I am getting ready for 2013, and my biggest goal for the next few days is to make sure that I have a fresh start on the year.

I am a firm believer in the IDEA of starting fresh whenever necessary, but there’s something about New Year’s that gets me motivated.  It is a deadline of sorts – a date that I can shoot for.

Here are five things that I do to get ready for the new year:

1. Get my floors cleaned. There’s something about clean carpets that makes me feel all brand new inside.  I called Stanley Steemer last week so that I could get an appointment before the end of the year.

2. Get rid of any clothes and shoes I didn’t wear the whole year or can no longer wear. Chances are that if I didn’t wear it this year, I won’t be wearing it next year.  I wash the clothes (I know they wash it again, but growing up my mom said we had to wash it first – so I do), toss what can’t be given away (anything with holes or stains) bag everything up, and the kids and I take some to the church and some to the Salvation Army.

3.  Get rid of old makeup, hair products, and lotion. It is just the right thing to do.  I do this several times during the year, but definitely at new year’s time.  I love seeing my bathroom cabinet all neat and orderly – this fresh start allows me to try out new stuff to pamper myself on my days off without feeling like I am adding to a collection of beauty clutter.

4. Think of a fitness plan. After the back to back months of gluttony (Thanksgiving, leftovers from Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, leftovers from Christmas, New Year’s Eve, leftovers from New Year’s Eve), my waistline needs some work, so I figure out what my goal is going to be, and what the plan is to get there.  I hope to run a half marathon in 2013, so I am building my fitness plan around getting ready for that.

5.  Tell God what I want, and ask him for what I need. I know that He knows, but there’s something about asking that seems to get things done.  I know all the kids favorite foods, outfits, and places to go for fun – sometimes I just do what I know they’d appreciate just to see the smiles on their faces.  Other times I have a lot to to… and I forget… or I’m too tired… or I’m focused on the big things and forget the small things.  I know God never forgets, or is too busy, or too tired, and that He knows the desires of my heart – but I still ask…

Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV)

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Thank you to all of my readers, commenters, friends, family, meetup members, and contributors for all of your support in 2012.  I am looking forward to another great year with all of you.  Happy New Year everyone!

What will you be doing to get a fresh start for 2013?