If you polled your friends’ New Year’s resolutions, many of them would note items like, “get organized” or “live simpler.” The new year lets us overhaul the things that overwhelmed us in the past, whether that means eating less junk food or keeping less clutter. If you’re already putting off New Year’s organization, we’ve got you covered.
How to Keep New Year’s Resolutions
Your goals may seem insurmountable, but it’s possible to stick with them. Here are 3 tips for keeping New Year’s resolutions in 2016:
Do. Don’t avoid. Why do most people fail their resolutions within 6 months? They’re not making positive changes, they’re avoiding negative pitfalls. It’s much easier to eat healthy than it is to nix junk food. Don’t make “get organized” about avoiding messes. Implement actionable strategies to help you stick with the cleaner lifestyle.- Make a goal (and check it off). Don’t keep your resolution to yourself. Let your friends and family help you stay organized this year. Write down your goal for the year. Then break it down into mini-goals for each month, or even each week. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can surpass even your grandest expectations when you conquer them bit by bit.
- Try again! Mess up? Don’t give up! Start over. It’s easier to get into good habits if you stick with them instead of only doing them when it’s convenient.
New Year’s Resolutions for Homeowners
- Downsize. If you’re anything like most people, you have years of Christmas presents, birthday gifts, and bought items cluttering up closets. Before tackling New Year’s organization, weed through the clutter and box up what you don’t use or need.
- Dive in. Whether you organize room by room, all at once, or with a squad of declutter-fairies, you can’t change your lifestyle until you take care of the problem. Sort, organize, label, and call Mr. Junk to haul away the junk that’s left.
- Create an action plan. Don’t just expect your home to stay clean. Despite our best intentions, life always gets hectic, and counters always get cluttered. Instead, make a plan going forward. Put kids in charge of certain chores, plan laundry Mondays and fridge clean out Saturdays, and teach the whole family how to stay organized. Simple tricks make all the difference.
Out with the old? Call Mr. Junk to haul away unwanted stuff so you can dive into a cleaner New Year.
