Goals are awesome to have… especially ones that are going to improve your life. But we all know that within a few weeks, those goals start to dissipate into thin air. It isn’t easy keeping new habits even when we start with the best intentions. I thought I’d share some simple (and I mean… really simple) ways to improve your workflow, your home flow, and your personal flow so you can claim success with your New Years goals.
WORK
For those of us who work from home, the holidays are a perfect time to re-evaluate what is and isn’t working for us. We usually have some downtime with the kids home from school and even though we’re busy with family and celebrations, we can usually find some time to prepare for the new year. If you took the month of December off from doing anything, it’s not too late.
Calendar
Whether you use a paper calendar or a digital calendar (or use some other workflow system), you should start using it if you haven’t already. I use a combination of a lot of things to keep myself organized. I have a wall calendar in my kitchen that is a must for our family. We are pretty visual people and with three teenagers, our days get pretty busy. We ALL are responsible for posting our schedules on the kitchen calendar so we know what is coming up and can make sure we don’t overschedule each other. I also have a desk calendar where I write down more personal things. I use it for personal goals and inspiration, to remind myself of when I have to buy gifts, wish people a happy birthday, and run my errands. The third thing I use is my workflow notebook. That is mostly for all my work responsibilities and keeps me on task. I also use that for new business ideas and to keep a running track of what I need to accomplish.
Organize
It’s time to sort through all those papers that have piled up during the holidays. I have been filing away the ones I need to keep and tossing the ones I’ve finished. I also have a pile of things that I still need to go through… because we ALL have a pile of things we need to go through. I also make sure to go through my emails and desktop files because when you start with a clean inbox and computer screen, it makes everything so much calmer and peaceful.
Planning/Vision/Goals
If I don’t write down what I want to do, there is basically no chance in hell that anything will get done. Even if you just make a simple goal list and then hide it away in the back of a notebook or desk, the words down on paper are magical and you’ll be surprised at what you can check off that list when it comes to the end of the year. Which reminds me… go get your list from last year and see what you’ve accomplished. Re-evaluate the list and keep those goals that you still have… delete the ones that no longer mean anything to you. If you are into vision boards, now is the time to update. And make sure you work on the next few months of planning out what you’ll be focusing on for work. Things like blog posts, social media promotions, events, updates, finances, etc. should be entered into your schedule.
HOME
Work is great but it isn’t everything. Your home and family are what is most important and you can’t overlook getting your home in order for the new year. I’m not talking about a complete home makeover or anything drastic (unless that’s a big goal of yours). I’m talking about making your home work for you. Cluttered home, cluttered mind.
Closets/Storage
Not at the top of the fun list but remember the last time you cleaned out your closet and how awesome it felt? Do it! Grab a garbage bag and a donate bag and get the kids involved. Do the same with your dresser drawers, kitchen cabinets and drawers, and all those coat closets and junk drawers around your house. If you are really ambitious, you can go through the garage… but wow, that would really be a feat. My biggest problem is the kitchen junk drawers that I throw everything from coupons to old birthday candles in. Love getting that stuff in the garbage.
Medical/School/Bill Files
If you don’t have a filing system (and I know some people really don’t), it’s time to get yourself one. It doesn’t have to be fancy… just a plastic bin with some file folders will do. Have a file for each topic: medical insurance, home insurance, elementary school, home repairs, pest control, etc. You get the point. Then start going through your stacks of papers and file the ones that are important to keep. The other stuff… toss it. If you won’t need it in the future don’t bother saving it. Bank statements can be found online these days so no need to keep those. Any contract that you’ve signed… keep it. When you start out on January 1 with everything in order, you will feel like you’re on top of the world.
Design & Organize
If you are like me, you might want to take stock of what is in your house. This is a perfect time to do that since you’re probably decorating for the holidays and are finding things you haven’t seen since last year. I love rearranging things and even though we all can’t afford to go out and buy new furnishings, we can certainly redo our floorplan: move the couches around, add a new tablecloth, or change out the everyday dishes. Sometimes it’s the simple touches that reinvigorate us and make our home a little fresher.
PERSONAL
If you set one goal this year, make it something for yourself. You’ll thank yourself for it later.
Joy
What makes you happy? Really think about it for a while. Obviously, our kids and families… but besides that, what do you DO that brings you joy? Is it traveling? Is it writing? Is it skydiving? Whatever you take great joy in, write in on your calendar the time when you will focus solely on making yourself happy doing what you love.
Quiet Time
Yep, sometimes you really do have to schedule in time to do nothing. To just be quiet. To go to the beach or the park and sit quietly with yourself. To think. To be still. To reflect. All of my kids are in school but even still, I need to make sure I have some time every week where I can just lay in bed and read a good book. In a quiet house. With my favorite drink by my side. The trick is to do it and not feel guilty about it. You are nourishing your soul… and that is never a waste of time.
Be a Rebel
Do something you have always wanted to do but never had the time (or money) to do it. Take guitar lessons. Join a book club. Color your hair purple. We spend so much time working and taking care of everyone else that we forget that it’s okay for us to want to try new things. We thrive when we are learning and accomplishing things… and even when we are scared of what people will think of us we have to prove to ourselves that we are strong and special.
Remember, just because it’s January doesn’t mean that you’ve missed the boat on setting your new years goals.
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