The hangover is over, the parties are done and now it is the time to move into the reasonably slow return to form and work that is January. Now is the time that resolutions are adhered to with religious zeal. Its easy to get up in the mornings and don the workout gear, the running shoes and jog off into the early morning glare. With warm mornings and some people still away on break, there's so much less distraction. Make use of that and set the habits now so you don't get distracted later on when its March.
But always there is the clutter of the festive season sitting around, the party lights are still up, the wrapping paper is still shoved into the corner of the linen cupboard and the recycling bin still resembles an unloading of a BWS trailer as it clanks its way to the kerb.
Getting the home space ready and prepared for the year is as important as writing down those ideal scenarios where your body is going to resemble a Marvel Action Figure and your diet plan looks like the cover of those Home Garden magazines.
De-cluttering is important to ensure you are starting from a good platform for the new year. You can't move into this early stage of the year with the 'new you' the 'gung ho' approach and the vigour and determination to tick all those 'to do' items without a clean space and clear mind. It's almost the perfect time to do a Spring Clean. Clearing out the filing cabinet and the in tray on the desk. This happens both in the office and at the house. After all, who doesn't 'work from home' every now and then.
Make your space the right space to be in. If you have created a space that is yours where you are going to write that novel or do those exercise programs, the space itself has to be ready and prepared and be made easy for you to spend the time in. Make your space somewhere you want to be! If this means getting Consuela (the spanish maid of course) in to tidy up your clutter for you then, in the words of Arnold Schwarzannegar in T3 'DO IT NOW'.
The space should be a pleasant place to be. Get thee to IKEA* and get those photo frames for those prints from your European holiday that have sat in the draw still rolled up from the plane trip. Pot that orchid plant that your mother bought you 2 years ago and despite all the odds and neglect, is somehow still flowering on the sill of the bathroom window. All those small jobs that you always think 'I'll get to that' - NOW IS THE TIME.
As always with motivation and goal setting, its hardest to stay on track. One of those things is to find the motivational tools that help you to keep focussed close at hand. Grab that book out of the bookcase with the seemingly unachievable body on the front cover, download that photo of the northern lights off the internet and stick it on your desk to remind you of the ideal holiday. Constant reminders around you are the best way to remember why you are working so hard towards a goal. Set the rewards in place and keep them in your conscious mind by making them conspicuous.
Daily reinforcement is also a key to ensure you stay on track. Remember you have to keep this positive. The old 'slap on the arse with the ruler' that used to be the doctrine of weight watchers when you had gained 2kg is proven not to work! Focus on what you desire and not on what the problem is. Keep your goals positive and see them being achieved in whatever small victory you can. Congratulate yourself when you do make those small achievements and don't let a negative be a reason to berate yourself and give up.
Keep the faith, the most amazing things in life tend to happen right at the moment you're about to give up hope
So make use of the time that you may have at this point to get things 'in place'. Clear the clutter from both your head and your space to ensure that you are indeed ready to move forward with all the postiive influences around you. Apparently according to the mayan calendar, the past two years have been the period of turmoil after the 'ending of the calendar in 2012'. So 2015 is meant to be the time of consolidation and security. Even the stars are in agreeance!
*Blue Dog in Newtown also have excellent frames if you just can't bear the thought of 'Ikea Hamster caught on the wheel' experience
