New Year, New You?

So you might be wondering, “Why the question mark?” And honestly, there are a couple of reasons.

First of all, do you really need a new you? (Probably not.)

Trying to change everything about your life at the beginning of the year is usually a recipe for disaster. Mostly because…it never works. More often than not, we burn out, feel discouraged, and end up right back where we started.

Sometimes what we really need isn’t a complete overhaul—it’s just a reset. Not a brand-new version of ourselves, but the same old you… with a little boost. 💛

Secondly, give yourself time. I’ve been on my minimalism journey for a little over a year now, and by the end of 2025, I had a pretty clear vision of how I wanted the main rooms in my house to look and feel. Are they 100% there? Not even close. But have I made major progress? ABSOLUTELY.

And that’s the key—progress.

Please notice that I said I’ve been working on this for over a year. Do not, and I repeat, do not, expect your entire house (or your entire life) to be decluttered and perfectly organized in a few days, weeks, or even months. Give yourself some grace. It took years to accumulate what you have now, so it’s only reasonable that it will take time to sort through it all.

Now you might be thinking, “So are you saying I won’t see progress for a year?” Not at all.

Here’s what I suggest instead:

Start small. One area. One shelf. One surface. One drawer. One cabinet.

Don’t go into a decluttering project telling yourself you’re going to tackle the entire kitchen in one Saturday. Could you do it? Maybe. But chances are you’ll end up exhausted, overwhelmed, and ready to give up altogether. And I don’t want that for you.

Starting small allows you to complete the project within a reasonable amount of time. You’ll see the benefits of clearing that space, and that momentum will encourage you to move on to the next one.

I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating. When decluttering, you only need four piles (or boxes):

• Keep

• Donate

• Trash / Recycle

• Relocate (items that belong in another room)

  
  

You’ll notice there’s no “decide later” pile, and that’s intentional. When we postpone decisions, we usually end up keeping things indefinitely. Deciding in the moment is what creates real progress.

Take these simple steps and start tackling even the most overwhelming areas of your home. You just might feel like a brand-new you—without any extreme diets, resolutions, or pressure required.

Progress over perfection. Always.

Happy decluttering!