A New Year gives us an opportunity to take stock-in our lives, ourselves, our outlooks, selfcare both physically and mentally, and a time to just simply be mindful of the entity of life. 
What have you done lately to help yourself move forward?

With the New Year upon us – that means a fresh start. This is the perfect time to reassess where we are going in life, where we want to go, and how we are going to get there. Here are 5 ways to improve your quality of life in the new year.

1. Set better boundaries.
Setting limits is one of the most courageous things we can do. It is a challenge to let people know what you will and will not tolerate. Be aware that setting boundaries may result in others being upset with you. But the people who are your true companions in life will respect your boundaries. Consider setting boundaries and saying ‘no’ about perhaps being asked to do things last minute or being spoken to in way that is not kind or respectful.

2. Get more sleep.
Humans need 8 to 10 hours of quality sleep every night. Teenagers need 10 to 12 hours. Note we said ‘quality sleep’. When you get quality sleep, you wake up feeling refreshed. If you are waking up and never fully feeling restored, you may be suffering from sleep deprivation.

3. Exercise daily.
Exercise has been found to be an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, ADHD.  When you exercise even for 20 minutes, it helps boost your brain chemicals – dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA. If you have depression, anxiety, or ADHD, these brain chemicals may be naturally low – so exercise helps treat your symptoms. The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends 1 hour of exercise per day – and only 40% of people in the US get that recommended amount. Remember, taking the stairs instead of the elevator counts as exercise – so does parking further away from your office and walking in. Look for little ways to include exercise in your daily routine. If the word “exercise” is a turn-off for you, call it “fitness” instead.

4. Write down your goals.
Studies have found that if you write down a goal, you are much more likely to achieve it. In addition, tell as many people as possible about your goals. When you share your goals with others, you are more likely to fulfill them. This is due to a principle called social consistency. As humans, we want to look good to others, so we do what we told others we would do. In fact, if you are setting resolutions for the new year, tell as many people as possible about those resolutions.

5. Establish priorities.
If you could only do three activities for the rest of your life, what would they be? Start paring down the activities that are bringing you down. Take a hard look at where you spend your time. Are you getting a return on your investment of your time, money, and energy? Or are you reaching a dead end? We outgrow activities and even people as we have more life experiences. It’s not good or bad, it just is. If you are having a difficult time saying ‘no’ to people or activities that no longer serve a purpose for you, see #1 on this list.

*Portions of article sourced from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201612/5-ways-make-your-life-better-in-the-new-year