clutter-free-2016

New Year’s Resolutions

OK, hands up…who has made a New Year’s resolution? Every year at this time we have the opportunity to start afresh. It’s a new year, with the slate wiped clean and endless possibilities before us.

Maybe you’ve resolved to get a better job, be a better parent, eat better, or lose weight. Or perhaps you’ve resolved to create a clutter-free system in the new year. While we can’t help you with the first resolutions, we can help with the last one.

The first step to creating a clutter-free system is to get rid of the clutter that’s clogging your life’s flow. Are your drawers or closets so stuffed that they won’t close? Is every surface in your home covered with items? You’ll actually feel better with a little breathing room.

Step 1: Get Rid of Excess Stuff

The problem is, you own too much stuff. With fewer items in your possession, creating a system will be much easier. Start with easy projects first, like your clothes closet or junk drawer. Then move to larger projects like a basement or attic cleanout.

At 123JUNK, our business is hauling away the items you no longer want or need. We’ll carefully remove items like furniture, appliances, household items, or yard debris from your property and either donate, recycle or dispose of them, as appropriate.

Step 2: Create New Habits

Once you’ve cleared your space, implement new habits to maintain your new lifestyle. Instead of dropping items at the door, or leaving daily-use items on the table, put them back in their place. Tidy the kitchen after each meal, hang up clothing at the end of each day, and develop a daily routine of tidying up. Dedicate previously-clutter-laden spaces like tables and kitchen counters as “clean zones.”

Step 3: Stop Bringing in New Items

The next time you see that shiny new item in the store, ask yourself if you really need it. Will you use it? Do you have a place to store or display it? Walk away when you have the urge to buy, and then think about it when you’re not influenced by the packaging. If you still want and need it, then go back and buy it. Think about adopting a “one in, one out” system where whenever you bring in something new, you get rid of something old. If possible, rent or borrow items for one-time uses, like gardening tools or books.

Once you bust through the clutter and begin living your new habits, you’ll really start to enjoy your clutter-free life. Without all those items to clean and sort, just think of all the free time you’ll have to do something you really enjoy!

gratitude

Starting the new year right: showing gratitude

Coming into into the new year, we are keenly aware of our attitude of gratitude as we say thank you to all those who opened their homes and hearts to us during the holiday season, and those loved ones who gave us gifts.

It is also important that we say thank you to all of those surrounding us in our business lives as well: our wonderful staff members who work hard all year, our excellent referral sources and charity partners, and our incredible clientele. January 2016 marks the beginning of our eight year in business!

Gratitude is a Core Value

Gratitude is one of our core values here at 123JUNK, and we like to show it as often as we can. We find it is very important to our success as a referral business.

Strategies we use including sending handwritten cards or calls to referral sources, and follow-up calls and handwritten notes to our clients. We even share our client feedback with our referral sources to keep them in the loop.

All of our staff at 123JUNK is trained to genuinely thank our clients as if the gratitude was coming directly from the owner. We put more energy into following up with our clients than we do in searching for new business because we feel our clients can be our sales team if they are happy.

Our Core Values are Who We Are

At 123JUNK, our business is based on a number of core values. Hauling away junk is what we do; our core values are who we are. So as we write our thank you notes to friends and family, we remind ourselves to be grateful for each and every person with whom we interact throughout the year, and look forward to all the new people we’ll meet in 2016.

Happy New Year!