With New Year’s Eve just a few weeks — days! — away, you’re probably hearing and thinking a lot about how you should be approaching things in the new year. Cool! We’re very into new beginnings. The key to enjoying new beginnings, though, is not to rush the end of the chapter you’re currently in. Before you kick off 2020, we think there are some things you may want to put on your list for the end of the year!
None of these suggestions are meant to stress you out during this extremely busy season. (We get it.) Instead, we think they’ll help you to fully celebrate all that this year has meant while also getting the next one off to a great start. What’s not to like about that?
Here are nine things we think all bulldoggers should do before the end of the year.
1. Think about what you’ve done well in the past year.
Too often, people associate the end of one year and the process of setting goals for the next with thinking about all of the things they didn’t do so well in the year before. It’s good to be self-critical now and then, but don’t let yourself get so swept up in the spirit of “new year, new you” that you forget how awesome you already are!
Why not give yourself some credit? Even if you do feel like there’s lots of room for growth in the new year, we are confident that you have plenty to celebrate in the last twelve months. What have you learned? What small steps have you taken to improve your habits? What great memories have you built? How have you stepped up for the people you care about?
Answer those questions, then do a little victory dance… in your very own honor.
2. Give a shoutout to the people you love.
In the madness of the holiday season, it’s hard to have a real conversation with the people who matter most to you — even if you are spending lots of time with them throughout the festivities. Pump the brakes! Use this time as an opportunity to say a big ‘ol THANK YOU to everyone who’s loved, supported, and shown up for you in 2019.
If you’re celebrating the holidays with any of these special people, invite them for a one-on-one coffee date so you can say what you need to say. And if you’re not lucky enough to have time together IRL this December? No worries. Give them a call or drop them a note in the mail! Everyone loves a handwritten letter.
There’s no time like the present to talk to your loved ones about how much they mean to you. That way, you’ll start the new year feeling all the good vibes in your relationships.
3. Clear some clutter.
Clutter can creep into your life in many forms — in that junk drawer in the kitchen where you shove all of your odds and ends, in your phone’s camera roll that’s now overflowing with random screenshots from the last five years, and in your closet that’s full of clothes that you don’t even like anymore. It’s time to get that shizz outta here!
According to Psychology Today, clutter can lead to poor mental health, unhealthy eating, inefficient thought processes, and a generally lower quality of life. We know you don’t want to kick off a new year with any of those things hanging over your head.
We’re not suggesting that you clear all of the cluttered spaces in your life over the next few weeks. Start with one! From there, you might feel inspired to tackle others… and if you don’t? At least you’ve made progress!
4. Get some “you” time.
As fun as the holiday season is, let’s just call it like it is — it’s also pretty stressful and exhausting. Before you know it, it will be the new year… and if you’re not careful, you’ll have missed any opportunity to rest and regroup. You’ll kick off 2020 feeling overextended and maybe even a little miserable. Yikes!
It doesn’t have to be like that, though. Before the year is out, mark off some time on the calendar to enjoy a little alone time all for yourself. Read a book, take a walk, dance around the kitchen to one of your favorite old throwback tunes, or sneak a nap. You might be too busy to snag a lot of down time, but even 15 minutes can go a long way toward supporting your mental health.
5. Plan something to look forward to in the new year.
After you’re finished counting down until the end of the year, you’ll want to have something else fun to count down to. Per the National Alliance on Mental Illness, having something to look forward to is key for maintaining mental health.
Get a vacation on the calendar, set up lunch with an old friend, or commit to keeping one weekend in February clear for you to stay home and binge on Netflix. There are no rules about what your plans should look like! If it gives you comfort and makes you happy, it counts.
6. Take stock of your health.
Think back on the last year. Have you been taking your vitamins? Seeing doctors proactively? Stretching after your full-body workouts? Drinking enough water?
If your answer to any of these questions is “no,” now is a great time to recommit to taking care of yourself. Make appointments for check-ups in the first few months of 2020. Get yourself on a vitamin regimen (don’t fall prey to creepy Instagram ads!). Figure out how often you should do yoga and book some classes.
Wouldn’t it be great to kick off the new year knowing that it could be one of your healthiest yet?
7. Try something new where you live.
We’re here to cheer you on if you want to spend most of your time off this holiday season hanging out at home, but might we also suggest that you do a little exploring right in your own town or city? There are probably tons of cool events and activities available for you to check out within just a few minutes of where you live.
You’ll gain a brand new appreciation for your hometown and might even get some ideas for things to do in the new year.
8. Consider your resolutions.
Official “resolutions” don’t necessarily work for everyone, but it never hurts to think through a few goals you might want to work toward in 2020. Every little bit of progress counts!
If you are going to plan New Year’s resolutions, we encourage you to remain realistic, keep a narrow focus, and plan ways to celebrate your success along the way. And please — please — don’t make unhealthy resolutions that might set you up for frustration or disappointment in the new year.
That is so not the point.
9. Squeeze in a few more great workouts!
Even with just a few days left before 2020, there’s plenty of time left to get your blood pumping and bod moving. Even a simple activity like taking a walk will help you maintain your wellness throughout the holiday season! For something a little more intense, check out one of our bulldog online classes for an up-tempo flow wherever you are.
Finish the year strong by prioritizing these activities before NYE…
1. Pat yourself on the back. Celebrate all of your successes and progress of the last year. Every win counts!
2. Tell your loved ones how you feel. Share your gratitude for anyone who has loved, supported, and encouraged you recently.
3. Stop the clutter. Tackle one cluttered area of your life — a closet, a drawer, or even your phone storage — and see how much it clears your mind.
4. Get some time for yourself. Even 15 minutes of doing something you love will help get you in the right head space for a new chapter.
5. Put something fun on the calendar. It will be good for your mental health to have something to look forward to once the holiday celebrations are behind you.
6. Check in on your health. Book some doctor’s appointments, buy a new vitamin, or commit to a new exercise plan so you can feel your best going forward.
7. Explore your hometown. Try a new event, activity, or restaurant!
8. Think about resolutions or goals. Even if you’re not up for setting official resolutions, you can think about the kind of progress you’d like to make in the next twelve months.
9. Get some workouts in. It’s not too late to get stronger in 2019!
You’d be amazed by how much you can make happen before the end of the year. Finishing 2019 on a high note can only mean good things for 2020.
What do you want to accomplish before the end of the year? Let us know over on our Boulder and Villanova Facebook pages!
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Featured image: Crazy nana/Unsplash ; Hugging image: Elizabeth Tsung/Unsplash ; Calendar image: STIL/Unsplash; Doctor image: Online Marketing/Unsplash; Workout image: Jonathan Borba/Unsplash