9 Tips to Help You Make a Fresh Start in 2018

So…
 
Making a Fresh Start is the theme for the month on this blog, and as a result I’ve been spending a lot of time asking myself “what does Making a Fresh Start mean to you?” For me the phrase means having a chance to hit the pause button on my life so I can reassess and get clear about how well I’m taking care of me, in all aspects of my life – mentally, physically, emotionally and financially.
 
The list of tips below is the fruit of my reflections on the subject, and I hope my ideas on the subject will be helpful to you too.

1. Set resolutions that are feeling based: If you’re reading this post, you’re probably among the many folk who are hoping to begin the New Year on the right foot. For many people that means compiling a laundry list of resolutions – as they do at the start of every year – many of which will be forgotten by the time Valentine’s Day rolls in. But what if this year could be different? Well, if following through on your resolutions and feeling great while you do it sounds good to you, here’s what I suggest you do to tweak your resolution list this year. Instead of focusing on all the things you want to accomplish this year, turn your focus to how you want to feel. Is more happiness and joy what you are after in your life? How about peace and a sense of being more centred? Do you desire a greater sense of belonging and more love in your life? Write whatever comes up for you when you ask yourself the question, “How do I want to feel this year? Then spend the rest of 2018 (any beyond) living your way into your heart’s desires. 
2. Demonstrate gratitude. Get in the habit of looking for reasons to be thankful in your life. Whether it’s getting out of bed each morning, or crushing that presentation you had to do at work in front of the BIG boss, taking the time to give thanks for what you’ve got will go a long way to giving you a more positive outlook on life, and improve your health. (But don’t just take my word for it. Feel free to check out what the research has to say on this topic.)
3. Get out of your comfort zone. As they say, nothing great ever came from sitting safely in the bounds of your comfort zone. So, in 2018, get out there and try new things. Shake up your routine. It could be as simple a change as choosing to take a walk during your lunch hour once in a while instead of eating at your desk, or as big as finally getting up the nerve to do what it takes to pursue that dream or breakout goal you’ve been too afraid to even say out loud until now. Just decide to try something new, that forces you to grow and stretch, even the tiniest bit. Because, progress is progress no matter how slow you’re moving.  
4. Get Enough Shut Eye. Getting a solid eight-hours of sleep each night is good for you. FACT. You wake up feeling reenergized, rejuvenated, and perhaps most importantly, more productive. So, make the decision right now to get eight hours of sleep every night from here on out. Of course, there will be times when there will be no way you can make it happen, but just planning your days around getting eight hours of sleep a night will ensure you'll get way more of it than you did in 2017.
5. Learn to Eat Intuitively. For too many people the bulk of the focus for their New Year’s resolution is on losing weight. It’s their man goal year after year after year. But being in a constant let’s be honest, being in a constant battle with your body isn’t fun for anyone. So, now instead of spending your time and energy in a constant state of yo-yo dieting, in hopes that one day the weight loss will finally stick, why not focus on good, balanced nutrition instead? If you focus on eating intuitively, you will eventually will develop awareness around your body’s hunger cues, and make dietary choices that give your body what it needs to feel strong and healthy. 
6. Focus on prevention, not cures. In my practice, I have more than a few clients who only remember to come in when their pain is almost unbearable. They choose to suffer for weeks on end, telling themselves they can’t spare the time to give their body what it needs. But as the old adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So, this year, choose to be proactive about everything in your life – be it your health, your finances, your relationships, or whatever – and commit to doing whatever you can, from preventing any pain induced by your own neglect, from showing up in your life.
7. Schedule down time. Down time. We all need it, but so few of us make it happen in our lives. But this year can be different. Make the commitment to yourself to carve out some much needed downtime, so you can recharge your battery on a regular basis. Whether you choose to meditate, go for a weekly walk in the woods or just unplug from the “interwebs” for a few hours each week, scheduling a few moments of peace into your life will do you good. 
8. Move more. This one is a no brainer, folks. If you’re feeling stiff stretch. If you’re feeling lethargic get your blood pumping with some cardio. Listen to your body, it knows what it needs. Enough said.
9. Infuse more of what you love into your life. If you’re the all work and no play type, this one is for you. If you want to up the happiness factor in your life, it’s important that you take time out to do things you really enjoy – regularly, not just on special occasions! So, schedule in those lunch dates with your friends, go out and dance more often, curl up with that book you’ve been dying to read, or _________________ (insert whatever activity puts you in your happy place here). Choosing to infuse more of the things you really enjoy into your life will allow you to put the best version of your BE-YOU-tiful self into the world, more consistently? And who among us doesn’t want more of that? 

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Now, before you run off, why not take a few moments to share what are you doing to reset and Make a Fresh Start for 2018 in the comments?

Till next time,

​B