How To Be Organized for the New Year

Every new year people like to write lists and resolutions of things they are going to do better for the New Year, but so many of those resolutions fail before January is over as people don't have a plan to back up those goals.

Here is my plan to be organized for the new year.

Clear off the Counters
  We all have them, those little piles of papers, those stacks of magazines, the incoming mail that we just throw on the table.  I know I am guilty of this, saying I will get to it later and then I don't, adding the next days papers to the same pile and before you know it, it feels overwhelming and out of control and things get lost and missed.

To keep my counters (and e-mail in-box) clean and clear I follow the Power of Mom's MOM Organizational System.
This system is based on having a place for everything, from papers, to e-mails to even ideas in your head.

Now, when I get those papers, I drop them in the in-box.  Mine is just a little basket on top of my file system.  Then when I get the chance during the day I sort those papers.  If it is something I can quickly take care of (less than 2 minutes) I take care of immediately. (permission slips to be signed, junk mail to throw away).  The other things I organize into my immediate slot, important slot, someday, or my kids respective slots.

I love having a slot for each of my school age kids as there are things we need easy access to all the time.  For Lucas, his Scout book stays in his slot.  Then on Tuesdays when we are running out the door to Scouts we know exactly where his book is.  He also gets a spelling list that lasts for two weeks, it stays in his slot, then everyday at homework time I can pull it out to for him to study.

I have the same system with electronic folders for my mailbox, that way everything has a place and I do not miss an e-mail in the hundreds that could end up in my in-box.  To learn more about how this system works and to be walked through it step by step- I highly recommend getting the Power of Mom's MOM system.  It is completely worth the investment and has changed my life. **

Keeping Track of it all
Some people like to have a family calendar with different colors for each person, for me personally I like to have it all digital.

The biggest trick of keeping track of it is simple... Write it ALL down.

Pajama day at school- write it down.   Long term project due- write it down.

I use a combination of my Calendar APP and the To-do App.  For things that have to happen on a certain day, appointments, piano lessons, etc. I write those on my calendar.  For things that have a due date but need a little prep work, or for things that the date can vary I use my to-do app.

For example, soccer registration is this month on January 11th.  On my calendar, I put "soccer Registration" on Jan 11th from 9-2 PM.   In order to be able to actually register my kids, I need to fill out the soccer registration forms; so on my to-do App, I make an event for "Fill out registration" and set the due date for January 9th, that way it will be filled out two days before I need it.

With the To-do App (I have version 6) you can also categorize things, in errands, phone, computer work, home, etc.  So when I am out, I can pull up all of the errands, or even my shopping list and remember what things I need to get while I am out.

Screen shot from my Todo App

I love having my shopping list on my to-do app as so many times while we are getting ready for bed my husband will say "oh I need some more shave gel." or "could you add shower cleaner to your list".  Since my list is on my phone and I pretty much always have my phone, I can quickly add it and then won't forget.

I also use my To-do App to keep track of projects I would like to do someday, or things I want to buy someday.  These things don't have any assigned due date but are there for those times where I might have some extra time and think, "I know there was something I wanted to do what was it?"   I no longer have to sit and wonder as I can just pull up my app and see.

You don't have to have a phone or an App to do all of this, you can have these kind of lists and reminders in a paper planer, or on your computer- whatever works for you.  The key is to write it all down so you can have a clear mind; that way you are not always stuck in your head thinking, "what am I supposed to be doing?" and can be present in the moment.

Cleaning and Decluttering
  This is the area I am hoping to improve on the most this year.  I will admit, cleaning is never my strong suit.  This year, I got the Home Routine App.  It has a daily mourning routine, evening and weekly.  It also has the weekly Zones- fits perfectly with Fly Lady.
It is fun being able to star off each item as I complete it and since it is right there on my phone it keeps me going.  You can even set reminders if you need.

For some extra help decluttering, I am using Home Storage Solutions FREE printable yearly calendar that has a different task for each day.

This month we are focusing on the kitchen.  The idea is to spend only 15 minutes each day with the assigned task.  You can even share your progress and success on their website to help keep you going.

Want to actually keep your New Years Resolutions, then you need a plan and this is mine.
How are you getting organized for the New Year?

** I am an affiliate of the Power of Moms.  I became an affiliate AFTER I started using the MOM system and fell in love with it and all the Power of Mom's shares.