Looking Ahead

It may seem hard to plan for the future when so much remains uncertain right now but thinking about what goals and plans you want to achieve for the next year or two ahead is definitely possible. Thinking about what you want to accomplish can help you remain optimistic and keep you focused on moving forward. Making firm plans may not be possible while so much remains up in the air, but there is nothing stopping you from imagining what you want to do once it is safe to do so again.

Whether it is getting together with friends or travelling to a place you have never been to before or taking part in an experience you have always meant to do, there is no limit to what you can start dreaming and imagining about. And while you have time, why not do what research and planning you can now? Consider looking online or reading about what it is you want to do or finding programs on television that can get you to start thinking and imagining what might be possible hopefully not too long into the future.

If there has been anything that you have always wanted to do but never had the time to do it before, start thinking about what you could do to make it a reality. While it may be some time yet before travel and some experiences are possible, there are things you can do now like reviewing travel vouchers you may have accumulated from cancelled trips or getting in shape through at-home exercises to do a marathon you’ve always wanted to do.

This doesn’t have to be something you do alone either. Challenge friends or family members to take these steps towards future goals and dreams along with you. Over your next video chat or group call don’t be afraid to talk about activities you are most looking forward to doing again and what can be done now. Have you and a friend always wanted to take a cooking class? While you wait to take one together in person, why not look for virtual classes you can take at the same time? Or, if you and girlfriends have always wanted to do a wine tour, why not take some time now to read up on the best places to visit, what you should do, and everything else you need to know beforehand?

Even though it may seem like the big goals and plans you had for the year ahead might not be possible, try to focus not on what you can’t do, but what you can do. It may be small tasks or activities like researching a country you’ve always meant to travel to or testing out recipes to one day serve to family and friends, these activities can keep you moving forward and looking ahead to what you have always wanted to do.

Procrastination is Only Delayed Decisions

Everyone is guilty of procrastinating – there are always projects and tasks that we know we need to do, but we always seem to find an excuse to not do them.

The only way we can beat procrastination is to decide on action instead of inaction. We must stop delaying making a decision on what we need to do and start working towards completing whatever our goal or project is. 

The best way to start the decision making process may seem simple, but the best way to get started is with a check list. Making a list not only keeps you organized and on track of what you need to do, but it also serves as a physical (or digital) reminder to help ensure the decisions aren’t put off any longer.

Whatever it is you need to get done, the best way to stop procrastinating and start doing is start your checklist. As we approach the end of the year, procrastination is more important to tackle than ever as we look towards setting goals for the year ahead and plan out what we hope to achieve. 

Larger goals and problems won’t be solved right away – but making a list and breaking the steps down one by one can make the problem seem more manageable and help make the decision making process seem less intimidating. Even smaller day-to-day tasks can be made more manageable by breaking them down into easy-to-follow steps.

Stop procrastinating and start working! Creating all these smaller tasks may seem like its making even more work but instead it can make everything easier. Having smaller tasks that are easy to complete means having “quick wins” to help keep motivation high and ensure the end result is achievable.

As we get closer and closer to the New Year, put procrastination aside and start getting things done!

• Create a to do list – check!

• Complete a 2021 goal list – check!

• Hire Calm Order to help with kitchen organizing – check!

2020 is the year to get organized!

It’s the start of the New Year and that means setting goals for the year ahead! Getting organized is at the top of many people’s to-do list for 2020, but finding the motivation to just get started can be difficult. Where does one start? How does one start? There are so many aspects involved with getting organized - from your home to your work to your family, organization affects every part of your life. To help you get started, we’ve outline a few resources you can use to help you get organized:

Peter Walsh’s #31Days2GetOrganized Challenge

It’s not too late to follow along with the famous organizer’s 31-day challenge, which focuses on organizing and decluttering a different space in your life each day during the month of January. This challenge has been going on for a couple of years now, and all of his daily videos can be accessed from his YouTube page here. The simple videos are easy to follow along with and can help you get started by focusing on only one task or one room at a time. This way, organizing doesn’t seem so overwhelming, and you can work on tackling each space throughout the month and beyond.

Organize 365 Podcast

Get helpful organization tips on your way to work, while you’re exercising, or whenever you listen to podcasts. Organize 365 explores new topics weekly - everything from decluttering an office space to organizing your weekends. The podcast is available on most streaming services, and a full up-to-date list on all the episodes can be found online here.

Simplify Magazine

This magazine is published on a quarterly basis and was started by Joshua Becker, the founder of Becoming Minimalist website. In each issue, you can find new tips and resources from organizing experts on how to live a more simple and organized life. The digital magazine can be accessed online here - readers can access the first issue on “Happiness” for free.

Ask the Organizer at Calm Order

Feeling stuck? Have a quick question you need answered? Submit your question to Calm Order’s Ask the Organizer page, where our team will respond to you with some helpful advice so you can continue working on your organization project. You can even visit the page to see solutions for questions that have previously been submitted. If you’re looking for more in-depth advice, you can also check out previous posts on our blog or contact us for a complimentary half-hour discovery meeting to see how we can help you best meet your organizing goals.