Every January, like clockwork, I’ve done the same thing: sat down with a fresh notebook, a cup of coffee, the best of intentions, and made a list of house goals for the year ahead. Finish the room. Start that project. Finally get around to organizing that closet. And every year, without fail, life would remind me that January optimism doesn’t always translate to December reality. So, this year, I decided to try something different.
Instead of setting yearly house goals in January, I’m making a house to-do list at the start of every month. And honestly? This already feels like a better fit for the season of life I’m in.
(I posted this to my Instagram Stories. And I’m happy to report, I finished restyling my bookshelves over the weekend, am almost done purging my closet, and I started painting my bedroom a couple of days ago! Oh, and you can check out the Valentine’s Day wreaths I made here.)
The Problem With Yearly House Goals (At Least for Me)
Yearly goals sound great in theory, but they assume a level of predictability that real life rarely if ever delivers.
They don’t account for:
- Busy months that drain your energy (hello perimenopause!)
- Unexpected travel or family commitments
- Projects that end up costing more (either in time or dollars) than you planned
- Or the simple fact that sometimes your creativity pulls you in an entirely different direction
When everything is mapped out a year in advance, it’s easy to lose sight of your plans, or worse, feel like you “failed” when you don’t keep up. (Currently trying not to feel too bad about my daughter’s bathroom makeover that is still unfinished.)
And I’ve found that this mindset takes the joy out of creating a home.
Why a Monthly House To-Do List Will Hopefully Work Better
A monthly list just feels a little more realistic, flexible, and forgiving.
At the start of each month, I plan to sit down and ask myself a few simple questions:
- What does my schedule actually look like this month?
- How much time and energy (and/or funds) do I realistically have?
- What projects or tasks am I excited to tackle?
- Is there anything that truly needs to be addressed?
Some months, that list might look like a small room refresh, a little organization, a craft project, or finally hanging some thrifted art pieces. Other months, it might include a larger DIY or design project. (But no matter what, I plan to share my monthly list on social media as a way of keeping myself accountable.)
My overriding goal is for the monthly plan to fit into my life, not the other way around.
Instead of a long, forgotten list made in January that ends up haunting me in December, I think a monthly list will allow me to adjust when something comes up, move unfinished tasks forward without guilt, and pivot if a project no longer feels right.
I’m hoping for progress without pressure because….
Home Is Meant to Evolve!
Our homes don’t need to be finished on a timeline. They’re allowed to evolve alongside our lives. Some months will be productive. Some will be slower. And both are absolutely okay!
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