If you're feeling overwhelmed with the clutter of life and don't know where to even begin to dig out, have no fear.
I will give you the perfect place to start. Read on:
An older gentleman friend passed away a couple of years ago, and it was a true “home going” for a wonderful man.
Asa Holleman had come to know Jesus in his thirties and gave his whole adult life to serving him through his business and vocational life. He was 82 when he died, and he left behind a wonderful family and the great love of his life, Billie, his wife of 62 years. He sure knew how to love that sweet lady, and those two gave all of us something to talk about. They were still flirting with one another until the end. I believe he was caught pinching her bum in the church kitchen when he thought no one was looking. How great is that?
Besides being known for how he loved his wife, Asa will always be remembered for being a snappy dresser.
I think I’ll always picture him in his bright green sport jacket (similar to the one above) and cream colored pants. Not everyone can get away with an outfit like that, but he sure could. It went well with the twinkle in his eyes and the smile he always sported. He pulled it off with warmth and charm.
I’ve always kind of wanted to be a snappy dresser myself, but the truth is, the closest I’ll ever come to it is by HAVING a snappy dresser.
Mine (cough) is not nearly as stylish. It’s is currently under a layer of dust, littered with receipts and loose change, and in desperate need of an overhaul.
Today it’s more like a gauche dresser.
Today’s Small Thing is to clear off your bedroom dresser in a snap!
I know mine will only take a few minutes to look dapper again. A light dusting, a quick removal of the miscellany and a deft straightening of the decor will have my dresser back in style.
You see, there is power in having one area or piece of furniture that is clear of clutter.
Stand back and admire your work. Congratulate yourself.
Goodness, I have really dropped the ball on our Wednesday "Small Things!" Let's do one together today...but first a lil' story:
Awhile back, we were at our son's final hockey tournament for a whole weekend, and left the house in rush to get there. Like a whirling dirvish, I had picked up the house and made the beds and did a quick wipe-down of the kitchen. I'm weird that way....I don't like to come home to a mess. I couldn't quite get to the dishes in the sink, but oh, well.
As we packed up to leave, we remembered: The Dog.
Being as old and decrepit as he was, we couldn't leave him outside overnight because of the cold temperatures. But knowing he had a bladder the size of New Jersey, we decided to leave him inside in the hopes that we would be able to get ahold of our neighbors to let him out. Well, sure enough, my BFF friend kindly stopped over and did the honor of letting old Beau out to do his business. I still owe her for this, big time.
Nothing like waiting for someone else's dog to poo.
And in the back of my mind, I wondered again about the state of the house. I couldn't remember if it was just "kind of presentable" or "really bad." I mean, I thought I straightened things, but did I?
Just what did my friend SEE when she opened the door?
As soon as we pulled up to the drive, I jumped out of the car like a bat out of, well...you know. I opened the door to the house. Yep, dishes in the sink. Jacket thrown over the chair. Back room a disaster.
It was just as I remembered, somewhere in the "kind of presentable" range.
And then I started to really see.
I began seeing as if looking through my neighbor's eyes.
Crumbs on the counter. Are the kitchen appliances really that dusty? That flower arrangement in the bathroom is just SAD! What's up with the couch slip cover! Man, Labradors really shed. Fruit on the counter is going bad. The fridge door is full of fingerprints. The bookshelf looks cluttered.
There was so much I didn't see when I was looking at my house through my own eyes. But when I "put on" my friend's eyes, suddenly I was seeing all KINDS of new things!
Using a fresh set of eyes opened a whole new world of observation.
Today's Small Thing is to "put on" a fresh set of eyes....but not for your entire house.
Just for your kitchen.
What is the first thing you would notice if you were a new guest? Piles of junk mail? Last night's dishes? Rice stuck to your stove top?
If you knew that someone was going to stop in to visit in say, 10-15 minutes, what things would you tidy up in your kitchen?
Probably not the inside of your oven, or the vegetable bin in your fridge.
You might scoop up the counter debris and deposit it somewhere, give the floor a quick sweep and at least get the dishes stacked next to the sink.
Just enough so that your new friend would be under the impression that you are industriously neat.
A Wednesday "Small Thing" for your sanctuary sanity:
Several years ago, my son's youth group was doing a huge garage sale as a camp fund raiser. Church members were to drop off their donated items on one particular night, so the kids could unload and set up for the big sale. Just before I was to take Grayson to the church to work on the set up, I thought I'd take a last look at the informational flyer that had been sent home with the kids.
The camp requirements were clearly stated:
Each kid is required to work 4 hours over the garage sale weekend.
Each kid is required to bring 4 large trash bags full of donated items for the sale.
Well, good golly almighty! FOUR BAGS?? I thought he was only required to WORK, not bring stuff to sell. I knew I should have reviewed the instructions earlier!
How was I going to come up with FOUR BAGS of stuff....in time to make it to church?
Game face on, I grabbed 4 bags and headed upstairs to the closets. I checked my watch. Only 15 Minutes before departure! I'll never be able to do this.
Imagine my complete surprise (and slight embarrassment) to EASILY, EASILY fill all the bags before running out the door!
Here's the other surprising thing: the lack of deliberation made it easy to say goodbye.
I didn't hold things gently in my hands and gaze longingly at them. I didn't clutch outgrown clothing to my chest and breathe in the memories.
No, I jammed them in bags, threw them in the trunk, and hit the gas pedal.
It was over so quickly.
Today's Small Thing is to take ONE trash bag and fill it up with either TRASH or STUFF to donate.
Clutter, be gone!
I am living proof that it can be done very quickly...and without tears, I might add. Perhaps the ticking clock helped me fight sentimentality as I stuffed the bags, so you might want to consider limiting your time to about 10 minutes.
Don't, I beg you, DON'T spend too much time on this! Set a timer and get moving.
On Wednesdays, we purposefully do a "Small Thing" together that helps create a sense of sanctuary at home. If you're floundering with disorganization and feeling overwhelmed, this is a great place to start.
Just do this one, small Wednesday thing with me! I promise you'll be glad you did.
I'm good at starting projects.
I'm not quite as good at actually finishing them.
I have lots of things I'm "working on," (having started them some time ago,) including painting all the wainscoting in my house, setting up a new filing system, cleaning out the flower beds, organizing my closet, and rearranging my studio.
Those are my big projects, all in varying states of Unfinished.
Then there are the smaller tasks that never seem to make it into the "Done" category: laundry, bills, dishes, and good grief, putting shoes away that have been by the back door for too long.
I'll be honest, some tasks never even make it to the "Begun" category, because I simply procrastinate starting them at all.
This week, I've been committed to finally checking some things off my list, and it feels absolutely wonderful!
I think I'd forgotten how euphoric it is to finish something. Completing a few small things has inspired me to complete even more!
Don't laugh, but....
I cancelled an online account to a membership I no longer use. Whew!
I finally got a toll tag for my vehicle.
I put a trash can in my office.
I paid a bill that I'd been ignoring.
I've got to say...the joy of seeing these tasks checked off my list makes me feel ten pounds lighter.
Today's Small Thing is to check something off your list.
Instead of leaving it half-done (I'm looking at you, laundry pile!), take it all the way to the finish line and call it "DONE!"
Savor the victory of putting the last clean sock away.
Enjoy seeing your kitchen sink shiny and clean.
Experience the happiness of paying that bill.
Feel the relief when you make that appointment.
Try not to dance when you drop off the bag of clothing donations that's been riding around in your car for a month.
You choose your task...just get 'er done!
What will you check off your list? What's been bugging you? What's THAT THING that will feel so very, very good when it's finally DONE?
Create some sanctuary for yourself by completing one thing today.
On Wednesdays here at Home Sanctuary, we try to do a little something together to create order at home. "Order" is our theme song. Often, it doesn't take much effort to make a huge difference in how we feel about things.
Now, it doesn't take a super secret agent to figure out where "KAOS" has been at work at our house. Just take a look at our bathroom counters. Between the toothpaste, hairspray, makeup and curling irons, some mornings it's difficult to even SEE the counters. And that's with NO KIDS in the house. #SAD!
Let's do a Small Thing today!
Let's "Get Smart" in the bathrooms and clear off those counter tops.
You could take your arm and do a clean sweep of everything into a drawer and be done with it, or you could whip out your handy cleaners and gadgets to do a more thorough job of actually cleaning. You'll probably enjoy the latter action for a lot longer, but I've used the first method many times and even that gives you some satisfaction.
You might even enlist some Junior Agents, if you have some around, to do some spraying and wiping. They can be a bit trigger happy, but they are often eager for a top secret assignment if given the right tools and a time limit.
Clean bathroom counters make me feel really, really smart. And just a little sexy. ;)
How about you? What's the strangest thing you found on your bathroom counter today? We can use the Cone of Silence while you share....
You know, back when all my kids were home, I used to daydream about how clean my house would be after they left.
No more bins filled with backpacks, shoes, and rotting lunch bags by the back door.
No more laundry on the floor.
No more stuff that needs moving from the couch before I could sit down.
Floors would be spotless.
Bathrooms would be sparkling.
Everything would be in its place.
(Insert laughter here)
That was the dream, anyway.
The thing I forgot to take into account is the fact that I would still be living here.
Me, the Original Messmaker.
And without kids to set an example for, let's just say sometimes it's hard to get motivated to clean up.
Yes, it is nice that the back door chaos of backpacks, shoes and moldy ham sandwiches no longer exists.
But now there is no one to point a finger at when I see things left out.
Yes, those five pairs of shoes by the door are mine.
Yes, those two coffee cups, three water bottles, four hair bands, two books, a phone charger and receipt from Walmart on the nightstand are ALL MINE.
As are the socks, sweatpants and T-shirt on the floor, which I ripped off my body in the middle of a night sweat.
This is my life, people.
So how do I motivate myself to clean up this "empty nest?"
First, I go back to a Daily Routine. This really takes care of 90% of my problems.
Daily Routines (or Minimum Maintenance) make it possible to survive on the least amount of effort, and reaps huge dividends in mental peace. When things are tidy, I just feel better.
I cannot over-emphasize the magic of a Daily Routine.
What remains then, is the Nitty Gritty of tubs, toilets, floors and things that require a bit of work. Generally, and I'm not proud of this, I put these chores off as long as possible. Which brings me to...
Second: What works is a super simple Weekly Schedule - Waay modified from my crazy busy days as a Work-From-Home-Mom. I've written extensively on this in years past.
But here is what I'm currently rolling with. It's not heavy-duty, but it's enough for right now.
Monday: trash cans, floors
Tuesday: bathrooms
Wednesday: laundry
Thursday: kitchen (fridge, stove etc.)
Friday: porch, glass door, living room
I really don't like to clean on Saturdays, so it's my lop-over day to catch up on the stuff I didn't get to during the week. Since I still work from the house, I can't always stick to the schedule - knowing I can do it on Saturday helps me stay sane.
What this "schedule" does is help me to not procrastinate, and it releases me from the burden of feeling that I have to get everything done all at once. I can do my Chore of the Day and then move on. I'm always ready to "move on!"
So, why talk about cleaning at "this stage of life?"
Because this is the part that many of us have been waiting for: to pursue dreams, find our passions, and remember the things we always said we would do.
Clutter and chaos get in the way of being the best we can be.
Don't let the mess keep you from growing, blooming and becoming. Value yourself enough to create a beautiful space for your soul to breathe free.
Make your empty nest your sanctuary with a Daily Routine and a simple schedule.
How about you? Do you struggle to keep things clean, even after the kids have grown up? How can a simple weekly schedule help you see your way clear?
Every now and then, I come across something I can't pass up sharing with you. The "Conquer Your Clutter Super Bundle" is just such a thing. In full disclosure this is an affiliate link, which means I earn a percentage from each sale, but please know that I only share products or services that I personally use or think you might benefit from, friend to friend.
That said, please read on, because this is a good one.
This is for all of us who waste time looking for shoes, need help planning meals, or can't find that important document (cough, cough, that's me).
There's a great group of organizing gurus — regular people who’ve found practical solutions to their everyday struggles, who are sharing their best tips and tactics with us in all the areas we find most challenging. They've put together a huge bundle of resources to help us.
You sort of need to see it to understand it all (I've listed the individual resources below), but the package includes 38 digital products on topics like how to organize your photos, decluttering, family systems, meal planning, time management, and much more. All together, it’s worth over $650.
It also comes with two brilliant bonus offers worth over $40:
SaneBox – An exclusive credit to save you 12 hours per month ($20 value)
YNAB – A FREE four month trial to the popular budgeting software ($20 value)
Besides being incredibly helpful and inspiring, one of the things I like best about the bundle is the price. By offering the bundle for a short time only, they’re able to give you access to over $650 worth of amazing products for a sweet 95% off.
Here’s how it works:
Visit their website, take a quick look at all the goodness that comes in this Super Bundle, then click “Get my copy now!” to go through their simple 3-step checkout process.
You’ll receive an email with a login to their online access portal, where you’ll begin downloading your eBooks, signing up for your eCourses, printing out planners, and redeeming your free bonus products.
Use their Getting Started Guide to pick the area you want to tackle first and start getting organized!
The most important detail, though, is that this bundle is available for just 6 days. After Monday night, January 30th, the sale ends and you’d have to buy all of these products individually.
If you're interested, click HERE to learn more or buy the bundle.
There's a full money-back happiness guarantee, just in case it's not what you were looking for.
Here's a list of the individual resources that are included, along with their value:
Cleaning & Chores
2017 Motivated Moms Chore Planner by Susan Cramer ($9.00)
30 Day Guide to a Clean and Organized Home by Rachel Jones ($27.97)
Energy Budget: Time Management for the Chronically Ill (And Others With Long-Term Roadblocks) by Rachel Ramey ($78.00)
The Three Systems Every Family Needs by Saren Loosli ($24.00)
Decluttering
Chaos To Clutter-Free: 16 Realistic Steps To An Organized Home by Davonne Parks ($4.99)
Freed from Clutter: Declutter Course by Becky Mansfield ($47.00)
Step-By-Step Decluttering: Your Guide To Less Stuff And An Uncluttered Home by Sarah Mueller ($15.00)
Family Organization
30 Days To An Organized Life by Kimberlee Stokes ($9.00)
Home Management For The Homeschool Mom: Simplifying The Big Things So You Don’t Miss The Little Things by Amy Roberts ($9.99)
Home Organizing DIY Assessment Workbook by Andi Willis ($7.00)
Organizing For School Success Kit by Saren Loosli ($27.00)
Organizing Life As Mom by Jessica Fisher ($12.00)
Sanity Savers For Christian Moms: Simple Solutions For A More Joy-filled Life! by Kristi Clover ($5.99)
Managing Your Time
5 Days To A Better Morning by Crystal Paine ($2.99)
Mindspace: 10 Practices To Help You Let Go Of Mental Clutter And Make Room For More Joyful, Creative Living by Melissa Camara Wilkins ($9.99)
Never-Ending To-Do List: A One-Hour Solution for Busy Parents Who Want Less Stress And More Fun by Kelly Holmes ($4.99)
Routine Cards by Rachel Norman ($6.00)
Spend Your Days: How to Control Time with Rocks, Bullets, Chisels, & a Boat by Tsh Oxenreider ($8.00)
Meal Planning
Meal Planning Made Easy by Kelly Smith ($7.95)
The Printable Recipe Binder Kit by Kalyn Brooke ($12.00)
The Ultimate Guide To Freezer Cooking by Crystal Barton ($10.00)
Organizing Paperwork & Digital Files
10 Steps To Organizing Photos & Memorabilia by Lisa Woodruff ($3.95)
2017 Budget Planner by Jessi Fearon ($19.97)
Evernote Essentials by Brett Kelly ($29.00)
Paperwork: Sorted! by Chrissy Halton ($12.39)
Spend Well Budgeting System: Printable Files To Help You Take Control Of Your Finances by Carrie Lindsey ($5.99)
The Sunday Basket: Weekly Paper Organizing & Planning by Lisa Woodruff ($7.95)
The Ultimate Unofficial Dropbox Guide by Jason Glaspey ($29.00)
Planners
2017 All Inclusive Binder by Mique Provost ($19.99)
2017 Christmas Planner by Mandi Ehman ($4.00)
2017 Homestead Management Printables by Quinn Veon ($8.99)
2017 Thanksgiving Planner by Mandi Ehman ($3.00)
Homekeeping Foundations Kit: The Perfect DIY Homekeeping Binder Kit by Clean Mama ($20.00)
Homeschool Mom Life Binder by Heather Bowen ($19.99)
How To Create Your Own Printables by Laura Smith ($49.00)
Printable Planner Stickers by Rachael Wynn ($28.46)
The Home Management Binder & Family Planner by Helena Alkhas ($47.00)
Wanderlist: Your Travel Planning Toolkit by Kimberly Tate ($12.99)
Pretty cool! I'm personally going to use the section on organizing paperwork and digital files, because Lord knows I need it. Many of the other products don't apply to my current season of life, but the value is such that I can just use what I need and still get my money's worth.
I'd love to hear what specific areas you're working on in your life! Is this something you'd find helpful?
No matter what season of life you're in, having a Daily Routine can save your ever-lovin' sanity.
I say this as one who has moved from the seasons of babies & toddlers of my own – to GRAND babies and toddlers of my own...and still managed to maintain my messy tendencies.
I have proven that the theory of "when the kids grow up and move away I'll be SO much neater" has a lot of holes in it. Why, it's practically "wishful thinking!"
The other day, I was completely annoyed by the careless way five pairs of shoes were randomly left around the house...until I realized they were ALL MINE. (Then of course, I excused myself because I knew how busy I'd been. I couldn't be expected to put my shoes away considering the duress I'd been under, could I?)
Turns out, putting the shoes away took me all of 1.5 minutes, and the task reminded me how helpful Daily Routines are, especially for Messy Perfectionists like me.
I've always called Daily Routines "Minimum Maintenance," and each year I've blogged about how doing a daily minimum amount of work is not only a game-changer, but a sanity saver.
Recently, I read about a study that shows links between clutter and depression, and it makes total sense to me that when we are drowning in too much stuff, too much mess, and too much busyness, we can't live freely and generously...like we wish we could.
Basically, clutter makes us feel drained.
And it's hard to be creative and optimistic when you're just pooped out all the time.
Many people think their clutter situation is just too big to be impacted in any significant way by a Daily Routine.
They know their homes need a major overhaul, so what good will "washing dishes and picking up" be when everything else is in such disarray?
And so, they wait for the perfect moment to present itself (in the form of a work-and-obligation-free month) for the "real work" to take place, and of course that never happens.
Take it from one who knows.
You can read more about my Minimum Maintenance and Housekeeping Tips here - trust me they are POWERFUL, but for today I'll just hit the highlights of the things I have learned that make true sanctuary start happening.
My Daily Routines
ONE
Morning Self Care: Shower, get dressed (including shoes), put makeup on. Nothing says "I'm uninspired" like staying in PJ's until noon. Obviously, if you are heading out the door to work, pajamas are not an option. Most likely. I like to have personal prayer and devotion time before the day begins, but I'll be honest, sometimes evening just works better for that. (For me).
TWO
Sinks, counters and stove: Staying on top of dishes is almost a full-time job, but the best things I do is at least get them all done (and kitchen cleaned) each night. Waking up to an empty, clean sink is a delight. And it also makes you feel like you're not starting the day in a huge deficit.
I always make coffee the night before and set the timer so I wake to the smell of fresh coffee brewing. And a clean kitchen.
Bathroom sinks and counters...I'm personally less intentional each day about those, but I feel like a million bucks when I take the time to straighten and wipe down.
THREE
Daily quick tidying: five minutes per room. Have you ever timed yourself for five minutes? You can get an INCREDIBLE amount of tidying done in short order. The timer is your best friend. It's great for motivating kids to help as well!
Make beds. Notice how magazines always show bedrooms with beautifully made beds? That's because unmade beds are gross. Also, having your bed made is an instant mood booster, and you're way less likely to fall back into it.
I do a quick pick up of the living room before I go to bed.
FOUR
Be "Company Ready." Ask yourself, "what would a visitor see if they (oh, horror of horrors) dropped by unannounced?" Pick up the entry area, living room and guest bathroom so that those places look presentable, and thus save you from utter humiliation.
A by-product is that when YOU walk in the door, you feel welcomed and impressed. It feels like sanctuary in here, you think.
These Daily Routines are not meant to be a deep, organizational cleaning system.
They are simply designed to create a "clean enough" environment for each day. You'll be amazed what "clean enough" can do for ya.
I find that when things are tidy, I can think straight. Er, straighter. I am more creative, motivated and productive.
And strangely enough, I feel spiritually more connected to the Lord. It seems I just can't settle my mind and heart to hear Him when the place is a mess.
Go figure. I guess "Home Sanctuary" affects more than just my mood. It affects my spiritual life as well.
First of all, I know the pain of clutter and how it just wears. you. down. I know how difficult it is to pretend you have it all together when it took an hour to find matching shoes. I know how hard it is to function when you feel like a total failure.
I know what it feels like to struggle to get motivated to clean up.
And this is not just for moms with little kids at home. I can tell you as an empty-nester, that old habits, like precious memories- oh, how they linger.
I think there's a song about that.
ANYWAY. This is why I don't like to read blogs about organizing. It's because they are generally written by people who NATURALLY love to organize. They go to bed dreaming of how they will put cat food into a stackable container and label it....to go with all their other matching containers.
I just shake my head. smh
But I have learned that it's possible for messy people to be organized enough to function.
And that there is a level of clean that's "clean enough."
And it's possible to be clean and organized enough that your home really does feel like a sanctuary.
And living in a sanctuary feels very, very good.
So, let's begin. Here's the good news: If you struggle to stay organized at home, part of the problem isn't so much with YOU.
It's with your tools.
You've GOT to have the right tools, or it will always feel too hard to do anything.
For example, sometimes I think about how many times I've struggled with a standard screwdriver when the task called for a Phillips....or I've tried to to pound a nail with a shoe...things that should be simple and quick tasks become frustrating because I can't put my hands on the right tools when I need them.
The same is true for homekeeping.
I find that if I have the things I need IN STOCK - and HANDY - I can accomplish little tasks effortlessly, without the frustration and inevitable procrastination that comes when I can't find the tools.
As we start planning for an organized, easy-to-maintain sanctuary this year, the first place to start is with the right tools.....housekeeping supplies, if you will.
When I can reach under a bathroom sink and can pull out a pop-up wipe, I am waaaaaaay more likely to keep the bathroom tidy than when I have to search for a paper towel somewhere in the house, then locate the spray cleaner and then return to......wait.
Where was I?? What was it that needed cleaning? Hold on, what's Kelly Rippa talking about now? Oh, that's so funny. Let me sit here for a second and see what's happening on TV.
I'm not kidding, this is how I work.
That is unless I have tools, right then and there, that help me focus on the task at hand.
Now, Wednesdays are going to be our "Small Thing" Days. I'm going to assign an easy task for you to do (15 min or less) that will absolutely work miracles in your life.
But only if you do them.
Just thinking, "that's a good idea, I should do that sometime" doesn't work miracles.
Actually doing them does.
Today's Small Thing is to take stock of your cleaning supplies.
Make a list of the things you need, and have them ready to go...by next Wednesday.
Oh, Rachel, you're too easy on us.
I know.
I suggest keeping your supplies where you actually use them: under sinks (child-proofed, of course) or at the very least on each floor of the house or each end of the house.The best part of a cleaning strategy is simply to have your tools HANDY!
Get these at a discount store to put in a caddy per bathroom (or floor level). I splurged on some cute baskets from Walmart recently and love how they make me excited to put cleaning products in them. I opened my under-sink cabinets about 50 times to admire them.
Yes, I'm that dorky.
"Small Things" Supplies
Glass Cleaner Surface Cleaner Abrasive cleaner Paper Towels Sponges Trash bags Dust cloth/spray Wisk broom/dust pan Rubber gloves Potty scrub-brush
Starting fresh with the tools you need will give you power to spend time on the things you really WANT to do, instead of feeling victimized by all the housework.
Sanctuary is not just about cleaning, but it's about caring for your home and the people who live in it.
It's part of showing love AND helping your family members belong to the process of homemaking.
Today, take stock of what you have and start getting everything together. Be ready to make 2017 the year of "sacred spaces" by working smarter and more efficiently.
Give yourself permission to create a wonderful home sanctuary for yourself and your loved ones.
Tell me: what is your favorite cleaning product? Do you use "brand name" products, or generic ones?
Like Calvin, I plan to continue winging it this year.
A few days ago, I actually sat down to jot a few goals for the year, but the problem with that is once you start, it begins to snowball.
It starts innocently enough, with one or two big goals, like say, "I will write a new book proposal by March 1" and then quickly you think, "if I'm going to do that, I'll need to get going at a decent time every morning, which means I need to go to bed earlier, which means I can't eat nachos at 10 pm. Which means I need to eat better, and of course be sure and drink 8 glasses of water and I'll have to lose five pounds of Christmas weight, plus train for a triathalon and finish my degree.
See where this is going?
Before you know it, I've mapped out this whole new lifestyle for myself, which I know I'll never be able to keep up with by Friday.
It's the same old me, biting off more than I can chew.
This is why I'm a fan of vague ideas and fuzzy goals for the new year.
Hey, it works for me.
One of my fuzzy goals is to "READ MORE." (Notice how it's not quantified?) I don't have a set number of books I'd like to complete, but I'm not worried about that.
I know I will accomplish my hazy target, because of one simple trick:
I will keep track of my finished books. Each time I complete a book, I'll make a list in my Evernote app, which I've recently resurrected.
You see, simply keeping track of my activity is a huge motivator.
And I have science to back me up. Studies show that students who simply chart their progress achieve far greater results than those who do not. You might also know about the famous "Jerry Seinfeld" productivity technique - "Don't Break the Chain." It's worth reading!
If you are struggling to set and keep goals, I urge you to stop and back away. Put your hands down at your sides, now move slowly away from the carnage of failure.
Thaaaat's it. Keep going.
Now. Don't beat yourself up.
You're going to be okay.
Hey, some of us who use "winging it" as their Standard Operating Procedure have some work-arounds for getting things done.
This is one you can use right away!
What will you keep track of today? Why not record the number of glasses of water you drink? Or write down if you exercised (or not)? Keep a tally of your spending, or jot down your daily word count on that novel. It doesn't matter what it is.
Don't set a goal, just write down what you're already doing. Tomorrow, do it again. Repeat.
So simple - YOU GOT THIS!! You'll be surprised at how effective this will be, and before long you'll be making real PROGRESS toward those vague goals that you never set in the first place.
