It’s coming up to that time where most of us will be writing off the current year and vowing to do better in the next. It’s good to make positive plans however it’s important to count the blessings of 2019 before we move forward. This is the first step to taking only good vibes into 2020. Below I’ve put together some tips to help you get started and prepare for a successful year.

Be Realistic – A lot of us put pressure on the New Year to exceed the previous year by setting goals that can be unattainable. Aiming high and exploring your boundaries is great but make sure to be realistic when planning your resolutions and think about how you will achieve them.

Make A Plan – A solid plan will outline the steps you will need to take and how you will incorporate them into your life. This will also help you realise what is achievable and what isn’t. Try and do this in advance so when the New Year arrives you are ready to roll.

Have Support – Talk about the changes you want to make to friends and family. Getting support from the people around you will make achieving your goals that much easier. You may find someone who has the same resolution as you and you can motivate each other.

Monitor Progress – Keep track on how you are doing, maybe set yourself smaller short-term goals. This is to help you stay on course and in the long run be successful.

Stick With It – It’s important to stay with your plan and keep at it. Science has shown it can take anywhere between 18 to 254 days to form a habit depending on the person so don’t expect miracles overnight. Stick with it and over time you will start to notice changes.

Reward Yourself – When you’re making good progress remember to treat yourself. It’s important to celebrate your success no matter how small. Just try not to celebrate in a way that goes against your resolutions. On the flip side if you do have a slip up don’t dwell on it, obsessing over a small set back is negative and not conducive to your goals. Keep doing your best and take each day as it comes.

Finally, where to start? Some may find it overwhelming when setting goals for themselves as to what they should be. I came across an Instagram post by Jen Atkin, where she wrote down her resolutions on post-it notes under different categories. I thought it was inspired and can be used by anyone who doesn’t know where to begin. I wrote out a couple of my resolutions the way she did, which hopefully will give you some ideas.

Comment below what you’re most looking forward to for the New Year and here’s wishing you all a prosperous 2020.

Good luck!