How to start a new life

Every year we promise ourselves to do something – quit smoking, grow thin or call mother more often. This may happen not necessarily in January, but, as a rule, right in the first month of a new year, it occurs to us to change ourselves and our life for the better finally. 

However, very soon, good intentions come to naught and we again live our old way. It seems like somebody prevents us from realizing our plans purposely.

3 STEPS FORWARD AND NONE STEP BACK
You need to divide the realization of your plans in 3 stages:

1. Very often good intentions break down, because you require too much from yourself. 

Choose 3 most important directions for you for 3 nearest months. And every day make although one small step towards your success. At the end of the week, organize an impartial exam for yourself: how much have you moved ahead to your goal?

2. Think about the way to prevent the realization of your global plans from becoming a part of your everyday routine.

If you promised to study French for the year, find 15 minutes per day to learn 5 new words. Moreover, it's very useful to make a list of things to do in the beginning of a day. Then choose the main points in this list and concentrate on them.

3. Estimate your possibilities objectively and delay the things you cannot do now.

Otherwise, a weight of everyday small problems will prevent you from realization of most important ones.

WHAT PREVENTS YOU FROM REALIZATION OF YOUR PLANS?
1. Lack of small pleasures
2. Sense of guilt
3. Too common approach
 

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO…

Every day
• Invent some everyday ritual. For example, before going to bed, drink some squeezed juice while reading a magazine.
• Find several spare minutes, when you can do nothing, but just dreaming.
• Don't dismiss some pleasures that happen by themselves. If your friend called you or you noticed a beautiful sunset, rejoice over it.
• Smile to people you're talking to.
• Spend as much time as you can with your loved ones. 
• When you go to bed, remind the most pleasant thing that happened during the day. 
• And rejoice over it again.

Every week
• Spend although one evening a week not your usual way. Go to the cinema or theatre, have a walk after dinner. Or just leave dirty plates and dishes for a morning, and devote spare 30 minutes to yourself.
• Visit beautiful places when you feel calmly.
• Go in for sport. If usual aerobics seems boring for you, try something new and unusual: belly dance, samba or swimming.

Every month
• Devote several hours to your appearance. Make an appointment with a hairdresser or cosmetologist, do massage or manicure.
• Go shopping, learn storefronts and buy something pleasant for you.
• Change the atmosphere. Go to a country place on the weekend or go for an excursion to some other city all together.

Every year
• Plan a valuable, 2 week vacation at the minimum.
• Start doing something new. Try drawing, singing, or, may be, kayak-paddling, if you feel you're brave enough.
• Invent and realize a birthday surprise for your loved one.
• Meet friends and relatives who live far away from you.

資料來源：http://www.womanspassions.com/articles/75.html