I owe a gigantic thank you to Brittany (and Pinterest, of course) for this idea! Brittany recently linked back to an old organization calendar she shared on her blog last year and it totally inspired me to create one of my own for 2015. I love the idea of beginning 2015 by decluttering my life and cleaning and organizing our home.
With the help of Brittany, Pinterest and my own personal goals, I brainstormed the following list of to-dos with one organizational goal for each day of the month. My list is now printed out and sitting pretty on the counter on our kitchen!
Here is a typed-out breakdown of everything with a new week beginning every Monday:
Week One:
- January 1: Create/update Excel spreadsheet to better track finances
- January 2: Put away Christmas decorations and take down Christmas lights
- January 3: Organize small upstairs bedroom
- January 4: Vacuum entire house
Week Two:
- January 5: Organize closet in small upstairs bedrooms
- January 6: Go through dresser drawers and closet and donate unwanted clothing and anything that went unworn in 2014
- January 7: Clean out pantry and spice cabinet
- January 8: Clean out refrigerator
- January 9: Organize desk in our home office
- January 10: Organize all bookshelves and donate unwanted books
- January 11: Go through shoes and donate anything that went unworn in 2014 and all unwanted sneakers/pumps/flip flops, etc.
Week Three:
- January 12: Clean out hall closet and donate unwanted coats/cold weather gear
- January 13: Organize home office closet
- January 14: Clean out kitchen cabinets
- January 15: Organize linen closet and get rid of unwanted sheets and old towels
- January 16: Thoroughly wipe down all countertops and clean sinks in kitchen and bathrooms
- January 17: Organize cabinets and drawers in master bathroom
- January 18: Go through garage and get rid of unwanted items/boxes/tools
Week Four:
- January 19: Deep clean inside of car
- January 20: Organize laundry room and cleaning supplies
- January 21: Clean out freezer
- January 22: Organize photos on computer (create categorized folders, delete unwanted photos, etc.)
- January 23: Wash hardwood floors
- January 24: Clean toilets and bathroom mirrors
- January 25: Clean showers
Week Five:
- January 26: Wash bath mats and small indoor door mats
- January 27: Dust fans and light fixtures
- January 28: Wash blankets and throws
- January 29: Wipe down doors/doorknobs
- January 30: Wipe down and clean stove, oven, microwave and toaster
- January 31: Unsubscribe to unwanted emails
If you’re looking for other organizational ideas to add to a calendar of your own, I highly recommend searching Pinterest and typing in “Organizational Calendar” or “Cleaning Calendar.” There are tons of ideas out there!
As a quick side note, whenever I find myself overly inspired to become organized, I cannot help but think of this amazing blog post by Hyperbole and a Half: This Is Why I’ll Never Be An Adult.
It’s all too true. And so, so funny! Check it out if you’ve never seen it before and need a laugh!
Question of the Morning
- Do you have any goals for 2015? Please share!
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I made a list very similar to this last night and I am so excited to get started! My boyfriend thinks I am nuts, but it just feels so good when you have that fresh and CLEAN start!
agreed!!! i don’t know what it is about having a list/plan, but it makes SUCH a difference for me!
This is the ultimate planner! I seriously need to get my house organized. I bought my second house last year, but the first year I was in it have been injured so not much TLC has been given to it and I can’t believe how much stuff I’ve already accumulated in 1 year. I also need to do a much better job this year of tracking blog expenses. Taxes this year are going to be awful because I will be scrambling to pull things together to do them.
My goals this year is to be injury free, get my hormones in balance, strengthen my muscle imbalances (I have a great therapist already working this with me), complete NASM weight loss certification and work on my photography.
great goals! and i totally feel you on blog expenses/taxes. it’s a nightmare!!! getting my blog finances in order/more organized is a BIG one for me (hence the first goal on this list)! 🙂
Two goals for the year. Last night before midnight I signed up for a spring half marathon (Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon) and I signed up for my fourth marathon (Indianapolis Monumental Marathon) I’ll be working on my PR and incorporating more cross training. My biggest goal this year is less TV and reading at least one book a month. Everything else in my life, family, kids, husband, friends, career, etc…I never stop striving to love more, listen more, and learn more…happy new year Julie!
that’s awesome!!! good luck to you, angie!!
I love this sensible approach to getting organized in the new year! I often set lofty goals for myself, and sometimes can easily get overwhelmed by everything I want to accomplish in a day/week/month. I like to idea of tackling one item per day. So much more reasonable! This year, I want to focus on growing my blog and producing content to help others live a healthy life through real food and exercise.
Great list! I feel pretty darn good already. We took down all Christmas decor a couple days ago. January 2nd CHECK!
I heart Hyperbole and a Half. There are a lot of posts that I could relate too. Particularly the cake post 🙂
Happy New Year! XO
LOL! LOVE the cake post!!!
Every time I see that picture at the end, I always laugh, it’s just too funny!! I don’t have really any goals, just want to stay on track with eating right, I might do a Whole Foods 30 day challenge just to jumpstart though, but my goals are never ending so I never really focus on resolutions.
Love this! I’m going to borrow your idea :). We only have a 1-bedroom apartment, but thinking through it, there are still TONS of organizational things that can be done!
Happy New Year!
I love this list, I think everything on it is stuff I need to get done! My house needs a lot of work and I think it would take me more than a month to get through everything. Thanks foe giving me motivation to clean all the things – for today anyway. We will see what happens tomorrow….
haha! january 1 is the most motivating day of the year! 😉
I need to make a list like this! My goal is to continue working to lose weight & get fit. I want to lose another 15 lbs.
I have been enjoying your posts… thanks for sharing!
This is a great plan!!
oooo this is a great idea! It makes a rather daunting to do much simpler and almost fun! My biggest goal is to stay healthy after a 2014 full of injuries. Happy New Year! xo
I’m so glad you shared your list. Actually, my number 1 goal for 2015 is less clutter. Followed by less stress, less guilt and better time management. I also hope to graduate from my second degree, which I am studying mostly by long distance, have a healthy second pregnancy, and take more time for myself.
Wow this is perfect! I may not do this now but this sounds like a great way to clean my whole house before baby comes in April, which is one of my goals for the year. Happy New Year, Julie!
My goal every year is to surround myself among positive people and limit/remove the negative people in my life.
Also, I am looking for a new job in 2015.
I love this idea Julie!! I totally want to create one customized to me using some of your ideas!!! Great way to kick off the new year and feel on top of things! Here’s to 2015!!!
I’m so tired just looking at this list! Let us know how it all goes!
I’ve got TONS of goals for 2015! One of them sort of mirrors yours, I’m going to implement a weekly cleaning schedule. I’ve found an awesome one that assigns a different task to each day. This way I won’t wait until it all piles up and have to spend an entire day cleaning. We are starting the house hunting process, so I’m holding off on getting too organized since we are about to be packing up anyway, but cleaning is definitely something I want to get in a routine of doing!
Happy New Year!
My goal was to get organized before the new year…. that didn’t happen. With two kids, a new baby, and Christmas. .. no way. My goal this year is to decorate every room.
This is totally awesome! Now I just need to get going on it! 😉
This year I am competing in a fitness competition so preparing to walk the stage! So excited! Thank you forsharing this list what a great way to start the year xoxo C
I never think about wiping down handles and doorknobs. I’m off to get that done NOW!
Hi Julie! Now that is an organized plan to attack your to-do list in January. Nice job! In 2015 I hope to build on my fitness certifications and do some more cooking. Hope you have a wonderful day! 🙂
That is such a good idea! I always set too many projects at once and end up worn out before I get halfway through! haha. That post you shared had me cracking up hahah. “Go to the motherf*king bank like a boss!” ahahah
I am oh-so-jealous of your organization skills. I need to steal some to get my life in order this year! 🙂 Happy 2015!
xx Christie
http://www.theweekdaytable.wordpress.com
Great list…so ambitious. My husband and I definitely started out this year by organizing and cleaning. Christmas decorations are down, carpets are steam cleaned, and we are working on organizing our basement. Hopefully, our motivation continues throughout the year. I would say that one of my goals is to do more diy house projects.
What a great idea. I LOVE to make to do lists, but my problem comes in trying to fit everything into one day. If I know I have x number of things to do, I have trouble spacing them out over days or even weeks. I feel like if I think of it, it needs to get done RIGHT NOW. Then I stress myself out about never having enough time.
I like that you just have one main thing each day and maybe I should jump on that bandwagon!
Great list! I already organized my fridge yesterday. I was dreading doing it, but it was semi-empty after traveling over the holidays. I will have to put some of these into action. A few of my goals for next year are to grow my blog, explore more freelance writing and get my CPT. Happy New Year – enjoy the day!
Thanks for sharing this great idea! I would love to give it a try. I like how everything is broken down over time so it makes everything seem so much less daunting and it can easily be added to a calendar to make it more visual. Can’t wait to try it!
Love this! I make lists for my lists, major type-A over here.
What a great idea! I am pretty motivated right now to get things organized/get rid of things we don’t need, and with our baby due in late March, I got to get things done now! I actually started last night after midnight–I attempted to unclog our slow-draining shower…why I needed to do that then, I have no idea!
I just might have to copy you on this 🙂
My major 2015 goal is to continue to grow my blog. Thank you for being such an awesome inspiration and great resource!
I just have to comment real quickly and tell how much I LOVE your Blog! You are a bright ray of sunshine on the Internet and share such wonderful ideas. You are very inspirational. Don’t you love a New Year with a fresh slate?
Thank you, Michelle! <3
Oh wow this is a great organizer, good ideas too. We just moved into a new house which has been nice in that we can reorganize things and get rid of stuff too!
Love your organization calendar! Breaking everything down to one task a day seems so much more do-able.
As far as tracking finances, you should check out YNAB (youneedabudget.com). I started their free trial over the summer and ended up buying it. It’s my favorite!! So much easier than keeping a spreadsheet updated (they even have an app you can use) and it has done amaaaaaaazing things for our savings goals.
For the record, I’m not affiliated with them in any way other than being a ridiculously satisfied customer. I just love it so much I feel I have to mention it. (My husband finds it ridiculous how excited I get over the budget ever since we got YNAB.)
Super easy to do those things each day when your job consists of taking pics of the food that calls to you. Keep dreaming big, Julie!
Though yes, my primary source of income does from this blog (and I’m extremely grateful for that), I am actually working out of the house at two different gyms every weekday now. I definitely recognize that I am lucky and have a more flexible schedule than most and I am thankful for it. I’m sorry if this rubbed you the wrong way, but I just wanted to share a tool I’m planning to use to get myself more organized going into a new year.
Yikes!
You worked hard and strategically to get where you are, Julie. You made plans, took risks, put in the time and effort to be able to have the kind of life you have. To have someone say something so bitterly snarky about it is a shame.
“She Designed A Life She Loved”
Jenn, what a mean spirited comment. It’s not so much that you disagree with Julie’s tips & ideas here — you’re entitled to that. Not everyone agrees on how to do things. But your comment was ugly and mean and says a lot about what you’re made of.
Great calendar! Today is take down all the Christmas stuff in our house and it’s making me so sad.
Hey when donating those unwanted shoes and clothes keep me in mind 🙂 I love hand-me-downs! Just kidding…but good luck organizing this month! Organizing is truly my favorite thing in the world. I don’t love cleaning, but I love to sort through clutter, it is so therapeutic!
Oh I totally will!!! 🙂 What size shoe do you wear??
One of my friends is a professional organizer, and in November and into December, I hired her to work with me through my entire house! It needed it, since I’d been the caretaker for my husband for 2 + years and it left no time for organizing – the house was in MAJOR disarray. (He’s gotten better and is going to be okay). So I started off the year with an organized home. It used to be on my to do list every holiday vacation and I was tired of having it ahead of me. A gift to myself! So happy!!
One of my New Year’s goals is to focus on drinking enough water. I slacked on that in 2014. It will be a hydrated, healthy, happy, and whole 2015 for me!
I definitely have a bunch of goals I’d like to fulfill! Of course I have my fitness goals, but I think ultimately I’d like to have enough money saved to buy a house by the end of the year!
I love it! I try to stay as organized as possible (sometimes you are thrown a curveball and things pile up). I have to go to Pinterest and see what I can find in terms of organization calendars. I’m sure you knew this, but in case you didn’t check out if any animal shelters in your area are in need of old towels (saw that on your purge list). When our cat died I actually took over some of his litter, food, toys, and towels and they were so thankful. Hope you and Ryan have a healthy, happy new year.
I love this!! my bf and I are moving in two weeks and I’m REALLY excited for the fresh start there– our current apt is really old and our new one is going to be so much nicer and newer. CANT WAIT! maybe I’ll just start this org calendar next month instead, haha
This is a great idea. I could really use some reorganization and decluttering in my apartment. I moved from TX to NYC this past year, and I JUST unpacked some of the move boxes yesterday. Ha. We’re planning to move to another part of Brooklyn when our lease is up in May, so I should probably do what you’re doing and get rid of any unneeded stuff. Yay for purging. I have lots of other goals too. I shared them on my blog the other day if you wanted to check them out — http://www.sweatstretcheat.com/home/2015-goals
I absolutely love this idea! Definitely going to attempt to follow this every day.
Love the idea even though it is so intimidating! I think I’ll play it safe and just make a list of 10 things I want to get done in January – that way I won’t totally give up if I miss a day!
I love this calendar, Julie!! It helps SO much to stay motivated by doing one small task each day… and at the end of the month, WOW! Look how much you’ll have accomplished! I’m definitely going to steal some of your ideas from this calendar for my own organizational purposes… 2015 is my “year of living simply” and I have a lot of work to do! 🙂
Here are my goals for this year: http://daybydaymasterpiece.com/2015/01/01/my-goals-for-2015/
Oh, my GOSH! That Hyperbole and a Half post is SO me! Lol. I fixed my car by myself when I was about 21 (I think I had to attach a new hose or something very complicated like that) and I’ve been relishing in that ever since… for example. Being an adult is hard! Right now I have three full baskets of clean laundry on my bedroom floor waiting to be folded… for a week now. I just keep picking things out for our family and ignoring the rest. I assume at some point I’ll just re-wash the whole lot & start over.
That is a lot of stuff! I am all about starting the New Year organized but I don’t have that much time to do all that. I’d be able to do maybe half of that lol!!
I really need to do this! None of these tasks should take much more than an hour, so it really is feasible to squeeze it into your day if it is a priority. Starting Sunday!
I love this idea. A little bit each day makes a huge difference.
this is a fabulous idea.. I think I am going to create one today and start getting organized this month!! I have a few junk drawers that need to be cleaned out.