A few years ago, I stopped making New Year’s resolutions and started setting goals. Resolutions tend to be big dreams or vague ideas, whereas goals are more action-oriented. Goals require us to take practical steps in a certain direction. But here’s what I’ve noticed about goals: they can be just as elusive as dreams if we don’t develop effective systems and habits to support them.
As a society, our New Year’s resolutions don’t change much from year to year. Let’s name five of the ten most popular resolutions. (We won’t even need Google. It’s easy.) Lose weight, get out of debt, get organized, read more, travel more. Am I right? So why is it so hard for us to make progress in these areas?
When I examine my life, I expect to see the biggest growth in areas where I’ve been most intentional. But that isn’t the case. The areas where I’ve improved the most are where I have systems in place – whether those systems were established intentionally or unintentionally.
I tend to create systems without even intending to because that’s just how I’m wired – I’m a system builder by nature. But a natural tendency toward systems isn’t required in order to use them. Anyone can use systems to grow and improve. Even the simplest system can be highly effective! Here are six systems I’ve used to eliminate the need for New Year’s resolutions:
Morning Routine
There’s no rule that says moms have to get up early and finish their morning routine before the kids are awake. My morning routine starts after my kids leave for school. I do my workout, start drinking water, cook & eat breakfast, read my Bible, and pray. This routine allows me to work toward several goals every weekday: getting in shape, drinking more water, eating healthy meals, reading the Bible, and spending time in prayer.
Mail System
The biggest source of clutter in my house is the mail. For me, having an organized, clutter-free home depends heavily on having a good mail system. When mail comes into the house, we sort it right away. Catalogs and flyers go in the recycling bin, other junk goes in the trash or shredder, and everything worth keeping goes in our mail cubby. On Fridays, I take the mail out of the cubby and deal with it by paying bills, filing papers, and completing other action items. It’s a constant battle, but I think I’m winning the war!
Money System
Over the course of my life, I’ve had several different money systems, depending on my circumstances, income, budget, and financial goals. My current system is probably the simplest I’ve ever used. When my husband gets paid on the first of the month, we do the following:
- Transfer money to our savings account
- Transfer money to our investment accounts
- Give money to our church and other ministries
- Pay bills
- Set aside money to pay extra principal on our mortgage
- Withdraw cash for spending money
When we get paid again on the 15th, I pay the mortgage payment (with the extra principal) and withdraw cash again. This system supports our goals to save for retirement, save for college, give to various ministries, and pay off our mortgage by 2025.
Meal Planning
I do my meal planning on Sunday afternoons (usually while watching football). I look up recipes if necessary, write a meal plan for the week, and make my grocery list. Planning meals ahead of time helps me eat healthier food, spend less money, and keep my kitchen organized.
Lists
Sometimes a system is as simple as keeping a list. For example, I keep a list of books on my laptop. I include books I’ve read and books I want to read. Whenever I finish a book, I record it and choose another one. Since I started keeping this list, the number of books I read each year has increased dramatically.
I also keep a travel bucket list on my phone. It’s just a list of places I’d like to visit, organized by year, so I have a written (but flexible!) travel plan for the next several years. We try to travel once each season, so every quarter, I pull out my list and choose a place to go. To plan the trip, I add reminders to my calendar. Three months prior: “Buy Plane Tickets.” Two months prior: “Book Hotel/Vacation Rental.” One month prior: “Write Itinerary.” I enjoy always having a future trip on my calendar! (Disclaimer: This system is not recommended for use during a global pandemic!)
Evening Routine
This one is the most challenging for me because my self-discipline starts to evaporate when I get tired. I’m still working on implementing this consistently. After my kids go to bed, I (try to) do the following:
- Clean up the kitchen
- Do a quick reset of the house (Pick up clutter and return items to their rightful place.)
- Watch a TV show with my husband
- Get ready for bed (Including self-care habits like moisturizing, flossing, etc.)
- Read 10+ pages of a book
As always, my post today is intended to be descriptive, not necessarily prescriptive. The systems that work for me may not work for you. In fact, the systems that work for me today may not work for me a year from now. I’m constantly looking for ways to update and improve them. Everyone’s systems will be different. I’ve shared mine in the hopes that they’ll inspire you to implement more of your own. Happy New Year, friends!