I am sad to say that 2011 is almost over! Now that the busy holiday season is coming to a close, I’ve had some time to get things done around the house that have been on my to-do list. The time after Christmas is a great time to knock a few things off the list, especially tasks which are infrequent or sporadic in nature.
Housekeeping
At the end of the year when you are probably home during the day, consider using a bit of your free time to get a bit of house keeping done. Many of these tasks get pushed aside during the year when everyone is busy at work or school, but they are definitely things that should be done on a regular basis. For Brian and I, that means:
- washing the bedroom blankets
- washing the hockey equipment (finally…)
- doing minor repairs around the house
- giving away or selling unused items
- changing the Brita filter
Technology and Productivity
Are there any addresses that you’ve been meaning to change and haven’t? Email lists that you want to opt-out of, but never got around to doing? Or perhaps it’s finally time to get rid of that embarrassing Facebook photo? Taking some time to clean up your digital life will make the new year that much more organized and pleasant.
Some of the things I did include:
- updating my mailing address with various agencies
- updating my passwords
- deleting old bookmarks and accounts
- backing up my files and photos
Friends and Family
And finally, consider taking some time to connect with friends and family over the holidays. You might be sick of them by now, but if you’re like me, you probably have friends who are hard to get a hold of or family which you don’t see very often. During the holidays, it is worthwhile to use a bit of your free time to reconnect.
For me and Brian, this meant:
- many, many brunches!
- reconnecting with friends over an activity – likes games night or sports
- sending cards to and chatting with relatives
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Sometimes it’s hard to motivate myself to go and get things done, but every item I can mark off my checklist feels great. Already I have knocked off a bunch of items which have been repeatedly postponed over the last year. And when I can start 2012 with a clean (and organized!) slate, I’m pretty sure it will feel even better.
