***image1***Last week I quizzed you regarding how organized you are. Granted, some of the answers were obviously meant for a smile, but my plan was to have you look at your life patterns and determine whether or not you really did need to envision change. The time is now to reflect upon ourselves and our goals. And, while we tend to call this ‘resolution time’, it is often one of those moments we dread. Who wants to acknowledge the prospect of reviewing old habits and creating new strategies? This does not have to be a time to set up unrealistic goals; this can be the time to refresh your life and recharge your strengths. Take a moment to reflect upon these simple ideas to de-clutter all aspects of your life!
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Taking down the decorations. It is tricky but I’ve said it before. Next year don’t put every item you have out for the holidays. As an example, we asked Nana to pare down this year. We all have a Nana. She is the keeper of family tradition: the mantles are resplendent with magnolias and candles; the chandeliers have bows and the staircases are lush with garlands. But our holidays are changing. We have begun to create our own family traditions. Granted, Nana’s house will always be the heart of the holidays, but we are all realizing that change can be good. Truth be told? We’d rather spend time enjoying our nieces and nephews, not insuring the entire house is awash in holiday décor.
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Time Out. Repeat after me: this year I will give myself at least 30 minutes each day to reflect. It can be as simple as waking up 30 minutes earlier to meditate on the coming day or those 30 minutes before you retire to bed. You will be amazed at the serenity you find when you give yourself permission to absorb all you will encounter that day or all that you want to realize for the next.
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Create a to-do list with goals. Be realistic. If you want more control over your daily schedule, set up a system for yourself and your family. It can be as simple as deciding that the garage will be cleaned out the weekend before the Superbowl, thus giving yourself the gift of space and watching the game without thinking you should be doing something! The most important part of this activity is to set a date and time for completion. Nothing works as well as seeing closure to a project. Expect your project to take some time, but if you are strong in your belief that it will be beneficial, then stick to it. Involve those you care about into the plan. You’ll be amazed at how defining attainable goals will strengthen all involved!
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Embrace the knowledge that you are in control of change and de-cluttering your world. Many of us believe we have to do things because they’ve always been done that way. Take a strong stand. Examine what is important to you and your family. You’ve been through a season of gifts, of giving and receiving and you are, once again, overwhelmed with the idea of where to put the ‘new things.’ If you’ve been proactive prior to the holidays, you have already culled through the current things in your home. You have either recycled or donated them to make room for the new. If you haven’t had that opportunity, take a day to pare down. The week after the holidays and the first week into the New Year is the perfect time to give yourself permission to change. We tend to focus so much about diet and exercise for our bodies’ health that we tend to neglect exercising our right to re-create how we really envision our homes. Start now. Put the 2005 season to bed. Embrace your strength and resolve in deciding to review patterns that have become a source of stress. Simply put? Take control of things that are destined to create anxiety in your life. You have the right to redesign not only future holidays, but to redefine your daily patterns so that life becomes not only more manageable, but more appealing.
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Lastly? Give yourself permission to change. Approach the New Year as an opportunity. Establish positive patterns. Donate to a favorite charity. Cull old holiday bows and used candles. You’ll be amazed at the outcomes once you take control! Happy New Year!!
