1. If you’re going to make resolutions, don’t make too many.
Trying to do too much will pull away your focus from what really matters. Focus on what's important to you this year and give that your all instead of trying to accomplish lots of goals. You may become disheartened if you can't reach them all, so ensure you're clear on what you want to achieve and why.
2. Think about your short, medium and long-term goals.
Even better than making resolutions is setting concrete goals for yourself. Flesh out an action plan to follow throughout the year so you can see what your focus should be as you achieve these goals. Plus, having smaller, medium, and long-term goals written down will help you to see how far you've come during the year.
3. Acknowledge all of your accomplishments from last year.
Take some time to revel in your “wins” from last year. Think about your successes and the hard work that went into making those accomplishments happen. It’s always a good idea to take stock of what you’ve done to stay positive and motivated. If you've already done that, then you can definitely do this!
4. Celebrate these accomplishments.
Once you’ve made either a mental or physical list of what you’ve gotten done this year, it’s time to celebrate. That may be with a party or a day at the spa or treating yourself to a movie… whatever it is, dedicate some time to feeling good about what you’ve done. Celebrating your achieved goals is a fantastic way to keep yourself motivated throughout the year.
5. Use your holiday to enjoy yourself
As you get revved up for the New Year, don’t forget to relax. It’s important to use your holiday vacation to recharge before another crazy year begins. Taking some time off will give you a chance to feel relaxed, it helps you to avoid burn-out, and can get you mentally and physically ready to take on new challenges with a refreshed mind.
6. Reconnect with people in your network.
The holidays and the new year are a great excuse to reach out to professional and personal contacts. Give them an idea of what you’re up to and see how everything is going for them - with your new and revived contacts in place, it will put you in a good position throughout the year to get professional and personal advice and support when needed.
7. Look to love.
Take stock of the people you have in your life and spend some extra energy to make them feel how much you appreciate them. Putting focus on the people you love will give you a stronger relationship with them and can help you to feel good, even if you feel like you're not achieving your other goals. They might even be able to give you a hand in your resolutions to show their appreciation back. A focus on those you love will never be a waste of time and is always valuable.
8. Consider an internship abroad
If you’re looking for real-world, professional experience and the opportunity to travel to a foreign country as part of your new year goals or New Years resolutions, an internship abroad is the ideal blend of resume-building experience and adventure. Offering a professional, cultural, and personal experience, taking on an international internship will be one of your highlights of your year!
9. Give yourself some regular “me time.”
Set aside some time for self-care, whether it's once a week or once a month. The only criteria is that you’re treating yourself and you’re doing it alone so you can focus on yourself. It's a great time to recharge and help you gain internal focus.
10. Spend some time on expressing gratitude.
While on a walk or when you have some time to yourself, take an hour or two to really think about all of the different things you’re thankful for in your life. It can be anything at all that you appreciate from your morning coffee to the people around you or the chances you've had to make your dreams a reality. Focusing on the positive will put you in a good mindset throughout the day!
11. Daydream about your future.
Apart from your goals, aspirations and resolutions, take some time to dream. Let yourself fantasize about your life, your career, your travels… It’s important to have the time to dream big. You never know what ideas, passions and new goals may awaken when you let your mind dream without critical thought.
12. Remember the last year.
Cherish the best moments of last year. Look through the pictures you’ve taken, make a list of your favorite moments, call up your friends to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly. Whatever it is, make sure you take in the last year before all of your energy goes into the next. Appreciate what you had and take the things you enjoyed about last year into the new year and leave behind the things that won't serve you.
13. Think about what you learned last year
Spend some time looking back and considering what you did and didn't achieve and why. Think about how you’ll incorporate that knowledge and insight into the year ahead of you. Learning from experience is the best way to improve your skills!
14. Focus on behavior, not results
As you gear up for your New Year, you probably have an idea of what you want to achieve by the end of December. As you pursue your goals, it’s important to maintain focus on behaviors, what you’re doing, not the results you’re getting. The results will come if you stay focused and stay patient. If you focus on improving your behaviors, the visible or tangible results will come later.
15. Start planning a trip somewhere.
Travel adds new facets to your life. New places, new languages, new ways of life… Traveling can open up a new world and help us remember what’s really important. It's also an opportunity to change your worldview, experience something you wouldn't ordinarily, and get out of your comfort zone. It can make you more confident and enrich your year!
16. Get some new grooves into your life
Update your playlists to incorporate some new jams. It will bring you new energy for a new year. Music is a powerful tool that can change your mood - create a playlist of songs that make you feel cheerful, confident, or motivated so you have an instant dose of good vibes at your fingertips.
17. Smile.
It’s free. It makes you feel better. It makes other people feel better. Studies show that smiling, even when you're not feeling your best, releases endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. This makes you feel happier and relaxed, reduces your blood pressure and stress levels. So, not only will a smile put a smile on other people's face, it's also got great health benefits!