It’s often tempting to fall into the trap of making resolutions, and wishing for this year to be over. But life shouldn’t be about waiting around till Monday, or trying to wipe the slate clean and change everything about yourself because of a new calendar. Sure, January can be a good motivation to loose a few pounds, but it can also be a motivation to eat more in the meantime.

 

If anyone should be looking forward to a new year, it’s me. When I reflect on 2018, I think of how I spent more time with my family than ever, but most of that time was in hospitals or because of funerals. I could make a list of all of the horrible things I hated about 2018, but that wouldn’t change the fact that they happened. And it would be lovely if as soon as we ring in the countdown on New Year’s, everything was magical and all of our hopes for a perfect New Year came true. Realistically, the January blues can kick in on the realization that, January is just a new month, not a new life.

I don’t mean to sound pessimistic, because I believe self-improvement and gratitude is so important. That’s why, when I reflect on 2018, I also think about my final year in college with my friends, my summer job and all of the lovely people I worked with, getting accepted to a Masters that I love, and meeting new friends along the way. It’s important to appreciate little things, even when the world seems like an awful place, because there’s always little acts of kindness that happen everyday.

‘Bettering yourself‘, isn’t something that you should aim to do when the clock strikes midnight because there’s nothing worse than waiting around to make something happen. People tend to think of these things as ‘chores’, whether it’s going to the gym, spending more time writing, visiting family or doing something you’re passionate about, bettering yourself should be something to look forward to. It’s about being true to yourself and doing things you enjoy. Psychology research shows how many people procrastinate with doing college work, house cleaning, or other important tasks, as they want to wait until they “feel like doing it”. But delaying important tasks, often becomes a bad habit and you could be waiting around forever for some inspiration to do the tasks. As Nike says, Just Do It. So take a little time each day to focus on you, and then it will become an enjoyable habit, not a dreaded chore.

 

So, don’t ignore the past and don’t live for the new year, but live for each day.

 

Happy new year  day to you all! 🙂