As homeschoolers, we have all sorts of new beginnings. We have the start of a new calendar year, the start of a new school year, the start of a new semester, or the start of a new routine or schedule implemented during the school year.
Whichever new beginning we find ourselves in, it becomes a time to evaluate life, make goals, and set resolutions. I tend to roll my eyes, because like so many, I have good intentions, but the resolutions fail within a month. In fact, I stopped making New Year’s resolutions some time ago. Instead I try to tackle goals as they became necessary, whether it is a new calendar year or a new school year.
The Big Interruptions
Sometimes, our goals are interrupted because there is a big change or task on the horizon that requires a bit more than just the normal homeschool or calendar year planning. I have experienced this on multiple levels in recent years with changes in our family as my daughters have begun to transition out of our family home and into lives of their own. We also processed through a major move from the city to the country—something I had only done twice before since having kids!
Moving is not something I like. It tends to give me hives. I also have a Type A personality and like everything to have a place and a place for everything. But between homeschooling, work, entertaining, and just living life, the simple realization that most of my closets, drawers, and cabinets were nowhere ready for a move left me feeling daunted and overwhelmed.
Long Term Goal
The year leading up to our move, I actually made a resolution. I committed to spend fifteen minutes each week cleaning one drawer, cabinet, closet, or space that was in need. Whether it was organization, de-cluttering, or simply throwing out, I wanted to be ready for packing boxes with as little stress as possible.
By taking baby steps of fifteen minutes a week, I committed to a resolution that was reasonable. I could easily play catch up if I missed a week, or I could jump ahead with thirty minutes twice a month. The flexibility was useful as I continued through a busy year of normal—and not so normal—life.
Simple Goal - Amazing Results
It really was a simple formula with amazing results. I began my first week by creating a checklist of each space to clean out and added to the list as I worked through the house.
By the time we moved, there was still a lot to do. It takes a lot to move a large family and a business while also keeping up with the normal routine and navigating extra chaos that life was throwing our way. But, because of my small, daily goals, I was much more prepared and much less overwhelmed than I would have been had I not broken the huge task down into weekly, bite-sized tasks.
Do you have a personality that handles organization well, or does the thought overwhelm you? Take our Planner Personality Quiz to discover your planner personality type and find more organizational tips and suggestions.
