Been thinking the last few days about what I want goals I want to set for this year. I've decided to not call them resolutions because I want to set reachable small goals that end up adding up to big changes. The big goal is to live more simply. What do I think that looks like? It looks like a lot less clutter in my life. Clutter including the stuff we have at home, but also clutter like the lists of projects around the house(and my sewing room). I want to be free to do things spontaneously and not have to worry about what the house looks like if I want to have someone over. I'm trying to change the habits that drag me down.

Today I came across this quote from Mark Twain's Pudd'nhead Wilson, " Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time."

How many times have I made those New Year Resolutions so big that there's no way to reach them?

So here are my goals for this month:

1. Use cash for everything- I find that I can control my budget a lot better using cash instead of my debit card. Actually started this last month, it's interesting to see how cashier's react to the fact that I'm counting out my money instead of swiping that card.

2. Continue to do the dishes daily- This one I started in November and have been pretty successful thus far. This is a big one for me because I don't have a dishwasher and as much as it's a pain to do everyday it's so much easier in small amounts.

3. Deal with paper as it comes in the house- I cannot believe the amount of junk mail I get every day(most days that's all that comes). Today I logged on to DMAchoice.org and opted out of bulk mailing. It was so easy to do(and it's free). It will take a few weeks for it to take full affect, but I plan to deal with the mail when I get it each day.

4. Put clothes away daily- So I'm going to admit it right here. I'm messy! It's hard when you live by yourself, there's no one there every day to motivate me to put things away. My laundry gets folded and put away when it's clean, but I'm committing to actually getting the dirty stuff in a hamper and not just in a big pile on. It's kind of hard to admit I'm messy, but admitting it's the first step!

5. Finish my master bedroom transformation- I'm great at planning renovations, it's the actual execution that's a problem. I'll say that I come by this naturally, I'm a Daddy's girl and he's an expert at starting projects and getting distracted before their done. I have everything to do it except the paint and I even have a gift card for that. Hoping to be done by the end of next week, so that I can have a relaxing room after my shoulder surgery.


I think that those are small goals and it's felt great to achieve the ones I've already started. I'll have to think hard for next month since I'll be in a sling for most of it. Kind of hard to do some things one handed. I wish all of my friends that have made goals for this year patience with themselves. Just remember that changes don't happen overnight. It's a process.