|4 min. read|

A new year brings new energy and new goals! 

After moving into our house in the middle of 2024, we are ready to finally start tackling that long to-do list. Here are some helpful tips for actually checking off those to-dos!

1. Specified timelines

Instead of saying I want to complete items 1-20 on your list this year, section each goal off into seasons. For example, during the colder months, we will be focusing on getting things hung up, outfitting one room at a time, and storage solutions. In the warmer months, we plan to focus on refinishing furniture, landscaping plans, and maintaining the perimeter of the house.

2. Do not bite off more than you can chew 

Most importantly, your goals for the year should, at a bare minimum, address basic home maintenance, which is more time-consuming and costly than you might think. Cleaning, replacing filters, checking vents, maintaining the lawn, etc. So, be sure to identify the necessary maintenance tasks for your home and the costs associated with them. From there, you can then accurately allocate your funds to outfitting your home!

3. Take your time!

Do not rush filling your home. As Joanna Gaines often says, your home is meant to tell the story of you and your family, which takes time to create. The best design choices are made with intention and meaning! Take your time with updating and finding the perfect pieces for your space. Some of these items could be costly, like putting in a new window, updating the countertops in your kitchen, or whatever the case may be. If this is the case, be sure to estimate the costs associated with your interior design goals, as it will have an impact on how much you are actually able to accomplish in the year. If funds are tight, I encourage you to really sit down and take time to identify what absolutely needs to be done versus what you want done. Regardless of the timeline, there are simple and small changes you can make to update your home and give it your special touch. Remember, good things take time 🙂

4. Write your goals down

Once you have identified all of your goals and what would be reasonable for you over the span of a year, go ahead and write them out. Bonus points if you write them in a fun way, like a bingo card format, in a journal with some art, on a vision board, or just simply on a whiteboard that is hanging up in your house so that you can be reminded of it every day. Whatever it is, make it something that will be fun for you to revisit time and time again. I personally believe half the fun of setting a goal is crossing it off the list!

5. Create an action plan for your goals

Okay, you’ve got your goals, you have written them down, but goal setting doesn’t stop there! 

If looking at the list is maybe a little overwhelming and you do not know where to start, make an action plan for your goals. Reflecting on what needs to be done to achieve your goals is integral to accomplishing those goals. Once you’ve outlined your path to success, all that is left to do is execute!

6. Use positive reinforcement 

A fact that stuck with me the most from my high school psychology class was that positive reinforcement is more effective than negative reinforcement. So logically, I use that fact in every facet of my life. Vacuumed the rugs today? I will treat myself to a cookie. Mowed the lawn? An ice cream cone on the patio. The options to treat yourself are endless and can be as small or big as you want them to be!

Achieving any goal you set is a big deal, take the time to acknowledge your hard work and celebrate it however you deem fit!

I would love to know what your biggest house/home goals are for the year ahead. 

Regardless of the goals you have set, we are cheering you on here at the Lemon’s Drop and can’t wait to hear about what you achieve!!