Who says that we have to wait until the new year to make changes? The new year is fast approaching, and we will soon have to say goodbye to 2022. Life was tough, but we made it this far!
2022 taught us a lot, and the lessons are not over by a long shot.
It taught us that no matter what life throws our way, we can come up with things to keep going. To keep moving. To keep living.
The new year presents itself as a reset button. It gives us pause to set resolutions that will help us make better choices to live a better life.
To regain control and get our lives back on track.
But for some of us, myself included, one thing that has been holding us back from doing just that is that dreaded word…
PROCRASTINATION.
Which will start my list of The Top 10 Best New Year’s Resolutions To Start Living Your Best Life.
1. Stop Procrastinating
Easier said than done, which is why it’s number one, but it’s worth doing or at least giving it a try.
If you can’t tackle procrastination, everything else that you have planned for your life will take much longer for you to achieve. As we have seen in 2022, the year has proven that life is precious and fragile.
So when does it end?
When is enough really enough?
From waking up early to finishing that project that we didn’t even start, procrastination has seemed to seep itself into everything we do.
Even with Covid and now Omicron trying to run wild and rampant through the world and these streets called life, it has found a way to keep you from accomplishing even the simplest of tasks.
So many times, I’ve thought about doing things but never followed through with them.
Whether it’s paying a bill on time or putting my girls to bed early. Washing my hair or starting my YouTube channel. Working on this blog or scheduling an appointment. Or even just cooking a meal for my family, procrastination always finds a way to tamper with my plans.
And I’m over it.
I’m tired of how debilitating it has caused me to feel, and I’m ready to make a change.
I hope you are too.
The year 2022 is full of possibilities.
The uncertainty of Covid’s impact on our lives may at times cast a dark cloud that seems to follow us to no end. But choose to focus on things you can change to live a happier, healthier, and productive life.
Procrastination free.
Read: Top 7 Ways To Stop Procrastinating Today
2. Make Time For Yourself
Rolling in at number two…which at times can be the hardest thing for mothers to do. Make. Time. For. You.
Whether going to the spa, getting a Mani/Pedi, or even speaking to someone to keep your mental health in check, make time to take care of yourself a priority.
She needs you to be at your best.
As a mother, it’s common knowledge that we tend to put ourselves last, which is understandable but permit yourself to be first and don’t feel guilty about it.
Take that shower and find time to eat in peace.
Brush your teeth. Begin that project you’ve been putting off for who knows how long. Develop a plan and meal prep for the week. Start a better skin care regimen.
Whatever you need or want to do, set time aside to do it.
Live your best life and stop neglecting yourself. Not only do you deserve it, but you’ve also earned it.
Start the new year off right by prioritizing more time for yourself.
You got this, mama!
3. Exercise, Exercise, Ex.er.cise.
To accomplish any resolution, you need to take care of the vehicle that will help you to achieve your goals…your body.
Can a car run without gas?…why yes, it can. There’s this thing called electricity, but all in all, it needs fuel. And your body needs it too.
Your body thrives off of oxygen and nutrients. It needs that additional boost to keep your heart pumping and itself moving.
By doing what you need to do to keep yourself healthy, you’re helping your body operate at its best. To push itself to limits that were once deemed impossible.
So no need to do a HIIT workout if you’re not there yet, but challenge yourself to do the things that you typically would not do or did not do in 2021.
Do some yoga. Follow an exercise video on Youtube. Walk around your block a few times. Stretch. Do some jumping jacks. Run up and down your stairs for 5 minutes. 10 or more if you’re up to it.
Do something that will get your blood pumping and improve your current state of mind.
You’re bound to feel a difference.
Whatever you choose, give yourself a fighting chance to live a fulfilled, happy and healthy life.
The new year will start with or without you, but it will be far better with you in it.
I challenge you to take that leap of faith and commit to living a healthier, happier, and productive life.
You got this, mama!
4. Release Your Inner Child
As mothers, we have to keep up with our children.
Besides screaming and running rampant in the house, touching any and everything that they can get their hands on, creating things with their curious minds, they can teach us a few things.
If we allow them to, they can become the driving force that keeps us healthy and in shape if we indulge them in their course of curiosity.
Communicate with them in their love language of play.
Just run with them, play with them and get messy.
If you don’t want to run just yet, have a speed walking contest, sit with them and see who can build a tower the fastest without it falling over.
Our children have more than enough energy to run about 3X faster than we can. No matter how much they run and play, they still can do more.
So join them.
Release your inner child and build a better relationship with your children.
SN: Screaming (the good kind) is allowed.
5. Quit Bad Habits
Whatever habit(s) you have and you know that if done away with, it will help you live a better life…or at least make you feel better, get rid of it.
With the new year coming upon us, allow yourself to live a better life. If the only thing holding you back from moving forward are those less-than-stellar habits, wouldn’t you say it’s time to let them go?
Quitting always seems easy to do when the things that would benefit us seem out of reach.
Angela, Founder of The Kinky Stages of Motherhood
Now, no one said this would be easy, but sometimes, even with habits, we should choose to put the dreams we have for ourselves first.
More times than not, when we discover who we are meant to be, the habits that kept us back will be much easier to break.
Let this year end and the new year begin with you letting go of things that add no value to your life.
You got this, mama!
6. Develop Better Money Habits
With so many things going on this year, would you say it was easy or hard for you to save money?
Were you able to afford all the items you bought?
I mean, were you really able to afford them worry-free?
Do you ever buy things and hide them away from your hubby/partner?
What about buying that sort of expensive item that you think 🤔 “I can buy it today and pay it off with my next paycheck 👀”?
What have you had to sacrifice to get something that you wanted?
If you thought about it or had an accountability partner to talk to, would you realize that it was not something that you shouldn’t have gotten right now?
Ok. Yeah, that was a mouthful.
But let’s think about it for a moment…
What if you could buy things that you wanted without having to feel guilty about it and not have to hide them?
Imagine this. If you budget your money correctly and pay off the important things first, the number of things that you can get for yourself without trying to figure out how you can pay it off with your next paycheck, or figure out where you can hide it so hubby doesn’t see it, will be the greatest exhale of your life.
Didn’t know you were holding in that breath, did you?
Well, breathe, mama, because there is a better way.
Get a Handle on Your Money Situation
When you budget correctly, each dollar or cent you choose to spend is given a job, and you know where each is going.
After taking care of all the bills, whatever is left over will be fair play, and you can get what you really want to spend your money on.
If you’re not there yet, now is the time to start.
If you haven’t done so already, get a savings account and grow your money. Or, if you’re not able to do that yet, look for side jobs you can do from home and online to help get you started.
By developing a healthy relationship with money, you will be free to buy what you want and save for those rainy days.
So don’t be a slave working for money.
Learn how to put your money to work and let it keep working for you. That’s what it’s made to do. Let it do its job while you do yours.
So budget. Budget. Budget.
Let this year-end with you taking the reigns on your finances and getting them in order.
You got this, mama!
7. Bring Out Those Recipe Books
If you love to cook, or you’re looking to spice things up a bit, or maybe you don’t know where to start…number seven is a fun one to try.
If you’re like the millions of mothers out there, you probably have a ton of recipes saved on your computer or phone.
I have no shame and will be the first to admit that I am one of those mothers. I have a ton of saved recipes patiently waiting for me to try them.
Because um…who doesn’t have a ton of recipes saved to their phone or collected recipes from magazines, with the honest intention of possibly trying them one day?
Ok, fine, maybe not millions, even though it might be, because who actually knows for sure, but it’s a lot, and if not, then, the few of you out there.
But in any event, you’ve saved a boatload of recipes.
When do you plan on using it?
Challenge yourself to try a new dish at least once a week or every other week.
Your tummy and family will either thank you or tell you to move on to something new. You can finally toss that recipe out or save it as a keeper.
If you haven’t bookmarked, clipped, and/or saved any recipes, have a family member pick a recipe and decide what will be for dinner that week.
And good or bad, they have to try it since they picked it. Create a family bonding moment and require their help to help you make it.
Maybe they’ll enjoy doing it so much that they’ll start to take over lunch and/or dinner and give you a mini breakcation from cooking.
Mouths happy and bellies full.
Wishful thinking, but it sounds like a win-win situation to me.
Remember what the Bible says, all things are possible to those who believe.
God isn’t limited by anything.
8. Read More Books
Enlighten your mind.
When was the last time you read a book that actually taught you something new? Or just read a book because it allowed you to escape from reality for a bit.
According to a HealthLine post that I read, reading does much more than create a space where you can escape from reality. It strengthens your brain, builds your vocabulary, reduces stress, helps alleviate depression symptoms, and may also help you to live a longer life.
I quote, reading literally changes your mind.
They had me at “may help you to live longer.
So strengthen those brain muscles and obtain as much knowledge as you can.
9. Meet New Moms
Meeting new moms can be something that can help you to realize that you are not alone on your motherhood journey.
There are times when being a mom can literally feel like the loneliest place in the world. As if you’re some planet lost in orbit waiting for life to make sense again.
There is life after motherhood, and sharing it with other mothers can be just the thing you need to get your life back.
So join a mommy group, online or in-person, and connect with other mothers who are in the same place that you are or who have improved their lives and are where you want to be.
We can all learn from each other and help make motherhood a bit easier.
You’re raising important people hunnty.
10. Prioritize Your Time
Create a schedule and stick to it.
Make a list of things you need or want to do, so you can see it in front of you.
Determine what is important and do those first.
Save the least important things for last.
Running around like a chicken without its head can burn you out real quick to the point that you’ll begin to wonder where did the time go.
When you have each time of your day accounted for, it’ll give you a better insight into what you have time for.
Book your wellness appointments for the year so that you won’t have to worry about them later.
Schedule in that girl’s night in/out.
Book that spa date for you and your hubby, or go solo.
Schedule as much as you can now and set a reminder or two for later so that you won’t forget it. One before the date and one a couple of hours before the appointment.
You’re going to create the change you want to see.
I know you can do it.
11. Make Some Time For Your Partner
With so much stress and worrying going out in the outside world, if it wasn’t there already, it can be only a matter of time before some of it creeps into your home.
If you had no time before Covid because of the kids, work, or just life in general, it’s a wonder if you can find it now.
But do find it.
Use your feminine abilities. Tap into your memory bank of things you used to do but don’t quite do now while dating hubby, and bring them back out into your relationship.
Ever thought about doing yoga? Incorporate hubby in a few of them. If he’s not up for it, do them in front of him while he sits on the couch watching tv. Or attempts to *elbow nudge (2x)* *raises eyebrows (2x)*.
Maybe your man is more of a gamer and plays all day, it seems.
Join him and if you don’t know how to, allow him to teach you how to play. Maybe one day you can beat him at his own game.
With Covid, you may have to get a bit creative. If you don’t want to eat out, maybe you can create a night out in your house.
See if you can leave the kids with a relative that you trust and rekindle, if need be, the spark in your relationship or keep it going.
12. Get A Real Photo Album
Time waits on no one, but we can freeze it…in an album.
The one you can hold and flip through.
Remember those?
I don’t know about you. But growing up, my parents took pictures and placed them in a photo album.
It gave us the ability to flip through the pages that were once our life, and now we have the opportunity to share them with our own families.
So get a photo album and create memories that you and future generations can hold onto.
13. Revamp Your Style
If you’re far from the woman you were before motherhood happened, I suggest going back and having a talk with her.
She was, after all, the woman who got you to where you are now, right?
If you no longer feel good about your appearance, change it and wear what makes you feel good about yourself.
Change your hair. Buy that lipgloss that you’ve been bypassing at the store.
Life is too short to not feel good about living.
14. Get Rid Of Things That You Don’t Need
Does that outfit no longer fit?
Are those jeans a bit too snug?
Do you have articles of clothing that have been in your possession since forever?
Is your house a pile of clutter?
Get rid of the stuff that no longer has a place in your life; they’ve served their purpose, and make room for the new you that is waiting to come through.
Donate what you no longer need to a church, a women’s shelter, or a homeless shelter.
Google what you need and share your things with someone who can really benefit from them.
15. Develop A New Hobby/Skill
Remember when you were younger?
You just did every and anything that your mind conjured up until your parents stopped you from doing whatever it was that you were doing.
Remember when you were a ball of ideas?
You were builders, carpenters, architects…doers?
Where did that person go?
Find her and learn some new skills and/or hobbies.
As a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM), you already have several skills under your belt.
You’re an expert in communication, and you have learned the art of persuasion.
You’re well versed in negotiation. Your listening and researching skills are unmatched.
You are the ultimate Human Fulfillment Strategist¹. A Domestic Goddess. You do it all.
So don’t shortchange yourself.
Tap into your abilities. Knit, crochet, learn to drive a boat.
Alright, maybe not a boat, if that’s not your thing.
But develop, nurture, and grow new skills and hobbies that will help you uncover more layers of the woman you are becoming.
16. Laugh More
There’s so much sadness going on around the world. Rediscover the joy in the things around you.
Watch a funny movie.
Read a romantic comedy novel.
Dance with your children until one of you falls down into a ball of laughter.
Have a tickle attack with your man.
Whatever it is, laugh more and enjoy the life you’re creating for yourself and your family.
17. Write In A Journal
If you don’t have anyone you can trust with your feelings, write them in a journal.
Release your feelings, and maybe one day, you’ll feel the courage to share your thoughts with people whom you deem worthy of sharing in your thoughts.
Or just write about your day and experiences if you don’t have feelings to unload on paper.
Writing in a journal is an effective way to destress, see your feelings on paper, make goals, write your dreams, etc.
Whatever you want to write, just know that this life is your story.
How do you want it to play out?
18. Protect Your Space
Simply put, 2022 is the year to regain focus on yourself and the things that matter, which will help you live a better life.
Don’t entertain negativity. It has no place in your life.
Embrace only positivity. Focus on the things that you can change.
Permit yourself to put yourself first.
19. Make A Vision Board
Vision boards give you a gateway to visualize the life you want for yourself.
Adding a to-do list helps you set things in motion to make that vision attainable.
And it’s alright if you don’t get all of it done. The goal is to do one thing at a time until you’re able to complete it all.
Be realistic.
If doing a lot will leave you feeling flustered and gasping for air, then don’t do it.
If you’re comfortable doing just three things, do those 3 and tackle more tomorrow.
Challenge yourself to be better tomorrow than you were today.
Once done, you’ll start to see that your vision will begin to come to fruition.
20. Don’t Harbor Any Ill Feelings
Whether it be towards a friend that annoyed you or your spouse/partner that you just don’t want to deal with.
Talk about it, release it.
Don’t harbor any ill feelings, because it will just weigh you down.
Plus, holding on to it just means that that person has control over how far you’ll get in life because you’ll just bring them along mentally through every success and/or failure you have.
So attempt to overcome it if this is a problem you currently have.
Release that energy and allow yourself the freedom to move on.
21. Be Your Own Cheerleader
Sure it would be nice to hear a few compliments and words of encouragement here and there but compliment and encourage yourself first.
The theme for 2022 is All About Me.
Now that doesn’t mean that you neglect everything and everyone, but make a conscious effort to take care of yourself this year.
Create a space that allows you to become the best version of yourself and rediscover who (put your name here) is.
You are so much more than a mom. You are an individual. A Domestic Goddess. A person created not to live a life of mediocrity.
If you find yourself lacking and wishing for more, it’s because you’re supposed to be more than what you are now.
This is a new year. Live it celebrating and being the best version of who you were meant to be.
So pick a resolution, commit to it, and give your future self something to be thankful for.
She is depending on you to put things into motion today.
¹ found in a LinkedIn discussion with Stacey Delo about coming up with a new term for SAHM
Always find time for the things that make you happy to be alive.
Anonymous
Wait, mama! Slow down. Before you go: What new years resolution do you permit yourself to try? Tell me in the comments below.
