Updated [2/27/2018]: When I look back on this post, I’m like “damn I should have listened to myself!” Well, 2018 I’m listening to myself and it’s already been a bitchin’ 2018!
This post was originally meant to be an epic goodbye to 2016 and a hearty hello to 2017 with cool pictures and maybe some videos… But I decided that I just don’t have the energy for all that today (or for 2017 for that matter)… but that’s okay. And here’s why.
Last year I wrote a blog post about my new year’s resolution for 2016. It wasn’t so much a new year’s resolution as it was a mantra. It was simply “to be better.”
I wanted to be better in all aspects and areas of my life. I wanted to stay in touch with friends and family more, I wanted to learn more, I wanted to cross off more projects on my to-do lists and I wanted to be prepared for people’s birthdays (and Christmas) with thoughtful gifts. I wanted to eat better, exercise more, and get a good night’s sleep every single night.
Well, while I’m still giving myself a pat on the back for trying, it turns out trying to be better in all areas of your life at once just doesn’t work.
If I had to sum up 2016 it would be this… 2016 was a stress-ball.
2016 was constantly trying to do more in a 24 hour day than I had the day before. It was crying in the shower because I was crippled with “to-do” lists but didn’t know where to start. It was feeling guilty when I “slept in” on a Sunday. It was always stressing out because I had to choose between spending time with my niece or laying flooring in a rental property. It was having not one single Christmas present for anyone 6 days before the holiday and then feeling guilty about it.
So for 2017, I’m giving myself a pep talk. Because after 2016, I could use one.
For 2017… I don’t have any resolutions, I only have advice from my 2016 self to my 2017 self. If you’re like me and want more reasonable New Year resolutions then read my advice below.
6 Ways to Stay Happy Throughout The Year
Practice self compassion. Your inner dialogue is incredibly important to your overall well being. Tell that bitch to stop beating you up when you make mistakes, to stop calling you names when you don’t understand something and to stop criticizing every single you do.
And speaking of self compassion… don’t be too hard on yourself. Stop trying to get more and more and more done in a 24 hour day. Tomorrow will always be there. And even if tomorrow isn’t there, do you really want to spend your last day on earth chipping away at a to-do list? I guess a better way to put it is: the to-do list will definitely be there tomorrow, but the people you love might not be.
Relax. Really take the time to relax every once in a while. You’re “relaxing” may not look like someone else’s but if reading is something you do to relax then make time for it! In this crazy fast paced world we live in, you need time to decompress and let your brain breathe.
Stop trying to attain perfection. Life is messy and perfection isn’t always reasonable. It’s okay if your email contains a typo, you burn dinner, or all four corners of a project don’t line up perfectly. You learn from mistakes! Think of each mistake as a learning opportunity instead of a terrible job done. At least you tried which is more than can be said for most people.
Stop wanting the next thing… the newer, bigger, better thing and definitely stop envying what others have. The grass is not always greener on the other side and you need to start appreciating what you have right now, because chances are you already have everything you need, you just might not have everything you want.
Live in the moment, take time to appreciate that you are alive, breathing and OKAY. Stop thinking about what you don’t have but what you do have, or better yet, who you have. Because if you speak to anyone over the age of 70 they will all tell you the same exact thing: “the years will fly by, enjoy them.” So for 2017, take our elder’s advice and live in the moment.
Lastly, try to be happy. Being happier is easier said than done but really start to take notice of the things that make you happy. When are you smiling? Or laughing? Is it when you’re sitting down to a family dinner, camping with friends or playing with your dog? Well then make more time for those things! Again, easier said than done, but even just thinking about the things that make you happy can release happy endorphins in your brain.
Now I feel the need to talk about the awesomeness of 2016 because it’s probably feeling pretty bad about itself right now.
2016 was the year we sold and profited from our first flip! It was the year we purchased our first fixer upper home that we’ll actually live in. It was the year I started (and ended) a business. It was the year we took a 23 day road trip from Pennsylvania to California and back again. It was the year I decided to monetize my blog (successfully).
2016 was the year of figuring things out… And I’m hoping 2016 was the prep work for 2017. I’ve laid a great foundation and now I’m ready for awesomeness in 2017.
How about you? Do you have new years resolutions or mantras for 2017? Let me know in the comments!
