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Each year I spend a lot of time thinking about goals. What goals do I want to have for the
year? What areas of my life do I want to
see improvement over the last year? Part
of my reasoning for doing the New Year’s Eve Reflection is to first
remember the good, but then to think back on the challenges as well. A brand new year gives everyone the
opportunity to start fresh, evaluate what you love about your life, and change
what you don’t.
year? What areas of my life do I want to
see improvement over the last year? Part
of my reasoning for doing the New Year’s Eve Reflection is to first
remember the good, but then to think back on the challenges as well. A brand new year gives everyone the
opportunity to start fresh, evaluate what you love about your life, and change
what you don’t.
You must be the change you wish to see in the world – Mahatma Gandhi
Often, when people think of change, they think of the big
scary changes in ones’ life, but when I talk about change, I mean the small
things that you do every day to improve your life. What are goals if not small changes?
scary changes in ones’ life, but when I talk about change, I mean the small
things that you do every day to improve your life. What are goals if not small changes?
One big idea that I am clinging to from last year is
realizing that not everything will go the way I plan it, and that I need to
give myself grace when things do not go according to plan.
realizing that not everything will go the way I plan it, and that I need to
give myself grace when things do not go according to plan.
I am all about the SMART goals, setting steps to figure out
how to accomplish what I want to, however I realized that I need to take into
account the 3 little people in my home, and how their needs often supersede my
timeline.
how to accomplish what I want to, however I realized that I need to take into
account the 3 little people in my home, and how their needs often supersede my
timeline.
That does not mean that I shouldn’t take the time to sit
down and write out my goals for the New Year.
Instead it means that I need to be realistic with the goals I set for
myself. While I know that I can accomplish
quite a bit on my own, I can’t forget that I have four other members in my
family that require my love and attention.
down and write out my goals for the New Year.
Instead it means that I need to be realistic with the goals I set for
myself. While I know that I can accomplish
quite a bit on my own, I can’t forget that I have four other members in my
family that require my love and attention.
If you don’t like something, change it.
If you can’t change it, change your attitude – Maya Angelou
If you can’t change it, change your attitude – Maya Angelou
My plan for this week was to have a week of goals, similar to what I did a couple years ago. I like to separate my goals into the
categories I most often write about here at Townsend House – home,
kids/homeschool, crafting, personal, food, and reading. However, my kids threw me for a loop when
they all decided to get sick one right after another, so I am improvising now!
categories I most often write about here at Townsend House – home,
kids/homeschool, crafting, personal, food, and reading. However, my kids threw me for a loop when
they all decided to get sick one right after another, so I am improvising now!
Every year I choose a word of the year, I’m not quite ready
to reveal that word yet. I still need to
think on it a bit longer. But, I have
noticed a theme when thinking about my goals and my word of the year – that theme
is Organize My Life.
to reveal that word yet. I still need to
think on it a bit longer. But, I have
noticed a theme when thinking about my goals and my word of the year – that theme
is Organize My Life.
It may seem like an odd theme. I’m not inherently a disorganized
person. I enjoy planning, I like to make
lists. This theme, however, goes beyond
just the general day to day organization.
It is a deeper intention by me to do a lot of the things that I don’t
think about on a day to day basis, whether because they are too scary, or
because I am so consumed with the little emergencies in the day to day that I
don’t often see the big picture.
person. I enjoy planning, I like to make
lists. This theme, however, goes beyond
just the general day to day organization.
It is a deeper intention by me to do a lot of the things that I don’t
think about on a day to day basis, whether because they are too scary, or
because I am so consumed with the little emergencies in the day to day that I
don’t often see the big picture.
Let’s get to it, shall we?!
First up, the home category.
First up, the home category.
Oh my home, I love it, I hate it, I love it again. The one area that I continue to hate is that
there are no closets. Well, that isn’t
entirely accurate. Jack’s bedroom has
one little, teeny tiny closet that can hold some of his shirts. There is also a hall closet upstairs that is
about 10 inches deep – with no shelves and no ability to hang anything it is
pretty useless.
there are no closets. Well, that isn’t
entirely accurate. Jack’s bedroom has
one little, teeny tiny closet that can hold some of his shirts. There is also a hall closet upstairs that is
about 10 inches deep – with no shelves and no ability to hang anything it is
pretty useless.
My main goal with the house this year is to purge.
We have too much stuff.
I have been de-cluttering it seems for years. In fact, last year I did a 31 Bags in 31 Days challenge, which was a lot of fun, and my house seemed
de-cluttered for a while, but things sneak right back into the house.
I have been de-cluttering it seems for years. In fact, last year I did a 31 Bags in 31 Days challenge, which was a lot of fun, and my house seemed
de-cluttered for a while, but things sneak right back into the house.
I may need to implement the one in one out
rule, when one thing is brought into the house, one similar thing must be
removed.
rule, when one thing is brought into the house, one similar thing must be
removed.
I know part of the issue is because we now have Lucy, and
she has a lot of toys that stay downstairs, plus all the homeschool supplies,
but there has to be a better way! So
purge it is! I would like to use the
system that Tsh Oxenreider maps out in her book Organized Simplicity,
which I have used in the past. However,
one of the books on my book list is the very popular Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,
which I want to read soon, so I may use that system instead, or perhaps a
combination of the two.
she has a lot of toys that stay downstairs, plus all the homeschool supplies,
but there has to be a better way! So
purge it is! I would like to use the
system that Tsh Oxenreider maps out in her book Organized Simplicity,
which I have used in the past. However,
one of the books on my book list is the very popular Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,
which I want to read soon, so I may use that system instead, or perhaps a
combination of the two.
The other big goal I have this year is to plan and plant a stellar garden.
Last year I didn’t end up planting a garden, I hated it,
honestly, I was so bummed come July that I had nothing growing outside for me
to pick besides strawberries and rhubarb and kale that seem to come up on their
own without any help from me. I think
that gardening is just in my blood, and because of that I want to make sure I have
a good plan for the year (especially with my struggle to combat pests
naturally!).
honestly, I was so bummed come July that I had nothing growing outside for me
to pick besides strawberries and rhubarb and kale that seem to come up on their
own without any help from me. I think
that gardening is just in my blood, and because of that I want to make sure I have
a good plan for the year (especially with my struggle to combat pests
naturally!).
It seems manageable, these two house goals. I would like to think that I can get the
purge completed this first quarter of the year, and then move right into the
garden planning. Of course, the first
step in all of this is taking down the Christmas decorations. Tomorrow is Epiphany, so that is when we will
begin!
purge completed this first quarter of the year, and then move right into the
garden planning. Of course, the first
step in all of this is taking down the Christmas decorations. Tomorrow is Epiphany, so that is when we will
begin!
I do have other goals that have to do with our home, but
they are all more of the honey-do list variety, and I have a whole lot less
control over whether those are accomplished or not!
they are all more of the honey-do list variety, and I have a whole lot less
control over whether those are accomplished or not!
Do you make goals for
your home? Is there one area of your
home that you would like to work on this year?
your home? Is there one area of your
home that you would like to work on this year?
Oh Chic Mom says
January 11, 2016 at 2:00 pmI am such a planner junkie and I have tons of stickers! Love it! Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth says
January 10, 2016 at 6:56 amWe have too much stuff but I'm not ready to declarer in a big way. I'd like to make my boys' room work better, get more of a system or routine for putting away clean washing, and do something about the nasty carpet in the morning room.
Hi, I'm Susannah! says
January 7, 2016 at 7:20 pmI'm right there with you about decluttering. We just moved and I thought I had purged a ton before we did but, now that we're here, I find that we have SO much more to get rid of. I'm going a challenge on my facebook page for people to get rid of one thing a day in 2016. That will come to a lot of things but one thing a day seems manageable. 🙂
Laci Carlson says
January 7, 2016 at 7:14 pm0live your plan good luck !! I do monthly goals so I can achieve them easier 🙂
orana velarde says
January 7, 2016 at 9:51 amMy year's plan is to simply try and get organized. one week in im doing pretty good with the planner. have gotten quite a bit done even with the kids out of school still. Good luck with your goals!
Elizabeth says
January 7, 2016 at 5:41 amLove both of the major goals. The oldest two kiddos are old enough now that I bet they would totally love helping design, start, and work in the garden 🙂 And I hear you on the purging. I feel like I keep the house fairly streamlined but there's ALWAYS another bag to go out or a few items that could go in a few months! Oh! Why not add a few shelves to the empty closet? It's super simple to do and it'd give you a tiny bit of extra shelving 🙂 Hope you've been well gal! How is Lucy already over a year old???! Where did this year go?!
Kelly Baum says
January 7, 2016 at 1:37 amI'm actually almost done with my first home project goal of the year and I'm so proud of myself! I just redid the pantry and kitchen cupboards, and now my (slightly) massive closet is next!
MyTeenGuide says
January 6, 2016 at 6:30 pmThis is a great time to purge and declutter. I've been doing this since the other day.
Jessica Abegg says
January 6, 2016 at 6:46 amOne of my things for this year is getting the house in order! I've tried it before, but have never been quite ruthless enough with it. After we moved, I thought certainly, I had gotten rid of all of the things we don't need or use any more. I was wrong! And, since we may possibly be moving again in the summer (joy fun – but also dependent upon other people, so we will see), the less stuff to move the better!
Housewife Eclectic says
January 6, 2016 at 4:01 amI love that quote so much. There are so many things we can't change and need to change our attitude about.
tiarastantrums says
January 6, 2016 at 3:28 amWe will be completing this task of due cluttering in 2016 too! I want to move and we have way too much stuff in our home!!
nicole says
January 6, 2016 at 3:25 amI have yet to try this. I simply go with it and take it one day at time. I'm on a healthy kick right now so every thing is just day by day since getting in shape is not easy to do.
Kaylene Outnumbered says
January 6, 2016 at 2:18 amWhat a great idea to have a theme for the year. It's so important to stay organized and declutter. I wish you a happy 2016!
Jessica @ Barefoot by the Sea says
January 5, 2016 at 11:45 pmI think decluttering is a great resolution! In fact, on Monday I cleaned out three cabinets and had two bags to bring to Goodwill! It doesn't seem like a lot, but it adds up and I was hanging onto things and I've had since I was in college and it felt incredibly freeing to get rid of it all! Like you, we will expand our garden a bit this Spring and hopefully continue to live an active lifestyle!
Ana says
January 5, 2016 at 11:29 pmIt is great to purge and declutter our lives. I need to do so much sorting out I better get cracking.
Logan Cantrell says
January 5, 2016 at 10:49 pmI love that Maya Angelou quote. I definitely need to purge this year and at the moment, I really need to get some laundry done.
Kid Minds says
January 5, 2016 at 10:21 pmNo matter how much I get rid of stuff, it all comes back. I realized recently that decluttering is not gone-and-done kind of thing, but a continues process. So, now I have penciled on my 2016 calendar one day each season when I will look around and try to get rid of as much stuff as possible. Wish me luck…
Author TP Keane says
January 5, 2016 at 9:19 pmI love decluttering the house. It's one of my favourite things to do. But with two youngsters and a techie husband, it can be hard sometimes. Thanks for sharing.
Lucy's Cruelty Free Beauty and Living says
January 5, 2016 at 7:32 pmI love de-cluttering! My husband swears he isn't a packrat but the garage would beg to differ! I love organization and free space…with kids though it can get tricky and definitely crazy!
Masshole Mommy says
January 5, 2016 at 7:27 pmI have always wanted a garden, but alas my entire yard is shade. I have to settle for mooching some fresh produce off of my MIL from her garden 🙂