Because “being better organized” is always found at the tip top of New Year’s resolution lists, we want to help jumpstart those goals. How? Over the next two months, we’ll be sharing easy, realistic organization practices that can be life-changing when adapted to fit your lifestyle. Why two months? Despite popular belief, it takes longer than 30 days to form new habits – approximately 66 days according to studies.
Let’s begin.
Pick Up After Yourself
As I mentioned in the beginning, easy and realistic. Ironically though, picking up after yourself is challenging. Life happens and putting things away once they’re done being used or before bed can seem like small potatoes; however, when left unattended, those small potatoes multiple into many, many small potatoes and suddenly you’ve got a problem!
Two Techniques:
ONE: We’ve written about the “doesn’t belong” tote before. I personally use this method and can attest to its value. Basically, if an item doesn’t belong in that room, it goes in the tote. Once all items that don’t belong are collected, you can begin rehoming. I like this because it’s efficient. None of that okay, I’ll put my shoes up … oh, here’s a jacket … whoops, I missed the hair tie and socks … oh, shiny object … distracted … mission incomplete. No! Place everything that doesn’t belong in the tote at once, THEN disperse. This is great for families and really cuts down on an accumulation of clutter in common areas. Everyone collecting their own “doesn’t belong” items prior to bed is an easy, realistic rule that can be implemented at once.
Bonus: If you have kids, engage them by letting them select their very own “doesn’t belong” tote. Maybe it pictures their favorite character or perhaps it’s one they can color, paint, label and bedazzle.
TWO: Today, more than ever, we are presented with tempting ways to waste time. We pause to watch something on television or give ourselves 5 minutes to mindlessly scroll and the next thing you know we’re 6 episodes in or reading someone’s post from 2 years ago that we’ve never met. I can’t explain it but it’s the world in which we live. We all need and deserve those mental breaks and, with a few tweaks, not only can we keep them but enjoy them more. Set aside undistracted time for tasks, even if only 10 minutes per day. It’s amazing what you can knock it under 10 minutes when you are totally focused. When the time is up, resume to whatever without that looming list of to-dos.
Stay tuned for more posts on realistic New Year resolutions and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for more tips and product giveaways!