If the idea of “change” feel big, overwhelming and impossible – take a deep breath, and dive into one of these three quick do-today tasks, that will put you on the road to improvement.
Sometimes we feel the New Year perfection paralysis of, “I should be on the ball with x, y or z.” And when we’re not, we then simply avoid that “x, y or z.” But we don’t have to! A jump start to change releases avoidance and helps us enjoy springboard to change in chewable chunks.
1. Get Organized: Quick Clean Counter. This is a down and dirty de- clutter. First, take a look at the counter as is—with the backpacks, apple cores, soccer cleats, messy school papers and strewn bills. Breathe. Now, visualize and evaluate how you want the counter to really function: do you need a file holder for kids’ school info, a phone stand and pad for scheduling, a billing center or holder for vital financial papers, or fun family pictures to perk the whole look? Next, take a large clear tub and put everything—every last bit of mess—into the tub. Voila. A clear counter. Lastly, only put back on the counter what belongs. If you can, add those decorative touches that might be missing—pretty colored containers or a bushy plant. Now step back, have a sarsaparilla, and enjoy the beauty!
2. Get Fit & Fabulous. In a phrase, lose a habit, get a habit. It’s that simple. To eliminate a habit, try cutting just 100 calories a day. Doing so, you could lose 10 pounds in a year. That translates to baked chips instead of fried (save 150 calories), wrap one sandwich in a lettuce leaf instead of bread (about 150), or forego the bagel for two slices of wheat toast (a big 200). If you’re feeling brave, kick your soda intake for the day. A typical American sucks down 200 calories of sugary soda daily. Eliminate it and you can lose two pounds in a month, with that one change.
To get a habit, try brief exercise to lose 100 calories a day. Just three minutes of jumping jacks with one or two pound weights, doing 100 without stopping, will sculpt arms and cut the calories. Or, try adding just one fruit or vegetable per meal—just one. That’s so doable. Both new habits are quick and simple. Combine a few lose and get habits and drop weight even faster!
3. Get Financially Set: Do a Money Hunt. As a family (kids love this), go through the house and find spare change. Pair children in teams and make it a contest of who can find the most, and first—it’s hysterical, and enlightening. One time we found $75 in the house, no small change. Then put it toward a family financial goal or to donate it to charity, depending on what your family financial goals are. Next, Money Hunt in your family budget. Again, make it a game—split into teams and see who can save the most money in the budget. I found that if I “shop at home” I can save big. That means, one week of the month I don’t buy anything but dairy and simply “shop” from our cabinets, fridge, and freezer. I regularly have saved $200- $300 a month from that one change (disclaimer: we have big appetite teenage boys).
Give one of these jumpstart tips a try and you’ll feel just how doable making new year changes can be.
Connie Sokol is the mother of six—expecting her seventh—and a presenter, former TV and radio host, and author of several books, including Faithful, Fit & Fabulous. For tips, columns, and products visit www.conniesokol.com.
Hi Ladies,
Thanks for attending that fabulous women’s conference—I’m still living off that emotional and spiritual high! As promised, here is the formula I use for everything from preparing a talk to cleaning out my kitchen. This is super easy, so apply to any area of your life you want to organize!
The 3-Step Organization Formula—VEERS
Remember the VEERS formula as “veering” in a new direction.
1.Visualize & Evaluate
2.Eliminate & Replace
3.Savor & Sustain
First, Visualize and Evaluate. With the area or project in mind, evaluate what events take place there, or what items or actions are needed. For example, if I’m tidying the family room I know the activities (group them in centers) include playing board games, reading by the fire, watching a movie, and playing on the computer. As I visualize the room with the proper activities, I can see what needs to be in there, and what does not.
Second, Eliminate and Replace. Go to the area and either eliminate everything (see the video segment on the kitchen counter), or eliminate what doesn’t belong. Replace the space with what needs to be there. In the living room example, I would eliminate soccer cleats, piano music, Legos, etc., and only keep what applied to the activity “centers” I had chosen. For an event or project, eliminate what doesn’t directly relate to the objective of the event (i.e. organizing our lives) and replace those gaps with activities or decorations that do.
Third, Savor and Sustain. The best part! Bring your family or roommate or whomever will use the space and show them the finished product—voila! Then teach them how to keep it that way, encouraging by using an incentive (“If it stays clean for five days, we’ll celebrate with a wii bowling tournament.”)
Give this a try! A few years back when we were preparing to remodel, I took white sheets of paper and on the top half sketched the rooms as they would ideally function, then wrote what I needed to eliminate or replace to make that happen. After remodeling, putting the rooms together was a snap! I simply consulted my pages, made the right purchases, and put things where I had already envisioned they should be.
Feel free to watch this video segment for a quick visual on using VEERS to organize a kitchen counter. If you have the Faithful, Fit & Fabulous book, there are more details in Chapter 5.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at hello@conniesokol.com.
Enjoy!
Connie
