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What Does Your New Year Look Like?
By Ellen Corsi
As another year comes to an end, it’s time to reflect on the future. Yes, it is New Year Resolution time, and depending upon the way you look at it, it can be a very positive adventure.
There are always things that we said we were going to do, but never did. This is a good time to ask yourself, “Why not?” It’s also a great time to decide to do things in the next year that you will look forward to, and that’s a great motivator!
So you didn’t lose the 20 pounds that you wanted to by not going to the gym several times a week. Don’t beat yourself up about it, just put it back on the list again for this year and start to work on it. That’s the great thing about a new year, because you get to start all over again! As of December 26th, put away those cookies and Christmas goodies and start eating healthier with fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grain breads. Maybe it’s time to give some of those unhealthy foods a break, and know that you will actually feel better if you only eat them in moderation. Then when you do indulge, those foods become a treat! It’s also good to find a friend that has the same goal and work together on getting yourself in great shape!
Having wonderful friends and family members is a special thing, however, relationships with others can be tough sometimes, whether it is with a co-worker or family member. A wonderful goal can be to work toward mending these relationships that will reduce your stress level and make your overall life better and happier. This type of resolution can be a major burden lifter as well. Meet someone half way. Do a little compromising. When you are willing to open up, people will tend to respond to you in a positive way.
This is a good time to look at your finances for the new year as well. Credit card debt is one of those things that can drag you down and not allow you to have as much cash flow each month as you’d like. Look into ways of paying them off, and drop the credit card burden! Decide to create a budget for the year and payment plans for those nasty credit card debts and stick to it! By the end of the year, you will feel the weight lifted from your shoulders. Then, starting with a zero balance, pay your credit cards off each month and keep them under control.
New Year’s Resolutions should be looked at as goals, and we all know we have great intentions of what we would like to do to better ourselves and make us happy. However, with all the great intentions we start out with, many times we get caught up in our work life and home life, and they just don’t come to fruition. That’s life. It’s a journey. Start to look at your past decisions in a positive way, and your approach will become totally different than in past years, as you make your new list of resolutions.
December is a great month to review your current job situation and decide whether it’s time for a change. Is there a promotion that you have in mind? If there is, now is a great time to start working toward it. Whether it means taking some class work, or consulting with your boss about the possibilities for your career, now is the best time to start planning the process.
This time of year is also an excellent time to polish your resume for a new job hunt for the first quarter of 2008. Everyone knows that during the fourth quarter of the year hiring slows down, but picks up at the beginning of the year. Everyone has a new budget! It’s the best time to get your resume out there and go for the new job you are dreaming about! December is a great month to start planning your new job hunt approach. Think about what type of job you are looking for, then check out the market and see what possibilities are out there. Get a feel for it, and then plan your strategy, polish your resume and send it out. Get a jump on that job you’ve always wanted.
Speaking of dreaming, New Year’s Resolutions can also be a great time to decide to do something that you have wanted to do, but have never taken the time to plan and go for it. Maybe it’s a trip that you have been dreaming about for years. This is a good time to say, “it’s time,” and make a resolution that says you’re going to take that dream trip this year and start making plans! Start thinking about what time of year you would like to go, and decide when you want to take your vacation time. Start looking online for travel information about your destination. Look at fun places to stay and start to plan your trip. This is an exciting and positive way to approach the new year. It’s a fun way to kick it because it’s something to look forward to in 2008!
New Year’s Resolutions don’t need to be a drag if you mix them up with positive goals that will make your year fun as well as a productive one. We all know that looking forward to a new year of work can be daunting, but by creating new plans and resolutions of things that are important to you it can be a liberating experience as well.
After creating resolutions for the new year and working to make them happen, you will look back next December and say, “I’m so glad I did that!”
Have a wonderful new year! |
