Kickstart Your New Year And Find Some Peace
Another year is beginning and it’s a great time to take time to breathe, regroup, and plan for the 12 months ahead. We’ve created a list of 10 things to do for your health, finances, organization, and planning to help kickstart 2025.
10 Ways to Kickstart The New Year
1. Wrap it up or give it up
Do you have projects, errands and to-do lists that continue to haunt you? You’re starting a new year so look at them with fresh eyes. Can you complete it in two hours or less? Do it now. Does it need to be done or was it just a lofty goal? It’s okay to let go of things. Maybe it’s time to shred that list and reclaim your peace.
2. Clear the clutter
It’s astounding how quickly everyday clutter can begin to pile up – and there it sits for weeks on end. Commit to a weekly decluttering routine. Each Saturday morning while your coffee is brewing, grab a bag and wander around your home rounding up items that need to be thrown out, recycled, donated, or filed. Don’t stop until you’ve found 10 things! Tip: start small. All of us have a ‘junk drawer’ that serves as a catch-all. Start there where it’s easy to find 10 things. It will help give you that sense of accomplishment so next week you can move on to another drawer or area of the house)
3. It’s time to clean house
Starting with a clean slate can help you focus and provides a sense of accomplishment. You can find some great cleaning tips from GoCleanCo, the Calgary- based cleaning company that has become a media darling, being featured in publications including Martha Stewart, Chatelaine and Instyle.
4. Organize your closet
Cleaning out the closet may seem like a Herculean task. And most often, it doesn’t exactly ‘spark joy’ at the thought of committing a full day or more to completely ‘Marie Kondo’ your closet. An easy start is to simply turn all the hangers backwards on the rod. When you wear an item and return it to the closet, hang it normally. Check your closet again in six months. Which items are still hanging backwards that haven’t been worn? Evaluate why. If it’s because that item is not in season, leave it hanging backwards. When you realize you simply no longer wear an item, donate it or take it to a consignment store. Repeat the process again next January.
5. Do a medicine cabinet cleanout
It’s easy to lose track of old prescription bottles that have been shoved to the back of the cabinet. Here are some great reminders from our WELL Longevity team at INLIV in Calgary about what to look for and how to properly dispose of them. Cleaning your medicine cabinet helps keep you and your loved ones safe.
6. Review your subscription list
Over the past year, you’ve signed up for numerous free trials for online news and video streaming services. Check all your subscriptions to determine which ones you actually need or want. Unsubscribe from those that are no longer of value to you.
Tip: check your Apple or Android settings for managing subscriptions.
7. Empty your inbox
How many emails are languishing in your inbox?! That little icon reminding you of how many emails you have and how many remain unread can cause stress. Commit a few minutes each day this month to review your inbox - delete what you can, and file what you need. While you’re at it, unsubscribe from some of those sales notices that inundate your inbox each day that you automatically delete with nary a glance anyway. It will help reduce your digital clutter. Maybe it’s time for a digital detox, too!
8. Purge the paper
Tackle the files and piles of paper and revel in the satisfying hum as the paper shredder consumes your tax returns from 2009. If you can, start a monthly and yearly spreadsheet to help you organize your paperwork better so when 2026 comes around, you will be even more prepared for tax time.
9. Plan ahead
Now’s the time to look ahead and determine what needs to be done for your peace of mind. Some ideas include:
Prepare or update your will. Life changes constantly. It’s important to have a current will that reflects where you’re at right now. Here are five times you should re-evaluate and update your will.
Estate planning is often overlooked, but it’s an important task to tackle, and to review regularly.
Schedule your medical appointments. What appointments or tests have you been putting off? Take time now to schedule your regular appointments like the dentist, or getting a mammogram.
Take a proactive approach to your health and wellness by scheduling one of our Longevity Health Assessments. For ongoing care, learn more about our new Total Health Management program that’s launching soon in Vancouver.
10. Find your fun
Whether it’s an online course you’re interested in, an Italian cooking class you’ve always wanted to take, ballroom dancing lessons, or a new sport or activity you’d like to pursue – plan for it now. Injecting fun and enjoyment into your life is essential, and learning something new is good for your brain health.
As the years come and go, your health, wellness, longevity and wellbeing should always be a key focus. At WELL Health Medical & Longevity Centres, our teams are committed to providing the highest standard of care to you and your family now and for years to come to help extend your lifespan and healthspan.
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