If you had a rough year, you’re certainly not alone. I think the world did!
There was so much ongoing change, disruption and uncertainty.
To help us all move forward gently, here are 20 ways to have a joyful year full of positivity, fun, good people and good vibes.
What can you add to the list?
1 – Surround yourself with people who lift you up
Surround yourself with people who lift you up instead of those who drag you down.
We all have them, although we don’t admit it!
This is a hard one as it involves potentially upsetting or cutting people out of your life. So start small if you must, by decreasing time spent with the Negative Nelly’s of the world.
Over the last few years, I realised that some of the people I associated with LOVED gossip, and honestly, it bothered me – especially because the walls were so thin and I was one of the subjects. And so I started to distance myself from them, and today have nothing to do with them.
Suggestions to try:
- Don’t gossip; walk away. People will adjust. If not, they aren’t worth it
- Only attend networking functions where you walk away feeling good about yourself and not dragging yourself home
- Don’t automatically connect with people online just because you met them, worked with them, exchanged business cards, etc.
- Volunteer and work with people with similar values to yourself
- Remove yourself from Facebook groups with a negative vibe.
2 – Focus on the positive
This can be a challenge, with a lot of negativity everywhere we turn. However, do yourself a favour.
Protect your mental health by steering clear of the negative wherever you can.
Instead, choose to embrace a positive mindset.
Choose to think and speak in the positive!
And if that means avoiding the news and social media, or walking away from gossip, then so be it!
Some may call this ignorance, but I call it bliss.
3 – Learn to live in the now
Learn to live in the now. After all, that’s where life happens!
Train yourself to go through life more mindfully. Focus on the present moment rather than what has happened or might happen in the future.
4 – If you’re not in love with your life, start changing it
If you aren’t in LOVE with your life, then change it.
And if you don’t love what you do or aren’t enjoying life, then it’s time to think about making a change. And if you think to yourself, ‘I’m too old’ or ‘I can’t do it’ we need to talk as you are never too old.
Change won’t happen overnight but will happen once you set your mind. Start small and take it from there. You can do it.
5 – Laugh often
My mate and I got stuck in traffic for THREE HOURS the other week, and it could have been a shit experience, but it was so much fun as we pissed ourselves laughing the entire time.
I haven’t had such belly laughs in ages, and it was a welcome reminder of how incredible and therapeutic laughter is!
6 – Have FUN
When was the last time you had some crazy-ass fun? I don’t care what it was doing or how much it cost!
Turn fun into a daily/weekly/monthly habit.
Once you do it enough, you’ll realise how much fun having fun is, becoming ingrained in your life.
7 – Practice gratitude often
Daily gratitude is such a simple daily choice you can make to have a joyful year.
Make it your mission to take 5 minutes daily to consider what you are grateful for. Expressing gratitude regularly will help you appreciate all that you have:
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”
Melody Beattie
Suggestions to try:
- Keeping a daily gratitude journal
- Make it your mission to tell one person a day how grateful you are for who they are / for something they have done / just because
- Write a thank you card to someone
- If you have a blog, write and publish a public gratitude list.
8 – Love beyond words
As well as telling people you love them more often, show them.
Spend time connecting with your loved ones on a deeper level. Make time for intimate moments and new shared memories.
Hand-make special cards and gifts that don’t necessarily cost much but mean much more.
Re-find the pleasure in a simple hug or something as simple as sitting silently watching the sunset.
9 – Make self-care your priority
Learning to look after yourself is important, but let’s be honest – most of us find adulting super hard!
I hear you!
Even though I preach on and on about self-care, I certainly have my moments where I FAIL and then kick myself tenderly in the ass afterwards!
That is why I’ve pulled together a list of 64 ideas to help all of us practice self-care because it’s pretty important and is certainly one of the keys to living a happier and healthier existence.
Now tell me, how will you make self-care a priority this year?
10 – Learn something new
Did you know you can learn stuff for FREE!!! I know, right.
Okay, I know we have the internet, but so many places offer FREE courses these days that can upskill you in a matter of weeks, so you are ready for your next challenge or change!
Check out:
Note: Most programs offer certification for a cost. This isn’t necessarily needed, so consider your personal circumstances and how important this is to you.
11 – Release anger
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha
Just think about it. Anger eats away at you and is SO not worth it! Buddha was incredibly wise.
Note to self: I need to remember this quote next time I’m in the car with my husband, and he’s all road ragey!
12 – Love yourself more
Yes.
Love yourself more.
You can do it, and you are certainly worthy of it.
13 – Own your age
Whatever age you are turning this year, own it.
Okay, it could be a bit of a challenge, but it’s one you should accept! Rock whatever age you are, laugh off any niggling fears and accept my permission to act and dress ‘young for your age’ (not that you need it!).
This year I turn 43 (ARGH!), which is sitting kinda uncomfortably with me at the moment, but I’m not going to let this prevent me from living life to the full this year and having one hell of a birthday party!
14 – SLOW DOWN
Learn to SLOW DOWN this year and be more mindful in everything you do! My take on it is this: If it’s not life or death, it can wait. Seriously.
15 – Celebrate the small things as you slow down
So many of us are in such a hurry that we’ve forgotten to take the time to smell the roses.
As you learn to slow down and be more mindful, tune in to how good the small things are in life – the rustling of the leaves of a tree as the wind blows, how good a hot shower feels, how delightful your morning coffee, tea or juice is.
16 – Don’t be so judgmental/needy/irritable/[insert bad habit here]
I’ll fess up and admit that I can 1) be judgmental and 2) be a bit irritable, especially when I’m stressed. It’s human nature, though, something I will focus on.
17 – Forgive
“When you forgive, you in no way change the past – but you sure do change the future.” – Bernard Meltzer
Let whatever baggage you hold on to go and learn to forgive and change your future. This could even mean looking within and forgiving yourself. The past is the past, and things have happened, but with acceptance and forgiveness, you can move forward.
18 – Practice caring less
Okay, this sounds harsh, but it has done wonders for me as I used to care too much about everything, which led to crippling anxiety.
So why not give it a try yourself?
Go ahead and put yourself in control of your feelings. It doesn’t mean you don’t care; it’s just that you don’t let so many things bring you down or rather are in control of what you do and don’t care about.
19 – Spend time with people who make your heart sing
Have a more joyful year by spending time with people who lift you up and make you feel good.
Be it friends, family, your local community or your online tribe, spend time with people and do things that make your heart sing!
Here are some things to try:
- Volunteer your time for a cause close to your heart
- Mentor someone for free
- Hold an impromptu dinner party with friends
- Get out of the house and meet your family for a picnic
- Take some classes with your best bud.
20 – PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE
Do you feel lost or anxious when you don’t have your phone on you?
And how many times a day do you mindlessly scroll through your email and social feeds?
How much of your life slip by when you’re engrossed in your phone?
Is it time to change your digital habits?
And yes, I’m a reformed smartphone-addicted person. Lesson Learned.
Disconnecting from your digital devices may seem scary. However, it can be beneficial to your mental and physical health.
Here are some tips to help you disconnect online and reconnect offline.
End Note
How can you have a joyful year? What tips are you going to try this year? Or perhaps this list has given you some ideas of your very own?
I’d love you to share them with me!
