If you made any 2020 resolutions, chances are that they were upended by the COVID-19 pandemic before you could see them through. Many people continue to have more down time at home due to social distancing restrictions, however, so it might be time to work on a new hobby or work on skill. Country Living suggests trying something new every month of 2021, whether it’s a complete pottery or fitness class or simply a new recipe or hairstyle. “Get creative and don’t forget to get your friends and family involved,” the story says.
Author: Jordank
Editorial Coordinator
Cut Kitchen Clutter in the New Year
Experts agree that small, incremental New Year’s resolutions are easier to keep and may turn into healthy, lifelong habits. For example, Good Housekeeping suggests keeping the kitchen clutter-free by putting all recipe cards, small appliances and incoming groceries in their place immediately. One study found that women who were surrounded by kitchen clutter tended to eat more cookies, the magazine says; so, this resolution can contribute to other common goals such as losing weight and eating right.
Make Smarter Resolutions for 2021
Get SMART about crafting a New Year’s resolution for yourself, GoSkills says: Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-sensitive goals are proven to be more realistic and therefore easier to keep. Furthermore, if you write down your goal or goals, they will be simpler to remember and track. You may also choose to share your resolution with a friend to lend a sense of accountability — or seek out a group of people who have similar goals to support your efforts and cheer your successes.
Make Boxing Day Into Boxing Week
In the major countries of the former British Empire, the day after #Christmas is celebrated as Boxing Day. A legal holiday, the event grew out of a custom for wealthy landowners to offer their servants and workers a box of edible goodies, gifts or a monetary tip during the Christmas season.
Stateside, many make the erroneous assumption that “Boxing Day” is on the calendar as a day people might set aside to box and store their Christmas #decorations for another year. In #quarantine times, however, the Organizing Blog would like to propose a modest compromise:
Let’s celebrate Boxing Day as a way to #declutter and #donate to a good cause. And since we have plenty of time at home due to pandemic travel restrictions, let’s take the whole week to do it.
The first step is to declutter. Start with the stacks and stacks of shipping boxes you’ve likely accumulated buying gifts from Amazon and other outlets. With online shopping up 40% from 2019, households are drowning in cardboard. Break down and #recycle any box that can’t be repurposed.
Next, conduct an organized destaging of all of your household holiday trappings, including wrapping paper, decorations, tree, lights, ornaments, and tchotchkes. Take your time and store everything in dedicated, labeled bins and boxes for easy access next year, or use these clever suggestions from HGTV.
As you pack up, toss anything that’s damaged or dingy. Dead light strands, cracked ornaments and worn fabrics aren’t worth saving or storing. Then, set aside any items that don’t provide a Kondoesque “joy.” These items may still be of good use to someone — just not you.
Finally, gather those unwanted and orphaned items together in extra boxes and bags and contact ClothingDonations.org for a donation pickup. Consider it a tax-deductible gift to the nation’s veterans, made in the true spirit of Boxing Day. You may not be landed gentry, but every little bit you give helps veterans access health care, housing and other resources.
Take advantage of a pandemic-era “Boxing Week” to get rid of the things you don’t want and show your appreciation for those who served. Happy New Year from the Organizing Blog!
Give Your Used Stuff to Benefit Veterans
Give the gift of #support and #charity this season simply by gathering up some of your old, unused stuff and #donating it to ClothingDonations.org. When you get a free, #contactless pickup, your lightly used clothing, decorative items, books and household goods are resold, and the proceeds go directly toward programs that fund #veteran housing, health care and community events. The bonuses? Donating your extra stuff is tax-deductible and can help you keep your home cleaner and more organized. Happy Holidays!