Did you know that January is GO {Get Organized} Month? As we head into a new year, here are 10 tips to help you start the new year on the right foot:

1. Gather up your receipts and bank statements from last year now to get a jump start on the April tax paperwork panic.

2. Set up your filing system for this year’s paperwork now. Create a file for each tax deduction category or file receipts by the month. It’s easier to organize it along the way than to wait until next year.

3. Use your Christmas card stash to update your contact manager. If you’re still using a paper address book, consider the tech alternatives on your smartphone, e-mail contact manager or cloud solutions.

4. Take a day or a few hours to set goals for your business or personal life. Remember to make them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely)! It’s hard to get somewhere without a map. Where are you trying to go in this new year?

5. Reevaluate your daily, weekly & monthly routines. Rework them to incorporate new habits, like exercise and cooking at home more often.

6. Tackle one tiny organizing project each day or week. When you look at the big picture, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. How do you swallow an elephant? One bite at a time!

7. Instead of purchasing new plastic totes to put all of those Christmas toys into, how about donating the old toys and reusing the totes? Not only will you clear the clutter, but you are teaching your children about generosity.

8. As you pack up the Christmas decor, throw out anything broken, worn out or unloved. Stock up on replacements during clearance sales. Buy color coded bins and limit the amount of space you allow for seasonal items.

9. Create a “home” for transitional items. Everyone has them – library books, items to return to the store, etc. The “home” you create should be as close to the exit of your home as possible, so you remember to take the items with you when you leave.

10. Turn all of the hangers in your closet backwards. As you wear each item, flip the hanger around. Mark your calendar for today’s date next year and donate all clothing items you haven’t worn in the past 12 months.

Do you have any tips for the start of a new year that you’d like to share? Leave a comment below!