The Holidays have arrived! A time of cheer that is sorely needed in this shell-shocked world. A moment to think not of what we have lost, but what we still have. 

Although Christmas claims the lion’s share of the holiday season, it is quickly followed by an event that is every bit as momentous— New Year’s. In many cultures, this is the most significant and celebrated holiday of the year, and for good reason!

The Significance of a New Year

Technically speaking, New Year’s is just another day, however humans all over the globe assign great meaning to it. It’s a time in which we can take pride in our accomplishments, let go of our failures, and warmly welcome the possibilities of the future.

And in terms of festivities, what typically comes to mind is fireworks, parties, countdowns, and of course, the making of New Year’s resolutions.

Resolutions

Ah, New Year’s resolutions! Something everyone hates to love and loves to hate. Humorously regarded as futile and irreconcilably connected to procrastination, it seems often times that New Year’s resolutions serve simply to highlight our lack of commitment.

But resolutions can be so much more than that! Approached in the right way, you can make your New Year’s dreams and aspirations come true, and we can tell you how—

1. Think small and make simple lifestyle changes. The biggest step in creating a successful resolution is to downsize! Think of small changes you can make to your daily life, which will add up in the end and amount to significant change.
2. Rather than setting a bunch of brand new resolutions, focus on finishing the projects you already have going on. Often times when making resolutions, we get a little too trigger-happy in coming up with all of these changes we want in our lives. We bite off more than we can chew and as a result, these unrealistic goals never reach fruition. So instead of overloading your plate with a whole bunch of shiny new goals, take stock of the goals you have in progress, and focus instead on renewing your commitment to them. Think of what measures you can take to gain ground in achieving them.
3. Take a moment to pause and reflect. The brief and strange twilight between Christmas and New Years is the perfect time to look back on the past 365 days, reevaluate where you stand in life, what your goals are, and who you want to become.
4. Why wait until the 1st? Waiting until the first week of January to enact all of these new goals can be far too overwhelming. Go ahead and get started with incorporating these changes into your life, so that by the time the New Year rolls around, it will be easier to make the full transition.
5. Orient your goals not around what you want to have or achieve, but around how you want to feel. People often choose New Year’s resolutions that include material gains or exterior changes. But in order to truly appreciate these things, you must make things right with yourself first. For example, rather than thinking, “I want to lose weight and become thin” focus instead on changing your perspective to, “I want to become as healthy as I can be and learn to be comfortable in my own skin.”

Our Suggestions For Bite-Sized Resolutions

1. Create a fool-proof and concrete positive goal by planning something to look forward to. It could be a relaxing weekend getaway or just watching the premiere of the new season of your favorite show; so long as it is something that is easily achievable and will bring you joy. Often times the new year can stir up anxieties about the chaos and unpredictability of life, so creating things you have control over can help curb that. 
2. Go for a daily walk, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Get outside in the fresh air and the vitamin D. Not only is it good for your body, it’s good for your mind. Daily walks are proven to help reduce stress and anxiety. 
3. Cut at least one unhealthy thing out of your diet… OR add one new healthy thing to eat regularly. In terms of diet goals, it’s important to remain realistic and know your personal limits. Don’t push yourself to begin a whole new diet and exercise regimen all at once! Small steps are the beginning to a long and successful journey. 
4. Purge your closet. If it hasn’t been worn in over a year, it’s time for it to go! The act of cleaning out your closet can be oddly therapeutic. It mirrors letting go of your baggage, beginning a new chapter, and making room for more additions to your life. 
5. Clear out your pantry and fridge. There’s bound to be a stray can of something from 2012 hiding in the back! Much like with purging your closet, clearing out your kitchen can also help to clear your mind and will provide you a clean canvas for the new year. 
6. Create a weekly or monthly budget. Now this is one of the more difficult of the listed resolutions. It can be extremely difficult to remember to keep up with a budget in the midst of a busy life. But if you can utilize a user-friendly app just to keep somewhat on top of things, you will be thanking yourself later!

Conclusion

It’s important to celebrate the New Year; to take a moment to look back on our lives and all the progress that we’ve made as well as map out a path for the future. And it’s equally important to remember that we humans aren’t made to carry huge loads. It can be all too easy to take on too much and become overwhelmed. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make progress! With the right plan and a little bit of determination, you’ll be just fine. 

And if ever you have a doubt in your mind that you’ve overloaded yourself, call your concierge! We at Monogram Concierge are here to help when you feel the burden of daily life weighing too heavily. 

Call us today for all your concierge needs at (864) 283-6770 or contact us via email.

We are here for you!