New Year, New Possibilities

By Jessica Hoelzel

Have you thought about your intentions for the New Year – how you want to live, what you want to be different in your home?

Do you want to view clear surfaces in your kitchen? How about not seeing piles of stuff in the entry when you walk in? Maybe be able to walk with ease on a clear path to your basement? What would it feel like to be able to find what you need in 30 seconds or less?

Organizing is empowering. Clearing out clutter and managing well the things that you have can give you a great boost, moving you in a positive direction for the New Year.

Without a doubt, after the activity of the holidays, starting a new project may seem like the last thing you want to do. Do give yourself a break. Put your feet up. Sip a steaming cup of tea. Hold closely your gratitude for family, for home. Allow yourself to reflect on what your standards are. Not what you will tolerate, but what makes you feel good in your home? When are you most at peace?

To quote Sarah Ban Breathnach, “Creating a comfortable, beautiful, well-run home can be among our most satisfying accomplishments as well as an illuminating spiritual experience.” Take a piece of paper and jot some notes about what an organized home means for you. What does the space look like?

Next ponder what rooms need the most attention. Do a little planning on paper for the next year. Get your calendar, for sure, and slot in some decluttering time. Three-hour sessions are usually about right for bigger projects, before you get burnt out. But you can take 15 minutes a day to transform spaces, too. At the end of a week, that’s almost two hours of organizing!

Maybe the laundry room is your biggest pain right now. Do that first. Maybe the garage needs work, but that would be better scheduled for warm weather. How about weeding out closets or playrooms, to make room for the new things you’ve gotten?

Make sure to include your family. It will make the effort lighter and teach valuable lessons for the future.

Beginning is sometimes the most challenging part, but like my mom’s cross stitch sampler says, “Begun is half done”. Start small and reward yourself along the way. You will gain momentum as you go. Make it an organized new year!