Decluttering Before Lunar New Year: 6 Tips From the Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Lunar New Year is just around the corner, which makes it the perfect time for a good declutter! But where do you start? Every year, it seems like you pull everything out, get tired halfway through, and end up putting it all back exactly where it was.

Drawing on Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, this article shares some of the most practical tips to help you clear out space step by step, so you can welcome the new year with a fresh start!

1. Start With the Things That Don’t Require Any Thought

For example:

• Things that no longer work (broken charging cables, pens that have run out of ink)
• Things that expired long ago (medicine, food, skincare)
• Things that no longer fit your life (textbooks and notes from school, old clothes you haven’t worn in over five years)

Dealing with these “no-brainer” items first quickly frees up space, so you actually feel progress and have more motivation to keep going. The key is not to ask whether something is worth keeping, just whether it can still be used.

2. Leave Sentimental Items for Later

These things take a lot of emotional energy to sort through, and it’s easy to spend a whole day on them without getting much done. Photos, postcards, exhibition ticket stubs, handmade keepsakes: every item you pick up pulls you into a memory before you know it.

The order you tidy in matters. Start with things that are broken or haven’t been used in ages, the kind that are objectively easy to decide on, and set aside anything with obvious sentimental value so you don’t burn out right at the start.

3. For Things You Can’t Bear to Toss, Make Two Piles: “Keep” or “Not Sure”

When we tidy, we often get stuck on things we “can’t bear to part with” and keep going back and forth. When that happens, just split them into two piles: one for “definitely keeping” and one for “not sure.” That way, the process doesn’t grind to a halt. Once you’ve finished sorting the easier items, come back and take your time with the “not sure” pile. You’ll be much less likely to give up halfway.

4. Discarding Matters More Than Storage

Tidying is about choosing what to keep and what to let go. No matter how nice your storage looks, if your home is full of things you don’t need, it’s just “clutter, beautifully arranged.” That’s also why some people tidy all the time without much effect: a lot of the time, we’re just moving things from here to there, putting them in a different spot.

Getting rid of what you don’t need is what frees up space, shows you where everything should live, and makes room in your life for the things you love. And surrounded by the things you love, every day can spark joy and shine!

5. Tidy by Category, Not by Location

Many people want to start with one room or corner, especially after a tiring day at work, when simpler always feels better.

But when you tidy by location, this often happens: while tidying the living room, you move some things to the bedroom; then when it’s the bedroom’s turn, you carry another batch back to the living room. Things keep moving back and forth between spaces, but there’s never really any less of them.

Try tidying by “category” instead. For example, with clothes, don’t just sort what’s in your closet. Gather every piece of clothing in your home at once and make all your decisions together. It may look like a bigger job at first, but it saves you from the exhausting feeling of tidying endlessly and never being done.

6. Tidy When Others Aren’t Around, and Give Yourself Space

When you tidy, what matters most is your own feelings and judgment! If family members are around, a few comments like “that’s still usable” or “it’s a shame to throw that out” can easily leave you torn.

Tidying means making decision after decision, which takes a lot of mental energy, so it’s even more important to have quiet and no interruptions. When you’re surrounded by opinions, feelings that were clear can quickly turn fuzzy, and you might even start doubting your choices.

Give yourself some tidying time that’s all your own, and focus on sensing whether each item still suits who you are now. That way, tidying won’t turn into a source of stress. It’s meant to be a gentle way of sorting through your life.

Tidying is a bit like a detox. Rather than throwing away things you “don’t use,” it’s really about letting go of the dead weight that makes life feel heavy, cramped, and frustrating. We don’t tidy to empty everything out, but to keep what we truly need and truly love, and to get life flowing again.

Start with items that don’t require any thought, leave the most emotionally draining things for later, keep things simple so your tidying doesn’t stall, and remember to focus on “getting rid of what you don’t need” rather than rushing to put everything away.

With Lunar New Year approaching, use these little tips to welcome a fresher, more joy-sparking new year!

• 📝 Further reading: New Year’s Goals List: 9 Ideas You Can Start Today When You Feel Lost
• 📝 Further reading: How to Write a Year-End Review: 5 Simple Questions to Help You Reflect on Your Year
• 📝 Further reading: 10 Benefits of Journaling That Bring Order to Your Life and Mind