Take These 4 Steps to Have Your Best Year Yet

January is that time for resolutions and starting anew. Perhaps 2014 was not a good year or it was more "ho-hum" than "hooray". But now it is 2015 and there is still plenty of time to make it your best year yet.

There are a lot of different areas to evaluate where you currently stand and where you want to be. But with a little planning and ingenuity, you can tackle it one month at a time.

Grab a piece of paper and focus on these four steps.

1) Health

Step one comes first. You cannot accomplish anything if your health is not in check. Start with your preventative health requirements and write them down.

Do you need a Pap test? A mammogram? Due for fasting blood work? Need a yearly physical?

Seen a dentist in the last six months? Had your eyes checked? Covered in freckles and need a skin exam?

Whatever the case, write it down and then assign what you need done to a particular month or knock it all out in the same month. No matter what, do not put it off.

2) Financial goals

Take step two so you can move forward. That won't happen if you cannot pay for your year or have any idea about your financial situation. Time to write down your financial goals, whatever they are and then work backwards.

Do you want to save for a 20-percent down payment for a house? Looking to pay off credit cards?

Hoping to create a nest egg in savings? Want to max out your retirement? Hoping to start investing?

If you do not know your budget already, it is time to keep track of everything outgoing and determine how much moneyis incoming in order to start becoming financially healthy. For some women, finances can be very overwhelming but thankfully there is help everywhere you look.

Check out information online, talk with your bank, meet with your financial planner, buy books about your particular subject of interest, and move forward!

3) Mood and attitude

Step three is all about your mental health. Heavy from carrying around baggage, not handling unresolved emotions?

Tired of feeling tired, finding yourself in difficult relationships (male or female, romantic or friendly) and family drama? Unmotivated with life?

Then it is time to look internally and address you first. Write down your current emotions, and how you are feeling about your health, finances, relationships, job, family. Then focus on how you can make them as positive as possible.

Remember you cannot change people, you can only change your response and your interaction in a situation.

Look into books or websites/blogs on positive thinking, happiness, and communication. Consider seeing a therapist as part of your healthy ‘best year yet’ plan and work on your roadblocks and letting go of your baggage.

Do things for you that make you happy. Write those goals down, then follow through. Put yourself first every once in awhile.

4. Clear out the clutter

Step four revolves around the clutter in all aspects of your life. What is bogging you down, holding you back, and getting in your way?

It could be something as literal as your messy closet and unorganized bathroom making you late for work every morning because you cannot find anything. Or it could be the fact that your kids' toys are everywhere all the time, taking over the house and stressing you out.

Create systems (there are entire websites, books and television shows dedicated to this) and stick with it. Use the calendar in your phone or create a family calendar that keeps everyone on track.

Perhaps your clutter is mental and you have a lot of drama in your life, be it at work, home, church, family, or in groups you belong to.

Practice the art of letting go and set expectations or boundaries for both yourself and others clearly beforehand. Remember that it is perfectly okay to say "no". You do not even need to follow your "no" with a reason or an apology. You can simply say "no".

Write down what is important to you month-to-month (be it people, events, birthdays, outings, volunteering) and stick with those things.

Do not get caught up in the clutter and that obligated feeling. Remember it is YOUR best year.

Sources:

Proyer, R., Wellenzohn, S., Gander, F., Ruch, W. (2014). Toward a Better Understanding of What Makes Positive Psychology Interventions Work: Predicting Happiness and Depression From the Person × Intervention Fit in a Follow-Up after 3.5 Years. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25424973

Srivastava, K. (2012). Women and mental health: Psychosocial perspective. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678171

Reviewed January 30, 2015
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith

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• Mental Health