Getting Organized is My Biggest New Years Resolution!

Well, it's almost that time of year again. We all sit around wondering what we should make for our New Years resolution in the upcoming year. And I'm sure if most of you are like me in the past you've failed about 99% of the time at keeping the resolution you made. Honestly, I don't think I even make a resolution the past year or two. I figured there really wasn't any point in doing so because like I said before I never kept them anyway.

This year things are a bit different. I am making a resolution and I'm going to stick with it no matter how hard it might be. This is a must for me. Otherwise I think I just might go crazy! That's no joke either. I think that I am probably one of the biggest unorganized people out there. I have a four and a five year old and I'd really like to say that a lot of it is due to them, but I don't really think I was all that organized before they came along. At this point in my life our house is so cluttered and unorganized that it is making me crazy. I just can't stand it any longer. When I constantly misplace my keys and sunglasses something has to be done about it. So, getting organized from top to bottom in the new year is my resolution and I plan to keep it!

We spend most of our time in the family room so I plan to start there and work my way around. This is the hardest room because even though we have a playroom for all the toys there are still kids books, puzzles, movies and the wii out here. The kids are out here a lot so it makes sense to have those things in here. However, they do nothing other then cause clutter. We've got a wall of built in bookshelves and as nice as I once thought it was I no longer think so. The two bottom shelves right by the door are constantly a mess. We toss mail there, books, papers, etc and I just can't keep it clean. So this is the room I will tackle first and then maybe I'll be able to breathe a bit easier in the new year.

My first plan to make sure I achieve my goal is to get everyone involved. When the kids get home instead of just tossing down their backpacks and shoes around they're going to have a set place to put them. I haven't quite figured out where just yet, but I'll figure out something soon! Also by making them pick up their toys each night and put them in the right place will help out a great deal. Now I'm sure this isn't going to be easy. Old habits are hard to break so I need to make sure that once I set a plan in place we stick to it.

My second plan to make sure I achieve my goal is that I am going to start getting rid of items. If there is something that hasn't been worn in a year, it's gone. If there are toys there are broken or missing parts they're gone. We have a lot of items just sitting around and I know it would help if they weren't just sitting there so I plan to fix that.

My third plan is to establish a "chore chart" for the entire family. If we all hold each other accountable this can work. If my chore is to go through the mail each day as opposed to letting it sit on the counter and I do that then we eliminate a pile of mail from the kitchen counter. If once a week I sit down and clean out the two baskets on the counter that say filing and etc then they won't be overflowing and driving me crazy. Everyone will have their own daily and weekly chores and I know that will help.

My fourth plan is to start simple. I don't want to start out with the junk room and get burned out and stop and then get nothing done the rest of the year. So, I'll start with closets or bathrooms. Something that won't take long, yet I'll feel like I accomplished something as I get things done. Every time I try to close one of the kids drawers and they are too full I think that they need to be gone through. That's a stressor right off the bat in the mornings sometimes. That needs to change.

My fifth plan to accomplish my resolution is to create a goal chart. I'm going to list things that need to be done in each room to help in organizing it. There is no greater feeling then having a to do list and being able to mark items off of it. You feel like you have accomplished something ever time you get to mark something out. We'll set goals as to what should be done when and when we accomplish them maybe there will be a small reward or something. Kids like that kind of thing and if I really want their help I may have to bribe them a bit!

Almost every year I say I'm going to get organized and I don't. The next year comes around and I think that this will be the year and it never is. Well, with my kids being in school and be running a home based business I have no choice. Not only that...I'm really tired of losing things, especially my keys when we're running five minutes late for school!

I'll be sure to keep you all updated as the new year rolls around. Maybe knowing that I'm updating about it will also encourage me to do what I need to do!