Happy New Year! As always, people around the world start out the new year with high hopes, great ideas and new resolutions that will help make their dreams come true. It's as though there is a lifetime between December 31st and January 1st where our possibilities seem endless, our goals seem completely attainable and we feel unstoppable. We're inspired, hopeful, enthusiastic and convinced everything will be different this year.
Some people reach their goals by the end of the year while some make it until January 2nd. What's the difference between these people? Likely, the ones that are successful at reaching their goals have set goals they can reach. For example, if you are a chocolate lover and vow to not eat chocolate any more because you think it's unhealthy, you'll likely not make it past Valentine's Day. However, if you resolve yourself to only eating a certain amount of chocolate per week, and slowly cut back, you'll have better success. Why? Training your mind and body to do something other than they want to is a process, not something that can be done with a single resolution.
Bringing order to your cluttered life is the same way. Your resolution to get organized, though a wonderful idea, is going to work only if you set small goals and have fun with it. So, rather than saying, "I'm going to get organized this year" say "I'm going to organize a room this month." Then, choose the room you'd like to start with. Next, break it down into a section each week. Though I generally recommend starting with the smallest room, I'm going to break away from the norm this time and recommend you start with the room you walk into when you open your front door. (It is a new year, right?)
First, I'd like you to look around the room and envision what you want it to look like when you're done. Maybe look through some magazines to get some ideas. Then, set a weekly goal. Suppose the room you walk into first is your living room. You're month may look like this:
Week 1: I will put the items that don't belong in the living room in a box and take them to the room they do belong in and leave them. Don't get sidetracked by going through those items at this time. You'll get to those other rooms later. Focus on the living room only.
Week 2: I will sort through magazines, books and movies and get rid of the ones I don't want to keep.
Week 3: I will get rid of any of the decorations or knick-knacks that are not of value to me. Having a lot of knickknacks scattered around makes a room look cluttered.
Week 4: I will arrange the furniture so it flows more nicely.
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