It’s time for a resolution! Or not. Whether you shun New Years’ resolutions or jump onto the resolution train, this time of year is a good time to plan for the next. Whether you call them resolutions or not, you might be thinking forward to what the new year will bring. If there’s one thing I’m fairly certain about, it’s that we’re not looking forward to more cleaning in 2013.
What sorts of resolutions have I made in years gone by?
1. Do one thing a day. This resolution helped me in 2012, but I slid a little in the past month. Every day, I woke up 15 minutes early and did a once-a-week scrubbing task. That prevented the irritating chores from building up.
2. Make less mess. One area we’re working on is the laundry. We’re trying to wear our clothes until they are actually dirty. This really reduces the amount of washing, drying, and folding that goes on in our house. Ok, the underwear does go into the wash every time. What could you reduce in 2013?
3. Make a meal plan and save leftovers. This results in less waste in the kitchen, which means less garbage and compost to take out. Get some reusable containers and keep leftovers in the fridge or freezer, and you’ll have some ready-made meals as well!
4. Use green cleaners. I do this for my family’s health and for the planet. I far prefer the smell of vinegar, baking soda, and salt to the scented cleaners that make my head spin. If I have stubborn cleaning needs, I use commercial green cleaners that remove stains easily without adding toxins to the water.
5. Count your blessings. We are blessed to have things and homes to clean. If you can, share some of your abundance with others. Give used clothes to children who need them, and donate toys to shelters.
Image Credit: Sustainable Sanitation / CC by 2.0