Starting the New Year Off on the Right Foot

Yes, yes, yes, I know. Everyone always says, "New Year, new me!" It has become a new joke that most people are looking for on their multiple social media accounts.

This is not what I'm talking about.

I am just like the majority of living, breathing humans. I like fresh starts. This doesn't mean I think myself or anyone else is going to turn into a completely new person come January 1st. I like to think of it as more of a motivating factor. A little bit of a personal reset. It's fun and refreshing to stay optimistic about the year, especially after the catastrophe of 2020. Setting personal goals to be more productive, healthy, or financially savvy can help be the push that someone needs to get out of bed or in my case... have the energy to keep moving forward to accomplish said goals.

Honestly, I believe in motivation. That means if someone can get any type of motivation to set their own goals by hearing mine, I might have helped a little. So, here it is... the tips and tricks to starting the New Year on the right foot.

1. CLEAR YOUR HEAD OF THE BAGGAGE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR

This means making some sort of conscious effort to put everything down that bothered you about the year prior. I'm not sitting here saying it's going to be easy... it's not. You have to be really truthful with yourself! Did you eat out too much? Was procrastination your undoing? How many times did you feel unmotivated, pull from your savings account, help someone close to you, or say, "I love you," or "I miss you," to a friend or family member?

This is crucial to figuring out what you want to strive for in the coming year. This is a step that CANNOT be overlooked. Let's do this together... here are mine:

• I ate out at restaurants WAYY to much!

• I spent an exponential amount of time with my face in my phone.

• I rarely tell people how much they mean to me.

• I spend money like I own Microsoft. TOO MUCH!

• I exercised approximately 4 times all year.

• I procrastinate with everything!

• I hoarded so many items in our house. I keep everything

• I don't have any hobbies.

Okay. Wow. That was harder than expected, but I hope my openness and vulnerability will help you be truthful to yourself. This is the most important step because you need to know where you are going.

Now, let's turn this into a useful tool for the future!

2. TURN THAT BAGGAGE INTO GOALS

This is the time to get serious about what you want to change and work towards for the next year! This is going to be a huge year for you if you're able to even make a few changes in your life.

Looking back on the "baggage" that riddled your life in the past year, let's look at ways to fix that in the coming year. This means making some GOOOAALLLS! :) Not only do you want to look at the goal you want to accomplish, but also, you need to pay attention to the HOW. How are you going to get there? What steps are you going to take toward your goals? For Example...

• If I ate out way too many times last year, I want to make it a goal to only eat out once a month.

This is perfect if I could go from eating out multiple times in a week to only getting takeout once a month cold turkey, but I'm not that strong. If you're able to do this in one fell swoop, then MORE POWER TO YOU! I am not like your kind. :) I cannot cut myself off like that. I am much more willing to make a change if I'm not upset, miserable, or grumpy about the change. (Yes, I know this is not the end of the world. I do have my goals in perspective of REAL hardships that people are going through.)

I will try to make this last by easing myself into this new habit I want to form for the upcoming year. That means baby steps. I will start with only allowing myself to eat out on weekends. This will last for about two weeks or three depending on what I feel comfortable with. Goal: Only eating takeout on weekends for two full weeks.

Next step will be lowering the amount. So after two full weeks of successfully only eating out on weekends, I will move to the next phase. Goal: Eating out only on Saturdays for the next two weeks. This will help me stay in the routine of eating out on the weekends, but I still get the satisfaction of takeout that I have been so used to the previous year.

Next up...taking down the frequency even more. Goal: Eating out on a Saturday every other week. This is going to give me a lot more time in between the takeout meals. This is going to get me closer and closer to my goal, yet I will still be treating myself.

Now, this is the hard part. It's time to make the leap to only eating out once a month. Goal: Only eating takeout one time per month for the rest of the year. This might sound so simple to some of you, but I have utilized takeout for many many years. This game plan will help me stop this horrible, money-wasting habit!

By taking the time to adjust my habits, my brain, and my body to a new routine, I will be giving myself the best shot at success. Six weeks may seem like a long time to wean yourself off something, but it's very little time when compared to the year. Give yourself grace! If you want to see an example meal plan to help alleviate the urge to order take out, let me know in the comments below! :)

3. GET YOUR MIND ON POINT WITH YOUR ASPIRATIONS

There are so many times that I talk with people who want to make goals and strive for a better work, social, romantic, or personal life, but their mindset is OFF! Listen to me here: "YOU CANNOT MAKE CHANGE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MINDSET!" Once again for the people in the back, "YOU CANNOT MAKE CHANGE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MINDSET!"

I repeated that because I mean it! After all, I have a degree in Education. I know how to reiterate important information multiple times throughout a class for understanding. :)

You have to believe that YOU ARE WORTH THE CHANGE. It's going to be the hardest to convince yourself that you deserve exactly what you desire. You have to want it, but not only that, you have to live, speak, breath, and drink your belief. This is something that's non-negotiable. You have to really push yourself because there will only be change if you are serious and put forth effort to push toward your goals for the New Year!

Okay, I hear you now, "Kendra, how can I realistically change my mindset if I'm unsure?"

Here are some tips and tricks I use daily to help keep my mindset on target and on point:

• Write little reminders to yourself!

Yes, I know it sounds silly, but a Post-It note here and there won't hurt. It might just be the motivating factor that reminds you that you're working towards something important.

• Keep a journal, planner, or list daily.

This helps a lot with organizing thoughts and getting ready for the day. Also, if being more organized was on your list in number one, then you're already a step ahead of the game!

• Listen to motivating YouTube videos, podcasts, or read.

I stay motivated when I watch videos of others being motivated! That means I watch a ton of house cleaning videos on YouTube. Please tell me there are other people like me! :)

Now, there are a HUNDRED other tips I could give you, but the New Year is coming fast. These are my top three tips of getting the New Year started on the right foot. Let's hope that 2021 is going to have a much brighter future! I can't wait to see all the year has to offer. XOXO :)