“The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your life. You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose.”

- Arnold Bennett

The New Year is a chance for new opportunity and fresh starts.  That can mean a number of different things to each individual but usually takes the form of resolutions.  If you’re having trouble pinpointing the changes you’d like to make here are some ideas to get you started.

Luck For the New Year

Start your year off with the best chance you have at good luck by trying out a New Year’s Eve tradition from around the world.  In many Latin countries, revelers eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight and make a wish on each one.  In Dutch homes, fritters called olie bollen are fried and served.  Eating any ring-shaped treat (i.e. a donut) symbolizes "coming full circle" and leads to good fortune.  Throughout the year, Danes save their old dishes only to throw them by the dozen at the doorsteps of family friends on New Year’s.  The more broken dishes on your porch, the more popular you are!  And of course we have the time old tradition of the midnight kiss and black eyed peas on New Year’s Day in the United States. 

Clean and Organize Your Home and Office

Getting your ducks in a row, both figuratively and physically, will definitely help you feel ready to tackle any obstacle or goal in the New Year.  Complete a deep clean of your home as early as possible and consider hiring a professional organizer to help you find a good organizational plan and to avoid wasting time later looking for that doo-dad you know you put somewhere easy to find….

Increase Awareness of Your Thoughts

Success.com suggests writing down everything you say for an hour each day as an exercise in becoming aware of your thoughts and the energy and ideas you’re putting out into the world.  “As you develop a keen awareness of your communication, you become empowered to purposefully choose language that inspires and empowers you to realize your vision,” Niurka, speaker, author, entrepreneur, trainer, says.

Create an Environment Fostering Success

“You might not even realize to what extent you are influenced—negatively and positively—by things and people around you,” Tony Alessandra, a communication and sales expert and co-author of the best-selling book The New Art of Managing People, says.  Make a conscious effort to minimize pessimism and try to surround yourself with positives, whether that’s friends that make you feel good, watching funny movies or listening to motivational material.  Set the stage for your ultimate success!