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There is something exciting about a new year. It is the promise of the unknown, a chance to start fresh and do something different. For some reason, this triggers us humans to get BIG IDEAS. We might not have a ton of faith in ourselves throughout the year, but when we have a new beginning, all of a sudden everything is back on the table.
PLAN AHEAD
The new year is a perfect time to start something new – whether that is a goal, a change of lifestyle, or even a mindset shift. As you get close to the 1st day, start making plans. Everyone has a different method that works for them, but I personally love using a Planner
DECLUTTER
You are about to start a new adventure!! Isn’t that exciting?! 2018 can be a year of amazing success and change if you let it. One of the best ways to help this process is by decluttering the stuff that is filling up your life. Even if you only do a few small portions a day (maybe going through clothes one day and shoes another, etc.), you will feel a lot more free after getting rid of the weight of things holding you down.
This year I am trying my best to start out by letting go of all of the things that I don’t need from 2017. This includes belongings, fake friends, and most importantly limiting thoughts. I realized how much more power I would have in my life if I didn’t allow the pains, old heartbreaks, disappointments, and failures to come along with me in 2018. Why? Because when we are constantly looking back, our ability to look forward and see the good in new opportunities is blocked.
We need to focus on the new this year and stop remembering so much of the old. I hope as you declutter your life and mind, that you find some clean space to add new belief and faith in yourself and in your potential to achieve anything. Because you should feel like you can do anything. The only person holding you back is YOU.
SET GOALS
This one is completely optional. It seems like everyone is setting goals for the new year, but not many people actually follow through with them. It is sad if you think about it. We set ideals and standards for ourselves but don’t even believe in it enough to keep pushing forward with them!! It doesn’t really make any sense.
So the first thing you should do in setting your goals is to evaluate where you are RIGHT NOW. Don’t base your goals off of what you planned (and maybe failed) to do last year. Take some time and figure out what is important to you TODAY. You have made it through another full year of life and that means you have grown and changed.
What I have found to be a more successful option is picking a WORD. Think of a word that embodies who you want to be in 2018. It could be HEALTHY, PRESENT, more LOVING, or maybe you want to focus on LIVING more fully. Put that word somewhere you will see it daily. Put it on a sticky note in your car, on your bathroom mirror, and wherever else you frequently visit (like the fridge).
This is my favorite method because when you are thinking of a way of living (such as being healthy), you will be able to apply it to all aspects of your life. You shouldn’t only want a healthy body (perfect abs) but a healthy mind, healthy relationships, and healthy self-love and respect! Make your focus on becoming an all-around better version of yourself and you will see changes in your life across the board.
KINDNESS
Just a reminder. NOBODY is perfect. Change takes time and effort, so please remember to practice kindness daily for others, but most importantly for yourself. Accept that you are making progress and that is enough. Love yourself for making any efforts, big OR small and use kindness as you slowly adjust to this new and improved you.
ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW YEAR AND A NEW YOU?!
The good news is this: Just because it is the new year, doesn’t mean that you only have one chance to succeed!!! Sometimes it takes a few tries to get things figured out, and you have to practice at changing your life. So if this doesn’t stick the first few days of 2018, just start fresh again! You’ve always got a new week, a new day, and a new hour. Don’t use this as an excuse to delay starting, but as a motivation to keep trying again and again if at first it doesn’t work out how you want.
Happy New Year, friends! Let’s crush those goals and make our dreams a reality!
XO – Heath
P.S. I’d love to hear any other methods you love to use to help be successful when starting something new! Comment below and share 😉