For many, this week is spring break. Did you end up at home instead of some tropical getaway? Well, you can create your own getaway and catch up on a little organizing at the same time.

Maybe you want to decorate. You may have already pulled out decorations for Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, or birthdays, but did you let go of the decorations for those occasions that no longer work for you and properly store the remaining decorations? This is a great time to pull out those decorations you have not used in years, create a space for each occasion’s decorations, and pull out something fun and unusual for your spring break week. Do you have a tough time deciding what to let go or not even know where to start organizing what you keep? You might just need an outside perspective from a friend, neighbor, or professional organizer.

Maybe the warmer weather has gotten you in the mood to bring out the spring and summer clothes. First, you probably want to go through the fall and winter clothes to remove the items that you never wore, need to mend or spot-clean, or just do not look good anymore. Then it is time to bring out the other set of clothes. Most items probably look good because you have not seen them for many months, but there is no use putting something in the closet if you know you did not wear it last season or do not like it anymore. This could be a great time to rearrange the flow of your closet so you can create outfits and find matching items more easily. If you have ever considered installing a new closet organizing system, you might as well take advantage of your empty closet. Are you at a loss for how to make your closet flow better or which closet system to buy? Check the internet, walk around your local hardware store, or consult a professional organizer.

Maybe you decide to make those special recipes. They may require some ingredients or utensils hidden due to rare use. Since you have to dig to find them anyway, you may want to take this time to streamline your utensils by removing those you have not used in years. Maybe you decide to cook using only the ingredients in your house. Since you will probably root through your pantry during this adventure, you might as well group your like items together so you know what you have the next time you write your grocery list. When and where possible, this would also probably be a good time to rearrange the location of some food items to place them closer to the point of use so you can find them when you need them – and not buy a new one. Remember, you can even label in the kitchen. Where do you start? Flip through a kitchen & bath magazine, research a cooking website, or contact a professional organizer.

Reprinted with permission.