8 Ways To Make Your Life Easier And More Organized this Year!

Every year most people like to look for ways to improve their life and set New Year’s Resolutions, that most likely are out the window be February or March.  I read an article one time saying that 8% of people actually successfully reach their New Year’s Resolutions.  While 80% of people fall off the wagon the first week or two!  I think we have all been in the 80% of people at one time or another.  But how many times have you been part of the 8%?

So this is why I decided to put together a list of ways to make your life easier!  It’s not something that you need to change over night, but changing small daily habits and making a routine will help you become more successful!  

1. PREPARE AND PLAN AHEAD – I have this as my number 1 because I believe being properly prepared for what life throws at you will help you get through certain things.  Of course, planning financially for a big expense that could come up, such as car or home repairs.  We all know that at one point or another, this will happen, by planning ahead, you will be able to face whatever it is that comes your way.  Another thing that I like to be prepared for is more of short term events.  I always take time on Sunday to meal prep for at least breakfast and lunches during the week.  If you are able to plan, you are less likely to run out and get fast food or go down to the vending machine for a snack that you call lunch.  We’ve all done it, so it might take a little extra time on the weekends, but it’s so helpful when things get thrown at me during the week. Using this planner helps me keep things organized.
2. FINANCES – Go through a spring cleaning with your finances. This should be 1A because I think it’s just as important as planning and being prepared.  One of the things I am planning for are the holiday’s this upcoming year. The one thing I sat down and took the time to do is, I tracked everything I spent for Christmas this past year.  That’s including the food that I made for parties and potlucks.  Once I did that, I started an automatic withdrawal into a Christmas account.  Doing this has helped me enjoy the holiday season so much more!  I’ve been able to take trips during the holiday without feeling stressed! The holiday season is so much more enjoyable when you are able to get out and explore and spend it with the ones you love.  Then come January, you don’t have the stress of having to pay off your credit cards, it’s just bills as usual!  
3. DECLUTTER your home – It’s almost time for spring cleaning.  This is always a chore that is difficult for me.  I’m one of those who says “Oh I’ll keep that dress because I have a bunch of weddings coming up this summer, so I’ll wear this dress there”, then once that event comes, I decide I should go out and get a new dress for that event!  One thing I’ve done over the past few years is, when I clean out my closet either in the spring or fall, I turn all the hangers around.  When I pull something out and wear it, once laundry is done, I hang it back up with the hanger facing in the right direction.  That way, I know if I’ve worn it in the past few months!  This helps me decide if it’s really something I’ll wear or not.  I have also at times during the year, just clean out just one drawer or just one area of a closet that is getting too messy.  Again, don’t overwhelm yourself with daunting task, do a little at a time and things will be much more enjoyable.
4. GOAL SETTING! Be Specific, Be Intentional.  You can set goals so many different ways.  You can set long term or short term goals.  They don’t have to be big and lofty, they can be as simple as not hitting the snooze button as many times in the morning (yelp, that’s one of mine). I love this goal setting journal, I’m able to track daily habits and after a week, month and year, look back and see how far I’ve come.  Changing small daily habits will make a bigger difference and make you more successful then if you go all in!  Do I hit my goal of not hitting snooze so much everyday? Nope!  But the small change will occur over time!
5. BE INTENTIONAL with your time!  As you may know, I have spent the last 20 years coaching volleyball.  During that time, I always had a full-time job, family obligations, travel…..lots of travel and focused on my health.  If you let things get away from you, you can spend a lot of time doing things that just waste time.  Be sure that you are doing things with intention.  When coaching, I would tell the athletes to be sure they always have an intention for what they were doing.  Whether it was focusing on a certain skill or maybe a team drill, but be sure they are always aware of what the intention is.  Always ask yourself “Why am I doing this?”  It could be something as simple as, connection with friends.  It doesn’t always have to have an outcome that you leave with feeling accomplished.  There were many, many times that I left outings with friends and got home and felt so good about spending time with friends/family.  At that time, it was just what I needed.  
6. DEVELOP a routine and take care of yourself.  This also ties into setting goals and changing daily habits.  If you develop a routine, then you will be able to accomplish so much more!  You will discover what routines work for you and your family, but once you do, just knowing what you have to do, will help you get to the end result successfully.  Within developing that routine, be sure to add in there taking care of yourself.  I’m not going to sit here and say “Put yourself before others” because to be honest, we all have people that count on us and we all have responsibilities, but if you add making time for yourself into your routine, you will feel much better about yourself.  
7. PRESERVE your time and energy!  Be sure you are spending your time where it will benefit you.  I know sometimes you have to do things that don’t support this, but if you are aware of it, then you are able to handle it better.  If you are able to protect your energy, you will be able to handle the times that are difficult and when you are doing things that aren’t beneficial, but you know you just have to do anyway.  
8. IDENTIFY the biggest stress in your life – make an action plan to tackle it.  I put this last because it ties you back to #1!  Plan and Be Prepared!  It seems things always end up full circle back at the beginning.  If you are able to identify your biggest stressors in life, you will be able to be better prepared for what comes up.  What worries you the most?  We all have worries, it’s how we plan to deal with those is what will make a difference.  I’m not talking about the everyday stressors that you have in your life, I’m talking about, long term worries that are always on your mind.  Are you prepared to handle what life throws at you?  Do you have the moral support of family and friends?  I think just knowing that you have a tribe around you that can help you get through whatever life throws at you will help you sleep better at night. 

If you build in these few habits during the year, by this time next year, you will be able to see a huge difference in how much easier your life has become.  

My top 3 books for figuring out how to develop better habits and goals are: 1. The Compound Effect. 2. Your Best Year Ever: A Five Step Plan to Achieving Your Most Important Goals. 3. Write It Down, Make It Happen.

What is a habit that you have changed that helps make your life easier?  I love to hear what others set as their top priority.  

Don’t forget to follow me on instagram and let me know how things are going with you!