New Year, New Habits: Organizing Resolutions for Lasting Change
The start of the year is a time for great change and possibility. All over the world people feel energized to begin anew and pursue their goals with zest. Perhaps you’re one of many people who’ve decided this is the year you get organized. You’re ready to tackle your household and create an environment that is more reflective of you and what you want. Don’t let this be a goal that falls by the wayside come February; with a little bit of effort you can develop habits that will last you the whole year.
Why Organizaing Resolutions Are Great New Year’s Resolutions
You might be wondering why anyone would want “being more organized” as a goal in the first place. Many people focus their New Year’s resolutions on something about themselves; maybe they want to exercise more or pick up a new hobby. These resolutions can be difficult because they’re not always in your control, and they aren’t something you always notice – you’re used to being you! Organizing, however, is something unique to every individual and can be adapted to your lifestyle, timeline, and interests. It’s also something that you pay attention to every day. You’re constantly in your home environment and can easily feel the buildup of clutter and the stress of disorganization. Using the new year as a chance to get organized gives you something to plan for and look forward to, while not requiring the change to be about you. It’s a project the whole family can be involved in!
Steps To Identify and Prioritize Organizing Resolutions (Kitchen, Closet, Digital Files)
The first step in keeping consistent with this resolution is to have a plan. Having a plan gives you a visual guideline for what you want to tackle and when. You might work on a different room every month or find something to organize and declutter weekly. Having a schedule that works with your schedule and your organization resolutions can help keep you on track and give you something to keep you going. When developing this plan, think about what rooms or spaces in your house cause the most stress or just seem to carry the most clutter. If you’re always struggling to cook because of a disorganized kitchen, that might be your first place to start. Once you’ve identified these problems areas, create a schedule for what you want to work on and designate time that you’re going to work on this. Treat it as an appointment: you wouldn’t skip a doctor’s visit just because you didn’t feel like it, so don’t skip your organization sessions even when you’re feeling demotivated.
Setting Small, Achievable Goals Vs. Grand, Sweeping Changes
Many times, people struggle with keeping their resolutions because they’re hoping for big changes in a short time. It’s hard to keep up with goals that feel impossible! When working out your organizing resolutions, create small, manageable steps that you can take on a schedule that works for you. This doesn’t have to all be done in a month, or even six months. You might spend the whole year working on this project, and that’s just fine. Having small goals will help you build on your progress, and before you know it you’ll have made a huge difference in a seemingly short time.
Building Habits to Make Organization Part of The Daily Routine
Another great way to keep resolutions going throughout the new year is to make them a part of your daily routine. As you start to develop organization goals, look for ways you can keep them consistent and make them a part of your daily life. Once you find places to store and better house your items and daily tools, make sure you put them in that same spot every day. As you start to declutter and get rid of things you don’t need or want anymore, try to avoid impulsively buying and give yourself time to reflect on if it’s something you really need. Building habits is about consistency, so the more you’re able to cement these processes into your day to day, the more easily they’ll come natural to you.
Tracking Progress and Celebrating Small Victories
Finally, one of the greatest ways to stay consistent with resolutions is to keep track of your progress and celebrate your small victories. Before you begin to implement your goals, take pictures of your house as it is right now. As you begin to work on organizing, you can cross off everything you’ve done and have a physical reminder of everything you’ve accomplished. When you feel confident that a room is complete, take a picture of it then and compare the two. You’ll see how much of a difference you’ve made and have proof that your work has paid off!
The new year is a natural opportunity to develop goals and make a commitment to reaching them. Organizing is something that not only affects your daily life but can create change for years to come. This new year is your chance to get organized and stay organized for a calmer, more confident you.