Things to Do in January: Start the Year Off Organized
January is a month for new beginnings, self-reflection, and setting positive intentions for the year ahead. You don’t want to miss these tips for staying organized in January.
After New Year’s Day, you might be determined to achieve some new milestones. Perhaps it’s time to work towards some health goals, declutter and organize your home, or ensure that your calendar is organized. These are some of the things you can do in January to start the year off on the right track.
Wellness in January
January is an ideal month to re-evaluate your healthy habits. Maybe you indulged in more treats during the holiday season, or perhaps you want to start a new exercise or skincare routine. Regardless of your wellness goals, remember that you can achieve them! Here are some tips to help you get started.
1. Improve your eating habits
What does this mean for you? Are you looking to recover from holiday treats, limit sugar in your everyday diet, reduce carbs, eat whole foods, or join a program?
Think about why you want to make these changes and set a date in your January calendar for when you plan to start.
2. Exercise Regularly
Do you have a regular exercise routine? If yes, are you satisfied with your current exercises, or do you want to make changes? If not, what steps can you take to start exercising in the new year?
One thing I learned from my past is that you have to enjoy what you’re doing to turn it into a habit. Eventually, you start craving exercise when you actually like it. Just the opposite, if you don’t like it, you probably won’t stick to it (unless you can force yourself, but I, without question, am not good at that!)
Start blocking out time each day or a few times weekly to do exercises you enjoy.
3. Practice Gratitude
One of my favorite rituals is to start my day with a positive outlook by using The 5-Minute Journal. It really does take 5 minutes to fill in the prompts.
I suggest scheduling some time in your morning and evening to write what you are grateful for daily. Doing this consistently can make a significant difference in your overall outlook on life.
4. Time for Family & Friends
In today’s world, it is so easy to isolate ourselves from social events and rely on online alternatives. We become too comfortable in our routines and forget the joy of spending time with loved ones.
Life can be busy, and if we don’t make an effort, we risk missing out on memorable moments. That’s why it’s essential to schedule fun activities with family and friends so we can enjoy each other’s company and create lasting memories.
Take the first step by planning something exciting in your calendar.
5. Schedule Appointments
January is the perfect month to take care of your health and wellness needs by scheduling appointments with your medical, dental, optometrist, and other health professionals.
This will help you get started with your healthcare goals for the year and ensure that you’re on the right track to maintaining your well-being.
January Financial Planning
It is important to review and plan out your financial priorities each year. We like to set both short-term and long-term goals for our financial future. What is great about today’s online banking options is you can create accounts, set up direct deposits, and pay bills from the comfort of your home.
- Set a short-term goal like saving $1,000 in an emergency fund or saving for a weekend away or a week-long vacation. Perhaps a new piece of furniture or the latest technology.
- Set long-term goals like paying off debt, purchasing a home, investing, or saving for retirement.
- Schedule weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reviews. I do this weekly and then again monthly to balance our bank accounts. Quarterly and annually, my husband and I discuss our financial goals to ensure we are on the same page. It is a way to connect and is healthy for relationships.
- Find a financial organizing system that works for you. I use the budget-by-paycheck method, which has been helpful for me as I needed a simple way to manage our financial goals. My siblings are accountants and exceptional with financial planning. I, on the other hand, need to keep it super simple to stay on track.
January Home Goals
With so many daily to-dos, creating home goals each month lets you focus on a few tasks, and you can get a sense of accomplishment by checking them off your list. These are some things to do in January.
1. Take down and store holiday decorations
When the time comes to take down the holiday decorations, I experience mixed emotions. On the one hand, I feel sad that the holiday season has come to an end, but on the other hand, it feels like a fresh start.
This is the perfect time to check if you have enough storage solutions for all your holiday decorations, like lights, ornaments, trees, and anything else you may have.
2. Organize holiday photos
Do you struggle with organizing your photos? Today, everything is digital, yet I have to admit I still have boxes and albums from the past before digital photography.
Try gathering all your holiday photos early and do the following in January:
- Take the photos off your camera and mobile phone and import them on your PC or tablet.
- Create and name a folder such as “Christmas [year].
- You may choose to create a main folder called Christmas and create subfolders by year or create a main folder by year and create subfolders throughout the year.
- Only keep the photos and memories you would want to share. Delete the photos you don’t want to keep (those that are blurry and have no focus).
- Drag the remaining photos into the new folder you created.
- Always back up your photos.
- If you are not printing these photos, but you would like to create a memory book, there are many companies that can help. My sister has created beautiful memory books for long-lasting family memories, which inspired me.
3. Organize the Pantry
If you are currently working on achieving your health goals, January is the ideal time to tidy up and rearrange your pantry. This not only ensures that all your food items are still in date and look more organized, but you may also consider completely revamping it. You can find plenty of ideas and storage solutions in the following articles:
- 5 Essential Pantry Organizer Ideas to Make Your Life Easy
- Must-have pantry and storage solutions
- 9 Must-have kitchen organizers
Thinking Ahead in January
Every month, you should consider planning ahead depending on what you have coming up in your life. This takes a little less stress off your plate when these things show up on your to-do list. Here are some things to think about in January:
1. Plan this year’s vacation
If you’re planning a vacation that requires advance booking, it’s a good idea to start thinking about it in January.
Even if you don’t book right away, it’s helpful to have a timeline in mind for when you’ll take the necessary steps and make the arrangements.
2. Prepare for tax season
Although you don’t need to submit your taxes in January, I like to plan ahead by gathering all the necessary documents and storing them together in a large envelope or folder.
This practice will help you stay organized and ensure that you don’t miss any important details when it’s time to prepare your taxes.
If you run a business, this same approach can be particularly useful in keeping track of your finances and tax obligations.
3. Order seeds for this year’s garden
Start browsing through your favorite garden websites and order your seeds for this year’s garden.
Whether you are ordering flowers, vegetables, or herbs, ordering now will help you avoid any rush or disappointment when the time comes to prepare for the gardening season.
Things to do in January: Resources
If you’re looking to begin the new year on an organized note, I have some great resources available that can assist you in achieving your goal.
These resources are designed to help you streamline the month of January. From planners and calendars to creating storage and memories, these tools can make a significant difference in your life.
Don’t hesitate to check out these resources and start your journey toward a more organized and productive January.
- Monthly Calendar
- Meal Planner
- 5-minute Journal
- BBP Financial Planner
- Holiday Storage Solutions
- Mixbook Memory Books
- Vacation Planner
- Income Tax Organizer
- Vesey’s Seeds
- Proven Winners Seeds
Think about starting your year off right with this January to-do list. Let me know if you are planning to incorporate any or all of these things in January to help you start the new year off organized.
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