5 Things to Do to Start the New Year off Right (+ Free Printables)

It’s time for a fresh start! If you’re looking for ways to start the new year off right, here are 5 ways you can set yourself up for success this year. Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to having your best year ever!

It’s that time of year again where we reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the future.

But what if you don’t want to make any new year’s resolutions?

What if you don’t want to make new promises about healthy habits and losing weight? Or about starting million new things that, after a few weeks, make you feel too overwhelmed that you end up doing none of them?

No worries! You can still start off your new year right.

Here are 5 awesome things you can do instead to have a fresh start for the upcoming year.

1. Take yourself on a date to reflect and brainstorm

Take yourself on a date for a few hours, grab a cup of coffee and bring your new notebook. Take a moment to reflect on the previous year and brainstorm a few things you’d like to do in the upcoming year.

These things you brainstorm can be anything:

• Getting a new job
• Learning a new skill
• Improving your self-esteem
• Going for a walk regularly with your best friends
• To fall asleep at the same time every night, and get a good night sleep
• To focus more on your relationships or on yourself
• To start a new morning routine and stick to it
• Having a date night or a family night every week
• Concentrating on your emotional health and mental well being
• Redesigning your business’ entire website
• Supporting more small business owners
• Starting a new hobby

Just write down whatever comes to mind.

2. Set goals for the year

Go through the list you brainstormed and see if you can find a few things you could choose as your primary goals for the next year.

Think about where you’d like to see yourself at the end of the year.

Set 2-5 goals. Write them down on your vision board and then to a goal setting sheet.

Related post: 10-step method to set goals you’ll achieve

Try to include goals for your business or job and your personal life.

And make sure your goals are SMART:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic
• Timely

Meaning that you’ll write down precisely what you want to achieve, how you’ll know that you’ve reached your goals, that you make sure the goals are realistic and have a timeline.

Then write 5-10 doable action steps for each goal.

3. Review both your financial situation & timely obligations

Review your financial situation and make a realistic budget and stick to it.

This doesn’t have to be too detailed. Just write down on one page the estimated net income and then on the other page your estimated monthly expenses.

Review also your calendar and time obligations.

Make sure, you’re not asking too much of yourself. If you’re running a family of 5 and you work full time or have your own business, maybe it’s ok, if you don’t have the time to practice for triathlon. <3

4. Buy a new planner or a notebook to write down your plans, new goals, and ideas. 

Planning and getting organized is a great way to set yourself up for success in the year ahead.

And there’s nothing better than starting a new year by breaking in a new planner or a notebook and start writing down your plans, even better goals, and new ideas.

Who knows, you might even like to try bullet journaling.

Related article: Best Dot Grid Notebooks (My Review)

5. Invest in yourself and live within your means

Live within your means both time-wise and financially. There’s barely anything more stressful than having too little time and money all the time.

And when you budget your time and money, also remember to invest in yourself. Do things that make you happy to have enough energy and stay positive no matter what life throws your way.

Want to make new year’s resolutions anyway?

And if you do want to make one new year’s resolution, make it about, for example, living purposefully and regularly treating yourself with something nice. Because you deserve it.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

Related Post & Free Printable

New Year’s Resolution

Grab this pretty New Year’s Resolution printable from this post:

5 super simple tips to accomplish your New Year’s resolution + Printable New Year’s Resolution template