The New Year is almost here, and it’s crazy how fast this year has gone by! T
oday’s post will be about 10 productive things you can already do to set you up for a great year!
I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking forward to the new year.
The Christmas vibes, the good resolutions, and all the hype around them make this time of the year my favorite.
Have goals, make a plan, and work hard to make 2024 your best year ever.
Before 2023 comes to a close, here are 10 Productive Things you can do to prepare for a fantastic new year!
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10 Things To Do To Make A Fresh Start Next Year
1. Declutter Your Space
The end of the year is the perfect time to start clearing out and organizing your place.
Clean out your cupboards and fridge, organize drawers, and give or sell things you don’t use anymore.
Starting the year in a clean and organized space is the best way to make a fresh start! It is also the perfect occasion to change your decoration and rethink your space.
Your environment has a huge impact on your mental health and productivity. Rethinking your environment is the best way to set you up for success.
2. Take Care of Your Finances
Take a fresh look at your budget, and check your investments and savings. Do you already have an emergency fund? If this is not the case, it is the perfect time to create one!
The end of the year is also a great time to calculate your net worth, evaluate your spending, and set new financial goals.
Doing so will help you start the New Year off on the right foot.
3. Start a New Workout Routine
January is usually when most people decide to work out more. Why would you wait until January to do so?
The chances are that with the holidays, family dinners, and cold weather, working out will not be the first thing on your mind in January.
Starting to work out now will help you make it a habit and get healthier before January 1st.
4. Work on Your Anxiety
Year-end is a very stressful period for many of us. There is so much going on at this time of the year.
It’s really easy to get overwhelmed and no longer enjoy the magic of the holiday season. If this is your case, a simple way to keep your anxiety in check is to meditate for a few minutes every day.
Meditation is a powerful tool to fight anxiety and depression.
Did you know that practicing meditation regularly actually changes the neuroplasticity of your brain?
Our brains react like any muscle in our body. Just as weight-lifting helps us grow muscles, meditation strengthens the area of the brain responsible for well-being.
It has also been demonstrated that meditation decreases the size of the amygdala, which, along with the hippocampus, is responsible for emotion management and anxiety.
If you want to try meditation, I recommend the Headspace app and the Netflix series. This app has many great guided meditations, which is the best way to try meditation for the first time.
5. Improve Your Diet
It takes a lot of optimism to start a diet in December. Trust me.
I live in Switzerland, and I have already tried to start a diet in winter several times. But with the traditional cheese fondues and raclettes organized every week, losing weight is simply impossible at this time of the year.
If you live in a part of the world where it usually gets really cold in winter (if you don’t, lucky you!), you can relate.
Still, it doesn’t mean you can’t start paying attention to your diet and alcohol intake. Being aware of the changes you need to implement and starting with small steps is already a good start.
6. Reflect and Set New Goals
Look back on the year and spend some time reflecting. Did you achieve all of your goals this year? If you didn’t, what went wrong? What are your goals for next year?
Starting the year with written goals and a plan to achieve them is a great way to know what direction you want to go in the new year.
Start writing your goals down, have a plan, and interact with content that inspires you.
This is a simple but effective way to stay motivated and consistent and achieve your goals faster.
7. Create New Routines
Morning and Night routines are my favorite ways to stay organized and productive. If you have not yet implemented routines, year-end is the perfect time to do so.
Think about the goals you have set for next year. What actions can help you achieve them?
Think about the little productive things you can do every day to achieve your goals and start adding them to your new routines.
Stay focused and consistent to make the new year your best year ever!
8. Get Inspired
One of the positive impacts of this pandemic, perhaps the only one, is that many of us were forced to spend more time alone.
I have been working from home since February 2020, and although the first few weeks felt strange, spending time alone has taught me a lot.
I finally found time to take a break, reflect on my goals, read more books, and listen to podcasts again!
Spending time alone is essential for personal growth. The best way to work on yourself is to look for inspiration every day.
Find a new book to read, new podcasts to listen to, or new documentaries to watch. You will quickly notice that taking the time to reflect can drastically change how you see the world.
9. Find the Perfect Planner
Whether you decide to go for a paper version or a digital planner, finding what works best for you is key to staying consistent.
Establish your planning strategy before January 1st to ensure you are ready to crush your goals.
If you are looking for a way to set goals, plan your days, and track new habits, this free 17-page planner will help you.
10. Take Care of Yourself
Self-care is so important to well-being and health. If you’re not used to taking care of yourself, this year-end is the perfect time to start.
Start a new skincare routine, buy new clothes, try new things, and start listening to yourself.
Looking and feeling good are so important to general well-being, which is key to being focused and consistent in the long run.
Final Thoughts
I hope this post inspires you to be more organized and productive. What are your goals for this new year? What will you be working on?
No matter what your goals are, you don’t need to wait until January 1st, next month, or next Monday to start working on them!
Today is the best time to start!