The Calm in My Storm

I know it’s trite and silly to jump on the New Year’s resolution bandwagon, but for some reason, I’m just always so much more motivated to improve myself my life at the start of a new year. Maybe it’s because the stress of the holidays is finally over and I can focus on new goals that don’t only involve survival. Maybe it’s the idea of starting fresh with a clean slate. The errors of 2006 are anchored in the past while I have the ability to move forward and attempt to be a better person.

Whatever the reason, I’m more determined than ever to have a spectacular year. I’m going on year three in real estate, and it’s officially been a year and a half since I quit my 9 to 5 job and moved into the field full time. Last year I had about 35% more income than the last full year I worked at my 40 hour a week job. I was able to buy my first brand new car last year, and I even got the perfect color (I know it’s not supposed to matter, but it just really does to me). All of these successes make me even more motivated to push forward and excel this year both personally and professionally.

I’m going to refrain from putting together a list of resolutions because I think most of what I want will come from two major changes I need to make: I need to be more organized and I need to keep my willpower intact and not let my laziness take over.

Basically, I’m a totally chaotic person at heart. My colleagues at the office can tell you that my desk is a veritable storm, and I don’t even do the majority of my work there, so you can imagine what the one I have at home looks like (and well, while we’re at it, the dining room table, which is my spillover area). I feel like both in business and home life, I’ve been working harder instead of smarter. Yes, I get most everything accomplished that I need to, but it takes me three times as long as it should and makes me basically insane. And because I’ve made myself insane with clutter and overwork, I tend to give up on things occasionally (like cleaning and organizing) and lay on the couch and watch TV, when really if I just took the time to declutter and clean, I wouldn’t feel insane and need the downtime. It’s a vicious cycle.

So those are my two goals for the year, and here’s my start:

This is a chart of my listings and purchases. I’ve been meaning to put it together and finally got it finished. I’m feeling more organized already (of course, I cropped that picture in nice and tight so you can’t see that our bedroom is littered with toys and papers… all in good time, all in good time).