After celebrating New Year's Eve, it's time to commit to New Year's resolutions! If you are looking for a way to start over with the new year, consider changing your look, putting your life in order, setting goals and plans. You can cut your hair, donate clothes you've never worn, start exercising, or be nice to people you don't know. Having a schedule is also important for staying active, achieving more, having an organized day, and staying positive, which can help you feel happy, while also influencing others to feel the same happiness. Small changes can have positive effects on those around you, so choose carefully. Whichever approach you prefer, it's great to start the new year feeling refreshed and focused to be ready for the new year.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Improving Your Look
Step 1. Cut your hair to give your face a new look
Make an appointment with your hairdresser at the start of the new year. You can decide to just give it a trim or opt for a bold new hairstyle, to look completely different. In this way you will really feel like starting the new year from scratch.
- For example, if you have long, straight hair, consider cutting it to the shoulders and climbing it.
- If you have short hair, consider cutting the sides even shorter for an imperceptible change. For example, if you have a pixie cut, you can make it even shorter.
Step 2. Experiment with your look by trying something new
Doing something new about your appearance can help you become more confident as you start the new year. You can sport bold lipstick, get a new face piercing, or buy a new pair of glasses. Find what works best for your style and budget and choose something new!
You can also dye your hair a bright color, go shopping to revamp your wardrobe, or invest in a pair of shoes
Step 3. Start a training program
Think about your health today and your overall fitness goals and make a plan to improve your fitness based on your current level. For example, you can start taking a 20-minute walk after work each day or train for a marathon in the fall. Start simple and gradually, so you can stay true to your goals.
- If you've never exercised before, you can find a gym in your area and start exercising 3 times a week. To start, walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes each time.
- If you're a fitness enthusiast, set yourself a goal of improving your BMI or getting the abdominal tortoise by the end of the year, for example.
Part 2 of 4: Renew Your Attitude
Step 1. Practice gratitude every day to fill your life with kindness
Practicing gratitude can improve your mood in general but also your outlook on life. Before bed each day, write down 3 things you are grateful for. Also, express your gratitude to the people in your life, telling them you appreciate them.
For example, you can write things like "I am grateful for my cat" or "I am grateful for the beautiful sun today"
Step 2. Include a positive affirmation in your daily routine
Positive affirmations are simple, short sentences that you can use as a reminder throughout the day. The use of positive affirmations can increase your self-esteem over time, which is useful at the start of a new year. To do this, find a phrase that works for you, such as "I am important" or "I can cope with adversity." Tell yourself this as soon as you wake up in the morning and during the day when you start to feel insecure.
Adapt your statement to your particular life and circumstances. For example, if you are striving to be a better friend, your statement may be "I am nice and loyal."
Step 3. Perform random acts of kindness as often as possible
Random acts of kindness are small deliberate actions performed to bring happiness to other people. Do these actions without expecting to get anything in return, but rather to brighten someone's day. It's a great way to start the new year on a positive and compassionate note.
- For example, you can give compliments, smile at strangers, and volunteer for a charity.
- Collect roadside garbage, help an elderly person cross the street or feed the homeless.
- You can also pay for the coffee of the next customer in the bar or give your waiter a big tip.
Part 3 of 4: Tidying Up Your Environment
Step 1. Start spring cleaning early to tidy up the house
As soon as you can in the new year, clean your room, kitchen, bathroom, and / or basement. Tidy up the most cluttered areas, take out the trash and put away any misplaced items. This way you will face the new year feeling orderly and organized.
It is also helpful to clean your car. Get rid of anything that can be thrown away and tidy up, for example, the dashboard and glove box
Step 2. Tidy up your clothes and get rid of the ones you don't wear often
The start of the new year is a great time to take stock of your wardrobe and get rid of what no longer fits your style. Take out the contents of all your drawers and make a pile with the clothes you want to keep and a pile with the ones you want to get rid of. Then, fold the clothes neatly and put them back in the dresser or closet. This helps tidy up your space and revamp your style.
Once you've created the pile of clothes to give away, consider donating them to friends or family or taking them to a flea market
Step 3. Paint the walls to freshen up your room
Consider repainting the walls at the beginning of the year. Cover the floor and furniture with tarp and use a roller to apply interior paint to the walls. You can also choose a new color, to change the mood.
Step 4. Buy new decorations to renovate your space
Visit a thrift shop or household items and choose a couple of new items with which to refresh the environment. For example, you can buy 2-3 decorative pillows, a rug, a lamp or a new bookcase. Adding new elements can give your home a breath of fresh air.
You can also buy small items like paperweights, vases, and magnets
Part 4 of 4: Setting Goals and Purposes
Step 1. Try to try something new every month
In addition to your personal resolutions, it helps to make an effort to get out of your comfort zone at least once a month. You can plan to do a new thing every month or you can choose a few activities and decide when their time comes. Regardless, set out to do something you've never done before or learn something new to expand your horizons and grow as a person.
- Trying something new can be as simple as eating traditional dishes you've never tasted before.
- You can for example try kayaking, horseback riding or skydiving.
- Other ideas include taking a language class, attending a yoga class or planning a camping trip.
Step 2. Make a wish list of 20-50 things to try during the year
At the beginning of the year, write down in a notebook a number of things you want to do during the next twelve months. Choose things that are simple and within your reach, such as "eat more vegetables" or specific and realistic wishes such as "going back to university". Add any goals you feel you need to achieve to the list and tick them off as you complete them throughout the year. The list provides you with a visual reference, useful when trying to set your own resolutions.
- You can use this list to get ideas of new things to try each month.
- Your wish list could include visiting Paris, growing tomatoes, adopting a dog, taking a cooking class, and hiking.
Step 3. Update your resume so you are ready for new opportunities
At the beginning of the new year, open your resume, reread it and look for ways to improve it. For example, if you started a new job at the end of the year, add it in the "Jobs" section. You can also update the various dates, since the year has changed. This way you will always be ready when you want to apply for a job.
You can also update your contact information and address
Step 4. Strive to improve your sleep habits
When the new year comes, sleeping better and more restful is a great goal to add to your list of resolutions. You can aim to relax more before bed, for example by taking a bath, drinking a cup of chamomile tea, and reading a book. You can also try going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day to adopt a natural rhythm. Improving your sleep, in turn, will help you feel focused and energetic throughout the year.
- You can also use white noise or nature sounds to fall asleep easier.
- Consider taking a melatonin supplement if you have trouble sleeping. Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain that helps regulate sleep cycles; with 1-3 mg per day you could get more restful sleep over time.
Expert Advice
Start the new year with a few simple life-changing steps:
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Reflect on the past year.
Think about where you have been and what you have or have not accomplished. Let this shape your goals for the new year.
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Make your plan.
Write down the timeline of the changes and write down what milestones you want to achieve during the year that is starting. Be true to the vision you have for yourself and manage your expectations.
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Ask for help.
Once you've set your goals, don't be afraid to ask for help and don't assume that people will turn their backs on you when you do. It helps to have someone you can rely on when you want to make changes.
