There is something about the beginning of a new year that fills me with even more optimism than usual.  I won’t deny that last year was challenging on many levels for many people around the world.  But that simple digit change on the end of the date invites the potential for something different—something better—something hopeful. 

The start of a new year is a great time to make changes in your life that will improve your health and wellness, add an element of fun, and allow you to reach your goals. Many people do that by setting new year’s resolutions. Unfortunately, most people don’t quite achieve those resolutions over the long term. There are some steps you can take to start the new off on a positive note. Most of these don’t require a long-term commitment (and the ones that do start with small steps that are easy to stick to!).

Here are some tips that can help you stay on your positive mindset path:

Choose Positive Thoughts
Finding ways to improve your life can be difficult, but one easy thing to add to your list that will undoubtedly make your life a bit easier is finding small ways to become more positive this year. One prevalent resolution nowadays is to focus on self-care. There is no better way to take care of yourself than to become more positive.

Try Something New
Do you ever feel like you’re in a rut? If you’re starting off the new year bored and unfulfilled, there’s plenty of time to turn that around! Think of something new you’ve been meaning to try and sign up to do it within the next couple of weeks.

Time to Set Goals:
If you were living your ideal life, what would it look like? Take some time to daydream about some of the goals you’d like to achieve in your lifetime? Don’t be afraid to think big: Remember that you have a whole lifetime to accomplish these goals, so don’t limit yourself!

Choose to be around Positive people:
Is your best friend always willing to talk and laugh with you? Does your co-worker share a smile with you every morning – even on Mondays? When you visit with family, do you share funny or meaningful stories that bring everyone in the room joy? No matter who it is, plan to spend more time with people who make you more positive. Assess the people in your life.

Get goodnight’s  Sleep:
This is an important one on my list and for good reason. Without enough sleep, all other functions start to fail, and too many sleepless nights in a row will catch up to you. Start off this year by setting a bedtime and then try as often as possible to make it a priority, above all else. It will have a positive impact on all other parts of your day, and soon enough you won’t sacrifice your sleep for anything.

Hydrate Yourself- Drink plenty of H2O:
In my personal experience, staying hydrated somehow gets lost between all of the to-dos on my list. To make sure you’re getting at least the minimal amount of H2O your body needs, try marking certain points throughout your day with a glass of water. For instance, have a glass of water as soon as you wake up, before and after each meal, and one more before bedtime—there’s 8 glasses right there! Easy, right?

Daily Journaling:
There’s something satisfying about opening a new journal to begin a new year of writing about what’s important to you. You can write what you are grateful for in your life and self-expression in your journal. It’s a powerful way to stay in emotional balance. If you are not clear what to journal; you are welcome to try one of my first free meditation classes; we journal and meditate. RSVP here for your first free Wednesday evening meditation class!

Work-Life Balance:
In most cases, our jobs and work take priority over many other things in our life (including our sleep, as mentioned above). Of course, the ability to work hard is a highly valued skill and work commitments should always be addressed. But sometimes the most valuable part of being successful is knowing when to close your email and do something you love. Take your pauses daily in between your work meetings!

It’s all about taking one day at a time. You can do it. We all can do it.

Love and light

Manali