10 Ways to Reset in the New Year

As the new year begins the inevitable urge to reset comes over us. Some like to make resolutions, things that they want to change, do better or perhaps a complete 180 life restart. I’ve never been one to write out a list of resolutions but I do feel a building excitement for a fresh start – an urge to start out the year on a good footing. Here are some suggestions to start off the new year right, with a little planning for a good year to come.

Clear the Decks

First thing I do at the start of the year is to declutter any unneeded or unwanted items and give them to family or friends, donate them or if they’re in bad condition, simply throw them away. I find Marie Kondo’s plan of pulling out every item and putting them in a pile to be too overwhelming. I start in one room, in one category and go one by one through the items and make a decision until everything is cleared out of unused items and put them in a box to take to the donation center or throw the items away.

Organize

Now that you’ve gotten all the clutter cleared out, now is the time to organize. Start with a room like the kitchen and go drawer by drawer and arrange everything left in a way that suits your individual needs. Buy some nice organizational bins or baskets that look nice and arrange your things. It’s so easy to pick up beautiful options for bins at all price points these days – Dollar Tree has some really good options for $1.25 each. – they even have clear plastic pop can holders for the fridge.

Map it out

Consider trying mind mapping. The idea is to draw a circle and in the middle write a main goal you’d like to achieve this year. From there, draw lines from it like the rays of the sun and on each line write a step you need to carry out to accomplish that main goal. Mind mapping is a good way to think through some practical steps to achieving something that would enhance your life and add value. You can also add pictures, to help you visualize the goal.

Vision Boards

As an alternative to mind mapping you could make up a vision board or use a private Pinterest board to add pictures that depict steps you need to do like stepping stones to something really great you want to do or something you want to bring into your life for 2025.

Healthy Goals

During the holidays many vendors brought in sweets, cookies, candy, etc., which are set up on a long work table across from where I work. Can you say temptation?! Most of us have the mind set of “it’s a holiday – I don’t eat like this all the time so…” but one day I woke up mid holiday and felt like a little kid with a stomach ache and I knew I’d overdone it.

Many of us start the year with the goal of an improved diet, a healthy one and some sort of plan for exercise. These are probably at the top of lists and also the first thing we let drop, even if we start a program. The reason we fall short of this goal is usually lack of motivation. We all want to look and feel good but the thought of getting on a treadmill might not sound appealing on day three when your energy might be low. I find the best way to meet this goal is to not push yourself, but rather to make an agreement with yourself to just do ten minutes exercise a day to start and to make small additions to your diet that are healthy. As you add in some fruit or veggies to your less than perfect diet it will soon be easier to eliminate less nutritious ones. The ten minute goal of exercise is much less overwhelming and once you go ten minutes often times you stick with it for longer.

Learning

Consider learning something new in the New Year… There are so many great resources online now like Skillshare, Master Class, and plenty of individuals who are skilled at everything from photography, crafting, computer programs, carpentry that have either free youtube videos or paid online classes you could learn from. Maybe you want to learn a new language…you could try Duolingo or Babel. Just google your interest and you’re sure to find many options.

Digital Space

When decluttering don’t forget your digital space, which can also get cluttered for sure. It’s easy to click photographs of just about anything including that new recipe you made to show your sister and one day you realize you have a lot of photographs stored on that device. It’s easy to get a ? to download your photos to a card and copy to your laptop or computer if you don’t want to delete them. Then again, there’s probably some photos taken by accident or photos your kids took when you let them play with your phone.

Set Boundaries

If you’re someone who likes to help out friends and family you also might be one that is overwhelmed by too many to-do’s on your list. While it’s certainly good to help others out, you have to also prioritize your personal plans. If you get burned out doing too much helping everyone else out with their lists, you might very well run out of steam when it comes to yours. In the new year, make your plans a priority and politely decline with a few no’s to requests from others.

Job reset

If the job you’re currently at is a place you really dread going too, the new year could be the time you look on Indeed and find yourself a more fulfilling job. Likewise if you enjoy your coworkers and the work you do but you’re underappreciated that’s another good reason to move on and find an employer that will appreciate you and maybe pay you a higher salary, who knows. New Year, new start.

Social media reset

I enjoy roaming around social media, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.  – it’s easy to lose time doing that and also easy to be influenced for better or worse. For instance, if you’re trying not to spend too much money and save more, those influencers you follow that show you their constant “haul’s” might not be the best follows for you. Also, if someone you follow is always negative on their online accounts that too can affect you and keep you from bringing your plans to fruition and live a happier life.