2017 New Years Cleaning Resolutions.

It's that time of the year and we make New Years Resolutions and we all hear that voice in our head say: I never keep them! Why should I even make them?
The New Year offers us all a chance to regroup and start fresh and to reinvent ourselves for the better. We've just come through the sound and fury of the holidays - and our homes, nerves, and bank accounts reflect it.
What better time to get a grip and try to do it right than this clean slate of a new year looming ahead? In that spirit, here are my 7 resolutions that can rejuvenate you, your home, and your family. And the best part? They all build on each other. If you accomplish No. 1 then No. 2 is easier. If you nail No. 4, No. 5 is a cinch.
 
Try it! (What do you have to lose?)
 
resolution #1: downsize,  darn it!
 Resolve to make the new year an organized one by cleaning up, downsizing, dividing, and labeling.
Consider instituting this post-holiday rule for getting rid of clutter: for every new item (bathrobe, earrings, slippers) that arrives, three things have to leave the house. Call it the get organized, one-for-three rule.
Before anyone puts away presents, he or she must fill a minimum of three bags for donation to a charity of his or her choice.
Now move on to your holiday stuff. Any decorations you didn't use this year?
Chances are you won't them next year, either. These go in the donation pile.
 
Go through your drawers, your closets. Yes, you want to keep a few cozy T-shirts and jeans for Saturday sports or painting with the kids.
But you don't need two dozen. Donation pile.
And that collection of hotel shampoos that you've been working on for the last decade? Did they start out green - or is that part of the aging process?
This is going to be an organized new year, remember? You don't need them all (if you did, they wouldn't be there.) Donate these to your neighborhood shelter.
 
resolution #2: divide, conquer and label everything.
I know. Getting organized was already on your list, anyway. But we all still need a friendly nudge to get things going the right way.
The perfect time is now - a new year ahead; and you've downsized. You've got a little room. Now you can finally put everything where it belongs.
I suggest adding just one more item to your inventory that will simplify the process tremendously: a labeler.
 By getting rid of what you can and organizing what's left, you're well on your way to an organized new year.
Neatly typed labels make all the difference when you've reorganized because you and the family have virtual directions for putting things back in their new places.
For example: When you take down your tree and your Christmas decorations, take time to label each box. Put down what is in the box and also the category and a box number.
In other words, the label on a box of Christmas ornaments would say: Christmas. Ornaments. 1. On the last box, underline the number so that you know it's the last number. That way next year you will know whether you have all your boxes.
Now find a corner of the garage, basement, or attic to store all the Christmas boxes together. Apply that same method to your whole house, starting with closets and drawers, ending with your neatly labeled storage boxes and bins in the garage.
 
resolution #3: a neater, cleaner home.
Now that you've de-cluttered, organized, and downsized, cleaning should be a breeze. Often, clutter is what really makes cleaning hard.
Have you ever cleaned before a cleaning person arrived? People laugh when they hear this, but they don't understand that 80 percent of cleaning is picking up stuff and returning it to where it belongs so you actually have some surface area to clean.
And tidying is a job that outside help - no matter how efficient - can't do. To make the job easier, first have a schedule of when you do what: Laundry is Monday nights; bathrooms are Saturday morning; trash is Sunday nights, etc.
That makes sure that nothing gets forgotten and spreads the work out into manageable portions throughout the week. Then do the actual cleaning room by room. Don't allow yourself to dart all over the house.
When I clean the living room, for example, first, I pull everything moveable out to the hall: rugs, knickknacks, throws, plants. Now I have clean surfaces to dust and vacuum. Then I return the accessories, cleaning each one as I replace it.
Invariably, there is still a pile of stuff left in the hall - stuff that didn't belong in the living room in the first place. I return these to their proper homes.
And BAM! One room is ready! Repeat the process in all your other rooms.
 
resolution #4: simpler, saner lives.
We not only ricochet through the house as we clean. We ricochet through life just as madly and inefficiently.
 Downsize and organize family activities so family breakfasts and dinners won't be endangered times in the year ahead.
We rush our children to hockey Karate and ourselves to meetings. We race around town getting groceries, pet supplies,
Breakfasts are a free-for-all-mad-dash most mornings. Dinners are endangered. Homework goes on into the wee hours of the night. We didn't grow up like this. What happened?
We unwittingly veer into the fast lane of family life and get stuck there. A lot of it is peer pressure.
Allow everyone in the family a maximum of three hobbies, not to exceed three commitments (practices, meetings, etc.) per week. If you have more than two kids, the limit might be two hobbies. And the interests can change with the season.
Now look at your own hobbies and interests. A little tougher, huh? Parents not only have hobbies they love to do but also commitments they should do. Sports, volunteer time etc
Save at least two time slots per week for something you love to do. Limit volunteering to two more slots. 2017 is the year to learn to say 'No' - and mean it. It's a crucial part of the success of your resolution for an organized new year.
Finally, make your outings more efficient by grouping errands geographically. Write down or map out all the places you have to drive each week (basketball, volleyball, preschool) and then write down all the errands you have to do each week (groceries, appointments, gas).
Now assign at least one errand to each outing so you can accomplish a minimum of two things with each trip.
 
resolution #5: save money.
If you faithfully adhere to resolutions No. 1 and 4, this resolution will wonderfully take care of itself.
We waste money on things we don't need, and on too many expensive extracurricular activities. Cut those out and you're halfway home. For the other half, make a couple more lists.
 Resolve to save money this year for the things you really want and need.
First, list all the bills that have a fixed amount that must be paid in a month: mortgage/rent, health insurance, car payments, tuition, etc. These are fixed costs and you can do nothing about them.
Now list the necessary expenses with fluctuating costs: gas bills, electric bills, phone bills, groceries. Set up a budget for each and try to cut back on usage.
Finally, list the fun-only expenses: golfing fees, lessons, clothes, Starbucks, movies, dining out, etc. Set a budget for each.
And for best results, include the kids in the process for this one. Tell them how much is budgeted for family entertainment and let each kid vote on how at least part of the money should be spent.
Many parents find that the best approach is to set older kids' allowances at a sum that would actually cover his or her entertainment expenses for a month. Then they get a life lesson on managing money.
Does Kevin want that cool new game controller? Fine, he can buy it - with his money. Of course, he won't be able to eat at McDonalds or see a movie for the rest of the month. And he might just choose to go with that. Kids are a lot thriftier when it's 'their' money. Go figure.
 
resolution #6: take care of yourself.
All of the above resolutions are about helping you take care of yourself. If your home is clean, efficient, and organized, you are taking care of yourself.
 Take care of yourself by allotting time for a long bubble bath or an occasional spa day.
If your time and money are well-managed, you are taking care of yourself. How? Because when your life and home are in chaos, you're stressed out, right?
If your home is well organized, you should also have time to eat healthfully, exercise, and get plenty of sleep.
And remember those time slots to allow yourself? Don't cut corners there.
Your slot could be as extravagant as an occasional day at the spa or as simple as taking a long tub bath. You choose. But do it!
 
resolution #7: be the best you can be.
Again, if you have accomplished resolutions 1 through 6, this one will take care of itself. If you find time to be good to yourself, you will find the time, energy, and patience to be good to your loved ones.
One just flows from the other. But you cannot go directly to Resolution No. 7. These resolutions are like building blocks. If the bottom layer is unstable, you can't build on top of it.
So take a deep breath and start with No. 1. Don't expect to finish the resolutions in a day, week, or even a month. This is a continuous process, but one that will pay off for you in the year ahead. Happy organized New Year!
Visit the Clean Organized Home Store for the organizing products and tools to help you create a more organized home in the year ahead!
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