So, it's January 25th and the new year is well under way. Have you made any other resolutions? I am still working on mine. Yes, still. Before the end of the year, I decided that I would not be beholden to making a final decision on my planned life improvements on the first of January. Because really, the end of the year when you are running around trying to get things done for the holidays and eating without abandon is not necessarily the best time to come up with your master plan on how to be awesome in the coming year. Okay, maybe "master plan" is a bit of an overstatement but the idea is to develop these goals with intention. Can you do that amidst late night wrapping sessions and stuffing your face with holiday cookies? Maybe.
Though I'm not rushing myself to really get my resolutions figured out, I am aware of my tendency to put things off with the excuse of needing to put more thought into them. So, there is a risk that in December of 2016, I still will not have anything concrete, which is one of the reasons I'm writing about resolutions. The main hangup is that I don't want to make vague goals that can only be subjectively evaluated at the end of the year. A resolution such as being a better parent is great, but how do you decide if you were better compared to last year?
This year, my plan is to come up with resolutions that are specific and quantifiable. Whatever goals I come up with need to be measurable so I can determine if progress is being made. One of my goals is to really work on turning my house into a home that I love. We've lived here for over ten years and I haven't done much decorating or purchased things for the house that inspired a real sense of joy. My buying habits are largely driven by the sale price, with the likelihood of me buying something exponentially increasing if the item is on clearance. I've learned this from my mother. Never buy anything at full price.
Consequently, I am trying to break this habit, which I know will be difficult because it was ingrained as a child and has been my MO for all of adulthood. In working to create the cozy and joyful home that I desire, I am getting rid of the items that were purchased mostly because I could get a good deal on it and putting some real thought into what I want to bring into the house. I may still wait for sales but the purchase will not be driven solely by the fact that the item is on sale. But the goal for my house is not just about buying new things either - I kind of like the whole idea of minimalism but I don't know if it's something I could ever get to.
So I'm going to make this goal somewhat measurable by providing action items for myself. My plan is to pick an area each month - it could be as small as a shelf or as big as an entire room and really focus on curating that space. By that I mean getting rid of anything extraneous and acquiring new items for it only if I feel like it would be an enhancement. Right now I'm working on our office and it's all about decluttering.
Would love to hear about your goals for the new year and the steps you are taking to get there.
Michelle
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