A Quick Idea on Making a Fresh Start

The start of a new school year is always a good time to get a ‘fresh start’. Even if you don’t have any children going back to school, consider this a good time to put a new (or just renew an old) idea into action.

I’ve recently begun a great new organizational strategy. Simple. Easy. Definitely not original, and you’ll smile at how basic it is.

But is has helped me accomplish some goals that I’ve been pining after for quite some time!
Interested?

Recently I received a new journal as a gift; this was my starting point. (Though any old notebook would suffice, this lovely one, ripe w/its unmarked pages, gave me motivation!)

(NOTE: NO WRITING SKILLS REQUIRED for this idea.)

Each week I begin a new page by writing in that week’s date at the top.

I then divide the page into my life’s 3 areas of main responsibility:

Work, Family/Home & Personal.

I then purposed to get up 15 minutes early each Monday morning (the start of the week) to think through carefully and then write down my main goals in each area for that week.

I do not include the basic, regular things I do, but instead the ‘extras’ that I really would like to get to, or that are unusual or distinct to that week’s schedule.

Here are a couple items as samples from last week’s list:

Work: (doesn't include regular activities/meetings I attend or prepare for, etc.)

Read over Women’s ministry objectives; choose one & brainstorm on it further for ideas

Read for 30+ minutes on a ministry-related topic

Contact “L” to join w/me as partner in prayer/ideas for ministry event on Sept 25

Family/Home:

Download & order photos of wedding & school photos of kids

Clean out & organize our bedroom closet

Assemble all school supplies, including new shoes for Josh

Get chocolate cake recipe from “R” for Sunday dinner

Type out the home & school routine schedules for kids to sign

Personal:

Begin Shepherding a Woman’s Heart book

Send out cards to C, E & J

Call “R” to set up time to visit

Enjoy “soul drink” time w/God – Tues AM early?

Again, these items listed are in addition to the regular, weekly duties of my life that I do in an ongoing way. (I don't write down all I do!) But by putting these 'special' goals down on paper, by having a time framework to get them done, and by holding myself accountable to accomplish the items listed (with a little leniency, of course) has made a tremendous difference in actually doing them.

In the month of August I’ve cleaned my laundry room out, organized & gotten rid of my kids huge dress up clothes stash, cleaned out & re organized my closet, reorganized my son’s room, taken care of Grandma’s antique china set…and that is just in the category of home & family!

(Can you tell I’m on a roll here?!)

So, even if you aren’t opening a new box of crayons & packing a lunch box this time of year, can I suggest YOU make a fresh start at something?!

And I'd love to hear about your "fresh start" idea!