Ways to start the New Year
With this crazy year coming to an end, there is one thing we all have in common - we all can’t wait for the new year! The start of a new year represents a restart for many people. It’s the time where people set goals and think about what they want to achieve for the next 12 months. With the end of a year, a lot of people focus on the event that is New Year’s Eve - so much time goes into planning and thinking about where you will be when the clock strikes 12.
This often means that people forget to think about the other things, like how are you actually ending the year. So we’ve suggested a few things to make sure that you end your year/start the new year in the best possible way. Reflect back on your strengths, your weaknesses, your triggers, and your drivers - you can do this while sipping on some tea in your comfort spot. Reflection gives you a chance to evaluate every aspect of your life, setting you up for a better direction in the future.
Plan Your Year
The next year is yours for taking, make a plan to ensure it remains that way. If you would like to work on your body more for next year - make a plan on how to do it. If you want to adopt a healthier lifestyle - make a plan on how to do so. The trick with making plans is not to aim unrealistically high, come up with something you deem realistic for you and your situation.
For example, start with a very basic, small plan for what you want to achieve, as you get more confident in your ability to follow the plan - add to it. If you’re in need of a head start, try our 30 Day Challenge - it’s designed to help you plan 30 days at a time. Or, you can opt for the Bullet Journaling Technique by Ryder Carrol. This journal allows you to plan for the future and track the past while making the most of the present.
Making a conscious effort to reach out to those around you towards the end of the year can help you identify who you want around you to support you in the new year. Reaching out can be as simple as commenting on one of their Instagram photos or you can go as far as to FaceTime them.
Connections are an important part of human life, it’s important to make sure that you maintain and nurture the connections you need in your life. The Okinawan people embrace this wholeheartedly with the Okinawan culture centring around caring for ancestors and family. They also believe in the “Yuimaru” spirit, this meaning is that of helping each other. [1]
Clear the Clutter - Kanso
There’s something empowering that comes with decluttering and freeing yourself of things that don’t serve you. The end of the year is the perfect time to do this, this will allow you to enter the new year just that much freer. Kanso is the Japanese art of simplicity.
The concept of Kanso embraces a ‘less is more’ approach - declutter to be free. This will help you enter the year in a much more organised position. This will also give you a chance to donate the things you wish to clear out. The feeling of starting the new year having done something generous is a good note to start on.
Treat Yourself
What better way to spend the last day of the year than divulging in treating yourself. Like we mentioned earlier it’s been one interesting, hectic, surprising year. We all deserve some TLC for powering through the craziness of 2020. Eat them fluffy pancakes, treat yourself to a massage - do whatever you can to #treatyoself.
Give yourself permission to celebrate yourself for making it through to another year. Treating yourself doesn’t always have to involve some grandiose act, something as simple as allowing yourself to sleep an extra 10 minutes is fine.
New Year, New Me
We want you to start the new year in the best possible way. You have 12 months ahead of you, you want to make sure you’re ready to take on whatever the year will throw at you both good and bad. Mindset is key and it’s important to make sure that you retain positive thoughts and feelings towards the new year. The new year will be as great as you allow it to be, so try to make it as great as possible!
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