A New Year - A New Start

Throughout this past year, have you been thinking these thoughts - "I want to use this room as a guestroom, but there is so much clutter," or "I have so many books that I would like to be able to sit down and read - but they are so scattered, I can't find the one I want to read," or "I would like to enjoy my family photos but they are scattered everywhere and dis-organized."

If you have had those thoughts or similar ones throughout this past year, now is the time to change.  The new year always brings a fresh start and a new beginning.  Now is the time to start planning for the new year - and for your new start.

You can begin the process by making a list of what you want to do over the next year.  Write everything down - no matter how silly you may think it is.  I'll give you an example:

1.   Paint the house.
2.   Learn to water ski.
3.   Go to the movies once a month.
4.   Clear the spare bedroom of clutter.

Now give it a few days and come back to the list.  Re-evaluate.  Some things you may want to eliminate.  You may want to add to it.  Or you may want to change your numerical order on some things.  Once you have gone through your list, you will need to schedule time in your calendar to actually DO these things.  

You may have to backward schedule in order to get some things completed.  For example, clearing the spare bedroom of clutter.  You won't want to do this in one day - you will burn out, get frustrated and give up.  And haven't you been there before?  You may want to schedule as follows:

1.   Gather boxes, trash bags, markers.
2.   Schedule de-cluttering time on the calendar.  (If you can do 4 hours per week, you will have that room cleared in no time!)
3.  Honor your calendar entry and be there when it is time to de-clutter.  Remove as many interruptions as possible so that you can stay focused.
4.  Organize what is left in the room once you have finished de-cluttering.
5.  Maintain the room daily or weekly.

This is just an example.  What I wish for you to take away from this is - anything is possible.  If you know what your goal is and plan it out, you can accomplish anything.

Here's to new beginnings!