Better than Resolutions: A Realistic S.M.A.R.T. Way to Get Things Done at Home This Year

Like most people, I’ve never had much luck sticking to any resolutions I make at the beginning of the year. But if you break things down, all January Cure style, you can settle on goals you’ll really achieve.

Last week, reading a post on Style by Emily Henderson about her New Year’s resolutions reminded me of something nerdy I never thought I’d associate with cool design(ers) or my home.

At my most recent day jobs, I’ve had to set “S.M.A.R.T” objectives. If you haven’t had to make some of these before, that’s a mnemonic for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. With this thinking in mind, rather than just making a resolution for my house like “I want to keep my house cleaner in 2014,” I could say “I’ll wipe down my kitchen countertops once daily and vacuum all the floors every other week.” Or, for you Cure-ers, “I’ll cross one thing off my project list every month.”

Instead of making vague or overblown resolutions that probably won’t live to see February, it’s about simplifying with realistic, doable goals. Do you have any?