When you think about those jam-packed schedules, piles of laundry and bills, and a kitchen filled with leftover holiday goodies, it’s easy to see how life can get cluttered quickly. It starts to feel like everywhere you look, there’s junk: junk possessions, junk food, junk mail, junk news, junk friendships/relationships, junk jobs, junk social media, and so on. It’s not necessarily all bad junk, but as a whole, it can become overwhelming. Feeling overwhelmed leads to stress, which leads to feeling stuck, which leads to getting nowhere fast with goals.
So while you could make a bunch of resolutions for 2018, what’s the point if you don’t first clear out some of the clutter that could be standing in your way? This New Year, ditch the resolutions that go nowhere fast, and instead organize your life for a healthier new year.
Organize by Making Lists
You thought making a list and checking it twice was only for Santa, but lists aren’t just for shopping and gift-giving. A good set of lists can be the gateway to getting organized. Here’s are some tips to get your lists started.
- Pick a place: Don’t let the lists you’re about to make create more clutter in your life. Instead, pick a place to keep all your lists so that you never have to go searching for them. A pretty, new notebook is great place, but so is your email inbox. Pick the place that works best for you.
- Make a master list: Consider this a mind dump of everything that simply needs to get done, feels out of control, or is something you want to achieve in the future. Write it all down, even the little things. You know you’re at the end of the list when you’re racking your brain for more to add.
- Sort it out: Review your list and look for categories that naturally occur. For example, tasks may fall under headers of “home maintenance,” “health,” “relationships,” or “goals.” For each category you come up with, create a new list. Your goal is to break the master list into smaller, more manageable lists. If you have a few stragglers with no obvious category, create a “miscellaneous” list to act as a catch all.
- Prioritize: There will be some lists that are longer than others, which may indicate the tasks on it need to be higher priority than those of other lists. Then again, even the short list may need immediate action. Review your lists and create a priority level. If you feel there are tasks on all of the lists that rise to the top, highlight those in one color. For tier two tasks (medium priority), use a second highlighter color, and so on working your way down.
- Check it off: Now that you know what you need to work on first, get started. Start with the easier tasks of top priority. As you complete those, crossing them off your list will give you a feeling of accomplishment that can help to motivate you when it’s time for the harder tasks.
Lists for a Healthier New Year
Not much of a list maker? Or need some inspiration to get out of the stale routine of life as you currently know it. Check out some a few sample health-minded lists to get you motivated toward making 2018 a healthier new year for a healthier new you.
- Healthy Kitchen
- Clean and organize the cabinets.
- Clear clutter from countertops.
- Make small appliances easier to access.
- Toss expired food and throw away or donate tempting treats and other food not being eaten.
- Add a touch of pretty to your kitchen with new storage containers, labels, and organizers to make cooking a lot less of a hassle.
- Homemade Meals
- Create an inventory of your refrigerator, pantry, and food cabinets to know what you have to work with.
- Make a meal plan based on your inventory.
- Need a few items? Write up a grocery list to make shopping more efficient.
- Prep food for healthier snacks. For example, keep cut-up veggies and pre-portioned hummus on hand for a quick go-to when your tummy grumbles.
- Assign tasks to family members, so that everyone contributes to the meal making.
- Workout Zone
- Clear a space at home for quick workouts when you don’t want to leave the house.
- Stock this area with a yoga or exercise mat, a few small weights, and space-saving resistance bands.
- Search Pinterest for pre-made workouts that you can print and tack to the wall. While you’re at it, print off an inspiring meme to keep you motivated.
- Create a workout playlist so that you can just hit play.
- Set out workout clothes that you can quickly slip on and start sweating.
Are you getting organized for a healthier new year? Share your plans with others in the comments!
Carrie Anton is a freelance writer focusing on health, fitness, and sports. She's been published in Self, Women's Health, Oxygen, and Maximum Fitness.
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