The “New” Tradition I Can’t Wait to Start Next Year

There’s something about starting a new year with a clean place that plays into my whole “out with the old, in with the new” mentality. But to be honest, cleaning is usually the last thing on my mind leading up to New Year’s Eve or the first day of the year, as I’m usually nursing a hangover or leaning into a lazy couch day.

However, after trying TikTok’s Winter Arc challenge to get a head-start on my resolutions a little early this year, I decided to embrace my year with a “new year, new cleaning tradition” mentality. 

I decided to start my New Year’s cleaning tradition the same way I handle resolutions: By prepping everything ahead of time. The best way to kick off 2025 with a fresh start is not by having a ton of chores to do on the first day of the new year, so I’m going to clean a few days before New Year’s Day so I’ll actually feel like I’m sweeping away some of the lingering baggage and stressors of the past year so that I’m truly ready for a clean slate.

For some background, this isn’t an easy feat. As someone who regularly has a “clothes chair,” a cleaning routine is an essential way I make sure my place doesn’t descend into chaos — even if I struggle to stick to it. 

So this year, I’ll be focusing on slowly decluttering my space in the days between Christmas and December 31. I’ll be putting all my decorations away in their bins, packing up my holiday dresses and ugly sweaters for the year in my storage unit, and freeing up all the space on my coffee table, bedroom side tables, bathroom countertop, and kitchen island as a symbol of a new beginning. 

By doing all this work a few days early, when January 1 comes around, I’ll be spending the day reflecting and relaxing in my freshly cleaned place, and getting mentally ready for the year ahead.

I notice a big mental difference when my space is clean and uncluttered, and the extra work to make it that way definitely feels worth it — so I know it will help my new year start off right.