Your plans for New Year's 2021 are going to be a lot different than what they used to be — you may be trading in a New Year's Eve party for more time on the couch in front of a festive New Year's movie — and your resolutions may look different, too. It's still a tradition to decide on a few New Year's resolutions before the ball drops on December 31. This year, a renewed focus on your home may be top of mind (since you have been in your home more time than ever before) Or, you may be tired of thinking about meals or your waistline, in which case you'll turn to the mess in your living room — or the excess of your closet!
This year, fill your resolution list with easy, good-for-you goals. Try one of these simple lifestyle tweaks each day, and you'll not only jumpstart a healthier mind — your home will look great, and you will be so psyched to make 2021 a much better year than 2020. For some New Year's home resolution ideas this 2021, we’ve created this list that will calm you down and ease your stress and organize the crazy in your life. You'll find easy ways to squeeze a few more easy strategies for decluttering.
Create a cleaning schedule you'll stick to
Keeping your home tidy without doing what feels like a deep clean every week can feel like a big ask. You may indeed be under cleaning some tricky spots, but it's also true that you may be overdoing it elsewhere. Good Housekeeping created a printable checklist to make sure keeping the house neat doesn't suck up endless hours on weekends anymore.
Keep clutter out of the kitchen
If you can hardly see your counters through all the papers, Post-its, and not-yet-put-away groceries, you may pay for that chaos on the scale. In one study, researchers found that when people were surrounded by clutter, they tended to eat more junk food — especially when stressed. Take 20 minutes to whisk it all where it belongs, and it can help you eat more mindfully in the days to come.
Become a plant owner
Swing by the garden center after your virtual brunch this weekend. The presence of indoor plants can lower human stress levels, and one study found that actively caring for plants calmed the nervous system and lowered blood pressure. And when people work near plants, they report greater concentration, satisfaction, and perceived air quality. Not to mention how great plants look in your home.
Listen to novels while you clean
Exercisers, who saved an audiobook for the gym, worked out 51% more often than those who didn't. This increased motivation can translate to cleaning your home as well. Scrub while listening to an intense thriller, and the cleaning time will fly by.
Decorate with family history
In happy and long-lived cultures, people often display items from their families' pasts to remember and honor their origins. So hang your grandparents' wedding portrait, or put meaningful memorabilia on shelves for a unique look that is sentimental to you.
Delegate more chores.
A large study found that people who spent money on time-saving services, such as using Rain City Maids to get someone to clean, obtained greater life satisfaction and happiness than those who shelled out for material goods. If money is tight, take on the least favorite chore of a friend and have her do the same for you.
Donate old clothes.
Bye-bye, too-tight jeans, studies show that muffin-top shaming doesn't help, but focusing on being healthy does. After doing your Goodwill drop-off, take a virtual lighter-cooking class, or compete with a pal in a fitness contest.
Make chaotic zones (like the entryway) calm
Make the chaotic zone by the door a calm, happy space. Set up simple systems (a mail basket, a shoe bench, hooks) for tidying. Then move art or flowers from the living room and invest in a mirror or a colorful rug. Since this is a small space, you can go to a fun and colorful route for visitors to be greeted with a look that exudes your personality.
Make your bed every morning.
Yes, it's time to grow past the messy bed look from college! Mastering the art of making your bed will simply transform your space and kickstart a productive morning routine. Taking care of your pillows, sheets, and comforter is an easy task that gives immediate rewards of seeing a tidy bedroom.
Stay glued to the windows.
Spending as much time outside as possible is an excellent thing for your health — but even when the weather becomes frigid, sunlight is crucial to regulate your mood throughout the day. Sunlight can help regulate our circadian rhythms, which directly impacts how productive we are as well. If you can't find natural light in your home, try investing in a few supercharged lights for indoor living, and watch as your mood brightens over time. Also, be sure your windows are cleaned to get most of that daylight coming in.
Lastly, make your home more fragrant.
Because smell is associated with the brain’s parts that process emotion and store memories, certain aromas can affect mood. Research shows that vanilla makes people more relaxed and joyful (mmm, baking), while peppermint can boost energy and lavender can zap stress.
Remember to make every New Year’s home resolution an enjoyable experience. Once your resolutions become too stressful, it is time to take a break or delegate out. I.e., Rain City Maids. In the end, the clearing away of clutter and creating organization-specific to your space makes for a happier home.
