A New Year, A New You!
It’s a New Year and you’ve just been given 365 new days! Just what will you do with them? Here are a few things you might consider doing in the New Year to bring about a new you!
Spiritual
A Worthy Investment
Would you be willing to invest $20 into your future knowing full well that it will change your life forever? I was asked that question years ago and said yes. I was encouraged to purchase The Daily Bible – the bible arranged chronologically into 365 daily readings. However, to purchase a bible and let it sit on a bookshelf is not an investment – it’s a waste of money! Just like writing a big fat check to a university doesn’t give you an education. One must set aside the time and effort to complete the task at hand. So make an investment in your future and purchase The Daily Bible by Harvest House and read it daily. It will make a huge impact in your life!
Seven Days of Prayer
Take seven index cards, which represents the seven days of the week, and write one of these categories on each one – family, friends, work, health, country, world, and future. Feel free to choose your own categories. Then on a specific day of the week, pray for those who fall under that particular category. For example, on Mondays, you would pray for your family members, Tuesdays, you’d pray for your friends and so on.
An Attitude of Gratitude
Start each day with an attitude of gratitude. Look for the good in your life and be thankful for it. Even when life beats you up, look for the silver lining in the situation and grow from it. The key is to focus your mind on that which is good and positive, so it takes your mind off of that which is negative or adverse.
Physical
Check in with the Doctor
Schedule an appointment with your doctor to have a physical exam. After the appropriate blood work is drawn and tested, you’ll see where your numbers (e.g., cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, etc.) line up. If necessary, make any dietary/lifestyle changes required to bring your numbers into the normal range. Also, check with your doctor to see if you’re due for any of your annual exams and schedule them right away.
Smile
If you haven’t scheduled your dental cleaning, call your dentist and get it on the calendar. You’ll be smiling in no time.
Clean Out the Junk
Purchase an over-the-counter cleanse or search online for a juice cleanse to rid your body of all the toxins that have built up. While you’re at it, clean out your refrigerator and cupboards of all the unhealthy foods lying around.
Take a Hike
Your body was designed to move! Find something you enjoy doing, such as walking, hiking, running, bike riding, weight training, etc. and just do it. And do it consistently! Your body will thank you.
Personal Development
Be a Class Act
Never stop learning! If the thought of going back to school sounds dreadful, don’t worry. Just enroll in the University of Fun, where you get to pick the classes. Many cities offer cooking classes, photography classes, craft classes, etc. Find one you would enjoy learning and sign up.
It’s All Greek to Me
Would you like to learn a foreign language? Check out your local community college to see if they offer any classes. If not, consider purchasing a software such as Rosetta Stone® and you’ll be speaking Greek (or Italian, or French, or Spanish, or…) in no time.
On the Road Again
Find a book, seminar, or motivational tape and listen to it while getting ready for work or on your way to work. One of my all-time favorite CDs is The Art of Exceptional Living by Jim Rohn. It never gets old…even though I do!
Financial
Get Your Fiscal House in Order
The area of money can be a huge struggle for many. The key is to live within your means. Don’t buy into the trap that you’ve got to have more. Set a budget and stick to it. Control your money, instead of it controlling you.
Money Management
There are some wonderful financial classes that can teach you how to manage your money. A few I would suggest are Crown Financial Ministries and Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace. If you can’t find a class in your area, consider purchasing a book on the subject and start putting its suggestions into practice.
Save those Pennies
Small purchases seem small, but over time they can add up. Take a cup of coffee for instance. A daily $3 latte can add up to $3,285 a year. So save those pennies – dollars actually. If you can’t function without your morning cup of Joe, then find ways to save in other areas of your life. Pack your lunch instead of spending money eating out. Research shows that packing a lunch is not only healthy on your wallet, it can be healthy on your waistline, too.
Relationships
Be a Kid Again
If you’ve got kids, plan a “play” day with them. Ditch the backyard and go somewhere fun like a bowling alley, a miniature golf course, or batting cages. If you live in colder weather, grab your coat and head to the nearest ice skating rink or play in the snow. The key is to do something fun, interactive, and unusual, so you and your kids cherish the time together. Sorry, but going to the movies doesn’t count for this one.
Other
Sharpen the Saw
If you’ve ever tried to cut something with a dull instrument, you know how frustrating it can be. It takes more time and effort and the results are not exactly precise. Once the instrument is sharpened, it cuts with ease. In many ways, a person can work themselves continuously and become like a dull instrument. Many spend countless hours working and don’t take the necessary time off to restore and revitalize themselves. So plan some time off and get energized. (Don’t forget to take off from technology gadgets as well.)
Goal Setting
Have you ever boarded a plane without knowing where you’re going? My guess is probably not. However, many go through life without any clear direction of their future. They just take life as it comes. Goals are like setting a destination for where you want your life to be in a particular time frame. So grab a pen and paper and set some goals. Then every day work toward accomplishing those goals. Just imagine where you’ll be in five years from now!
© By Sheri Lamas
Photo Credit: Sandy Vogel