Mid-January is a time of truth. As momentum from New Year’s Day fades, we can begin to lose sight of the clear goals we set for ourselves only a few weeks ago. With the additional complications caused by the virus and news of emerging new strains of Covid-19, the goals you set for health, fitness, and the physical and financial order of your household may feel overwhelming. If you feel like you are drowning in an overwhelming ocean of tasks, let us throw you a lifeline!

Below are five things you can do today to set yourself up for success, get a handle on financial matters, and put a little joy into every day.

• 1

  Home Office

  If you are one of the millions of people working from home during this pandemic, you are probably making do with a workspace that is less than ideal. You might also be enduring endless Zoom meetings and significantly increased screen time. No matter where you are, take ten minutes to tidy your desk and add something to rest your eyes on so you don’t stare at the screen needlessly while you think. A small vase of flowers, a vintage paperweight, or a tiny work of art will help you focus your thoughts and train you to move your eyes away from the screen more often. If you have a particular goal you are working on, put a tiny, framed reminder or symbol of it, but make sure it is not a high-pressure goal. If you have a high stress job, the last thing you need to rest your eyes is a reminder to lose weight.

• 2

  Home Renovation

  As our houses become our everything, many people have made home renovation and improvement a top priority. Is this the moment for you to finally address the lamp on the blink in the study or the scratches your grandchild put into the top of the dining table a decade ago at Thanksgiving? It may be best to choose projects based on completion time. If you are going to dedicate a few hours a week to home improvement, break these tasks down by time, write them on a list, and check them off. Seeing progress visually will inspire you to make more progress.

• 3

  Reward Decor

  Now for the fun part! Balance your improvement tasks with a décor reward. Did you finally get rid of the rug your great aunt gave you that you never really cared for? Replace it with one you love. If the lamps from college are finally out the door (and on the way to a donation center-not the garbage!) consider upgrading them to something you truly love. You don’t have to spend a fortune to do this. Etsy has great vintage items that await their destiny in your living room.

• 4

  Future Travel

  As the virus continues to impact our daily routine, the loss of control can leave us feeling anxious. What can you proactively plan for your post-Covid life? Will you spend a future vacation in Spain? In Italy? In France? Babble, the language learning app, is offering unlimited language learning membership specials right now. What if you dedicated five minutes a day to conversational French?

• 5

  Fund Me

  Tax season is upon us. Are you on top of your taxes? Even if you are in the pre-planning stages, tax season can trigger underlying stress. This is not an ordinary tax season-there are many new opportunities, but most Americans are unaware of changes to the tax code. Let us help you leverage possibilities you are not even aware you have. We can help you with donations, appraisals, and the nitty gritty of the IRS code. With our help, you can make the most of the donations that will clear space in your home. We can help you find the money to fund your future travel and do the most with your COVID-19 relief stimulus check. We can help you with charitable giving and evaluate a myriad of financial options to put you in the best position for your best life when the virus is no longer an issue. A ten-minute call with us today is the first step to putting your financial house in order, and you will have one more item to check of your list of New Year’s goals.