| How to Start the New Year Fresh Posted: 31 Dec 2018 04:00 PM PST After you celebrate New Years Eve, it's time to get to work on those New Year's resolutions! If you are looking for a way to start the new year fresh, consider changing your look, tidying up your life, and setting goals and intentions. You can do things like get a haircut, donate unworn clothing, start a workout routine, or perform more random acts of kindness. Whatever approach you prefer, it's great to start the new year feeling refreshed and focused, so you are ready to take on the year ahead. EditPolishing Your Look - Get a haircut to freshen up your face. Schedule an appointment with your stylist early into the new year. You can get a trim for a subtle upgrade or go for a bold new hairstyle for a totally different look. This way, you'll feel fresh for the year ahead.
- For instance, if you have long, straight hair, consider chopping it to shoulder-length and adding some layers.
- If you have a short hairstyle, consider cutting the sides even shorter for a subtle change. For example, if you have a pixie cut, you can take it even shorter.
- Experiment with your look by trying something new appearance-wise. Doing something new with your appearance can help you feel confident as you enter the new year. You can do things like rock a bold lip color, get a new facial piercing, or upgrade your current glasses style. Find what works for your style and budget, and go for something new![1]
- You can also dye your hair a bright color, go on a shopping spree for new clothing, or invest in a new pair of shoes.
- Start a fitness routine. Think about your current health and your overall fitness goals, and make a plan to improve your health based on where you are. For instance, you can start taking a 20-minute walk after work every day, or you can train to run a marathon in the fall. Start simply and gradually so you can stick with your goals.[2]
- If you are new to exercise, you can find a gym in your area and start going 3 times a week. Walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes each time to get started.
- If you are a fitness enthusiast, make a goal to improve your BMI or get a six-pack by the end of the year, for instance.
EditUpdating Your Attitude - Practice gratitude every day to fill your life with kindness. Practicing gratitude can boost your mood overall and improve your outlook on life. Each day before you go to sleep, write down 3 things you are grateful for. In addition, express your gratitude for the people in your life by telling them you appreciate them.[3]
- For example, you can write things like, "I am grateful for my cat," or "I am grateful for the sunshine today."
- Include a positive affirmation in your daily routine. Positive affirmations refer to a simple, short sentence that you can use as a reminder throughout your day. Using positive affirmations can boost your self-esteem over time, which is helpful when starting off a new year. To work with positive affirmations, find a phrase that works for you, like "I am worthy," or "I am capable of challenges." Tell yourself this first thing in the morning and throughout your day as you start to doubt.[4]
- Tailor your affirmation to your particular life and circumstance. For example, if you are working on being a more supportive friend, your affirmation can be "I am fun and loyal."
- Do random acts of kindness as often as possible. Random acts of kindness are small, deliberate actions performed to bring happiness to other people's day. Do these actions without expecting to get anything in return, but rather to brighten someone's day. This is a great way to start off the new year on a positive, compassionate note.[5]
- You can do things like giving generous compliments, smiling at strangers, and volunteer for charities.
- Pick up trash on the side of the road, help an elderly citizen cross the road, or give food to the homeless.
- You can also pay for the next person's coffee or give your server a large tip.
EditTidying up Your Environment - Start your spring cleaning early to tidy up your space. Shortly into the new year, clean up your room, kitchen, bathroom, and/or basement. Tidy up any cluttered areas, throw away garbage, and put away items that are out of place. This way, you'll enter the new year feeling neat and organized.[6]
- It is also helpful to clean out your car. Get rid of any trash, and sort through your center console and glove box, for instance.
- Sort through your clothes and get rid of those you don't wear often. The new year is a great time to take inventory of your wardrobe and get rid of items that no longer fit or suit your style. Take out the clothing in each of your drawers, and create 1 pile for clothing to keep and 1 pile for clothing to rehome. Then, fold your clothes neatly and return them to your dresser or closet. This helps you declutter your space and freshen up your style.[7]
- After you create a "rehome" pile, consider giving your items to your friends or family members, or donating them to a thrift store or consignment shop.
- Add a fresh coat of paint to your walls to freshen up your room. Consider repainting the walls of your home early into the year. Cover the floor and your furniture with a drop cloth, and use a paint roller to apply indoor house paint to your walls. You can pick a new color for a change of pace, for instance.
- Purchase a few new decorations to revamp your space. Visit a local thrift or home supply store, and pick out a couple new items to redecorate with. For example, you can get 2-3 decorative throw pillows, a rug, a lamp, or a new bookshelf. Adding a few new items can make your home feel fresh and new.
- You can also get small items like paperweights, vases, and magnets.
EditSetting Goals and Intentions - Aim to try 1 new thing every month. In addition to your personal resolutions, it is helpful to strive to get out of your comfort zone at least 1 time each month. You can schedule 1 new thing each month, or you can pick a few things and choose when the time comes. Regardless, choose to do something you've never done before or learn about something brand-new to expand your horizons and grow as a person.[8]
- Trying a new thing can be as simple as eating a cuisine you've never tried before.
- You can do active things like going kayaking, horseback riding, or skydiving.
- Other ideas include taking a language class, joining a yoga studio, or planning a camping trip.
- Make a bucket list of 20-50 things to try in the upcoming year. Shortly into the beginning of the year, sit down with a notebook and write out several things you want to do throughout the year. Choose simple, easy things such as "eat more vegetables" or specific, realistic goals like "Go back to college." Add as many items to your list as you feel compelled, and check them off as you complete them throughout the year. The list provides a visual reference, helpful when trying to set goals.[9]
- You can use this list to help get ideas of new things to try each month.
- Ideas for your bucket list could include visiting New York City, picking your own pumpkin, adopting a dog, taking a cooking class, and traveling to the beach.
- Update your resume so you're ready for new opportunities. Shortly into the new year, open up your resume, read it over, and look for ways to improve it. For instance, if you started a new job at the end of the year, add it under your "Employment" section. You can also update the dates to reflect the new year. This way, if you want to apply for a job, you are ready when the time comes.[10]
- You can also update your contact information or address.
- Strive to improve your sleep habits. When the new year rolls in, getting more meaningful and restful sleep is a great goal to add to your resolution list. You can aim to relax more before you go to sleep, such as taking a bath, drinking chamomile tea, and reading a book. You can also go to sleep and wake up around the same time each day to get into a natural rhythm. Improving your sleep will, in turn, help you feel focused and energized throughout the year.[11]
- You can also use white noise or nature sounds to help you fall asleep.
- Consider taking a melatonin supplement if you have trouble sleeping. Melatonin is a hormone produced in your brain that helps regulate sleep cycles. By adding 1-3 mg a day, you may get more restful sleep over time.
- Ask a friend to do some of these things with you. This is a great way to make new year's resolutions fun and engaging.
- Avoid setting too many goals. Sometimes, trying to do too many things at once gets overwhelming rather than inspiring. Keep your ideas realistic to your life, and start simple so you can get stuff done!
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| How to Acquire New Skills Posted: 31 Dec 2018 08:00 AM PST A large part of achieving both personal and professional success is learning new skills. All skills take time to learn, but you can simplify the process by setting goals and breaking the skill up into smaller steps. Practice every day and hold yourself accountable so you'll be able to add that new skill to your repertoire in no time. EditSelecting Your Skill - Think about skills that would benefit you. You may feel more motivated to learn a new skill if you pick something you think will benefit you in your work or daily life. Ask yourself if there are any skills that would help you get ahead at work, help you at school, or give you an advantage in your everyday life.[1]
- Skills that many people find useful for their education and career include learning a new language, programming, photography, writing, public speaking, data analysis, and cooking.
- List skills you would enjoy learning. Make a list of 5-10 skills that you think you'd enjoy learning. These don't have to benefit your job or schoolwork directly, although they can. Just think about things you've found interesting or that you've always wanted to learn how to do.[2]
- For example, have you always wanted to make your own scarf? If you have, then knitting or crocheting may be an enjoyable activity. Or, perhaps you want to learn how to play a new sport or take up a hobby like doing card tricks.
- Calculate how much time you can devote to learning. Think about how much time you can devote on a daily or weekly basis to learning your new skill. If you don't have a lot of extra time, a lower-commitment skill like learning to drive a manual car might be a good skill. If you have more time, a skill that takes a lot of practice, such as learning how to play an instrument, might be right for you.[3]
- Pick a skill that you actually have time for right now. Picking a difficult skill and hoping you can learn it when you don't have much time to practice is more likely to lead to you abandoning the skill.
- Focus on a single skill at a time. Pay attention to learning one skill at a time rather than trying to master multiple skills at once. If you divide your attention, it will take longer for you to master your desired skill.[4]
- This doesn't mean you can't learn lots of new skills. Just take the time to thoroughly learn the basics of one new skill before you move onto the next one.
EditGetting Started - Set a realistic goal. Your goal doesn't need to represent your endpoint with the skill. It should, however, encourage you to grow and push yourself as you learn your new skill. If, for example, you want to learn web design, your goal may be to build yourself an online portfolio that you design from scratch.[5]
- Don't make your goal too lofty to start. If you want to learn to cook, don't start with the initial goal of a 3-course meal. Instead, focus on learning how to make 1 dish really well. After you learn basic skills, you can learn more recipes and build up toward that meal.
- Break your goal down into steps. Even reasonable goals can feel overwhelming if you don't know where to start. Start by breaking your goal down into small steps. The exact number of steps you'll need will depend on your goal.[6]
- Think about your steps like lessons. Each step should be small enough that you can achieve it in 1-2 lessons, but not so small that it's not enough for a lesson unto itself. Remember, each step builds toward your goal. They may feel small now, but they'll accumulate.
- For example, if you're learning photography, a good step would be learning how to adjust the settings on your camera. This can usually be learned easily, but it's a bigger task than just learning to turn the flash on and off, which can usually be done in just a few seconds. Then, you can learn how to use light in photography, take still photos, take action photos, and edit photographs, for instance.
- Choose a platform that fits your learning style. There are online tutorials, in-person classes, books, articles, and videos that can teach you all kinds of skills. Think about what learning platforms best enable you to absorb and apply new information.[7]
- If you're a visual learner, for example, try video tutorials instead of reading a text-only book or listening to a podcast on the subject.
- Think about what is most conducive to your new skill, too. Learning a new language using only books, for example, may not be the best choice because the text alone doesn't give you a good idea of word pronunciation and accents in everyday speech.
- Find a mentor who is an expert in your skill to guide you through the process. The best tool in your journey to build a new skill is to find an expert to tutor you and help guide your progress. Reach out to an expert in your skill and set up a face-to-face meeting to talk to them about possible mentor opportunities.[8]
- In some fields, mentoring is a formal process, while in other fields, it's more organic. Do some research online to see how others learning your desired skill found a mentor.
- For example, if you want to learn to use Microsoft Excel, ask a friend or family member who is familiar with the program to help you learn how to use it. If you want to learn to windsurf, you can hire an instructor with a lot of experience to teach you how to do it.
- Set deadlines for yourself. Deadlines will help keep you accountable and help you stay on track. If you set a deadline without an external commitment, make sure you invest something in your deadline to keep you moving forward.[9]
- If, for example, you say you're going to be able to conjugate 10 verbs in Spanish by next week, reward yourself when you accomplish your goal. For instance, treat yourself to lunch or spend 1 hour doing something you love without feeling guilty.
- If you want to make an external commitment for your deadline, you could try something like signing up for an open mic night to hold you to your goal of learning to play a song on the guitar.
EditBuilding Your Skill - Learn about the fundamentals of your skill. The first thing to do is understand the basics of the skill you want to learn. For instance, if you want to master tai chi, read about the history and development of this martial art. If you want to learn to change your own oil, spend some time learning about the function of oil in an engine and check out a diagram of your specific vehicle's engine bay.[10]
- Take courses and tutorials in your skill. Classes, workshops, and tutorials are great ways to help you build your skill and network with others learning the same skill. If you want consistent formal instruction, look for classes at your local community college, community center, or professional organization.[11]
- You can also check with professional organizations, hobby groups, local businesses, and other organizations to see if they offer workshops or tutorials in your skill. These are usually 1-2 day events that help you focus on building a single aspect of your skill.
- For example, if you are learning to cook, a local specialty food store may have a workshop on learning to cook make-ahead meals or cooking for college freshmen.
- Start with the first step and move on as you master each portion. The only way to learn is by doing, so start trying out your new skill. Use the resources available to you, whether that may be reading a tutorial or having an expert walk you through the steps. Complete each step and ensure you understand it fully before moving on.
- For instance, if your goal is to learn to type, begin by learning the home keys. Once you've mastered those, move on to the keys you type with your right hand, then the keys you type with your left hand.
- Ask your mentor for help if you get stuck. Learning a new skill can be frustrating, but don't give up when you hit a roadblock. Instead, seek help from an expert. Your mentor can explain what's going wrong and help you correct the process so that you continue to make progress.[12]
- Practice a little every day. Building any new skill takes time, so you must dedicate yourself to this endeavor. After you've learned a portion of your new skill, take time every day to practice what you've learned. This should be separate from the time you take to learn a new portion of your skill.[13]
- For example, if you're learning to play the piano, set aside an hour a day to practice: 30 minutes to review chords you've already learned and an additional 30 minutes to learn new chords.
- The exact amount of time you'll need to practice each day will depend on the skill your learning, as well as your personal learning style.
- The best way to learn is to do. Regardless of how unprepared you feel, make sure you are continually physically engaged.
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| How to Say Happy New Year Posted: 31 Dec 2018 12:00 AM PST People all over the world ring in the New Year with gusto and a hope for a fresh start. To commemorate the occasion, it is important to spread the joy and positive vibes by wishing people "Happy New Year." Sometimes, this phrase is said so reflexively that you may not notice just how much the expression can positively affect someone. While there is no fixed way to wish someone well in the coming year, there are different ways you can bring emotion and meaning back into the commonplace greeting. EditWishing Family and Friends Happy New Year - Say the greeting aloud to someone at midnight on New Year's Eve. Be bold and shout it at the top of your lungs, or simply wish people a happy New Year individually. Say it to family members, friends, or to people you interact with while out in public. [1]
- Show affection to your loved ones as you greet them. Giving a hug, or even a kiss on both cheeks, can show that you genuinely wish them well at the start of the new year.[2]
- Also take interest in what your loved ones have to say or what is going on in their lives. Follow up your greeting by asking if they have any set plans or goals for the start of the new year. Maybe you have a New Year's resolution and want to share that with them as well.
- Send the New Year's greeting as a text message to friends and family. Compose and send the message at midnight on New Year's Eve if you know the person will be awake or wait to send the message out over the next week. Sending a text message is a good substitute when you can't greet someone in person.[3]
- Be expressive with your message. Use exclamation marks, and smiling or excited emojis galore. Sometimes text messages can seem flat, so make sure to dress the message up to adequately portray your excitement.
- Apps like SnapChat or Bitmoji will even have personalized filters or graphics for you to send along with your written message.
- Post about your past year on social media and finish it with New Year's wishes. Highlight some positive experiences you had like recalling a fun vacation or include some of the struggles you overcame like conquering a tough semester at college. Maybe even select a fun picture or a favorite quote related to New Year's and post it to your social media accounts. This will give an all-encompassing wish to your family and friends without having to message each person individually.[4]
- Give an insightful quote like one said by T.S. Eliot, "For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice."
- Pick quote from popular celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, "Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right," or even Brad Paisley, "Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one."
- Post a quote that is uplifting or inspiring, like one from Henry David Thoreau, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
- Mail out handwritten cards to loved ones a week before New Year's Day. Send a festive card for the occasion, and write a personal message to each person you send it to. People love to get cards in the mail, so make the new year a little brighter and mail out a card.[5]
- Write out a message that not only wishes the person a happy New Year, but one that also gives insight to your hopes for the new year. Maybe you haven't seen that relative or friend in a while, and in your card, you express that.
- Include a festive photo with the card. The photograph can be you wearing a celebratory sweater for New Year's, or it can be something as simple as you lounging outside with your pet. Pictures can easily be sent over social media, but sending a printed photo adds a personalized touch.
EditSaying Happy New Year in Different Languages - Shout "Bonne année" (bon a-nay) while celebrating in France. Practice placing your tongue towards the roof of your mouth to pronounce the nasal "nay" for the second syllable of "année." It makes the same long "a" sound as in the word "hay."[6]
- Gather family and friends on December 31st to celebrate the saint's feast day of "La Saint-Sylvestre" (la sin seal-vay-str). When the clock strikes midnight, yell, "Bonne année!" (bon a-nay) to wish everyone a happy New Year.
- Say "Feliz año nuevo" (feh-liz an-yoh n-way-vo) while in Spain. Memorize the phrase easily by directly translating it to English as "Happy Year New." You may have already heard the word "feliz" used in other Spanish phrases like "Feliz Navidad," as used in the popular Spanish-English Christmas song by José Feliciano. Then, remember that "nuevo" looks like the word "new."[7]
- After learning the phrase, partake in the tradition of eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight, and then shout, "Feliz año nuevo!"[8]
- Learn the Portuguese phrase "Feliz ano novo" (feh-liz an-oh noh-voh). Round your lips around the "oh" syllables to make the pronunciation easier. The sound is similar to the one you would make by simply sighing, "Oh."[9]
- Notice that the phrase looks very similar to the Spanish phrase. Picking out these similarities between languages will make learning them easier.
- Practice the German saying "Frohes neues jahr" (frohes neu-yis yar). Enunciate the heavy "y" sounds in this phrase. Listen to the way different regions in Germany pronounce the same phrase. Sometimes, "neues" can also be pronounced as "neu-yiz."[10]
- Once you have mastered that phrase, practice saying the alternative phrase, "Gutes neues jahr" (gutes neu-yis yar). In this case, "gutes" translates to "good."
- Learn the Russian phrase "S novym godom" (s nò-vym gò-dam). Annunciate on the multiple long "o" sounds within this phrase. Practice saying the syllables quickly, so that it almost flows as a single word.[11]
- Practice saying an alternate version, "S novym schastem," (s nò-vym sh-a-stym) which translates to, "Happy new happiness."
- Learn the formal Japanese phrase "Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu." Break down this phrase into phonetic syllables to make it easier to learn. Start by breaking up "akemashite" as "a-kay-mash-tay." Then move onto the second word "omedetou" as "o-meh-deh-tò." Lastly, sound out "gozaimasu" as "gò-zye-mas." Practice saying the phrase together for a formal greeting.[12]
- Say the informal version of the phrase, "Akemashite omedetou," to close family and friends. The words in this phrase are pronounced the same as in the formal version.
- Enjoy saying this phrase for the first 2 weeks of January while in Japan, as it is custom to celebrate the New Year for an extended time beyond January 1st.
- Celebrate the Chinese New Year by saying "Xīn nián kuài lè," in Mandarin. Pronounce this formal greeting as "shin nee-an kwai le," which translates to "New Year happiness." Say this phrase to strangers or to acquaintances.
- Then, practice an informal version to say to family and friends, "Xīn nián hao" (shin nee-an how).[13]
- Wish colleagues a happy New Year. Some people may feel reluctant to return to work so soon after the holiday season. Your greeting could be just the pick-me-up they need to remind them that people are work care about them, too.[14]
- Don't be overzealous and wish every single person you see. Give people a chance to wish you a happy New Year as well, and always reciprocate with "Thank you" or "You too."[15]
- Greet people at the end of December and the beginning of January. This applies to countries who follow the Gregorian calendar. New Year's tends to be a fleeting and quick holiday, so make sure not to miss your chance to wish people well.[16]
- Be mindful if you are visiting a different country around New Year's Eve or Day as that country might not celebrate it in a way that is similar to yours. For example, people in China will celebrate New Year's at the end of January or early February. People of Islamic or Jewish cultures also have varying New Year's dates.[17]
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