reducing any ambition to a mere wistful daydream. Goals When you harness your objectives to a plan, you set yourself up for success. SMART goals incorporate accountability, which is pivotal to accomplishing anything. When you write down a goal and develop a blueprint of how to achieve it, you create layers of accountability. Each step of the plan has make-or-break points where you can see exactly what went wrong and what went right. This year, make goal setting a priority over making resolutions. Curious about where to start? Make items will only lead to frustration and inaction. Instead, start by tackling areas of the house that are full of documents, knickknacks, and boxes you haven’t touched in years. These will be the easiest to part with and will put you in the right downsizing mindset. Donate Unwanted Items The next category contains items that are no longer valuable to you or your family but may be useful to others. These items can be donated to one of many worthy organizations, such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or St. Vincent de Paul. Donations are a way to give back to the less fortunate instead of simply giving or throwing things away. Give Gifts to Loved Ones If you have children, they will undoubtedly want to keep a few cherished mementos and precious possessions. Deciding who will keep what can be a sensitive subject, so you’ll need to devise an equitable
way to divvy up the goods. Some families engage in the process collaboratively, but there should always be some communication before anything is thrown out. Your kids may value certain items more than you ever realized. If you suspect a certain heirloom could be a source of contention, it’s best to hold on to it and make it part of your estate plan. Only Keep the Essentials After completing the first three steps, you should be left with only those items you actually use and those that have the most sentimental value to you. These are the objects worth bringing to your new home. Bonus Tip: Color Code Each Category Odds are that you’ll find junk and valuables stored right next to each other. If you don’t have time to physically separate them at the moment, use different colored Post-it notes to keep everything organized when it comes time to move.
Many homeowners reach a point in their lives when they’re ready to move from the house they raised their families in to something smaller and more manageable. While finding the right place can be a challenge, the hardest part of downsizing is often sorting through a lifetime’s worth of possessions. This process, called contents downsizing, is much easier when you follow this four-step system. Start With the Junk Beginning your downsizing with the hardest
Resolutions vs. Goals Are You Prepared for the New Year?
New Year’s traditions foster an air of rebirth, so this is the perfect time to consider fresh objectives. Every year, people make resolutions that never stick. But there’s a better way to achieve your aims. Rather than make a resolution, you can create a goal. Here’s the difference. Resolutions The very act of labeling your objective a “New Year’s resolution” shows you’re not prepared to follow through. The word “resolution” is often associated with failure. Of course, everyone who sets resolutions means well, but in order to accomplish anything, you need to act. Resolutions lack this fundamental planning and action,
it a goal to look over your insurance coverage for any holes. Give me a call, and I’ll be happy to help.
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