I generally take the first week in January to revisit this past year and collect my thoughts and life back together again. December is always crazy busy for me. I need to take that first week in January to gather my thoughts, plan my year and set which personal and professional goals I would like to achieve for the new year ahead. Below are a few suggestions that might help you reset for 2025, motivate you back from the Christmas holidays and inspire you to start fresh.
1 Digital detox
Cut down the use of your phone and social media apps and utilise the "do not disturb" function on your phone. Explore the digital wellness app to help you see how often you pick up your phone, how long you spend aimlessly scrolling, and where your time wasters are. I will be using my Google Pixel digital wellness tool, so I can see how many times I unlock my phone, how many hours I am actively using it for work and for how long I am aimlessly scrolling. This will be eye-opening for many people as we don't think we are wasting as much time as we realistically are. I don't know about you but I pick up my phone way more than I need to. It's also a habit, that becomes more frequent with anxiety and stress and can easily become an addiction.
2 Slow down
Slow down and take time out for yourself. Last year moved at such a rapid pace that I felt I could barely think before I was moved on to the next project. Take each day as it comes, rest and reflect before moving on to the next task. Most importantly ask yourself a few questions: is it a project that you would like to take on, do you have the time for it and what gratification will you receive from doing 'said task'? Take the time to assess your surroundings and commit to those that you want.
3 Go for a long walk through the countryside
Get outside and go for a long walk through the woods, through the park or along the beach to blow away those cobwebs and fill your lungs with fresh air. Walk briskly to get that blood pumping around your body, or choose a slower pace to take in your surroundings and use this time to unwind and think about your year. Plan a regular walking routine in your day, whether it's walking in the morning before work or walking at the weekend with friends.
4 Declutter and organise your space.
If you're anything like me, December leaves your home disappointingly disorganised, cluttered and quite frankly a total mess. It's time to put things away. Tidy up and get rid of what you don't use. We've been de-cluttering our home this past week sorting things out, organising and getting things out the door before they remain for another year.
5 Clean your home.
I love a clean home to start the year. Hoover and mop floors, and wipe down surfaces. Keep that sink clean, put away any piles of stuff that have been building up and most importantly make sure your bedroom is your sanctuary, clear it of negativity and anything work-related. It should be a relaxing space to retire, forget the world and sleep well. Change your bed sheets. Nothing beats the feeling of crawling into clean sheets at night to start the new year ahead. Plump up your pillows and spritz a relaxing pillow or room spray to aid a good night's sleep.
6 Have a food declutter.
Clear out your fridge. There's so much leftover food from Christmas that we really don't need to be consuming, especially if we have new exercise and diet goals we would like to achieve for 2025. We can clear out the chocolates, the cheeses, and the sweet treats as we enter a fresh year with new healthy goals.
7 Create a food Plan.
Schedule your food for the coming week and hit the supermarket. January is always a time to start eating healthy and those new diet plans start alongside those half-price gym memberships. Planning your food the week ahead will give you a higher chance of success and sticking to your planned healthy meals, with a lower chance of reaching for bad food choices.
8 Selfcare
Add some self-care to your lifestyle. Reassess your skincare routine, order some new beauty products, and give your hair a treatment. Have a Mini manicure and give yourself a fresh blow dry and then you will feel ready to take on the world!
9 Create an exercise Plan
Incorporate exercise into your schedule whether it's going for a walk, strength training, calisthenics, or whichever you fancy. You're more likely to stick to these routines once they're scheduled into your diary on a regular basis. Exercise gets the endorphins running, uplifts you, and makes you feel a million times better, it will increase your sleep quantity and help you relieve any pent-up stress.
10 Buy a new journal or diary
Buy a new journal, notebook or diary and get planning. Find a system that works for you and will keep you on track and organised for the year ahead. We start the beginning of January with so many good intentions that barely reach February. By writing your plans down and scheduling your time, you're most likely to achieve success and make positive steps to achieve your goals.
11 Plan your schedule.
Plan your schedule for the year ahead. Add in those all-important birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, holidays and whichever other events you may have to get you set up for the year. You can then plan your annual leave, hair appointments etc.. around them. Look at your year as a whole to see where you would like to be at the end of 2025 and the steps you need to take to get there.
12 Visit friends and Family
There's nothing like being surrounded by our friends and family and the people that you love to uplift you. Make time for those that you love and care about. Spend time with them, share stories and create new memories to talk about in years to come.
13 Reflect and plan your goals.
Reflect on the past year, look at your weaknesses and where you can improve in all aspects of your life. Look at your failings and see them as opportunities to progress and learn from them. Study your highlights, and your strengths, expand on those, use them to your advantage and keep moving forward. Any steps to reach you towards your goals are moving you in the right direction, no matter how small each step may be. We can learn so much about ourselves, so take the time to reflect and don't be in a hurry to jump into the next year. Sometimes life lessons and treasures can be hidden among the chaos and pitfalls of each passing year.
Love
Hay x
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