We all do it- stick with the same old leaf. More so at this time of year- things can get a little samey, predictable and monotonous. So, we have pulled together ten ways to turn over a new leaf, after all- you don’t HAVE to make changes at the beginning of the year. You can put them into action at any point. Here goes…
What could the future hold if you do?
Make a list of the things you want to do- And put things in place to make them happen. Rather than being the person who has an endless mental list of things you want to get done but never do- be the person who acts upon them and check them off as you do so you have a sense of achievement.
Journaling- One step up from a list- once you have decided on what you want to do- is writing about your progress, setbacks and ideas. This will help you to form new goals, see your existing ones from a new perspective and work through any problems you face. If nothing else, you can write about how you are feeling on your journey.
Do something that scares you- If the thought of skydiving fills you with dread, riding on a big roller-coaster makes you shiver with fright or going on a blind date makes you feel sick- why not give it a go? The fear you have built up in your mind could be far worse than the actual thing. So, make sure at regular intervals- e.g. every month- you do something that makes you a little uneasy- you never know- you might just learn to love it.
Start a new hobby- If your existing hobby isn’t holding your attention anymore- why not try something else? Join a club, take some classes, learn how to do something new. Whatever it might be- make sure it excites you and that you want to do it rather than feeling it’s being forced upon you.
Have a clear out- Nothing says ‘new leaf’ like- ‘new abode’. So, take all the redundant things to the charity shop, give them away or chuck them in the bin. Organise things that can get on top of us all like photos, books and clothes and vow to only own things you need and that make you happy.
Break a bad habit- Whatever you do often that is detrimental to your health and happiness- find a way to rid your life of it. Whether that’s eating bad food to the excess, smoking, not getting enough exercise or drinking too much- make a real effort to cleanse your body of the things that are doing you no favours and introduce habits that will make you feel better.
Commit- If you decide to turn over a new leaf- commit to whatever it is that is fresh in your life. Don’t let the novelty wear off- if there is something about it you don’t like- change it up to make it more interesting or more achievable.
Allow yourself to succeed- Ignore all the voices in your head that tell you ‘you can’t’ and tell yourself that you can do whatever it is you put your mind to. Why not? People achieve amazing things every day and have overcome huge obstacles to get there. It can be done and you can be one of these people.
Talk to your nearest and dearest about it- If you seriously want to change something in your life- talking to those you trust might help you to develop the idea further and cement that commitment. They might offer to join you in your quest for change, they might know others who can help you achieve your dreams or they could just be a sounding board to look at things from another angle.
Make plans for the future- If you just wait for the invitations to come rolling in and spend most nights doing the same old things- be proactive. Get your calendar and start to fill it up. It doesn’t have to be every night- but once a week or month- make sure you have something to look forward to- a class, a concert, a comedy night, a theatre visit, a mini break, a catch-up with friends or family, a day trip. Make life interesting for yourself.
Good luck with your new leaf!