After the buzz of the holiday season, putting your life back on track can sometimes make the first month of the new year take twice as long.

A solid 2024 reset is more than making New Year’s resolutions. Consider how you’ll return the focus to your life and home with minor changes to make a big difference.

Whether you are a Texas homeowner, a real estate business owner, or both, getting your life back on track after the holidays can be tricky. To help, we’ve compiled a list of five tips for Texas homeowners and five more for real estate professionals to help you push the reset button.

Whether you’re planning to sell your home in 2024, move to a new city or stay where you are, homeowners can find the things that bring them joy with a few simple tasks.

CLEAN UP AND CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER

You don’t have to wait until spring is in full swing to clean your home. Start fresh by tackling the post-holiday mess. Now is also the perfect time to declutter. Go through your wardrobe, replace old gadgets with new ones, and ditch those cardboard boxes you’ve been clinging to all year long. This is also a great time to go through your holiday decor as you put it away, and get rid of old pieces or pieces you know you won’t be using next year.

MAKE TIME FOR YOU

While the holidays are all about giving to others, you can’t pour from an empty cup. If the holiday season can leave you feeling drained, make a little time for yourself in the new year. Whether you need to tackle a personal goal like rebuilding your credit or simply want a few days to unwind with a good book, schedule time every day for yourself.

SET YOUR SIGHTS ON NEW GOALS

During the lull between the holidays and spring break focus on achieving a few of your goals for the New Year, like completing a home improvement project, learning a new skill, or revitalizing your garden.

Setting goals gives you direction and purpose. Write them down and break them into manageable steps. Remember, the toughest step is the first one!

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT

No, this doesn’t mean the new year is necessarily a time to start a new diet. On the contrary, making sure you’re adding enough water to your diet and eating your veggies every day is the best way to make sure your body is as healthy as your mind.

Farmers markets are year-round in Texas and are a great way to stock up on fresh produce!

PLAN YOUR SUMMER TRIP

It’s never too early to start planning your next great adventure. When you feel a little blue after the holidays, give yourself an emotional boost by planning your spring break or summer trip. From swimming holes to beautiful beaches, the Lone Star State has no shortage of warm-weather vacation spots to sneak away for the weekend or take the family on a long road trip.

When you are a real estate pro, the post-holiday lull is an excellent time to reset for the New Year. There are a few easy ways to make 2024 your best year yet.

BRUSH UP ON NEW TECH

Technology constantly evolves, and staying current can give you a competitive edge. Explore new real estate apps, virtual tour technologies, and CRM systems to streamline your business and impress your clients.

While you are at it, make sure you check out ChatGPT as a new addition to your toolkit.

FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH GOOD (AND BAD) TRENDS

As a real estate professional, you must keep up with the latest trends to inform your clients’ decision-making processes. While it may be tempting to focus on positive trends, like rising home prices, you also need to brush up on negative ones, such as fraud.

REVAMP YOUR BUSINESS PLAN

The start of a new year is the perfect time to review your business plan. Set new goals, assess what worked well last year, and be honest about what didn’t.

Perhaps there’s a new market you want to explore or a unique marketing strategy you want to try. A solid, updated business plan is your road map to success. Check out our free worksheet and planning tips to give yourself a head start.

UPGRADE YOUR TOOLKIT

When was the last time you upgraded your real estate toolkit? If it’s been a while, you might have missed out on some exciting new resources. Investing in quality tools not only makes your job easier but also shows your clients that you’re serious about providing top-notch service.

LOOK AHEAD

According to the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M, the state has largely avoided the volatility that has created chaos in other markets. It remains to be seen whether that trend will continue, so review the latest projections regularly to plan accordingly.