Blazing a cosy trail at the start of the year

Blazing a cosy trail at the start of the year!

There was a time when I simply couldn’t stand this time of the year. January, February & March were all cut from the same seasonal cloth in my opinion – dreariness! It was cold, dark and dull with no signs of spring and the post-Christmas slump was awful. But, it only took a wee bit of digging and a better attitude to realise that January is the most perfect time for a make-over, especially when it comes to the home.

It all starts as the decorations are put away. That time is perfect for doing an audit of what you have, what is still working for you and what is too old and crusty to keep until next year. Get rid of anything that doesn’t make the grade by re-cycling or turning it into something else. The second opportunity you get to clear the decks in your home for the coming year is the grand clear up after the decorations have been put away. We all know how exciting it is suddenly feel like we have been given acres of extra space simply because the tree is gone. Well, have a re-think about how you fill that space.

Change from a side table to a child’s chair. It serves the same purpose but looks a little different.

For each gift that came into the house over Christmas give another one away. This keeps clutter to an absolute minimum and your home doesn’t get ‘old’. If your first thought is “but I don’t have anything I want to get rid of”, I urge you to have another look at your ‘stuff’ with New Year eyes. Clutter and items that are of no value to you act as clogging devices that can cause stress and we want less of that in 2009.

Did you know that most of the household jobs that are bugging you but you never get around to doing take less than an hour? It’s almost certain that you will have been bought a diary or a calendar for this year. Put an hour in a week for one of those jobs. It’s important to limit yourself to only one job per week however, that way you’ll always get around to doing it.

Sort your receipts file out while watching an hours worth of mindless television.

Choose on orchestral piece of music that lasts an hour and tidy out your bedside drawer.

Play an album on your computer and spend the time folding those errant pieces of fabric that make your study look messy.

Choose a word for the year. Last year my word was ‘Focus’ and the year before it was ‘Organisation’. This year my word is ‘Calm’. As I grow in my experience is becomes ever more apparent that I achieve more and am happier if the adrenaline is kept at a steady level in my body. With that in mind I am setting about blazing a trail through this year but in a very calm and cosy manner! Care to join?