~Eleanor Roosevelt
Never is this more true than with the start of a new year. Over the past two weeks, I’ve had conversations with friends, family, clients, and colleagues about what possibilities 2017 holds for us. Whether you’re a resolution person, or like me you choose one word for your theme of the year, of if you have more general goals in mind, my hope is that you find inspiration in this time of new beginnings
“This is it–this is the year I get organized.”
I’m hearing a lot along these lines lately. For many people, disorganization is a real barrier between us and the life we want. Making a commitment to bringing order and ease to your like can be life-changing.I wish I could be with each of you in person to witness the magic, but in lieu of that, today I’d like to share with you my tips for getting started, if getting organized is on your list for 2017:
1. IDENTIFY YOUR WHY
“I want to go paperless”
becomes
“I’m finally going to tackle my paper clutter and set up a functional home office so I can fulfill my dream of starting my own
business.”
“I really should throw away some of this old junk”
becomes
“I want to simplify my life so that if something happens to me my kids won’t be left with a mess.”
Get clear on what you want to accomplish and by when. Then set yourself up for success by putting that in your calendar and scheduling sessions to tackle your project a piece at a time. Be realistic and set aside time often enough to keep the momentum up but not so much time that it becomes daunting and you avoid doing the work. Try an hour a week to start.
3. STAY WITH IT
Put in place structures that will support you in sticking with your project. This may mean including a family member or reaching out to an expert for help. Team up with a buddy and check in with each other on your progress. Don’t forget to go out to celebrate all your hard work. Or commit to something that will keep you on track–for example in NYC Salvation Army makes house calls to pick up donation items, but they often book 4-6 weeks out, so call today to schedule a pick up next month to give yourself something to work towards. Agreeing to put your home on the market in the spring or inviting friends over for a dinner a party in 2 months may encourage you to stay the course.
As always, if you find you’re in need of organizational expertise, feel free to respond to this newsletter to set up a free phone consultation.
Happy Organizing!
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