This is the time for New Year’s Resolutions.  And next week we will have forgotten all about them (or is it just me?)  I’m not against resolutions, per se.  There is nothing quite like a new beginning to inspire change in your life.  However, I have found that I’m not so good at keeping resolutions.  Often times we make them too specific or too grandiose, and in the end, we give up on them.  We focus on outcomes instead of action,

There are many alternatives to the resolution.  As a matter of fact, you can always try a couple to see which works best for you.  Just keep them simple and focused so you don’t overwhelm yourself into failure.

1.  In January, I am starting another bookclub/workshop session on my book 90 Days to Holistic Wellness.  The book walks you through making 1 small change each week for 12 weeks.  The changes are small and manageable and cover many different aspects of Body, Mind, Heart and Soul.  After 3 months, you’ve made many improvements to your lifestyle on which to build upon.
If you aren’t close enough to join the group, simply work through it on your own.  That was the actual intention of the book anyway.  You can get a copy HERE.

2.  Word of the Year.  Choose one over-arching word to inspire you and keep you marching in the right direction.  The word can be anything that has meaning to you or that you want more of in your life, such as:  Compassion, Love, Self-Love, Abundance, Passion, Creativity, Acceptance, Strength, Hope, Health, Family, Friendship, Mindfulness. 
Choose a word that resonates with you.  Then, journal about it, meditate on it, write it on a postit and put it on your frige…and let it inspire and lead you all year long. 

3.  Set weekly mini goals, based on balancing your Body, Mind, Heart and Soul.  Decide each week what you want to accomplish that week, to feed these aspects of self.  I use my bullet journal to keep track of these.

4.  Pick up a copy of Gretchen Rubin’s book “The Happiness Project”.  It's filled with great ideas and inspiration for creating a better version of yourself throughout the entire year.  You can get a copy HERE.

5.  Make a list of your top 5 life priorities.  Post them on your refrigerator, write them in your calendar and make a point every day of prioritizing these things.  When you give them your attention over time wasters like TV, FaceBook or whatever else tends to steal your time, you will see positive change in your life.

The concept of a New Year’s resolution is simply to identify a priority and set a goal toward it.  What ways do you have of identifying your priorities and making sure you meet them?  Feel free to share in the comments.

Happy New Year – may 2017 be wonderful!
 Tracy

A few months ago I stumbled upon a wonderful podcast…about books.  While it might not sound like the most interesting topic, the first episode I listened to had me hooked.  The discussion was great and I finished the episode with a post-it note list of 3 books that I wanted to read.  The next episode left me with a couple more and after listening to the entire archive I have added almost 100 books to the list.  Listening to these episodes helped me rediscovered my love for reading.  I used to read all the time, but I had reached a point in my busy life in which I was not prioritizing reading.  

Have you experienced this?  Finding yourself so busy you don’t make time for something you love?  If you know someone that is passionate about something, you know that they will prioritize it and find time in their busy calendar to fit it in.  So, I started to do the same with reading.  I would carry a book with me to read any time I had a moment.  I started listening to audio books and using my kindle.  Often I find myself reading 3 books at once (one paper, one kindle, one audio).  While I’m still busy (I work full time, run my own business and have a family & home), I have managed to read over 40 books in the last 6 months! 

This time of year we are especially busy.  Holidays can really over extend our to-do lists, but I urge you to make time for yourself and things you enjoy.  Prioritize what you love, what you enjoy, what makes you happy.  If you make something your priority, you will find the time for it!

Oh, and that podcast?  Modern Mrs Darcy's What Should I Read Next….give it a listen and make time for something you enjoy this holiday season!

Tracy