New year, softer goals: This year I’m choosing resolutions that support my life instead of stressing me out.

Honest question.... Who else gets stressed just thinking about New Year’s resolutions?

• Less clutter.

• Fewer impulse buys sitting in my shopping carts 🛒

• No guilt, no pressure goals.

• More memories and experiences.

If your “resolution” already feels stressful… it might be time to rewrite it.

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Honest question.... Who else gets stressed just thinking about New Year’s resolutions?

Every year we’re told to set these super specific goals —

by this date, do this thing, or you failed.

And for some of us, that’s a fast track to anxiety.

So this year, I did things differently. I kept it simple:

1. I want to take better care of myself: For me, that looks like choosing situations that bring me more joy and happiness, while saying no to the ones that drain me. This will help me focus on more memories and experiences, because happiness is key to better self-care. I'm not completely sure how this resolution will evolve over this new year, but I know it's attainable.

2. Reduce impulse shopping: For me, that means not buying all the things the second I see them. Because let’s be honest — my Amazon cart is basically filled with "wants" and not needs. When I am on social media, it's influencer suggestions and things I saw right before falling asleep. Usually it's really cool products for "future me - or the me that I want to become". However, it's not practical for me to sustain if my concern is debt or items sitting in boxes that never get opened or returned. That's consumerism is at its best and this year I've decided not to give in.

HOW THIS WILL HAPPEN.... MY ACCOUNTABILITY RULER:

Now that I have set these goals, I ask myself one thing: "Does this feel supportive… or stressful?”

• In order to accomplish resolution 1 of taking better care of myself, I ask the question above. If I'm asked to do something and I feel stressed out just by considering it, the answer is going to be no. That's my way to ensure happiness and to take care of myself. I know it will be hard since I'm a people pleaser and hate to disappoint. At the time I'm writing this, I've done it twice so far this year, and I did it. Now I'm not a perfect person. My emotions were all over the place. I spent awhile afterwards rethinking my response and, in the end, I stopped rationalizing. The person had already accepted my no and had moved on. So did I. The stress response left and I'm happy.

• For resolution two and curbing my impulse shopping, I think this has been way simpler to accomplish.

  • Now things sit in my cart for a few days.

  • If I still want it later, great.

  • If not? Congratulations, I just saved money and avoided clutter.

    
    

• These are resolutions that support my life. Now it's time to re-evaluate yours!!

Because if your resolution causes anxiety, guilt, or pressure — it’s probably not worth it.

So here are my 6 guidelines for how I plan to keep going on my resolutions this year....

1. Keep it simple.

2. Remain flexible, no dates but maybe quarters or months. Maybe a middle of the year check in. Real habits take time. And that still counts. You've got a whole year. Knowing yourself is the goal. Everything else is just details.

3. Stay positive. Don't make it about what you can't do. Make it about what you can do.

4. Avoid items that cause you stress and anxiety. Those items can be tackled with friends, family or a professional organizer. Hire someone or outsource.

5. Find a way to make it fun. Listen to music, dance or create a resolution bingo board. There is science behind this. When it stops being fun, then it's time to stop.

6. Reward yourself for your accomplishments, even if the reward is just for making it halfway through. Celebrating accomplishments is important. It gives you the dopamine hit that you need to associate hard work with accomplishment.

MY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER TIPS:

• Resolutions don’t need deadlines.

• Your goal should not stress you out.

• Know yourself. Your resolution should be involve self-awareness.