Is anyone else having trouble getting motivated this year? I love the idea of making goals and setting expectations for the new year, but does anyone else ever feel like there is too much pressure to have everything planned out right on January 1st? I have seen a ton of other blogs that had their New Year resolutions posted right after Christmas! That’s amazing for them, but this year I have felt so jumbled and behind about having this “fresh start” that I couldn’t decide what changes I wanted to commit to. In fact, I think I’ve decided to not make any resolutions at all!
I will still be writing a list of things that I want to do this year because I publish one every year around my birthday and I think it’s really fun to have. However, instead of making a promise to eat healthier or wake up earlier, I decided that I’d rather take some time this month to really get organized for 2019.
What does it mean to get organized for the new year?
Getting organized can mean a lot of things. The definition of the word is “arranged in a systematic way, especially on a large scale” or “having one’s affairs in order so as to deal with them efficiently.” So basically I want to have a rough plan for the year, an idea of what I expect to get out of it. I personally believe that making real plans for the year ahead is a lot more efficient than setting general resolutions (but it’s totally fine if you’re into that too).
Here are the ways that I’m getting organized for 2019.
Set up a planner & actually start filling it in
Now I am the type of person who loves using a planner. (Check out this article I wrote for Today.com). I realize that not everyone shares my enthusiasm when it comes to this, but I can say that a planner has helped me stay organized for years. I have already written down things like a concert in March and a beauty event in April. I have laid out most of the remainder of this month and next month. It’s a nice way to remember not only plans, but also birthdays and anniversaries. I have a physical planner and I also keep my Google calendar updated. I like to use both of these things to keep a tentative blog schedule as well. I would strongly suggest trying to use a format that works for you, one that will keep you motivated.
Make a list of realistic goals
How many books do you want to read this year? Do you want to see a specific show? Get a new tattoo? Get reservations at trendy restaurant? Write it all down or type it up! It’s like having a mini Bucket List. This approach is similar to making resolutions, except it’s more specific and digestible. Your list should really focus on all the experiences and memories you want out of 2019. And it can be as long or as short as you want because you can always add to it as you cross things off!
Declutter your living space
Physical organization is just as important as mental. I started by going through all of my makeup and beauty products. This weekend me and my roommate will be cleaning the whole apartment. And at the end of last year I cleaned out my closet. If you need some extra motivation to do this then I suggest dividing it up into chunks, you don’t have to do everything in one day. Also, check out Tidying Up wth Marie Kondo on Netflix! — she’ll really inspire you!
Book upcoming trips
So obviously most of us can’t just go and purchase a bunch of plane tickets right after the holidays, but starting to gather your travel plans for the year can be a great thing to do early on. For example, I knew I wanted to go to Philly this year and it’s only about two hours away from NYC — totally doable. So I asked my best friend if she was down to go the weekend after my birthday and we just went ahead and booked the bus tickets and the Airbnb right then and there. Ain’t nothing to it but to do it!
And if you want to plan something bigger, like an international trip, then the beginning of the year is a good time to start looking at plane ticket prices, deciding when a good time to take off work would be, and maybe even start a Pinterest board to collect information on your destination. Planning ahead can help ensure that you actually make the trips you want to this year!
Make a budget sheet
I will be the first to admit that I have poor spending habits. I LOVE buying clothes and shoes and makeup. However, I also understand that NYC is expensive and there is no reason for any of my bills to ever be late. This year I really need to focus on decreasing my debt (both credit card debt and student loans). So I think that creating a budget sheet can be very helpful. They don’t always have to be super complex either. They can be as simple as making a spreadsheet of all your bills with how much you own on them, and then keeping track of how much you pay/spend and save every month. I’ve also found that writing down the amount I pay/spend on my credit cards helps to hold me more accountable mentally.
How are you getting organized this year?
