3 New Year’s Resolutions for a Better Home

I’ll admit it – I’m not a huge fan of resolutions. They never seem to last, and I end up wondering why I’m not always aiming to achieve my lofty January goals. However, research shows that there are a few things you can do to make your resolutions stick. For one thing, starting small can ensure you don’t end up punishing yourself. It’s also good to ask for support and talk about your resolution progress with other people. 

With those things in mind, here are three New Year’s resolutions for the home that might just make your apartment or dorm better.

1. Put things back where they belong… immediately

Put your books away when you’re done.

This is one of those “start small” things. If you vow to “have a clean home,” that’s putting a lot of pressure on yourself to make sure everything is in order. Instead, make a resolution to spend five minutes every evening looking around and making sure things are in place. 

That outfit you tried on before school that you decided against? Hang it up – it takes twenty seconds, tops. Did you head to the living room to study? Grab those textbooks and put them back on your shelves. This will keep you from facing one of those marathon cleaning days.

2. Stick to a chore chart

Dishes don’t wash themselves!

It sounds like living back with your parents, but this is a great chance to get everyone involved, if you live with other people. Do you feel like nobody is pulling their weight around the house? Sit down with your housemates and have a real discussion about making a chore chart. 

If you’ve already tried this and it’s failing or you gave up, talk about why. Be real and acknowledge your own shortfalls without blaming other people. If some people are averse to certain chores, or too busy during certain time periods, create a workaround! If you hold each other accountable you have a real chance of making the chore chart successful.

3. Lock the door/blow out candles/other safety stuff

Candles are pretty to look at… and potentially dangerous.

Here’s another small one! I have a really bad habit of not locking the door to my apartment, simply because I walk out and say “eh.” It’s terrible, I know. But I’ve never really stopped and asked myself why. Is my own laziness worth someone entering our apartment potentially? Obviously, it’s not. So I’m making the change.

Another safety issue that my roommate has is not always blowing out her candles when she goes to bed. I know the chance of something catching fire is slim based on the candles’ placement, but you just never know. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you keep making the same safety slip, consider making it one of your resolutions! Forget to turn off your curler or straightener? Write a sticky note and leave it on your mirror. For me, I’m going to consciously think about having my keys ready when I leave so there’s no excuse not to lock the door. These small things set good habits.

What are your 2017 goals?

Got any other resolutions that you plan to make in the new year? Share them in the comments section below!