Happy New Year! Some of you may have made resolutions last night, perhaps even resolving to get more organized. If so, you are in the right place. Today I begin my monthlong series “Select-An-Effort: Organizing Tasks for 2023.”
Since this is New Year’s Day, and many of us might be inclined to take a nap, I’m starting off with an area of the bedroom: the nightstand.
Bedrooms are places where we should be able to relax, decompress, sleep, and have fun. The last space we see each night, and the first space we see each morning, should set the mood for the rest of the day. Having a cluttered space near the bed can be anything from distracting to irritating.
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Are you ready to get started? Here are the choices:
Low Effort
Remove any trash that is on the surface of your nightstand and throw it away.
Medium Effort
In addition to pitching the trash, remove any items from the top or from inside of the drawers/cabinets of your nightstand that don’t need to live in this particular spot. Walk around your home and put them in more appropriate locations.
High Effort
Empty your nightstand completely and wipe it clean. Group items together, and decide which items will live:
1. On the top surface, within easy reach.
2. Inside drawers, cabinets or on lower shelves.
Add anything you would like to have at your bedside, but do not have there (e.g., a box tissues, a reading light, a dedicated charging cord).
To make the space really “sing,” consider adding a few products that will help you keep the space organized and looking sharp. For further reading and some product ideas, click here.
Finish by reloading the nightstand.
Are you ready to get started? Which level of effort will you invest today?
Happy New Year, Seana! I love the way you broke this task down into 3 levels of effort. I know this month long series is going to be very helpful for people who want to begin a task but don’t want to put a full-on effort into doing it. Sometimes you just want to stick with good enough for now and come back to do more later.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting today as we get started with the month! I hope it provides an option for everyone, matching effort and energy. Happy New Year, and here’s to getting and staying organized in 2023!
I keep the top of my nightstand pretty clear, but the drawers are another story. I go through them once or twice a year, but I can’t seem to keep them orderly. Maybe there is stuff I can move elsewhere – thanks for the thought!
True confessions: the top drawer of my nightstand is jumbled. I really need to just treat myself like a client and do it right!
I love the high effort personally but I just got my first nightstand (in this house) a month ago and just set it up! So it doesn’t need anything cleaning wise, but I’ll be there next year!
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Ah, maybe not. Perhaps you will just keep it in order all year long. I believe in you!
I’m good on keeping the top neat but the drawers are another story. I definitely need to clean them out!.. Thanks for the reminder.
I think the drawers in my nightstand could use some attention as well!