How to Get Back on Track with Resolutions & Goals
We’re sharing how to get back on track with resolutions and goals today!
Last week, I walked into our kitchen and heard myself let out an extra heavy sigh at the sight of our dining room.
It’s literally one of our biggest trouble spots, and one I constantly grow weary over. Especially, since it becomes the “unofficial command center” whenever we have projects going on as we do right now with the laundry room.
Thankfully, the rest of the house is fairly tidy.
I wanted to share because I truly understand what it’s like to feel on track one day and then completely off track the very next.
I hope I never make it look like things at our home are perfect because messes like these happen in the subtlest way, don’t they?
For me, it was a back injury and an unexpected laundry room makeover.
For you, it might be constantly rushing out the door to dance or soccer practice, not having time to buy groceries or properly meal plan, leaving unopened mail on the conversation bar, letting the laundry or the dishes pile up because you’re too busy to deal with it, being out of town every weekend, making other people’s priorities your own…the list goes on and on.
The silver lining of being off track is that we have to power to get back on track at any given time.
It’s the moment we choose to look around at the clutter and chaos and say, “I’m not living like this one. more. day.”
It’s knowing we’re worth making a change, a better choice, and figuring out what we need to do to get ourselves back on track with our resolutions and goals.
Here are a few ideas to get you started if you trying to get back on track with your resolutions and goals…
If You’re Off Track With Your Cleaning Resolution or Goal…
If you’re trying to get back on track with your cleaning resolution or goals this year, set the timer for 15-30 minutes and do a quick clutter catcher in the one room that would give you the most peace.
After the timer goes off sweep, vacuum, or mop the floor.
Next, head to the kitchen and address any dirty dishes in the sink, and tidy up the counters.
Finally, put a load of laundry in the wash.
This type of “just enough” cleaning will get you motivated to start fresh the following day and back on track with your cleaning schedule.
If You’re Trying to Get Back on Track with Weekly or Monthly Meal Planning…
If you’re trying to get back on track with weekly or monthly meal planning take a moment to reassess your schedule for the week.
What does your schedule look like?
Are three of your nights packed with activities?
Consider making easy slow cooker meals for those nights, utilizing pantry staples you already have on hand, picking up dinner on your way home from work, or sharing meal-making duties with a friend or family member.
As you’re taking a realistic look at your schedule, take 30 minutes to an hour to meal plan. Then create a grocery list, and head to the store.
If you’re short on time consider using a service like Instacart, or Shipt to have your groceries delivered to your home. Some local grocery stores or large marketplace stores may even offer curbside service in your area.
You may have to pay a little extra (we pay extra for Instacart) but your time is worth it.
If You’re Trying to Get Back on Track With Your Morning or Nightly Routine Resolutions and Goals…
Developing positive habits and routines takes time, so give yourself grace.
If you’re off track with your morning or nightly routine resolutions or goals, plan a period of uninterrupted time to assess what part of the routine is not working well.
Then make any necessary adjustments.
Keep in mind, that the success of your morning routine will largely depend on the planning and preparation of your nightly routine.
This means you’ll probably be able to make simple adjustments to one routine and see a greater impact on the other.
If You’re Trying To Get Back on Track With Organizing Goals…
If you’re trying to get back on track with organizing resolutions and goals, this one is easier than you might expect.
First, you need to determine how much time you have to organize a specific space. Maybe you want an organized kitchen but you don’t have an entire day to devote to it.
If this is the case, break the job down into small manageable tasks.
For example, set a timer and devote 15 minutes each day to declutter, clean and organize the drawers in your kitchen.
Once you have those tasks completed, move on to the cabinets in your kitchen.
Then begin organizing the pantry and the refrigerator.
15 minutes might not seem like very long. But any time spent organizing spaces big or small will be a step in the right direction.
Plus it adds up! Organizing just 15 minutes a day 6 days a week is 90 extra minutes of organizing each week. If you kept that up by the end of the year, you’d have spent 4,680 minutes organizing – that’s 78 hours!
If You’re Off Track With Your Weight Loss or Excercise Resolutions…
If you’re trying to get back on track with your weight loss or exercise resolutions, simply pick yourself up and start today.
You don’t have to wait for Monday.
You don’t have to wait for the first of the month.
If you binged on donuts at breakfast, then ate a cheeseburger and fries at lunch, get yourself back on track with a healthy dinner.
Go to the gym, do a yoga or pilates video, run on the treadmill, find a bike class on YouTube, call up your bestie and go on a hike, or take your dog for a walk on the beach.
Just get started!
If You’re Trying To Get Back On Track With Your Self-Care and Nurture Goals…
How many of you drop the goals that feed your spirit as soon as you get overwhelmed?
Meeting friends for lunch, taking long baths after dinner, writing in your journal, reading books and magazines for fun, catching up on your favorite podcasts, using lavender spray on your pillows, taking up a new hobby or class, or making time for your yearly exams – do these things take a backseat?
When we nurture our spirits, we nurture our souls.
And a nurtured soul makes us far more equipped to handle things when life gets a little crazy.
If you’re off track with this goal, assess your calendar. Determine the areas you are overcommitted, and find a way to make yourself a priority.
It might be as simple as asking your spouse to put the kids to bed so you can have a long soak, having a meal service delivered to your door, or paying someone to clean your house.
If You’re Off Track With Your Home Goals…
I know the weather this time of year can have a big impact on the projects you might have planned.
If you find yourself in that situation, go back to your list of projects. Begin by tackling the items on the list you can start right now.
Maybe it’s too cold to paint your master bedroom but you can pick out the paint color. You can start putting the pom pom trim on your curtains. You can choose a mirror and start shopping for a desk.
There are a lot of little decisions that have to come together before a makeover is complete. So, start checking the small things off your list now while you’re waiting to get started on the big things.
If You’re Off Track With Business, Blogging, or Influencer Goals…
If you’re trying to get back on track with resolutions and goals related to your business, or blog consider attending networking events, conferences, or creating a virtual educational summit for yourself at home.
You might have even signed up for some free or paid online classes that are sitting in your inbox right now.
If your home doesn’t offer a quiet environment, consider checking into a hotel for the weekend or taking your laptop to a local coffee shop to give yourself the space you need to gain clarity, map out a social media strategy, write blog posts, revamp your online ordering system or create a new employee handbook.
You probably already know what you need to do, you just need time to get a clear plan of action.
The Truth and The Challenge…
I understand life can be so busy you barely remember to put on deodorant or stop to take 3 bites of lunch.
The truth is, over the course of our lives we may find ourselves on and off-track many times depending on the season and circumstance.
I just want to let you know getting back on track and staying on track is possible…we simply have to start.
Each hour, each day, each week is a fresh chance for change.
Our challenge is choosing to make one.
Cheering on as you turn the page and commit!
Other Ways to Get Back and Track and Stay Organized:
- 52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Challenge
- The Quarter Challenge (this has made a HUGE difference for us)
- 13 Ways to Feel More Organized Everyday
- Our Favorite Home Organizing Essentials
Many blessings,
CoCo
Wonderful tips. Using a timer is genius. I have sometimes calculated in my head how long it takes to fold a basket of laundry or empty the dishwasher (which are just looming in front of me) and I see I can do them in 6 minutes flat!
Jane x
That is so exciting Jane! The kitchen timer has saved me from my messy tendencies so many times. I’m going to need to streamline my laundry folding though – 6 minutes is so impressive 🙂 Hugs, CoCo
I started turning my phone on mute. This way I don’t get distracted by it beeping, ringing or vibrating.
If it’s an emergency they will call my husband. Which is fine since he works from home now.
Pinnec
YES! That is one of my favorite tricks too, Cindy, and it makes a HUGE difference. I did not realize how distracted I was getting from all the phone interruptions but goodness it was near constant. I recently set up the “focus feature” on my phone and it’s been a game changer! Hugs, CoCo
Great post, CoCo! Loved seeing that picture of your dining room table! There is always one area of my house that looks like a tornado hit, as I work on different projects! Thanks for the reminder that we have a chance to restart and work on our goals every hour, day, and week! Take care, Donna
Most of the time, our dining room and entry area are good to go. We use our dining room as a holding area for most projects though and goodness gracious it can get out of control very quickly. The first few weeks I can handle it but after a while it just looks like a massive pile of delayed decisions which drives me bananas. I’m so thankful you can relate and were willing to share. It makes me feel normal 🙌 Cheering you on as we continue to tackle one area at a time, CoCo