My Closet Just Shamed Me Into Changing My Life

One disorganized bedroom, countless emotional spirals, and some very early New Year’s resolutions.

The other day, as I sat overwhelmed by my closet for approximately the 250th day this year, I thought, something’s got to change. There’s no storage, scarves are making a run for it and flowing into the toiletries I keep shoved in the corner because they don’t fit in the bathroom, and these shoes aren’t even getting worn. The closet, in a sense, is my mind. But also, it really is my closet; this isn’t a metaphor. And, like so much of the house lately, it’s a disaster.

I told myself, wrapped in clothes I both didn’t want to donate and couldn’t justify keeping, that this was not going to happen by magic. Incidentally, these are words I say to my husband when he wants to instigate change. And yet, for the last several hundred days I’ve done nothing to embrace this same belief. I haven’t been holding myself accountable for the right things. There are countless very legitimate reasons for letting things get this way, but none of it changes the fact that I’ve been putting myself on the back burner and blaming other people instead of owning it.

So, I made a list. I even called it my “take back your life” list, which is a little dramatic, but serves the purpose. I felt empowered.

THE LIST

1. Write M/W/F 10am -2pm

• Create a deck for non-music client results. Add things like “helped raise $$$ and include Kickstarter results”. Add this info to existing musician deck also.

• Start reaching out to a ton of tech clients and introducing myself. Quote results like Forbes and mention tech clients. Circle back in New Year.

• Reach back out to all music contacts. Connect. Collaborate.

• Get house organized including finding a home for trial size everything 

• Sew pillow

• Refluff pillow 

• Create an office space that is solely yours to write from. You need a quiet space to write and concentrate and this is ok for you to do.

ORGANIZATION HACKS 

• Use some of larger unused tupperware containers for organizing pantry 

• Use ziploc bags to organize and label them accordingly. Can use for trial size items, bathroom things, etc.

And slowly, surely, I’m checking these things off. Some are small, like sewing my pillow or organizing the 150 trial size Ulta freebies I insist on plotting purchases around yet never use. Others will require a lot of discipline. Writing four hours each Mon/Wed/Fri when faced with client expectations and looming deadlines will be a mild act of defiance and putting myself first.

But something has to change. Because the last year has been one of the hardest of my life and now with the election results, the whole thing has pushed me into a sort of sad slump of defeat that I’m determined to get out of.

So yes, New Years Resolutions start early this year. Sew my pillow today, hopefully sell my book next year. Or at least, these are the goals we’re working towards. Hopefully this list helps, and hey, if you have any organization hacks for those trial size freebies, let me know.

I wish this was all of it

If you’ve already got your New Year’s Resolutions ready (or just think it’s a bunch of silliness) I’d love to hear them. The truth is I’m a sucker for fresh starts and a new set of plans and I always love hearing others!

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