It’s a new year! The perfect time to make home resolutions, but where do you start and how do you set yourself up to achieve them? Making a house to-do list is a great place to start, but unless you have a plan of action, chances are many of those things on your list might never get done. Here are a few tips to help you make and keep those home resolutions this year!
1. Have a planning session.
Many successful companies have a planning session in the month of January to set goals and budgets, why not attack your home goals with the same focus. Set up a time this month to sit down and really think about what you would like to accomplish in your home. Do you want to tackle a kitchen or bath remodel, are you desperate to get your closets organized, or are you looking to add some finishing touches to your space? Maybe make it a date night with your spouse. A little wine plus house dreaming night could be just the thing to get your year off to a great start. Take a look at your calendar and plan your home projects accordingly. If you already know you have a lot of business travel at the start of the year, maybe you should plan to tackle the big stuff in the second quarter. Being realistic about the time you have to devote to achieving your goals is the key to accomplishing them.
2. Break your list down by month.
Take that list of home goals you’d like to achieve this year and break them down by month. A monthly list will be a lot shorter than your big yearly list and will feel much more achievable and a lot less overwhelming. Plus it will help you to focus on just a few things at one time.
3. Schedule now for what you want to do later.
So maybe you’ve decided that April is when you plan to have your exterior windows cleaned or have your carpets steamed. But if you wait until April to call those companies to schedule, you might not actually get these items crossed off your list until May or June because they may already be booked for the month. It’s a good idea to look ahead and get things scheduled in advance. If you know you want to have your house power washed in May, make a note on your calendar to call the company in March to schedule in advance. This way you make sure to get this crossed off your list when you know you’ll have the time and money to get it done.
4. Give yourself an incentive.
Sometimes projects can drag on, or maybe you just lose steam and motivation to complete them. Organizing an entire closet always sounds sexier than it actually is, but the end result is always worth the effort. Set up some incentives for yourself. Maybe gift yourself that pair of shoes you’ve been wanting when you get your closet streamlined or purchase some new bath towels when you get that new towel hook bar installed in your bathroom. Having a little something to look forward to will help keep you motivated when you’re elbow deep in a project.
5. Start Saving Now
This is why a planning session and a monthly breakdown is so key! Almost every home resolution, big or small, will typically require at least a little bit of money, and by laying out a plan of action you’ll be better prepared to save up what you’ll need to pay for your projects. Set up a project fund, and set aside money once a week. Do you make home resolutions? What helps you to achieve them?
