What do all of these have in common? They’re nagging little jobs on most of our “to-do” lists that we keep putting off because they’re tedious and boring. They keep getting pushed to the back of the queue, gathering dust and being neglected until we’re forced to take care of them for one reason or another, at which point we end up stressed, panicky, and resentful.
被排到清单末尾。我们忽视它们的存在，从不把它们放在心上。直到有一天，我们因为这样或那样的原因不得不处理它们的时候，我们已经是处于充满压力、惶恐不安、烦躁易怒的状态了。
Fortunately, there’s no time like the present to finally get around to doing these tasks, and having them all over and done with for the New Year and allow yourself to start the next year with a clean slate, with no daunting obligations left to hang over your head. Below are a few suggestions about some of the tasks you might like to tackle, if you have time to do so:
幸运的是，没有比现在这个时间更适合最终处理这些任务了。在新年期间把它们全部清理解决，使得你在新的一年里处于一个崭新的状态，远离那些令人气馁的拖延债务。以下就是一些关于如何处理新年任务的建议。如果你有时间，就请这样做吧。
1. Clean out your email
1.清理邮件
Most of us have a plethora of unread emails lounging around in our in-boxes, as well as old drafts, spam, and various other sundries tucked into different folders. Instead of just vegging out in front of the TV after supper, consider putting on some music and sifting through your folders to clear them out. Doing this for 20 minutes/night for just a few evenings will tidy things up nicely. You may need to know how to use Gmail search to clean up your Email archive.
大多数的人都有太多的未读邮件散落在收件箱、草稿箱、垃圾邮件里，或者是藏在其它不同的文件夹中。与其在晚饭后看电视打发时间，不如考虑下放点音乐，筛选下你的文件夹，将它们清理干净。只需要有那么几个晚上花上20分钟的时间就可以将它们整理有序。
2. Review and update your address book
2.回顾并更新你的通信录
Do you really need to hold onto the email addresses belonging to people you worked with in 2003? Take a few minutes to sort through your address book and cull those that you haven’t communicated with, along with old addresses that your friends/family don’t use anymore. (See how to use Google Contacts as a Unified Address Book)
你真的还有必要保留那些在2003年一起工作的人的邮箱地址吗？花几分钟时间给你的通讯录进行分类排序，挑出那些你已经不再联系或者是你的亲戚朋友不再使用的的地址。
3. Clean your computer (inside and out) and tidy up your workstation
3.彻底的清理你的电脑，并且整理你的工作站
While you’re tidying up all those files, consider using this opportunity as a chance to clean up your desk (and your computer itself). If you have a CPU tower, take it apart so you can vacuum out all the dust and pet hair that might have accumulated in there. Toss away any take-out containers or empty energy drink cans around your desk, give everything a solid once-over with some spray cleaner (just not your monitor: clean that thing properly), and be sure to clean your keyboard too—those things get nasty.
在你整理所有文件的同时，也应该把它当做是一个清理你桌面的机会。如果你有塔式的中央处理器，那么最好把它拆开，用吸尘器吸净里面沉积的灰尘和动物毛发。把你办公桌上那些空盒子和饮料罐通通扔掉。给所用东西都喷上一次性的清洁喷雾（除了你的显示器，用适当的方法清洁它）。别忘了清理你的键盘。通常情况下键盘都是最脏的。
4. File and organize papers, bills, statements, and receipts
4.分类整理文件、账单、结算单和收据
Keeping these in order can come in handy, especially since tax season is just around the corner. Try to organize them so your receipts and statements are together, with outstanding bills and invoices in another section.
应该把这些迟早都用得到的东西整理地井然有序，尤其是马上有要到交税的时候了。试着把你的结算单和收据放在一起，把尚未支付的账单和发票单独放置。
While you’re at it, consider making a couple of last-minute charitable donations to adjust your tax deductions, if you’re into that sort of thing.
在你整理的时候，不妨考虑下在慈善捐款截止前捐出部分善款，从而可以减少你的部分税款，何乐而不为呢？
5. Update your personal budget, resume and bio
5.更新你的收支预算和个人简历
As you go through your papers, take note of your spending habits over the last year. Have you gone overboard with spending? Been too frugal? Compare your habits to your bank account, and then consider re-adjusting your personal budget to even things out a bit.
在你检查文件的时候，请记录下你去年的花销习惯。你有没有挥金如土？是否过于节减？把你的消费习惯和银行往来账进行比对，然后重新考虑调整一下个人的支出预算，使得收支更加均衡。
On that same note, if you find that you’ve struggled to make ends meet or that you’re not being paid what you’re worth, it might be time to update your resume and look for a new job. If instead you’re perfectly happy with where you are, but you’ve had some major life changes (moved to a new city/country, earned a degree, got married, etc.) then you might want to update your bio on various networking sites.
基于同一个记录的考量，如果你发现自己很难使得收支相抵或者你觉得 自己没有得到应有的酬劳，那么到了更新自己履历，重新找份新工作的时候了。如果与此相反地你对自己的职位感到十分满意，但是在过去的一年中你的生活发生了许多重大改变（例如搬家到新的城市/国家，获得了学位，结婚了，等等），那么你应该更新各种社交网站上的个人简历。
6. Reduce clutter, and give things away
6.减少杂物，赠与他人
You would not believe how much stuff can accumulate in cupboards and closets, particularly in the bathroom. Set aside an hour or so to sort through everything under the sink to see just how many unused soaps, creams, razors, and other sundries you’ve collected, and then decide whether you’re actually going to use them or not. If you will, think about displaying them in a basket or keeping them at hand so you’ll use them up. If you’ll never touch the things, give them away to friends who’ll use them, or donate them.
你无法想象橱柜和抽屉里已经堆积了多少杂物，尤其是你的卫生间。留出一个小时左右的时间去认真清理一下，看看你已经积攒了多少不用的香皂、乳霜、剃须刀，以及诸如此类的杂物。然后决定你是否还会用到这些东西。如果你还会用到，那就把它们放在个小篮子里展示出来，或者放在附近，这样你就会把它们用完。如果你再也不会碰这些东西了，那么把它们赠送给能用到的朋友们，或者捐献出去吧。
7. Clean out your closet, and donate your old clothes
7.清理衣橱，把你的旧衣物都捐了吧
A good rule to stick to as far as clothing is concerned is to give away anything you haven’t worn in over 2 years (with the exception of really well-tailored suits or dresses that still fit, and are in great shape. You never know when those will come in handy). For each piece you give away, you can buy yourself something new that fits both your figure and your current fashion sense, but don’t hold on to something that will never fit or come back into style again.
仅就衣物而言，你应该坚持一条原则：把已经两年没有穿过的衣服赠与他人。当然除了那些剪裁考究仍然合身的西服或礼服。你永远都不知道什么时候会需要这样的衣服。每给出去一件衣服，你就可以给自己买一件类似的，但是更适合自己现在的身材、更符合潮流的新衣裳。但是别坚持买那些再也不流行的旧款式。
Once you’ve taken care of all of these tasks, all you really need to do is finalize your New Year’s Eve schedule, and make some goals for 2013. If you find that you tend to self-sabotage official resolutions, consider just making some short-term goals that are easy to attain: reaching them will boost your confidence, and might encourage you to pursue some more intense, longer-term goals in turn.
一旦你开始着手处理这些任务，你所真正要解决的就是结束2012年的旧日程，并为2013年设立新的目标。如果你发现自己没法下定决心持之以恒，那么不妨考虑设定一些容易实现的短期目标。实现这些目标可以增强信心，并且也可以相应地激励自己去追求那些强度更大、更长期的目标。
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