Out With The Old and In With The New: 6 Ways To Start Fresh In The New Year
The new year is almost here and that means it’s time to start fresh, right? New beginnings are always celebrated with a bit of pomp and circumstance, which makes sense. After all, what better way to look ahead at the new year than by looking back on the old one?
New years are also great for breaking habits and focusing on what’s important in life. They can be a time to take stock of our past, to figure out where we’re going as individuals, and to set goals for the future. And that doesn’t just extend to things like buying a house or getting a job – they can be a great time to clear your head of relationships that no longer serve you and people who don’t make you happy.
With that being said, let us walk you through some simple ways you can refresh your outlook in the New Year without spending money or any effort at all.
Make a habit of self care.
Self care is important for a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Find the time to get away from the stresses of your day-to-day routine and take some time for yourself. Whether you like a long bath, a walk outdoors, or just looking at pictures of your friends and family on social media, find something that rejuvenates you and makes you happy.
As part of self care, make sure you are taking care of your body by eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and protein. Eat healthy and nourish your body – mindfully choose foods that will make you feel good both physically and mentally
If you’re feeling overwhelmed in general or simply want to commit to doing something new that will help with stress management this year, check out some meditation apps like Headspace or Insight Timer. Meditation has been proven to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms as well as help people sleep better at night.
Start writing again.
One of the best ways you can spend your time in the new year is to start writing. Whether it’s a journal, blog post, or letter to someone close to you, writing helps you clear your mind and stop overthinking things.
It’s also incredibly therapeutic and a great way to get ideas flowing. It’s been proven that people who write about themselves for at least 45 minutes a day have improved levels of happiness and psychological well-being.
Writing can be done in multiple ways: it can be formal or informal, typed or written longhand. If you haven’t done much writing recently, it’s time to take up pen and paper again because this is one thing that will help you find your inner peace.
Take up a new hobby or activity.
This is a simple one. For those who are feeling a little bit stale, it’s time to take up a new hobby or activity.
New hobbies can be anything from painting to gardening, cooking to knitting. It doesn’t even have to cost money or use any type of equipment – you could start with something as simple as getting outside on a daily basis and breathing in some fresh air or playing Frisbee with your dog!
There are also plenty of activities that don’t fall under the umbrella of “hobby” but still give you something refreshingly new to focus on – like doing yoga every day for three weeks!
If you’re looking to get back into the swing of things after a break, this is a great way to do it.
Get moving with exercise.
Exercise is one of the best ways to get started on a new year. And that’s because working out releases endorphins and serotonin, which elevates your mood and helps you feel happy.
Exercise also provides better mental clarity and makes you more productive at work. It’s no wonder that exercise is one of the top resolutions in the New Year!
A great way to start exercising in the New Year is to join a community like Zumba or Yoga. These groups offer classes for all levels of people and make it easy for you to get moving with a group of people who are interested in improving their fitness level as well.
Clean your surroundings.
It’s not a new concept that cleaning the outside is just as important as tidying up your inside.
From dusting to deep cleaning, cleaning the outside of your home can help you clear out clutter and make room for the new year.
It could also be a great time to re-evaluate what you have in your home and see if there’s anything you need to update or replace.
Plan an exciting trip with friends and family.
It’s that time of year again, when people are looking to escape the cold, dark winter. So why not plan a trip?
Planning a trip is not just a great way to get away from your routine, it can also be an opportunity to expand your horizons. You might find yourself with time off from work or school. This gives you the opportunity to plan something special.
If you don’t want to travel for whatever reason, there are many fun activities you can share with family and friends at home. From going on exciting adventures together in the forest preserve in your hometown, cooking elaborate dishes together, watching a movie together, or playing board games – there’s always something fun you can do!
Clear your schedule and mind.
We know it can be difficult to start fresh when your calendar is full, but the truth is that you’ll be more likely to focus on what you want if there isn’t anything else competing for your time.
The most important step of starting fresh is getting yourself off the hamster wheel and focusing on what matters to you. Clearing your schedule will help you get started – just make sure to leave enough time in the day for yourself so that you don’t feel overwhelmed by trying to do too much at once.
Start with a clean slate. The best way to clear your head and take stock of where you are as a person is by starting from scratch. Whether it’s email or social media, start deleting everything that doesn’t bear relevance to who you are now and what your priorities are for 2023. It will also help create an organized system where things are easy to find and follow up on later on down the line.
Cut out distractions. The world has never been busier than it is now, which means we have never had more distractions than we do today, either. That doesn’t mean we should totally ditch our phone or computer though – they still have their place in society (in moderation). Instead, try removing some of the noise around you by putting away all devices during designated times throughout the day while focusing on what’s important to you at that moment.
Take a moment to reflect on the past.
It’s easy to focus on the bad in life. It’s also easy to let your past define you. That doesn’t mean that it always has to be this way; sometimes, it helps to take a moment and reflect on how far we’ve come.
Think about how you were doing something two years ago that you are now proud of? What was the last thing you did that made you feel like progress was being made? Or what is something that happened recently that made you want to celebrate your success?
These moments can be hard for some people because they remind them of their current struggles. But these reflections can help motivate us in the face of adversity and remind us who we are fighting for. After all, we cannot climb out of our holes without acknowledging where we are and where we came from.
Conclusion
Starting a New Year can be tough. It feels like everything is so different and often times, it’s hard to know how to start fresh with everything you have going on. But there are ways to make the transition feel less like a challenge and more like an exciting new opportunity. When it comes to starting a new year, try these six ways to help you get started.