Off To A Great Start: 10 Ways to Make Your Life Easier in 2007

Welcome to 2007!   If you're like me, every so often you like the feeling of starting over fresh and getting organized, and what better time to do that than at the beginning of a new year?  Here are some steps designed to help you review and improve all areas of your life. 

1.         Slow yourself down.  The first thing I recommend is to stop rushing through your life so fast that you miss the little things.  Like John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."  And by being a little more organized, you will be able carry out your responsibilities at a much less stressful pace, and enjoy yourself.

2.         Leave the past behind.  Whatever happened last year that made you angry or upset you, let it go -- it's gone and over with, so forget all about it.  Say "Good riddance to bad rubbish!" and open your mind to new possibilities, and look forward to upcoming adventures.

3.         Review the strengths and weaknesses of all areas of your life.  Take an inventory of what needs to be changed or improved or removed - literally, make a list!  On one side, write down all the good things you've accomplished.  On the other side, write down an honest self-analysis of how you'd like things to be.  Then your mission will be clear.

4.         Divide your "To Do" list into five sections:  Home, Relationships, Physical Fitness, Work, and Spiritual/Mental Health.  As you do this, you should begin to feel more organized and in control.  You will also feel less overwhelmed by what may look like insurmountable tasks.

5.         Start at Home.  Put away the holiday decorations, file old papers, organize your closets, throw out or donate anything you don't use or wear, go over your finances and put yourself on a budget.  As you begin to actually see more organization, you will feel inspired by your accomplishments and will be more eager to tackle the rest.

6.         Examine your relationship(s)…  not only with your partner, but also with family and friends.  Check in with loved ones with whom you haven't spoken in a while and make an effort to speak kindly to those you love on a daily basis --  "please" and "thank you" are always appreciated.  Also, take the initiative to mend fences, and forgive those who have hurt you (even though that may mean moving on as well).

7.         Make some kind of physical fitness part of your daily routine.  You don't have to start out by making a commitment to an expensive gym or running 5 miles the first morning.  Simply pinpoint one-half hour of time during your day and make an effort to move around.  Take a walk, stretch, dance to some music, join a class - do something that will get your blood moving and strengthen your body.

8.         At work, give your space a makeover.  Organize your desk differently.  Trade in your old boring beige manila folders for some new colored ones.  Change your pictures or the frames.  Buy a plant, move things around - do something to make your workspace a little more comfortable for you.  Also take a look at your relationships with work associates.  Make a promise to yourself not to gossip anymore, and take some time to say hello to new employees who would love to feel included in your group of friends.

9.         Boost your mental health.   Remember all of the bad advice you received last year?  Dump it.  And those negative thoughts that run around in your head when you're feeling bad?  Label them in your mind as "Bad for Me" and dismiss them as soon as they rear their ugly heads!  By purposefully thinking positive thoughts, you will take control of your emotional and psychological health thereby improving your confidence and self-esteem.

10.       Set some goals.  Don't set the bar too high, or put too much pressure on yourself.  Just make a list of some reasonable things you'd like to accomplish, places you'd like to go, and things you'd like to do that you can begin to work towards right now.  For example, if one of your goals is to go back to school, the first thing you can do is get some brochures from different schools or go sign up.  If your goal is to buy a condo, your first move should be to look in the paper or call up some realtors and tell them what to look for in your area and price range.

I believe that by keeping yourself moving forward, you will always be on the path to your destiny - even if you take a few wrong turns along the way. 

Happy new year!

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