Donna Partow

9 Tips to Finish 2009 Well

1. Clear out the old to make room for the new. Make a quick project of this. Go through drawers, closets and the garage with a goal of giving away as much as you possibly can to the Salvation Army. Rather than asking, “Did I use it in the past year?” Ask “Could this bless someone else for the coming year?” I just took 5 bags to the Salvation Army the other day. Feels terrific!

2. Clear up misunderstandings and miscommunications. Make a phone call, write a letter, send an email. There’s no need to stir up a hornet’s nest. Just be positive, uplifting, and humble as you open the door to dialogue. The person may or may not be interested; but your conscience is clear because you tried.

3. Clear your schedule of events and activities that aren’t working. We all have various organizations, meetings, social gatherings that no longer “work” for us. We’re just going through the motions. Now is the perfect time to say, “I’m making a change for the New Year.”

4. Get clear about the person you want to become and your purpose upon the earth. "Write the vision and make it plain,” as the scripture says. Don’t be a humbug about New Year’s Resolutions in the past, now is the time to make some. Check out my video on Setting Smart Goals

5. Clear out all the junk food you’ve eaten since Halloween. I’m an ardent believer in nutritional cleansing. Can you imagine never cleaning the inside of your toilet bowl and wondering what the problem was?!?!? Can you imagine never cleaning your clothes? Never changing the oil in your car? Undertake a cleanse the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. You’ll lose weight and feel wonderful.  learn more about nutritional cleansing

6. Clear your head. Plan time alone. A full day is ideal but 4-5 hours will do. Grab a notebook and pen (or your laptop) and go somewhere inspiring. Maybe a cabin in the mountains or just the lobby of a lovely hotel. A coffee shop will do. Write down everything that’s been bothering you! All the stuff you think you ‘should’ do. Then sort out the stuff that honestly doesn’t matter. Write it down then write it off! Next, schedule when, where and how you plan to tackle all that stuff that’s been bugging you. Get it out of your head and onto your calendar.

7. Get clear about your 3 priority relationships. We can’t be all things to all people, although many of us sure try. Of course, we are to love all people but not everyone can be priority. This year, which relationships need special focus? For example, my youngest is 13. That’s a critical age so I’ve put her at the top of my focus list. Make sure your calendar reflects your priorities. Some of us give more time to total strangers than the folks who matter most. (I’m starting with the woman in the mirror on this one!)

8. Clear your inbox. Even if it means sending out a mass email to your entire contact list saying, “If you need something from me, send a fresh email. Because the old is gone” Make it your goal to start the New Year with an empty inbox. Make use of autoresponders in 2010. If you email donna@donnapartow.com, you’ll see how comprehensive mine is.

9. Resolve to clear up as much debt as possible before year-end, to hold the line on over-the-top spending this Holiday season and to be debt-free this time next year. Maybe this is the year to shift from credit cards to cash/debit cards. Or at least resolve to pay off credit cards monthly or even weekly, which is what I do. Clear out the rubble and get ready for a fabulous New Year.