Starting the New Year Off Right with New Systems and Habits
Wow. What is there to say about 2020 that hasn’t already been said? With that in mind – let’s look ahead to 2021…a new year and an opportunity for a fresh start. No, the world won’t be back to normal come January 1. But let’s not wait for that magical day to implement some positive changes to our routines!
Here are a few ideas to try that can to add calm and order to your day. Try one, or try them all – it’s a whole new world in 2021!
- Nightly Sweep: Before you go to bed each night take a few minutes to do a sweep of your main living areas. Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher, pillows back on the couch, and miscellaneous items back in their proper home. Spending these few minutes at night ensures you will wake up to a tidy and calm space, ready to start the day.
- Laundry Schedule: Try implementing a laundry schedule. Assign each person in your family, or category of laundry (darks, lights, etc.) a specific day of the week. This breaks the laundry down into manageable chunks and never leaves you with an overwhelming mountain of *everything* to do. Tip – on each laundry’s assigned day, complete it from start to finish…that means putting it away too!
- Hanger Trick: At the start of the year, turn all of the hangers in your closet facing one way. As you wear an item, turn it the opposite way. After six months, take note of which items have yet to be worn. Unless they are for a special occasion, it’s a safe bet they aren’t your favorites and should be considered for the donation pile. Make space for items you truly love and get excited to wear.
- Stock Up: Identify the items that you and your family use regularly and (space permitting) buy enough to create a small amount of backstock so you aren’t always scrambling and/or rebuying. Some items to consider include laundry detergent, hand soap, favorite shelf stable food items, etc. Whatever is ALWAYS on your list to buy, go ahead and buy a few at a time to give yourself some breathing room.
