If your new year has been anything like mine, 2017 has already been filled with highs, lows and even a few WTF moments. As parents, we are used to expecting the unexpected. We can perfectly balance a toddler and a laptop when a deadline needs to be met, we can get multiple lives up, changed, fed, cleaned and packed up for school before even realizing the baby has stepped in his own poop and has run laps around the kitchen. And that’s all before only 7:30 a.m.
My point is, life can throw shit at you. It may have thrown a lot of shit at you in 2016, and most likely has plans to wind up some little curve ball shits in 2017. But I plan on putting on my catcher’s mitt and working on my throwing arm. I’m going to make every moment count in 2017, and you can, too. We just need to pack a few extra wipes in our diaper bags, right next to our extra stretchy “big girl pants.”
Here is my six-step guide to the best flipping 2017 you’ve ever seen.
Create a vision board
There’s a little thing called the Law Of Attraction. Make life work for you. When 7:30 a.m. hits and you’re ready to throw in the towel, you’ll need a way to refocus. Think of this as your real life Pinterest board and keep it in plain sight. Use positive words, happy photos and an overall encouraging message. If you’re not convinced, pick up a book called “The Secret.”
“The law of attraction is forming your entire life experience and it is doing that through your thoughts. When you are visualizing, you are emitting a powerful frequency out into the Universe.”
Trust me, if you empower it, the universe will work wonders to help you out. Ultimately, how do you want to feel in 2017? Now put it on your board.
Get organized
The greatest amount of stress can come from being disorganized. When it comes to keeping schedules or managing goals, it all needs to be at your fingertips. I found The Living Well Planner as a great template to use, but you should look around for one that inspires you. Fill the planner with your schedule and your kids’ schedules, then start on the important stuff. If you’ve always wanted to try Pilates, mark it on a specific day on your calendar. More girls’ nights? Mark them on the calendar, then start the text chain. Individual dates with your 4-year-old? Put that down for every Tuesday. Make it REAL. Skip ahead two months, and write a few goals you want to complete by then. Whether it’s a goal weight, a job promotion, a project or simply a more positive outlook, mark it down. By the time you hit that date, hopefully you’ll see a ton of progress from where you started.
Get healthy
This is not a “lose five pounds” bullet point. It’s about gaining something. Maybe your skin, your immune system or your digestive system needs you to refocus. Fried foods, sugar and processed foods may have seemed like your friends, but they are making you break out, and yes, you’re bloated because you ate an entire pint of ice cream. Take out your planner and write down five things you want to eat every day. For example, kale, almonds, tomatoes, walnuts and broccoli are currently on mine. By the time you eat the foods on your list you may be too full for the junk you would have reached for.
Make time for adventure
Einstein’s definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Get out of your comfort zone, try a new coffee shop, travel to a different suburb or to the city or plan a trip to a place you’ve never been before. There are so many beautiful things to see and your time is too valuable to waste it on going insane. I am 100 percent sure that traveling to distances near or far will enrich your life.
Clean out your space
The space in your head is important, but don’t neglect the space around you. If your closets are overflowing, your file cabinets can’t shut and your junk drawer has broken from the amount of knick-knacks you have jammed in it, chances are you need to let go. Start by cleaning out your email inbox. Unsubscribe from anything that gives you anxiety, or that you generally skip over. Then, clean a room in your home or office; you will be addicted to the mental cleanse you feel as a result of letting. shit. go. If you don’t know where to start, there are plenty life/home organizers ready to get you started, but I plan to bribe a “type A” friend with some wine and good conversation.
Live honorably and courageously
A lot of the time, the “right thing” is the more difficult thing to do. It involves humility, strength and courage to stand up for what is right. Be a creature of honorable habit, and it will become your lifestyle. Living with regret, with secrets, or simply living under the radar when you want to make a positive impact on the world will not fly for you in 2017. Start living and loving with your whole heart and don’t waste another minute on negative energy. This may also mean cutting ties with those who consistently have a negative impact on your life. Life is too precious to be spent with people who bring you down. Remember, life is only as great as you choose to live it.
