5 steps to start the new year right

I'm about to put a tough year behind me, and I've been thinking about resolutions for the new year, things I can do to kick-start a better trend in my life. things that have happened in our lives this year are out of my control. But I CAN control how I live in the wake of the stuff that has happened in our lives.

I know the same might be true for you. Whether it's new or persistent illnesses (or anything else crappy for that matter), maybe you've had a tough year and you're ready to enter 2009 with a fresh mindset. I've got a few ideas that will get you in the mood for some major self-improvement. (If you've had a great year, terrific! Keep doing what you're doing. But still read on for some ideas to make it even better.)

Step 1. Get Consistent

Whether it's your nighttime going-to-bed ritual, or your getting-ready-to-face-the-day ritual, positive behavior patterns are comforting. Start with one area of your life and write out a few steps you can follow regularly. After you get  that nailed down, then add another one. Here are few examples:

Morning start-the-day ritual

1. Get up early & start right then BELIEVING it's a great day.
2. Take 15 minutes meditating on what I want my day to be like
3. Read something that feeds you.
4. A healthy breakfast (Thats a whole other subject, What is a healthy breakfast)
5. Now think about how you can effect some positive change in someone else's life today.

Step 2. Dig out from under your "pile"

Speaking from personal experience, there's nothing more intimidating than a big pile of to-do's sitting on your desk . With only the best intentions, I often set things aside so I can do them when I have more time, and then the pile just gets bigger and bigger until I'm afraid of it.

For your sake and that of everyone around you, it's time to dig out from under any piles you have in your life. They could be physical piles of stuff (like laundry, dishes, or bills) or mental piles (the running list you keep in your head of all the things you "should" be doing).

One: Identify your piles

Take a look around your environment and make a short list of your piles. The stack of stuff you keep meaning to get tailored, or the eight borrowed books you keep meaning to read.

Two: Set aside some time to start tackling your piles

Maybe it's just 10 minutes a day, or maybe you want to take a whole Saturday...it's up to you. But schedule that time in your calendar like you would any other appointment.

Three: Get digging

Honor those appointments with yourself and start tackling your piles. It might feel impossible at first, or frustrating or even boring, but do it. After a little while you'll feel a sense of relief that you're getting this stuff done. And eventually, as the piles are whittled away, you'll feel a sense of freedom. Enjoy it!

Four: Celebrate!

You're pile-free. Yay! Give yourself a treat.  

Five: Keep the piles from re-forming 

You know that time you scheduled to get rid of the piles? Keep that regular appointment in your calendar FOREVER. That's your anti-pile time, and doing it regularly will keep your piles from re-forming. Rinse and repeat.

Step 3. Dust off your journal and get writing

This one should be a no-brainer, It's pretty simple: Buy a blank book of some kind and start keeping a journal. Things you could write down every day:

• Exercise
• Food and drink intake
• Feelings and emotions
• Dreams and goals - Your Why
• Things you want to do for others

Write down as much (or as little) as you like, but do it every day. These notes will help you learn to take better care of yourself, so remember to review them every now and then.

Step 4. Build free time into your schedule

You may have spotted a trend in these five steps. Each of them asks you to designate time on a regular schedule to care for yourself in some way.

This is for good reason: As busy people, it's easy to let our self-care slip. Whether we're working hard, raising a family, or simply have otherwise unpredictable schedules, we need to make time and space to honor our needs.

Step four is all about making time for relaxation and fun. It could be 15 minutes a day, or every Wednesday night, or all weekend. It's up to you how much time to spend, and what to do with it. But if you don't set aside the time, it's almost guaranteed that it will get eaten up by some other task.

You may feel silly scheduling appointments with yourself, but you'll stop feeling silly once you realize how nice it is to know that everyday Saturday afternoon is "catch up on me time or that every day at noon you get to read another chapter of your new book. I recommend getting yourself a copy of The Shack by Paul Young.

Step 5. Practice thankfulness

This one is so easy, you barely need to think about it. But it's SO necessary it just might be the most important step.

There are good things, in life, even if they're hard to spot. So you need to get into the daily habit of practicing thankfulness.

Spend a few minutes every morning, thinking about what you're thankful for. Thankful that you woke up, or that you have the energy to get out of bed, do I really need to help you make a list?

It doesn't really matter what you're thankful for. What matters is that you take a moment each day to appreciate the things you have or that your going to have!