It’s New Year’s Eve and that means you only have one more day to finalize those resolutions for the new year.
Just kidding.
But if you’re stuck for inspiration, consider this piece your muse. Countless people hope to achieve New Year’s resolutions each year but many don’t know where to begin.
According to some news outlets, home-inspired resolutions are among the most popular (after losing weight or getting fit, of course). Many people hope to get more organized, spend more time with family and friends, and live life to the fullest. Luckily, these resolutions can be achieved without leaving the comfort of your home.
Here are some of the top ways you can achieve these resolutions by making small changes in your home.
Get More Organized
The home organization craze came to a head between 2018 and 2019 with Marie Kondo’s Netflix special. Her “KonMari” method inspired viewers to organize their home by getting rid of items that don’t spark joy in the owner. She also showed her audience folding tips, organization secrets, and tips on how to start the process.
This type of organizing is essential since over 62% of Americans own more than 10 t-shirts in their closet. Marie Kondo recommends taking each item within a category and assessing each one to see if it sparks joy. Even if there’s an old, ratty t-shirt in the mix, this item might still be worth keeping if it sparks joy because of sentimental purposes. All the items that do not spark joy can be tossed, recycled, or donated.
Getting more organized might also mean rearranging your home or finding new ways to use each corner of your home. That old, unused office might make the perfect nursery, but you’ll have to buy plenty of baby products and paint the room a different color. Luckily, hiring someone to paint the bedrooms of your home only costs between $400 and $600 on average. Establishing a unique feeling to each room of your home using paint and decor can help some homeowners feel more organized.
If you find that certain areas of your home are prone to collecting clutter, you can also look for storage solutions, including mail organizers and hanging shelves. Any nick-nacks or unused items can also be donated to reduce the amount of clutter in your home from the start. Hello, Marie Kondo.
Spend More Time with Loved Ones
Finding time to spend with loved ones is a different type of organization. Between work, errands, and taking care of your family, it might seem impossible to squeeze in a fun night out with your friends or extended family. Worse yet, traveling to distant destinations might be time you simply don’t have.
That’s where your home comes in. Many people are hesitant to invite people to their home because it isn’t the “hottest” spot for entertainment. But inviting people to your humble abode will not only save you time, but it will also save you money. Grab some cheap snacks from the store and rely on these tips to craft the perfect entertaining space.
Rearrange your space: Many people choose to situate their furniture in a way that suits their home’s layout. This might look great, but it isn’t always the most conducive for conversation. Try to angle couches toward each other, instead of toward the television. That way, you can actually talk to your guests instead of zoning out on the television.
Don’t forget your backyard: When the weather is nice, your outdoor features can be your saving grace. All you need are a few chairs and some outdoor lighting to make this a cozy getaway for your friends and family. You don’t need to become a top-tier gardener to impress your in-laws, either. Simply buying a few potted plants and keeping a green lawn is enough to impress any guest you invite over. Most lawns only require about one inch of watering each week while your potted plants can be brought inside to resist colder nights. Hang up some string lights or invest in a fire pit and you’ve got the perfect hangout spot all summer long.
Stock your kitchen: Stocking your kitchen refers to both food and your kitchen utensils. For a single person, the last thing you think of buying is large bowls, ample plates, and serving dishes. Once you’ve got the right ingredients for the perfect dish, make sure you can serve them to appease your guests. Buying a cheeseboard will look a lot better than serving your appetizers on a cutting board.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to go crazy buying new items for your home. Americans are already $9 trillion in mortgage debt. After all, the whole point of crafting an entertaining home is to spend time with loved ones and save money and time in the process.
Live Life to the Fullest
Of course, this New Year’s resolution will look different for everyone. Some people might find increased levels of happiness from hitting the ski slopes while others will finally book a ticket across the pond. But as a whole, living life to the fullest means appreciating each day and doing the things you want to do with the people you care about.
For some people, that means trying new things, like getting a new hobby. With so many new gadgets, like drones, entering the market each day, there are ample opportunities to try something new. Others will simply be happy with becoming a more adventurous eater. If you’ve been eyeing that new restaurant that just opened, now is the perfect time to give it a try.
For others, that might even mean getting a new job or transforming the way that they do work. If you feel guilty leaving your pet at home each day, working from home might be the right answer. In fact, up to 50% of employees throughout the world will work outside of the office a few times per week. What once seemed like a pipe dream is becoming all the more common in office settings.
If you’re stuck thinking of ways to live your life to the fullest, you can always rely on other people for inspiration. There are plenty of inspiring books designed to encourage self-improvement: Eat, Pray, Love, Predictably Irrational, and Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It are three books to get you started.
What would help you live your life to the fullest? Consider these tips to help you craft the perfect New Year’s resolutions for 2020. Whether that means investing in Invisalign, hitting the gym, or improving your home, any goal is admirable as long as you’re bettering yourself in the process.