As you settle into the New Year, we know it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the resolutions and projects you’ve declared will get done this year. It’s not uncommon to hear people stating that this is the year they will go to the gym 5 times a week, or this year, they’re finally going to organize that kitchen pantry. But after just a few short weeks, those resolutions, once so strongly stated, start to fall further and further behind.

This year, the storage consultants at the Hollywood Storage Center of Thousand Oaks thought they’d try something a little different. After coming across a website that allows you to create your own free custom calendars, a challenge was born! Why not create a calendar that incorporates 12 projects for 12 months? This is a great way to visualize your goals daily and put a plan in motion. After all, a 30-day time frame for one project makes the task at hand seem much less daunting, right?

The first step in kicking off this challenge on the right foot is to assess what projects you plan to tackle this year. If you’re in need of some inspiration for refreshing your house, Better Homes and Gardens has a great piece on home organization. According to the article, the importance to success isn’t just about the big picture, but about breaking it down into smaller tasks that contribute to your overall goal. The 1-3-5 rule is a great method for doing just that: focus on one big task, three medium tasks, and five smaller tasks. This approach allows you to make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed, while also giving you flexibility in your schedule and helping you avoid procrastinating until the last minute.

Once you’ve compiled your list, it’s time to create that calendar. The calendar lab website allows you to print at home or save your creation as a PDF. We would suggest doing both. It’s great to have access on your computer, but one of the reasons we fell in love with this calendar idea is its ability to visually display our goals in a way we can’t hide from them. Accountability is key in accomplishing your goals. It’s the perfect first step for finally re-organizing that hallway closet or putting up those shelving units in the garage. Start from high priority projects and work your way through the year to the lower priority or less time-sensitive projects.

As you tackle each room or project, strategically place aside the items you’d like to keep but simply don’t work in your newly refreshed space. For example, those holiday decorations and seasonal items scattered around your house can be stored in one place. Our lowest price-guaranteed storage units provide an affordable solution for keeping everything organized.

What projects are you looking forward to accomplishing this year? Will you be taking the challenge with us? Share with us on Facebook, thanks!