If you are like me, and like SO many others, you are set to make 2019 your best year yet. Maybe you’re looking back at 2018 and taking stock of what you were able to accomplish, where you fell short, what you want to replicate but better, and what you don’t want to go through again. While change doesn’t happen in a day - it happens daily - it’s a good idea to take some time to assess the things that didn’t happen or come to fruition last year and how you can change that in the year ahead. Don’t linger on any perceived mistakes but use them as the impetus to do better. It’s time to start thinking about how to make this year a positive one that you can be proud of at the end of the year.

Here are a couple areas to consider when plotting out 2019 - your best year yet:

Boost Your Career

We’re working beings. It’s part of our make up and part of what gives us purpose. But it can also be a painful area when we don’t find fulfillment or meaning in the work we do. Take some time to think about your job/career and where you want it to take you. Maybe this is the year you start to work on the carer goals you’ve always dreamed about or maybe this is the year you re-dedicate yourself to your work. It could finally be time to take that online MBA so that you can take your career to new heights, and ask for that raise. Perhaps you’re determined to finally start looking for a new job so that you can move on from your current employer, or maybe it’s the year you put together a business plan and start life as an entrepreneur.

Assess Your Relationships

Let’s be honest, our relationships are a big part of what makes us happy. When you’re surrounded by people who love and support you, you feel much more capable of doing anything that you put your mind to, and you feel less overwhelmed and stressed when things don’t always go your way. If you want to make this year your best, consider assessing your relationships and how they contribute or don’t contribute to your happiness. Consider your friends and family and significant other, and think about which relationships might need a little boost. Consider how you can deepen relationships - maybe with some quality time or a heartfelt hand-written note. Also consider the relationships you’re in that might be dragging you down - consider if they are helping you fully flourish and if not what you can do to change that.

Find a Healthier Way to Be Healthy

Being physically healthy is important, and being mentally healthy is essential too. I’ve a firm believer in setting physical health goals that are not focused on fitting into a specific size or seeing a certain number on the scale. A number on a scale doesn’t determine health and strength, plus focusing on that can mean a lot of unhealthy mental strain and stress when you don’t see the results you want. If you want to change your relationship with your health this year, consider what matters most to you and set goals around those considerations.

Take Time for Self-Care

In this stressful world, we can forget to take time for ourselves. This year, remember to look after yourself and focus on self-care. We all need a break sometimes, and we also need to pay attention to some of our most basic human requirements. Allow yourself some time this year to relax, and make sure you’re doing things like eating well, taking breaks at work and spending time outdoors - in order to take care of your whole person. Rather than binging on the latest Netflix series, which isn’t really self-care, consider resting in a way that is a break from your normal activities but still stimulating. Read a good book. Go for a walk without music blasting in your ear. Listen to an inspiration podcast. Take a class. Cultivate a hobby. These are all self-care things that will give you a break and help you flourish.

Make 2019 your best year yet by making some changes to your life. You won’t regret trying to improve your life.