It’s pretty hard to believe, but 2016 is coming – and, it’s coming fast. Before we know it, we’ll be stealing kisses at midnight and watching the ball drop in Times Square. Even though the New Year is on the horizon – we can still take some steps to be organized and ready for its arrival. Going in strong and confident for an awesome year ahead is half the battle. Not sure how to get yourself prepared? Here’s a look at a few ways to get organized for the New Year.
5 Ways to Get Organized for the New Year
#1. Clear your clutter. There’s no time like the present to start de-cluttering – and, while you’re wrapping gifts and preparing for holidays, you can start sorting through things as you go. Start with your desk or home office – the spot where most of your bills and other paperwork pile up. Get rid of the old to make room for the new. Remember – most everything is accessible to you on the web these days, so hanging on to old paperwork isn’t necessary.
#2. Get the whole family on one calendar. Keeping track of everyone, where they need to be and what the family has going on each week can easily feel like the source of constant disorganization. By getting the whole family on one calendar – including work and school – you’ll have a handle on what needs to get done and when.
#3. Organize your financial records. Get everything up to speed by knowing where you stand with all your bills and financial responsibilities. Whether that means getting on track with certain payments or simply having a better system for knowing when bills are due – being informed is essential. There are great apps out there for this! Try Prism or The Bills Reminder app.
#4. Tackle your closet before 2016. Sounds overwhelming, right? Imagine what a couple of hours will do for you in the long run – it will feel so good. Set aside a few hours on a Saturday morning or a Sunday afternoon between now and the New Year, completely dedicated to cleaning out your closet. Make a toss pile, donation pile and a keep pile – and just go for it. As soon as you’re finished take your donations to a Salvation Army, Goodwill or another spot that accepts clothing donations. You’ll go into 2016 feeling lighter and ready to start the year off right.
#5. Figure out how to effectively delegate both at home and at work. Sometimes you feel like you do it all – and, more often than not, it’s true! So learning how to hand off the projects that don’t need your 100% attention is essential – and, that means delegating. At home get the kids to take on chores that are manageable for them, but also help you out – like dragging the trash cans to the end of the driveway on trash day or emptying the dishwasher each afternoon. And, at work – do the same. Pass off the small stuff that you can simply review.
Are you starting to think about 2016? How will you get organized?
