Have you ever cleaned out your refrigerator before making a big grocery store trip?

Or set aside a bag of your kid’s toys to donate before a present exchange?

Making space for new things is second nature when we can see the physical lack of room in front of us. If you don’t make space, there is literally no where to put the new gallon of milk. And even if you do have enough space to squeeze it in, a packed fridge is stressful and difficult to find what you’re looking for.

The same goes for our emotional and mental space, but because we can’t see it, it can be a lot less obvious when we’re cluttered and out of room.

A new year is a perfect chance to add new and exciting challenges, projects, habits, and goals – but if you don’t clean out the proverbial fridge, will you even have the space for it all?

Before you make your list of what habits and goals you want to pick up, I invite you to consider what you’re going to stop doing this year.

Ask yourself:

• What is not serving me anymore?
• Where am I being inefficient?
• What meetings/relationships are not valuable?
• How can I save time in my schedule?
• Who can you delegate tasks, responsibilities, and projects?
• What habits are not aligned with my personal values/goals?

Give yourself permission to say “no” to things that are not aligned with your goals.

“It is only by saying “no” that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.” Steve Job