As the New Year 2014 approaches, I'm finding I want to use the time remaining in 2013 to wrap up some loose ends.  That is my typical approach to facing the new year changeover.  I actually try to finish a few things.  I have never been good at either making resolutions or keeping them, so I think my idea of finishing a few things before the clock strikes 1/1/14 is pretty genius.

In past years, this approach has left me feeling tired and frustrated though.  I would race around decluttering, cleaning out the car, sending out documents, and otherwise redoing my life.  I all of a sudden, just because the year was coming to a close, felt everything needed to be taken care of or to be redone.  And not just in a simple way — everything needed to be fixed immediately, and perfectly.  I think that explains why I was frustrated and tired.

So, my hope this year is to feel calmer at the turn of the year.  I know I am grateful for all of the lessons I have learned in 2013, including ones associated with launching and maintaining this blog.  My efforts to live life a bit more simply in 2013 have helped me to reduce my overall speed and to up my overall sense of enjoyment.  I'm confident 2014 will bring many more positive lessons and developments.  No resolutions seem necessary here.

But, I can never resist an opportunity to make a plan.  My own plan for the 2013-2014 crossover period is to fix up my laundry room space.  This area is not big, but manages to give me big-time stress.  I'm thinking some clutter clearing, paint, and a couple of well-placed shelves, and my laundry should wash itself.  Or something close to that.  I'm going to skip making other resolution-type statements, just so I have a fighting chance at concentrating on the clutter, paint, and shelves.

If New Year resolutions work for you, go for it and enjoy!  But if you find yourself stretching to make yourself stick to some rule because of some day on the calendar, I would suggest you drop the concept and enjoy the day instead.  You may want to tweak the resolution idea as I do, but with your own personal spin.  And if it doesn't work out, know that each day brings with it newness and a chance for change.

What area in your life might be de-stressed with a little bit of focus before the end of the year (and into the first part of the next year)?  Do you think you might feel better in 2014 without the burden of making and keeping resolutions?  What plans and hopes do you have?  Can you make them happen somehow in the spirit of a new year?