.png)
10 ways to help you start the New Year right
At the end of each year many of us like to reflect back on our successes and failures of the past year. Some, like myself, tend to be more reflective and find it useful to read through the year's journals, make notes and lists of goals met or fallen short, while others prefer to focus their attentions on looking forward and setting new goals. What ever your preference, it seems only natural to want to start each year fresh.
Though many scoff at the idea of making resolutions, there is certainly benefit in taking advantage of the mental new start and motivational momentum that comes to our culture with each new year.
{I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.}
Here are some great tips and ideas to help you make the most of this new beginning and carry you through the year with success and tremendous personal growth:
How to Make the Best Start to your New Year
1. Journal
Journaling is a great way to set goals, organize your plan, track your progress, and keep yourself accountable in your journey. I find that it doesn't have to be an expensive, fancy one, though having something aesthetically pleasing to go to everyday is an added bonus, however a dollar store type composition notebook works just fine. There are many ways to format your journal to assist you. I like this style myself, as it leaves room for free-writing of my thoughts and feelings, but also has a structured section to easily track progress.
2. OneWord365
If you aren't familiar with the OneWord365 concept, it's a movement that started almost a decade ago, where you select a word to be your theme or focus for the coming year. There is a growing community of folks on social media that also participate and you can register your word online to find others in your tribe, share your word, your inspirations, and your goals if you want to. It's a very optimistic and supportive community, and I always enjoy participating. I've taken it a little further than simply choosing a word to focus on and usually start at the end of November and through December with praying for divine guidance in selecting my OneWord, and while I'm often surprised at the word that God gives me for the year, I always experience tremendous growth through it.
3. Accountability partner
Having a friend who will support you but also check in and call you out when you aren't sticking with your plan can be a great asset to sticking with your new year goals. My partner and I try to meet every other week. This also works to make sure we are staying consistent with our journaling, because no one wants to show up unprepared to a meeting! We also send each other encouraging verses, prayers, quotes, and memes through out the week or as they come to us. Knowing that someone else can relate to your same struggles can ease your burden and bring a perspective you may not have otherwise had.
4. Peer support groups
Another great (and free!) area to find support and accountability is through local peer support groups. There are many different groups out there, depending on your goals, and sites like Meetup can assist in connecting you with a group. I've found my local library and church great sources for support groups as well.
5. Online focus groups
For those living in remote areas, for who local groups may not be accessible, or those of us that are comfortable connecting online, online groups can also be a great asset. There are many closed Facebook groups and Instagram communities that cater to any goal you could possibly think of. These groups can be awesome sources of support and encouragement as well as incredibly creative think tanks for getting you through your roadblocks.
6. Subscription planners
While there are quite a number of paid online subscription planners and organizers out there, you can easily find free ones like Plan that work just as well.
7. Tracking apps
Along with online calendars and planners, there are tons of free apps for your phone to assist in tracking your progress whether they be:
dietary (SparkPeople, MyFitnessPal)
fitness (FitBit, Endomondo)
financial (GoodBudget, Mint, Wave)
spiritual (YouVersion, Echo)
women's health (Life)
creative (Pinterest)
reading (Bookly, Reading List)
emotional/mental health (PTSD Coach, Mindfulness Coach)
family (Cozi, Productive)
Many serve dual-purposes as well and cover multiple areas.
8. Calendars
I find using a calendar app extremely helpful in keeping me on track. I schedule out my tasks, color coded, along with reminder notifications. If you prefer a physical calendar, you can find a month-at-a-glance style calendar for very little money at your local dollar store. Often charitable organizations also give them out with a tax-deductible donation. You can also find physical all-in-one organizers like this one for low cost.
9. Reminder apps
Strictly speaking most if not all of the calendar and trackers apps include built in reminders, and many phone OS also come with a separate reminder app, but there are a bunch of free ones on the market that can help increase productivity and keep you on track to reach your new year goals. Remind Me, and RE.minder are two examples.
10. Life coach
The last but not least suggestion to help you make the most of this new beginning and carry you through the year with success is to consult with a life coach, like myself. Paying someone to get you organized, help you set you goals, and keep you accountable can be especially beneficial for those who feel completely overwhelmed and don't know where to start. We have a ton of resources at our disposal and it really helps to have an outside perspective to get you started, help you decide the pace of your transformation, and assist in organizing the areas that you wish to work on.
When searching for a life coach, you want to find someone that you really connect with, someone who will listen closely to what you say, ask engaging questions, and make you feel empowered and equipped to take on the world. Not all personalities go well together, and that's ok. Try and schedule a free phone call with your potential life coach so that you can get a feel for their personality, and decide if they would be a good fit for you.
Bonus Ideas:
Family help
If you are close with your family, and they are supportive, they can be a good resource to help you reach your goals and provide accountability.
Coworkers
Like family, if you are close with your coworkers and feel comfortable sharing your life goals with them, they can be another resource for support and accountability. Many work places offer employee assistance programs as well for a wide variety of areas.
Church prayer team
Church prayer teams make great, behind the scenes support, as they intercede on your behalf. Having strong spiritual encouragement and accountability goes a long way in reaching your goals and maintaining consistency. Many churches also have accountability and support groups.
What ever methods you choose to reach your goals, starting the new year in a good mental place of I CAN DO THIS! is definitely the way to go. I wish you all the best in pursuing a better you, and would love to hear what goals you've set for yourself on my social media:
