Do. A new approach to New Years resolutions. Because I’m allergic to planning.

Do. A new approach to New Years resolutions. Because I'm allergic to planning. via Funky Junk Interiors

Merry after Christmas, everyone! We did it! We are now in the lull phase of watching the aftermath unfold. Whether it’s still Christmas in your home or you’ve already taken down the tree, it’s my hope that you’re enjoying the process regardless.

Our visits haven’t quite ended yet with family and friends I’m happy to say. There’s still a long way to go with school being out and plans on keeping my boy busy and happy, so we’ll continue to drop in and have some downtime and fun. That’s what time off is all about.

But I have started to do some uncluttering. My boy got caught up in a guy flick last night I wasn’t interested in, so I decided to yank apart my closet just because. I was tired of not being able to close one of the doors due to the accumulating clutter on one side.

About 20 minutes later, I was left with half a closet full, everything colour coordinated (shortlived I might add) and was ready for more spontaneous ‘dos’.

This was the same day we spontaneously gutted my boy’s bedroom. It was nasty and became the household dumping ground for lost relics that didn’t have a home. He has his room back! And it feels great. I just got weary of looking at it and having to close the door. And just did it.

Do. A new approach to New Years resolutions. Because I'm allergic to planning. via Funky Junk Interiors

Right before Christmas, I sort of did the same. I hadn’t wrapped even one present nor baked one cookie, but I had had enough of looking inside a dirty cutlery drawer, gutted it and 5 minutes later, it was sparkling clean.

If you were to challenge me to do these things, I wouldn’t want to. It would feel too much like work. So I rather like my premise this year thus far… don’t plan too far ahead and just do. 

My life has sort of taken the same turn. If I plan too far ahead, I make excuses not to do something because if it’s scheduled, it feels like work. Kinda silly, but it’s the truth.

So, in this time of year where resolution talk starts firing up, (something I sprint away from by the way!!), I’m going to take a different approach.

Do. But with intention.

Don’t get me wrong. Planning is important. But if you aren’t doing your plans, you’re failing yourself. So, for me, lightly plan, but heavily do. With a focus in mind.

You want to better your photography? Don’t wait for someone to teach you. Pick pick up the camera and experiment.

Want to make something amazing you’ve seen on Pinterest? Get off Pinterest and make it.

Desire to spend more time with family? Lay off the guilt of a new blog post and pull out the Monopoly game while still in your pjs and play.

Indeed unclutter your life from the unnecessary. Then…

Do.

What will your new approach be?

The Lettered Cottage

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Categories: Junk Drawer
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33 thoughts on “Do. A new approach to New Years resolutions. Because I’m allergic to planning.

  1. I like the concept of picking a word for the year. I decided that since I have been fighting depression which makes my procrastination worse that my word for this year is “Now” I too suffer from too much planning/dreaming and not enough doing. cdsmith322 at aol dot com

  2. Huh. Who would have thought one little verb could be so motivating? I have, since last June, been trying to set up a wee bit of a farmgate business and have been endlessly reading other peoples blogs, like yours, to get inspired but I have not yet embarked on any of my plans. Thanks for the kick in the @#

    Sharon @
    weebreezefarm@blogspot

  3. Brilliant! I nearly break out in hives if I start to plan too much. On the other hand, I am known for spontaneously cleaning out a random cupboard at 10:00 at night. I CAN do this! Thank you for posting this. It’s my “permission” to be okay with not always having a plan.

  4. That’s along the lines of the “15 minute project.” No matter what you’re tackling, get it started (and maybe even finished) by just committing to 15 minutes of focused effort. Also, big plans are made up of many smaller to-do’s or decisions, so just do one at a time, then ask “okay, what’s the next step?” Love the blog! Happy ‘Do’ Year!!!

  5. “Don’t think it, Do it.” That’s going to be the mantra in this household for 2013. We have new living room furniture being delivered in about 10 weeks, so we’d better get ‘doing’ hadn’t we? Move my husbands office out into the new garden room extension so we can reclaim our living space.

  6. I love the idea of ‘do’. I haven’t done enough this year! There are far too many things that have been put on the proverbial back-burner, or left until ‘a better time’ (only the better time never came). Definitely going to take a leaf out of your book and try to ‘do’ this coming year! Thanks for the inspiration 😀

  7. I am a DO IT NOW kinda gal, too. I will look at something and think this needs to be done…give myself a mental slap upside the head and just do it. I did my closets a couple of weeks ago and then dragged everything out of MyHero’s closet (which did NOT make him happy) and WE sorted thru that, too. Today I did the junk room in the laundry room while waiting for a few things to dry. It feels good! xo Diana

  8. I did my spice cabinet. Because I knocked over the bread crumb container. Found things I didn’t know I had and of course didn’t need… in the trash they went. Wow, I just love looking at that cabinet now.

  9. Donna, this is an awesome solution to the dreaded list of resolutions! I love it! Last year, I decided to pick a word of the year which would be my focus in just about everything I do. I chose “messy” as in be more messy, not so perfect; try new things even if I’m unsure of how I’ll succeed, etc. having the word worked much better for me than a list of things. I still need to choose a word for 2013, but I love the motivation of doing rather than thinking about doing. Thanks for another awesome dose of your inspiration!

  10. Donna, this is an awesome solution to the dreaded list of resolutions! I love it! Last year, I decided to pick a word of the year which would be my focus in just about everything I do. I chose “messy” as in be more messy, not so perfect; try new things even if I’m unsure of how I’ll succeed, etc. having the word worked much better for me than a list of things. I still need to choose a word for 2013, but I love the motivation of doing rather than thinking about doing. Thanks for another awesome dose of your inspiration!

  11. I like it! I haven’t thought of my word for 2013…last years was Attitude.

    It was a big help for me…a reminder that Attitude is contagious—how I reacted in my home, was like a growing snowball effect and impacted those around me. I haven’t thought about my word for the year yet…but I *DO* think I’ll get on that right now! Thanks friend.
    And happy HAPPY NEW YEAR!
    Pat

  12. I heard a saying a long time ago and I live by it…”Just get started, the motivation will follow”. It applies to everything in my life. I agree, a plan turns into a chore. Be spontaneous!

    XO,
    Jane

  13. I’m kinda like you. When the mood and the energy hits, I just DO it! I like to keep a list of things I want to complete. Unless there is a deadline, I just begin doing them and what doesn’t happen gets put on the next list of ToDos.

    I like your attitude.
    Jody

  14. I like this. I’ve been frustrated with myself at the amount of stuff I don’t do while I’m instead on Pinterest or blogging. I tried a new jewelry project recently and just went with it, no planning, no pattern. It was fun and turned out beautiful. I need to do more of that in 2013. I need to find me a word for the new year.

    Thanks for the prompt,
    Karen

  15. We’re definitely in the same camp. On Christmas day, while waiting for my husband’s parents to arrive, I decided to pick through my closet and through some items out. Mr. Wonderful saw what I was doing and began to go through his closets, too! We had four bags of decent clothes that I was able to give to my sister to distribute to her indigent friends. It felt amazing and now I’m more likely to put my clothes away since I can finally FIT them in!

  16. I like it and I hope you don’t mind if I repost…cause if I see it in print..I’ll “DO. BUT WITH INTENTION”!!
    I love my lists and they do help me, because I enjoy crossing the finished items off.
    New Years resolutions to eat less and work out more don’t work for me..but decluttering does!
    Thank you.
    Marian

  17. I have a list of things to do.And slowly they are getting done.Oh I have not written a list it is all in my head LOL!The problem is the list keeps getting longer! Good thing I have a good memory!
    xx
    Anne

  18. I really love this idea of DO. I typically am not one for making big plans to do. I love to keep in mind things that need done and then when I get a chance I will pick the top few that are driving me nuts and DO them 🙂

    great post

  19. I mentaly say to myself ‘Just DO It ‘It works.Planning is not ‘my thing ‘ either* I am a spontaneous doer* I get much more done that way AND it doesn’t feel like so much of a chore! Happy New Year to everyone <:Dx

  20. I have living space that’s currently housing storage. Waste. (But, there’s emotional baggage, etc.)

    So, I put out a large hefty bag and each time I walk into the area I grab a handful of things and toss em out. It’s helping to have the bag there, open and waiting…and to not spend too much time in one session – so I don’t get overwhelmed.

  21. I like this, Donna. I am a list maker, and while it does feel good to cross something, anything, off the list, it sucks to have a really long list with things that keep getting put onto the next list because they aren’t getting done–it’s become quite a ball and chain. I like doing short projects, so I need to keep that in mind, and just break things down into smaller chunks that I can deal with a few minutes here and there at a time. Happy New Year!

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