New Year—Fresh Start!

When the holiday season ends and all the festivities are over, you’re left with a new year. The New Year is traditionally a time to set in place new tasks, pursue new opportunities for learning, or even a time to consolidate the things you’re already passionately pursuing. Another alternative might be to look back on your journey through life and simply contemplate how far you’ve come.

Whatever your preferred approach to the New Year, it’s nice to start feeling refreshed, focused, and ready to get back into your current projects or even begin new ones. Here are a few ideas to give you a boost.

Learn Something New. Have you vowed to make this year the one where you learn something new? Perhaps you are considering a career change, learning a new language, or just figuring out how to finally fix your computer? Whether you take a full course or simply read a book, education is one of the easiest and most motivating New Year’s resolutions to keep. Learning new things keeps your brain young, too!

Help Others. A popular New Year’s resolution is to volunteer, something that can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or as big a project as building a house, there are always nonprofit organizations that want and could really use your help. If your time is in short supply, why not just clean out your clutter? Donate your old furniture, clothing, and other household items you no longer need, rather than leaving them in basements and attics to collect dust, or out by the curb to fill up our landfills.

Relax More. If you’re not in the habit of relaxing, make it a point to introduce this important activity (or lack thereof) into your life this New Year. Relaxation is unique to every individual, though. So whether it’s exercise, meditation, reading, walking the dog, watching movies or going out with friends, there is no right or wrong way to relax as long as it works for you.

Narrow Your Efforts. Trying to do too many things at once can scatter your focus and make you feel as if you’re just bouncing around, unsure of the best direction to take. Start with ONE MAJOR UNDERTAKING. Then, break that goal or project down into small, bite-size steps. Smaller steps ensure a strong start and are likely to result in a strong finish.

Focus on the Process. It’s easy to get caught up in an initial wave of enthusiasm, only to come crashing down when your primary efforts don’t produce immediate and amazing results. So, focus on the process itself. Develop a new habit or begin to practice a skill you want to acquire and do your best to think about it as a process. For instance, if you want to become more fit, concentrate on being able to jog a little bit farther every time you go for a run, rather than focusing on being able to run five miles within a week. PERSISTENCE ALWAYS PAYS OFF.

Forgive Your Failures. Your setbacks and failures do NOT define your success in the year ahead (or any year for that matter). HOW YOU RESPOND TO THEM DOES. If you happen to mess up, press the snooze button or revert to a familiar and undesired behavior, don’t beat up on yourself. Okay, so you didn’t get to the gym like you’d planned. How about five minutes of stretching? When it comes to slipping up and tripping up, you are in good company. It happens to everyone. Just don’t let your mishaps and setbacks affect you more than they should. Reflect on the lessons they hold, make adjustments accordingly, then tap into your inner John Wayne and get back on the saddle. Life rewards those who work at it.

The hustle and bustle of the holiday is over. Take the opportunity for a fresh start. Form obtainable and achievable goals in the New Year and try to always be good to yourself. Just sayin’.

Published: Apartment News Magazine – January/February issue 2014