategist and fitness trainer Lauren Chante. “Instead, focus on the low hanging fruit: What can you strive for that's already easily within your reach and will integrate easily with your daily life?

That may mean waking up 30 minutes earlier to hit the gym or do an at-home fitness class before your day starts, or simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work. “For a more structured approach to setting goals, consider scheduling a one-off session with a professional,” Chante adds. “Many gyms offer a first session that includes fitness testing, so you'll see your strong points and weak points more clearly. Alternatively, wellness coaches are especially adept at helping you find clarity around your goals.” And to better figure out what type of fitness plan works for you, try Chante’s Your Daily Journal course to collect data on yourself and see what conclusions you can draw.

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Day 27: Create a budget and a system for managing expenses

Money is a source of stress for many, and it’s no wonder — between tracking your income, building savings, paying off bills and paying down debt, it can feel like your finances are a full-time job. One of the best ways to feel more in control of your expenses is by creating a personal budget spreadsheet. Having a budget can help you figure out what exactly you must spend your money on and whether you can spend less money on some things and more money on others.

To start, figure out how much money you have left when you subtract your monthly expenses from your income. “If spreadsheets are intimidating, opt for a simple sheet of paper,” Novak suggests. “In one column, write down all your expenses; in the second, write down all your incoming money. Add each column and compare to see if you come out with extra.”

See if your spending habits stick to the 50:30:20 budget principle — 50% toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings and debt repayment — and figure out where you can cut back if necessary. You can also download a personal finance app to help you feel more in control of your money and more cognizant of your budget.

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Day 28: Turn your junk drawer into an everyday drawer

Pretty much every household has that blackhole of a drawer where everything that doesn’t have a proper home gets shoved away. The best way to banish a junk drawer for good? Turn it into a functional drawer full of items you use everyday. “An organized home helps you live a less chaotic life and when first starting we always suggest tackling just one cabinet or drawer at first,” says Murphy. “Many times clients try to organize an entire room in a short amount of time and quickly get overwhelmed and give up on the project altogether. By starting small, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and will gain the confidence needed to continue on to another space.” To start, completely empty that drawer of all its contents. Group like items into piles and then relocate or toss everything that you wouldn’t consider essential for daily or weekly living.

Chances are, the majority of the stuff in that drawer isn’t actually needed. Once you’ve decided what you’re actually going to keep in your “junk drawer,” make the space functional with some compartmentalized storage options. Adding a few drawer organizers will make a big difference. “For drawers, spring loaded drawer dividers and full drawer inserts are the perfect way to give you a custom-looking organizing solution,” Murphy adds. And for those items you decided not to keep in your new “everyday drawer,” make sure they aren’t just delegated to another junk drawer.

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Day 29: Create a system for your entryway

Your entryway is the first thing both you and guests see when they walk into your house, which is why organized and inviting entryways can set the tone of the entire home. Rather than allowing your entryway to become a cluttered mess of shoes, bags and coats, invest in some entryway organizers that will keep your floors cleared and your space looking functional rather than a free-for-all.

Use the vertical space, like the wall and back of the closet door to hang what you can,” Novak suggests. “Also utilize hooks for bags, dog leashes and hanging baskets for everyday essentials like keys and sunglasses.” Not only will this give you a sense of relief when you enter your home — it will also keep you from ever misplacing your most important essentials again.

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Day 30: Transfer dry goods into matching clear containers

If you watched Netflix’s Get Organized with The Home Edit, then you probably know how much professional organizers Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin love an organized pantry. You can replicate that look with the help of some clear canisters — and you can even shop products from Clea and Joanna’s The Home Edit line at The Container Store.

“Give your pantry that designer look with matching clear containers and coordinating labels,” Novak suggests. “No more half empty boxes and torn open bags.” Decanting dry goods (such as flour, sugar, cornmeal, rice, cereal and pasta) into storage containers helps you get rid of excess packaging, keeps food fresher for longer and allows you to see just how much you have left of each item.

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Day 31: Label everything

From cubby bins to storage containers, almost anything that holds contents you can’t see from the outside could benefit from a label. It’ll save you from having to constantly guess where you stored various items, and with the help of a label maker, you can get this task done in no time. “Label edges of shelves in the pantry, baskets, containers and more,” Novak says. “A label is helpful, because you know what goes where and where to find things, and at a glance you know what's missing.”

This task won’t just give you an immediate sense of accomplishment — it can also change your mindset towards the necessity of organization. As Phillip points out, “It’s important that we all find solutions that are feasible to maintain and easy to integrate into our daily routines so that they can become second nature. This will help ensure success as we create a more organized home and live a more organized life.” And who doesn’t want to live a more organized life?

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