5 ways to start your new year off right
The start of every new year brings hopes for a better year. This year, the hope is extra high after the pain and turmoil from the infamous year of 2020. From the pandemic to economic uncertainty, most of us stumbled a bit. Maybe you picked up an unhealthy habit or let go of positive practices. The new year is a great time to rethink and reflect on what you want to be different in the coming year.
Start your new year off right with these simple strategies:
Identify the good from the year before. When gratitude fills your mind and heart, you begin to experience a shift in the way you think. Moreover, as you remember the good, your brain stores the good and begins to release the offenses, slights, and little resentments that may build up throughout the year.
Don’t be afraid to explore the disappointments. The only way to not repeat history is by doing something differently the next time. The best way to do things differently is to identify what went wrong and why this occurred. Look back at your disappointments with curiosity instead of criticism. Choosing to view the past with curiosity and not criticism is important. If you criticize yourself, you will begin to experience shame.
Instead of making resolutions, identify a few habits you would like to practice. For example, instead of resolving to lose weight, save more money, and exercise, determine which habits you can create that will lead to these results. For example, drinking hot tea instead of wine in the evening, packing your gym clothes the night before, or creating a financial budget. Habits create consistency.
Volunteer. Here’s the thing: if you are loving someone else, you stop focusing on your problems. There are so many benefits to volunteering, including becoming more grateful, decreasing stress, and broadening your experiences through learning about different populations. Check out local organizations in your town where you can give back to your community and people in need.
Be present. Create blocks of time in your day where you don’t check email, social media, or texts. Tune in to the moment you are experiencing in the now. Mindfulness is a powerful way to rewire your brain chemistry, lowering symptoms of anxiety and depression. When I’m present, I feel more peace instead of dreading the future or ruminating on the past because I’m taking control of the only moment I have— the present.
This one’s just a bonus— listen to my podcast, Thrive: Mental Health and the Art of Living Free. Season 2 starts on January 8!
2021 offers a fresh start. But if that feels like too much pressure, don’t worry. So does every day, each moment. I hope this list gives you a few ideas for not only kicking off the New Year with intention and success, but also the 364 days that will follow.
Blessings to you,
Melissa