New Year Tips
By David Bonham-Carter
UK Life Coaching
First the Bad News
The current economic downturn and gloomy global climate has led to some very downbeat advice amongst some commentators as to how to get on in the New Year. Advice from one advisor quoted on a well known news website under the heading New Year Tips to Beat Recession includes:
- Work extra hours to convice employers you worth keeping on
- If you've just been made redundant then take any job you can find and
- Spend less!
Looking at Things More Positively
I would suggest a slightly different approach to try and create a more positive mental attitude and to remember that there are still some things in life worth enjoying! I split my suggestions into 3 different areas:
1. Actions
2. Thoughts
3. Things to beware of!
Actions for the New Year
If you are down in the dumps, or even if not, then why not take up a new activity or develop a new interest:
- Exercise is known to help many people to lift the spirits (as well as to contributing to shedding some of the excess weight put on over Christmas and the New Year!), so think about how you can build some moderate exercise into your weekly routine - whatever is your preferred choice: whether that be walking or running or taking up a sport or some sessions in an exercise class.
- Or if exercise is not your thing, then why not take up a creative pursuit to focus your mind and artistic energies - join a writing group or a reading circle or a singing group or pick up your paint brush to express or describe the things that you love?
- Contributing to the lives of others can paradoxically bring a lot of enjoyment and fulfilment into your own life too. Some research has even suggested that volunteering brings health benefits, particularly for older people (See The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Research). Whether it's doing some voluntary work or simply showing a positive approach towards those close to you, a constructive outlook and frame of mind may reap dividends, which leads on to my next area of discussion:
Thoughts for the New Year
Another way of helping to improve the New Year and the way you feel about it, can be to use Affirmations - this might be in the form of reminding yourself of the positive things that still exist in your life, notwithstanding the recession or the bad weather, and/or it might be in the form of setting yourself some achievable goals, whether in the field of work or in your personal life, and reminding yourself of the benefits that will flow to you if you can achieve your goals.
To give your affirmations the best chance of influencing your outlook, repeat them to yourself, regularly - perhaps first thing in the morning to help you get off to a good start - and also repeat them whenever you find your mind tending towards a downward spiral.
To assist with this: Write out a list of the things you are grateful for in your life or that you are proud of - particular relationships, professional or personal achievements. You can put them on a card to carry round and consult at point of need or else set up your computer screen saver or email or mobile phone to give you a reminder of the positives in your life at different times of the day. These positive thoughts reminders can have a remarkably beneficial impact on your mood!
Things to Beware of!
I apologise for having to include this section in what is supposed to be a positive New Year's piece, but do be aware that there are certain things which if you have too much of them, may contribute to a downturn in mood - for example, excess alcohol (alcohol is a depressant drug - initially it may help you to feel better and freer but you may well find that actually it makes mood swings worse and disturbs your sleep).
For some people, caffeine may also lead to increased anxiety and sugary items may increase mood swings.
Does this mean that you can't enjoy yourself? - No, just be sensible, and remember the mantra: 'All things in moderation.'
Enjoy yourself and Have a Good New Year!
Author Biography
David Bonham-Carter, the Founder of Life Coach Tips, is a Life Coach and Business Coach with over 15 years of professional experience in the field of personal change management. He founded this directory of life coaching articles in order to bring life coaching ideas and techniques to a wider audience. You can find out more about the life coaching services David offers at his life coaching website: Coaching Services & Coaching Information