Are you counting the days before the new year and wondering what happened to your dreams and why you haven’t achieved all your goals this year? These are the thoughts for many people during the holidays. We like to reflect on the past and how we can improve our lives in the future. You might think there is always tomorrow but time doesn’t wait for anyone and before you know it another year will be over and you might be wondering why nothing in your life changes! I know the feeling as I’ve been there and for years I kept thinking my life will change in the new year and there were many years my life kept going round in circles stuck in the same situation. It felt like I was in the same movie with new characters acting in the same script! If you are feeling a little lost at this time of year this blog post is for you. It is never too late to make a plan to change your life. Everyone deserves to live a healthy and happy life and you always have a choice what to do with your beautiful life. It’s never too late to start creating a plan for your future, start now, TODAY and don’t wait another minute. My life started changing when I made a DECISION that I wasn’t going to allow external circumstances to control me anymore. I had to change and become a different person with a new mindset and vibration as living my life the same way was no longer working for me. I set my goals and started moving forward and even though the journey hasn’t been easy, my life has changed and continues to change more than I imagined. There are still bumps along the road but life has become an adventure now with new possibilities. I’m writing from experience as I know it’s possible! It all starts with making a decision to change your life.
Life is an adventure and everyone deserves to live their dreams. Make yourself a cup of tea and bring your notebook and pen so you can write down anything that comes to mind while reading these tips! This blog post is a guide and it’s always YOUR choice what you decide to do with your life and no one can make the decisions for you.
Here are my 10 tips that worked for me and I hope that some of these ideas can help you to reset your life and you can start creating your goals for an exciting and beautiful life:
1. Let go of the past
First you need to let go of the past. Wherever you are in the journey of life, you have arrived in your current situation because of your past beliefs. No one wants to hear this, but if you have been thinking negative thoughts in the past and had limiting beliefs, it has created your current reality. Now is the time to let go and forgive yourself and everyone that has caused you pain in the past. This was the most difficult thing for me to do, but when I let go of all the hurt of the past, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my heart. Be gentle with yourself as this is not an easy process and can take a while before you are able to let go of the past, forgive yourself and everyone else.
Whatever happened is in the past and it happened, it’s over, done so let it go to release negative energy. Once you decide to do this, take a deep breath and say, “even though I know it was not my fault, I forgive myself and the people (say their names) that have hurt me. Now I’m free to start a new chapter in my life that is filled with love, health and abundance.” Look in the mirror and tell yourself, “I love you!” Know that you are amazing and you are starting your new positive journey in life and you can move forward and start creating the next chapter in your life.
2. Reflect on your achievements
Take time to reflect on your achievements in your life and write everything that you can remember starting from your childhood until recent events in your life. You can write the little achievements and big achievements as they both matter. When you look at your list you can see how much you have already achieved in your life and the reasons to be grateful. This can help you realise that your life is a journey and even though you might not be where you want to be at this stage in your life, you have made progress and you will continue to move forward with your new goals. NEVER compare yourself to others as everyone is on their own journey and it doesn’t matter if you are not where you need to be at the moment, your situation is not permanent. YOU are important, your life is important and you are on this planet for a reason. Things can change and improve, always remember that and never give up. No one said that walking up the mountain was going to be easy. Good things take time so trust the process and timing of your life. If you are still reading this blog post, it means you want to make changes in your life and you are serious about improving your life. Be grateful for EVERYTHING you have achieved, the good and the bad because it has made you realise that you want more and deserve more at this stage in your life. Keep moving forward and never give up!
3. Declutter and detox your life
Start decluttering your house and organising your wardrobe. Throw away things that are occupying space as it’s just stagnant energy. If you clear out things you no longer need, you are creating space for new things to enter your life and can increase positive energy in your home. Delete old emails, photos from your inbox and unsubscribe to anything that you don’t need as it can be wasting your time and energy. Look at ways to reduce your bills; for example, do you really need a new phone? If there are any memberships you are paying and not using, think about cancelling if you no longer need them. Look at ways to improve your health. If you want to change your life you need the energy to continue working and enjoy the fruits of your labour! I believe what you put into your body can change your life. Start the new year on a healthy note, and use your free time during the holidays to start throwing away junk food stored in your cupboards, fridge or pantry.
Start to let go of toxic friends or people that are always calling you when they need you to listen to their problems. It’s wonderful to help people and that’s what life is about, however it can become a problem when they are draining your energy and it starts affecting your life. We need to be surrounded by positive people that can increase our energy and not drain it. Set boundaries on how you manage your time and learn to say “no” to people or situations that don’t resonate with your energy. If there are people in your life that are draining your energy with their negative ideas and constant criticism, how much are you willing to tolerate? Do you want these people to be part of your new positive life? The first person you need to help is yourself, therefore you need to decide what will make you happy. Once you have decided to detox your life from negative people and situations you can start to write your new goals for a healthy and positive lifestyle.
4. What do you really want
Think about what is working for you in your life, if some things are not working then think of ways you can change them to work for you or if you don’t want that situation in your life then let it go. Once you have let go of things that are no longer working for you, decide on what you really want! You need to be specific and write your list either on your computer or notebook. Schedule some quiet time for yourself and close your eyes and ask yourself the question, “what do I really want, what will make me happy?” It’s absolutely okay to want to achieve many things, it might be that you want to study for a new career, turn your creativity into a business, whatever is on your mind, write it down!
Turn inward and focus on how you are feeling, you might not receive the answers immediately but continue to do this for a few weeks until you have clarity. The way I’ve learned to find clarity is to focus on how I feel when I think about what I want. I notice that when I’m trying to make a decision and my mind is telling me I should do this or that, my feelings, my body and energy decrease when I think about it and I know that it’s not the right decision for me even though my logical mind is telling me it’s good for my bank balance! In the past I used to move forward with my mind. In the last few years I have listened to my heart and even though it is the longer route to success for me I feel happier and I’ve realised that the universe always rewards those that listen to their heart!
If you pursue your passions and do what you love, the positive opportunities and people will naturally come your way. Sometimes the right people and new opportunities appear out of nowhere at the right time. The road might seem difficult at first, but remember you are learning new ways of being and unlearning the negative programming that has not served you until now. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy as you need to put in the work and learn new ways of living. The process can take years but if you want a new way of living for your future you need to trust yourself. Start with the small changes, they can make a big difference. The universe is always conspiring to support you on your true path. Decide what you want and no matter your current situation or your age know that there are no limits to what you can achieve. If you don’t know something you will learn along the way, take one step at a time, hold the vision in your mind and believe all things are possible.
5. Clarify your goals
Schedule time to think about how you are going to achieve your dreams. Find a quiet space away from interruptions and clarify your goals, write them down and keep them pinned on a board in your room or somewhere you can see them constantly. I keep mine next to my computer so I can look at them every day as a reminder to how much I’ve achieved in the last few years! It’s important to create a plan to manage your time to achieve your goals if you want to change your life and be successful. You can set broad goals first but you need to clearly define your goals into manageable specific goals to ensure that you can refine them and turn them into SMART goals. If you follow this method for each goal, it can help you to achieve your deadlines. For example, if you want to grow your business how would you set goals to achieve this step by step? A SMART goal is a framework to follow to ensure your goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
Have a look at a previous blog post I wrote about SMART goals: How to design your life in the new year
6. Work smarter to prevent burnout
We all know that work takes up a lot of our time and nowadays more people are working from home which can be challenging to turn off your computer at 5pm. We are constantly on go mode and this can lead to burnout if you don’t schedule time to relax and unwind. Set clear boundaries between your personal life and professional life and learn to say “no” to more tasks if you are already working overtime. Doing more than you can handle can lead to stress and burnout and it can take longer to recover and get yourself back on track. Reassess your schedule and ask for help where possible as looking after yourself first will lead to a happier and healthier life-work balance. The first step is to ask yourself if you are happy in your job as most people are working in jobs that are not resonating or fulfilling their purpose in life. If you are happy in your job or career then the next step would be to organise your schedule so that you have time for self-care during your day. It’s important to prioritise regular breaks during the day so you can go for a walk, exercise and make sure you are eating healthy meals. Work smarter by planning ahead, prioritise your tasks and avoid distractions. Remember that everyone has 24 hours in a day and it’s how you manage your time that can make all the difference to your success or failure in life. If you are not happy in your job or career perhaps it’s time to hit the reset button and move away from a soul destroying job that is draining your energy. Discover what you are passionate about and start creating your plan to achieve that new career that you have spent years thinking about or start your own business! It’s never too late and not impossible. The word impossible is I’M possible!
“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I’m possible.” – Audrey Hepburn
7. Step out of your comfort zone
What are you tolerating in your life; a toxic relationship, a soul destroying job? Perhaps you have wanted to leave that toxic relationship for several years but it’s the fear and the WHAT IFS that are holding you back. What about the soul destroying job that is draining your energy and you can’t wait for the weekend, but when the weekend arrives you’re too exhausted to do anything except sleep, eat and spend your time moping around the house all day in your pyjamas thinking of Monday morning. Sound familiar? I’ve experienced it all and I understand that things can be tough but once you realise you have choices and you are the captain of your ship, you can change your life. I don’t sugarcoat anything, I know change is HARD but If you don’t decide a different path, your life won’t change. The choice is always yours, stay where you are and cheer up buttercup or try a different path. YOU DECIDE. You don’t need to change everything in your life overnight but you can start with small steps changing how you feel and start doing things that make you happy. Everything in my life started changing once I stepped outside my comfort zone and followed my heart to a new career. No one will roll out the red carpet for you and tell you that everything will work out. There are no guarantees in life, but stepping outside of your comfort zone to try something new and what makes you happy is worth the effort. Decide what you want to change and move forward one step at a time with a positive mindset. You will never know what is possible and what you can achieve if you don’t try. One day your future self will be grateful that you didn’t allow fear to hold you back. You can never make more time so start TODAY and don’t look back. Write your new chapter and don’t allow regrets to get in the way of living your dreams.
“Living in regret will become your biggest regret.”
Bill Johnson
8. Raise your vibration
If you have always given your time and energy to people, situations that don’t appreciate you, perhaps it’s time to stop chasing what you think will make you happy and instead raise your energy to attract the good into your life. Break free from being the nice girl trying to make everyone happy at the expense of yourself. I’m not saying be unkind or nasty but what I mean is you are not living your life to conform but you are here to transform your life and align with your truth and vision. You have immense energy that resides within you and you can be nice but realise that you don’t need to agree with everything to have validation from others. Recognise the patterns that you have been living in and choose freedom and integrity. If you keep giving without receiving, your energy can be depleted and I know this feeling as I have experienced this myself. Instead focus on cultivating balance and maintaining your vibrational strength. Raise your energy by staying true to yourself, no need to seek approval from anyone else. Believe that the right people will come to you instead of you chasing and striving to please everyone and depleting your energy. Maintain your energy in your truth and from this space other people will be attracted to you like a magnet. You will also realise who the genuine people are that truly care about you in your life and not just taking advantage of your time and kindness. Have a clear vision in your life and this can make it easier to say “no” to people or situations that are not aligned with your values. Speak your truth and don’t be afraid to say how you feel as the genuine people that want to be in your life will appreciate who you are. Relationships should be a constant flow of energy and if you are the one always giving it can create an imbalance of energy. Every time you choose yourself, you raise your energy and the right opportunities will flow into your life that are vibrating at the same energy to help you thrive.
9. Prioritise your health and wellbeing routines
Are you constantly working 16 hour days and feeling exhausted and no time to do what you love? In the new year start to schedule time to prioritise your health and wellbeing routines. Remember that your health is important and your future depends on it. If you are not getting quality sleep, not exercising and not eating healthy meals you can be on the road to burnout and your health may deteriorate. If you are working through your day without taking regular breaks to eat properly or drink enough water as needed you are not doing yourself any favours. Most people are working from home nowadays but working longer hours as they are starting earlier and working later. Prioritise your time whether you are working in the office or from home and set reminders to leave your desk and go for a walk or exercise during your day. Plan healthy meals and instead of sitting at your desk, why not take your lunch with you and find a quiet spot in a park nearby if it’s a nice day.
Our bodies change as we get older and we need to listen to our body and eat food that will give us the vitamins we need to maintain our energy levels. Eating fast food or junk food is a recipe for disaster and sooner or later your body will let you know that it’s not working! Make sure that you are drinking as much water as you need to keep you hydrated and stay alert during the day. Start a morning routine and spend some time alone writing in your journal or meditate for 10 minutes to set a positive tone for your day. If you can go for a run or to the gym, your body will love you. Some of the benefits of exercise is positive mental health, managing stress levels and keeping our bones and muscles strong. Get enough sleep and make sure that you turn off all your equipment in your bedroom at least an hour before you sleep. Turn your bedroom into a sanctuary and make sure that you are comfortable as that is the space where your body can recharge and give you the energy you need to keep moving forward in life. Some people need more sleep than others so listen to your body and how you feel when you wake up in the morning. If you are sleeping for 6 hours but still feel tired when you wake up then you might need more sleep.
Find the joy in the little things and increase laughter in your life as life should not be taken seriously. You are here today and alive so throw caution to the wind and learn to laugh at yourself and know that you are strong enough to deal with whatever life throws at you. Your life is a journey filled with lessons, everything is an experience and that’s all it is, everything is temporary so laugh your way through life and feel good as much as possible and everything else will take care of itself.
“Laugher is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”
Victor Hugo
10. Learn to love yourself
Take time to reflect during the holidays and perhaps ask yourself these questions:
- Why am I still in the same situation I was in 5 years ago?
- How will I feel if I let go of fear and doubt in my life; what is the worst that can happen if I take a risk doing what I love?
- Why do I continue to attract unhealthy relationships?
- What is holding me back from moving forward with a new relationship or career?
- What do I really need to make me happy every day?
These are some questions to help you start thinking and understand your beliefs about a situation or the patterns that you might be repeating in relationships that are no longer serving you. It can be hard to accept that we are creating everything, our world starts within and if we don’t do the work to heal the past hurts or negativity the mind will continue to repeat the same programme. Start recognising that your life can be on autopilot until you change your thoughts and beliefs about your life. Believe you can heal and change your life, everything starts with you and you can succeed at whatever you set your mind to. If you are thinking limiting beliefs about yourself, your situation you will see negativity in your life. However, if you think positive thoughts and believe that everything is always working out for you, your energy will vibrate at a higher frequency to attract the positive people and situations into your personal reality. Learn to love yourself and forgive yourself for the past to be able to move forward with positive energy. Schedule time for self-care to pamper and treat yourself and connect to your inner self and love the person you are becoming. Try to remove fear and negative situations in your life and allow yourself to love every moment in your life. Love both the good and bad times as you will realise that this includes every aspect of who you are and once you realise this, you can continue healing the parts of yourself that are holding you back. Everything is about healing, growing and finding your purpose in this life. Loving yourself is the most important gift you can give yourself. No one can tell you how to live your life as everything is your decision, you are creating your world from your thoughts, only you can make that happen.
“Until you love yourself, you will never know who you really are and you won’t know what you’re really capable of.”
Louise Hay
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