Make Your New Years Resolution a Success

Well, we are now over a week into the New Year. How is your resolution to “get more organized” going? Are you making progress, or is it just another good intention fallen by the wayside? Did you know that an average of 78% of all New Year’s resolutions fail? What can you do to ensure that your resolution is successful? Follow these tips to start this year out on a positive note:

Pick One Thing – Don’t plan to organize your garage, sort your papers, create a filing system, and install a closet system. Even if there are multiple areas in your life that you would like to organize, start with the one that will give you the most benefit. It will be much less overwhelming this way.

Change Your Ways – Some say the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. Have you tried to accomplish your New Year’s resolution in the past and failed? If so, what are you doing differently this year?

Be Positive – If you start your New Year’s resolution off with “I’m hoping to…” or “I’m going to try…”, then you are giving yourself an out. If you find yourself saying, “I probably won’t achieve this, because…” then you are right. As Henry Ford once said, “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.” Stay positive!

Be Specific – Your New Year’s Resolution should be a SMART goal. A SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time Sensitive. In one of my favorite books, Success Principles, author Jack Canfield says “Vague goals produce vague results.” I would argue this same logic can be applied to your resolution. If your New Year’s resolution is to “get more organized”, how will you know if or when you have achieved it? Instead, how about ‘I will get a closet system installed by March 1, 2012′ or ‘I will create a filing system for my office by February 12, 2012 at 5pm’.

Share Your Goal – Research shows that if you tell others about your goal, you are more likely to achieve it. This provides some accountability and makes it harder to ignore. If others are aware of your goal, they can help encourage you along the way.

I hope these tips will help you achieve your resolution and make this year the best ever.

Donna Lindley, Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Rochester Hills, MI-based Organize Your World, Inc.

My Favorite Seasonal Storage Solutions

Another holiday season has flown by, and we are left with the task of taking down decorations and packing them away until next year.  Now is the best time of year to organize your decorations to make next holiday season easier.  There are so many organizational products now that are geared especially for storing holiday decor, and now is the time to buy them when they are on sale.  Here are some of my favorites that I think are well worth your money:

Ornaments – There are several different styles out there, but the most important thing is that your ornaments are protected and easy to store.  Most ornament storage options offer divided compartments for your ornaments.  In addition to this feature, you want the outside box or bin to be sturdy enough to stack.  They come in a variety of shapes and sizes so you are sure to find a solution to fit your space.

Lights – If there is one type of holiday decoration most likely to bring out the Grinch in all of us, it has to be lights.  If you take the time to put them away carefully in a specialized storage container, you will thank yourself next season!  My favorite solutions give you a spool(s) around which you wrap your lights.

Wreaths – To maximize the life of your artificial wreath(s), a wreath storage container is a must.  Some are more rigid than others.  Generally more rigid is better to protect your wreath, but ultimately it depends on where you are storing it.  Make sure to measure the diameter of your wreath to determine the correct size.

 

Tree– To prolong the life of your artificial Christmas tree and minimize the amount of storage space, you should seriously consider a Christmas tree storage bag.  For something of this size, you want to first determine where you want to store it.  Christmas tree storage bags can be made to stand upright or lay on their side.  Some even come with wheels if that would make it easier.

 

DecorationsStackable plastic bins can be found in holiday colors to make them easier to identify.  The plastic bins work well for general holiday decorations, because they help to protect the decorations and make it easy to stack them on shelving.

Dishes – If you have dishes that you only use during the holidays, consider purchasing containers to protect them.  Again, they are available in holiday colors to make it easy to locate them.  Options are available for dishes, glassware, mugs, serving bowls and platters.

Avoid turning into the Grinch next year.  Take the time now to organize and store your favorite holiday decorations so they are protected and easy to find next year!

Donna Lindley, Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Rochester Hills, MI-based Organize Your World, Inc.

Reflecting on 2011

looking backI like to think that reflecting on the year past is the same as tying a nice ribbon around a package – finishing it all off nicely 🙂

It seems to me like I can’t get on with the new year properly unless I reflect on what went well, what didn’t go well and most importantly, what I want from my life for the next year.

Do you agree?

Well then, let’s get to it. Continue Reading