2013 is just around the corner, so this is the perfect opportunity to kick it off right. 
Smoke detectors are a great invention. They save countless numbers of lives throughout the year, are inexpensive and keep working quietly all year long. That is until they start singing the “low battery chirp” at 2:30 in the morning. And they never sing this song together. It’s always a solo performance which precedes clever sleuthing on your part as you try to figure out which one is the culprit. This year, be proactive and go out and buy enough 9 volt batteries for all your detectors and change them all at the same time. Alkaline batteries will last a year or more, or you can really do it right by getting lithium batteries. These babies are pricey, but are advertised to last up to 10 years in smoke detectors.
Start taking better care of yourself. No, I don’t mean running out and buying yourself a sports car. I mean take better care of your health. And, you don’t have to do anything monumental, either. Start with something as small as portion control. Every meal doesn’t have to leave you feeling like you’ve consumed a thanksgiving dinner. Have a salad instead of bread. Don’t skip desert, just have less. If you’re a smoker, try cutting out one or two cigarettes a day. Convert your “smoke break” into a “health break” by spending the 15 minutes walking instead of lighting up. Every little bit helps.
Skip the New Years Resolutions. Nobody ever keeps ’em anyways. (Remember the Nordic Track machine in the guest room that is now nothing more than an $800 coat rack?) Instead, create conditions for success by establishing realistic goals for whatever you want to achieve. For instance, if you want to lose some weight, set goals in small, but continuing increments. In our minds, 5 pounds is much more achievable than 50 pounds.
For many folks, the new year renews the pledge to get organized. And I’m not just talking about people who could easily be starring in an episode of the TV show “Hoarders”. Perhaps it’s the spare bedroom that has become the catch-all room. Maybe its as small as the “junk drawer” in the kitchen. For a lot of folks here in the Valley of the Sun, its the garage. Where ever it is, start the organizing process by picking up one item at a time and asking yourself “Have I used or needed this in the past year?” If the honest answer is yes, then its a keeper. If not, then make plans to get rid of it. Sooner or later, you will be down to a manageable pile. Remember what I said about creating conditions for success? Give yourself a realistic goal concerning getting organized. It’s like eating an elephant; you can’t do it in one bite. But after many small bites, the elephant is gone.
If getting your garage organized is on your “to do” list this year, contact your local Monkey Bar Storage Product dealer for a free consultation. Whether its shelving, cabinets or overhead storage, Monkey Bars Storage has your solution. www.azgarageconcepts.com
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