It’s hard to believe that there are only 2.5 months left in 2023! Usually around this time of year, I start reflecting on the past 9 months and thinking about what I really want for the end of the year. October through December are my favorite 3 months (by far!), and as I think about the holidays and the fun that we’re going to have over the next few months, I also like to reflect and start planning ahead.
I generally group my goals into different buckets – family, home, career, health, etc. After spending some time reflecting on my 2023 goals and really assessing whether they still feel right for the season I’m in, I decided that there are 3 home goals I’d still like to accomplish in our home for the remainder of the year.
Organize the Gift Wrap/Ribbon/Gift Bags
There is no better time to do this than gift season! Our current storage solution for these items is CHAOS. We have two different wrapping paper storage bins/bags, filled with half-used, crinkled, disjointed tubes of wrapping paper. We have a tub of gift bags that we’ve saved from Christmases, birthdays, etc. that is overflowing. Spools of ribbon are sprinkled in random boxes, bins, and bags. Tissue paper is crushed somewhere in the gift bag tub. It’s a mess.
We have a little closet underneath the stairs in our basement that is currently not serving any particular purpose. I’d love to re-do this little closet to be a gift wrapping station, where I can store all of our items in one place, in an organized fashion! Ideally, I can also use this closet to store gifts that I purchase for people throughout the year, so they don’t have to sit on our kitchen counter or in our mudroom until they’re gifted.
Implement a Digital File Storage System
We’ve all got paper clutter, and some of it is unavoidable. No matter how digital you go, there are certain documents that you just have to keep in physical form. However, I’ve come to realize that we have a lot of paper scattered in random drawers, boxes, and bins that is taking up precious real estate. I’d love to digitize what needs to be kept and discard the paper copies, so we can minimize the paper in our household. My goal is to get to the point where the only paper we’re maintaining is our tax records and government-issued originals (passports, social security cards, marriage certificate, etc.). I’ve been doing a bit of research on the best methods of digital organization, so I’ll update this post once I’ve decided what method to try!
Start Using QR Code System for Seasonal Decor
Because I love decor (and particularly Christmas decor) we have a LOT of seasonal decor piled up in our basement storage area. For many years, I’ve had a vision for an area in our home used solely for storing my decor. I want everything to be in identical bins, on shelves, and easily accessed. At the time when I first started thinking about this, QR codes weren’t even a thing (or if they were, they certainly weren’t used for things like this). But now, there are companies who provide QR code inventory and storage solutions, so all you have to do is slap a code on the bin, record the items associated with that code, and voila! It’s never been easier to find what you’re looking for. While I doubt that I can bring my full vision to life by the end of the year, I DO think it’s possible to choose a QR solution and start purchasing and storing items in new (identical) bins by year end. I’d love to start with my fall and Halloween decor when I put those items away, followed by Christmas when the time comes.
So that’s it! My 3 home goals are all related to organization in a way, which is one of the things that I need in my home to be able to relax and recharge. If I can get these projects tackled by the end of the year, I’ll be super happy! I’ll share my progress over on Instagram as I go!
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