How to Use Organization to Achieve Your New Year’s Resolutions

We are one week into 2021 and it is resolution season! With such a hard year for everyone in 2020 so many of us have high hopes for 2021 and might just be trying to bring about that change with a New Year’s resolution (or five). But did you know that about 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail? Yes, some of that is due to unrealistic New Year’s resolutions. However, if you haven’t declared you are going to get a novel published in 2021 but something like get healthy or having smoother mornings in your family there are ways that organization can help support the success of your New Year’s resolution.

If you have been here for any length of time you know that I believe that organization is not just about your physical space but encompasses and improves so many areas of your life. The new year is the perfect time to use organization to support and encourage that positive change you are looking for in 2021. But first, you have to really hone in on the goal or resolution you are trying to achieve. One week in you may have already noticed your commitment starting to wane and that, my friend, is likely because the resolution is too broad. The same way I would tell you to not try to organize your whole house (or even whole kitchen) in one sitting, you can’t change your “whole health” or “improve your financial situation” in one shot.

The first step in using organization to achieve your New Year’s resolution is to use organization to tweak and adjust that resolution. Take that larger resolution, write it at the top of a large notepad (I love these Appointed notepads) and then brain dump. What are all the little things that the large resolution encompasses? Be specific, be detailed! Get healthy might look like eating at least 3 servings of leafy greens each week and walking around the block before you get the mail. Saving money might look like scaling back Starbucks purchases to twice a week or creating an emergency fund of $1,000. Once you have your list you can pick that new resolution. Yes, it would be great to do all of the things on that list but that isn’t realistic and will set yourself up for failure. Organize the list by your priorities or the changes that feel realistic to you and select your new New Year’s resolution(s).

Now that you have selected your realistic and specific resolution it is time to get down to the nitty gritty and how organization can help you achieve that goal. I have outlined five popular New Year’s resolutions below and how organization can help support that change. You will notice a common thread that I believe writing things down (from grocery lists to your weekly schedule) is key in your success. I have included links within and at the end of this blog post to some of my favorite planners, notepads and notebooks to use for these tasks.

• Eat Healthy:

  • This is the biggie! Right? How many of you have made this resolution at least once in the past? And while this is still a pretty broad resolution, meal planning is one of the best ways to eat healthier in the new year! I am a paper girl and love using a meal planning notepad (here) to plan our family’s meals but there are also amazing apps out there like Favoreats and Plan to Eat. So instead of having the mentality that you have to broadly “eat healthier” turn that resolution around to specifically commit to meal planning each week. Use that meal planning time to organize your family’s meals (added bonus of less stressful evenings when dinners are decided in advance) and plan your grocery list. This mental switch will still achieve the same end goal but make it manageable and actionable to achieve that change.

• Get Out the Door (or Logged to on Zoom) on Time:

  • Mornings can be nuts! As a mom to twin tweenage girls you know I can relate to your chaos but it doesn’t have to be that way! This resolution is another one that can feel stressful and overwhelming but by switching it up a bit it is more manageable. Establishing a morning routine is one of the best ways to create organization and order in your life (or families if you have little ones). I am a big believer in a family command center (more on how to create one here and a great option to get started are these here). Getting everyone on the same page for the week and putting systems in place like making lunches the night before (even if you are working/schooling from home) or laying out everyone’s clothes on Sunday night will help streamline your mornings so you can start your day off with calm and not chaos. Twist that “be there on time resolution” to be something actionable like keep up a command center to two to three tasks that will streamline your morning.

• Exercise More:

  • It wouldn’t be a new year without wanting to workout more but let’s be honest life can get in the way! Instead of simply focusing on working out I suggest thinking about your weekly schedule overall. Working out will be easier (and you will be more likely to actually do it) if you have time blocked in your schedule. Scheduling your week in advance either with your favorite digital calendar, a weekly notepad or planner will allow you to prioritize the items that need to get done that week. Organizing your time and schedule is the key to exercise (not that new Peloton, although I wouldn’t turn down the Peloton if I were you).

• Save Money:

  • This is always at the top of the list for New Year’s resolutions and while we are still in the midst of the pandemic is more important than ever. However, if I learned anything from my kids it is that being told you can’t have something only makes you want it more. When someone tells you not to spend money, what do you want to do? Spend it! I am not financial planner and I will leave the budgeting tips to the experts but if there is one thing I know about finances it is that organizing your shopping list can be a game changer. Similar to meal planning that can help you eat healthier planning your meals and shopping list with something like a meal planning notepad can help keep your budget under control without feeling like you are on a spending freeze.

• Get Organized:

  • If your New Year’s resolution is to get organized in general then you are in the right place! I suggest starting small and checking out some past blog posts like our 25 Ways to Get Organized While You Social Distancing to get started. Having a list and process to follow will make organizing feel manageable help you make real change.

Finally, I want to do everything I can to support and encourage you all in this New Year! In case you missed it on Instagram I have started the year off with 31 Days of Giveaways and there is plenty of time left for you to get involved! I have teamed up with my very favorite brands and we are giving away some of my favorite products (including some of those listed in this post) to help you achieve goals, support your well being, encourage a little self-care and more. Check my Instagram stories each day for the month of January for that day’s giveaway and how to enter. And since I already know you are on the resolution train, you are not going to want to miss today’s (1/7/21) giveaway! Today I am giving away a set of my Life Designed notepads – perfect to achieve any of the goals we discussed above. Check out stories for more!

TELL ME: what are your New Year’s resolutions for 2021 and are you going to be using organization to help stick with it?