During the month of January you hear all sorts of buzz words for new resolutions. But what if none of us resolved to do anything. What if for one whole month we didn't do a thing to our homes and we just acknowledged what items and issues we're truly living with. Have you ever given yourself a month off?
January always seems like the fresh start time for everyone. Decorations are packed up, the house is clean again and suddenly we have the urge to do ridiculous projects or deep clean something. It seems like we need a plan and the new year forces it upon us. So this month, I'm saying no. No to it all (well everything except daily chores that is).
This month nothing new is coming into my home (if I can help it), nothing is going out, nothing major is happening and I want to exist in my space just the way it is. Often we focus on all the things that need to be done and it causes a sort of unsettledness in our home.
During January I will be taking a moment to focus on all the items that I'm living with, the things that need to be done and the priority in which they should happen. It should hopefully give me the boost that I need to keep going the rest of the year and really get things set in place. If you are always one foot out the door, or always doing something else in your home, you're never really experiencing it. It doesn't do you any good to dress it up, fix it up or make it pretty if you never get to enjoy it. So this writer, this writer is taking a break. Who's with me?
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I'm so with you.
In fact, I've always kinda done this without putting a clear definition on it. Bring on the leftovers from the freezer, the great books I've been longing to get to and the hot-chocolate-and-popcorn movie nights on the sofa in our pjs. January is for re-kindling your spirit and appreciating what you already have!
I'd love to be with you but...I am starting a new job in two weeks and I really need to get my kitchen painted (same color, but it needs to be re-done after eight and a half years) before that starts, because I will not have a lot of extra time the first several months. But I really appreciate the idea...maybe next year.
Yes, yes, yes! This sounds remarkable healthy.
I think this is a really interesting idea. I'm too old to plunge into the whole resolution/intention setting thing, because I KNOW better ;-)). But I still find myself making big To Do lists for the new year. Hmmm. You've really given me something to think about here.
Oh, sparkstack. Or, should I call you... SparkSPAM?! SPAMstack?! Or, maybe SPAM-SPAM?!?!? SPAMMITY-SPAM-SPAM-SPAM!!!
2011 is calling, they want their lame-ass spam posts back... now, shoo!
I definitely think this concept would be great to try in the new year, but instead I'm going to start on it at the beginning of February. That gives me a month to take advantage of all the after Christmas sales, and it will give me time to take care of any important projects/changes/fixes that got pushed aside because of all the holiday hubbub.
GREAT idea. Of course, I don't have time.
I always give myself at least the first two weeks of January to reflect on the past year and prepare for the next chapter. If I just jump in without a game plan, I'm lost! I go over my business plan, revise personal and professional goals and use the calm of this first month to my advantage.
I graduated from college last June and have been working part-time since September in order to give myself enough time to complete graduate school applications. While it's been nice to have so many days off, I also feel like I'm strangely more productive when I'm swamped. Something about having a lot to do always makes me get MORE done! So I feel like I've been a bit of a bump on a log lately, and am actually looking forward to getting another job, if I can. Too much time off isn't always a good thing.
Lovely idea. If only I didn't have so much stuff to organize and get rid of.... We got a good start on it last weekend and I'm energized by the momentum. Maybe I'll make relaxing my goal for February. :)
I'm with you, but only in spirit!, for me that time off comes in Summer or early Fall.
I tend to have a bit of holiday letdown and get into a funk come January, so I've taken to giving myself projects beginning right after Christmas Day, this year it's refinishing cabinetry throughout the house using that new(ish) Rustoleum cabinet paint followed by all new matching cabinet hardware - $4.50 each locally they were $1.58 each bought in bulk on eBay. It'll be unified, which I'll love, and I'm really just putting lipstick-on-the-pig (reusing furniture that's useful but that I hate the look of). Maybe when that's done I'll take my popcorn&movie break for January and admire the handiwork...
This is insightful. I really like the idea of enjoying what I have, just the way it is. There is already so much good. Hmmm. I'll join you! I'll only add my weekly fresh flowers.