What’s Love Got To Do With It? A Lot!

While January was the month of goals and resolutions, February is the month for love.  Valentine’s Day marks a special day for our loved ones.  Let’s make the rest of the month about loving your home and organizational systems. There’s a lot of chaos in the outside world, so creating a home that brings calm and peace, filled with items and spaces you love, is crucial towards mental health and productivity.

What part of your home do you love the most? 

Can you transfer some of that to other areas that you don’t love as much or are trouble spots?  Is it the look, smell, decor?  Go room to room, stand in the space for a few minutes and assess what it is you love and what you would like to improve.  Make a written list, breaking down into small areas or tasks so you can work on it a little at a time.  Loving your home can be obtained, one small step at a time. Communicate with your family members and engage them in the discussion and goals, especially if they use these spaces as well.

Do you love your current time management systems, i.e. your calendar and to do list routines? 

There are SO many choices in these areas.  It may or may not be electronic.  Paper planners are still taking up an entire aisle in the office supply stores and Franklin Covey, DayTimer, Blue Sky (a brand that can be found at most office supply stores) are all still in business!  Or maybe you need a hybrid of electronic and paper, which is what I do.  My calendar and big ‘ole Master To Do list are in Outlook, but I print out my weekly and daily to do lists so I can write all over them, cross items off, add items as I think about them or when I’m at a red light, etc.

Ok, few people would say they love their paper management systems but give thought to this as well.  Would you love to come home to not having paper cluttering up your kitchen counters and all other flat surfaces in your home?  Gather them up and decide how you will handle incoming papers moving forward.  Wall pockets for kids to easily empty papers from their backpacks  are a great solution.  A designated place for bills, follow up items and papers for your spouse is crucial.  Again, options abound so give thought to color and decorative containers that you love!  Which one of these looks do you prefer?

What activities do you enjoy? 

Do you need to set up an area in your home, i.e.  a craft space, exercise room, music or reading corner?  Commit to honoring this part of your life and set this space up to evoke energy and creativity.

We can’t forget about your loved ones.  Engage them in conversation, make organizing a game, reach compromises if necessary and resolve to work together as a family to reach organizational happiness under one roof.

May February be filled with all the people and things you love the most with loving your home towards the top of that list!