Almost New

Well, a new year is upon us.  How do you get ready to start a new year?  Do you, like everyone, make a plan that will surely fail?  I mean, not to be a downer but isn't that the routine we set ourselves up for? Is it inevitable?  Statistics show that 92% of all resolutions fail!! Are there resolutions that work?

Here are some ideas on planning a successful new year...

• Start small.  There's something about Auld Lang Syne that gets us all fired up and ready to change - everything! Resist the urge.  Choose just a couple of things to focus on.
• Write it down and make a plan.  We are really good at stating what we want but no plan for the journey of getting there.  Do you want to save money?  Writing that down isn't enough.  Plan out the details of saving money...how much will you want to save?  Are you willing to skip your favorite beverage addiction in lieu of saving a $4 a day?  
• Work the plan.  Have your goals and plans written where you can see them everyday.  The things we keep our attention on become the things that develop in our life.  Intention and attention is the secret to New Years success. 
• Do it now.  Procrastination is powerful.  Instead of saying to yourself, "I'll get to it after I do the dishes.", say, "I'll do it now."  Most tasks seem daunting when left in our head but the actual time it takes to accomplish that can require much less time if we just tackle it with vigor. 
• Forget about all or nothing.  We sabotage so many life goals by thinking we need to arrive with perfection intact.  Not so.  When flying a plane, pilots know that most of the time, the plane is straying off course and each moment requires a course correction.  So it is with us...veering from our plan doesn't mean an imminent fail.  Sticking to it is the thing that matters most. 

Whatever you want in life, it's yours.  It's yours if you are willing to change your mindset just a bit and keep those plans on your radar.  

So, what are the things you have planned for your New Year?

Don't Panic

We are headed into one of the most stressful seasons of the year...the Holiday season.  What we hope will be a month of giving and caring can often resemble more panic and overwhelm, as our list of things to do grows exponentially each day.   No matter what our well intention thoughts are, life can take a toll.

So, how do we avoid anxiety and panic during this party planning, gift buying, giving and spreading the light kind of month?

• Make a plan.  Keep it simple and reasonable.  
• Stay organized.  Lists can be burdensome but they do help to keep it all from getting muddled inside your head. 
• Know your limits.  It isn't a badge of honor to do more than you physically or mentally can. 
• Practice good sleep hygiene.  Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.  
• Take a break from traditions that create too much stress. Maybe it's time to create something new.
• Say no.  Remember that "No" is a complete sentence.  Though some people think they need an explanation along with a No, they don't. 
• No one is perfect, including you. Your friend's Instagram posts may look perfect, but they aren't so don't believe everything you see.  Say yes to being human this holiday season.  

If you have a history of anxiety and depression, just knowing that this time of year may not be your best time of year, is half the battle.  Only expect of yourself what you know you can manage.  Your family would rather have a calm, rested mother than one who is anxious and always in a panic.  This is not the season of guilt and shame, it's the season of new beginnings, hope and peace...not just on earth but in your heart and mind as well.  

So, make this Christmas season different.  Start some new traditions that truly do bring an extra measure of peace and hope as we inch closer to 2019.