11 Ways to Make 2017 Amazing

If you’re looking for a new way, a new plan for the new year, check out these 11 Ways to Make 2017 Amazing!

Gone be 2016, let’s make 2017 amazing.

It seems to be a common thread among people. We’re ready to package this year up, put it away and chalk it up to a year we’d rather not relive.

Yet, life is a rollercoaster ride no matter what. Normally we just have to buckle up for the ride regardless of the situation. But we believe there are a few things we could do to help make this next year amazing.

Maybe it sounds too good to be true and maybe it is.

But regardless these 11 tips are sure to help you simplify, declutter and focus your life on what is important. Because we’re done living a life that isn’t enjoyable and anything less than amazing.

So instead of letting life rip the seatbelt off your life, may you choose to buckle up and get ready for one amazing year.

#1 Reflect on 2016

Whether it be the wounds of the year or the highs of the high let us take time to reflect on the year of 2016. There is nothing more healing and stretching than a good journaling session. So many you commit to allowing time for you to take pen to paper and relive this year. A time of self-reflection for in this comes growth.

If you need a place to start, here are some great starter questions to get that pen rolling;

What success did you experience this year?
What worked to get you here?
What ‘failures’ did you experience this year?
What did not work?
What three things did you learn from this year?
What two things are you going to focus on the first month of the year?

Ask yourself these questions for all areas of life and start to interweave them so you don’t just work but forget to live. Or you don’t just diet but forget to live but that you just do life and do it well.

It’s a great way to stop making the same mistakes, put emotion to action and finally create change that works! We’re looking for progress not perfection on this one.

#2 Commit to doing one thing daily for yourself

Yes, that means putting a commitment on you. Time for you. Space for you. A few joyous moments just to be silent, relaxed. Whether that is committing to 30 minutes of digging into a book daily, space to journal, paint, walking through the woods or taking a hot bath at the end of each day. Just commit to doing one thing daily for you.

Now that you’ve committed don’t just say it but write it down. Schedule it in your planner so you make sure you have time.

We’d like to tell you this is non-negotiable. Because it should be. You are important so treat yourself like it!

It may be difficult at first but soon 30 minutes will be flying by and you will soon learn why this could be the healthiest thing you’ve done for yourself ever.

#3 Learn to let go

For some odd reason we like to carry baggage around. Whether emotional or physical baggage we see it stack up in how we live our life. Yet one of the greatest ways to see a better life, to live a better life is to take off the old glasses, let go and learn to live.

This could mean emotional baggage, like learning to forgive. We didn’t say you had to forget but finally freeing yourself of what you’ve been holding onto. Dealing with the hurt and letting it go.

This could also mean physical baggage like the endless knick knacks, one too many Christmas decorations and the clothes that are jammed into your closet. De-clutter your life, your emotions, your home and see how freeing this can be to your mind and body.

White space, simplicity, minimalism, it’s healthy and it feels so good.

#4 Clean up your social media accounts

Go through all of your social media channels and get rid of the excess junk that clog your feed. We’re going for a joy filled life so anything that brings you down or gives you negative thoughts just let go.

If you’re in Facebook groups you never follow or have too many random people you don’t even know in your feed. Just hit unfollow or unfriend. We give you complete permission to let go of anything that holds you back. Heck, you can even get rid of social media all together if it makes you feel less stressed and more joyful.

If you choose to hang on to the social media, set boundaries and make sure you follow people who inspire, motivate and encourage you on your journey. Not ones who try to derail you.

Seriously, it really is okay to hit unfollow, unfriend or unsubscribe.

#5 Create a budget or at least a plan

If the word budget makes you quiver, we’re sorry. To be honest, in a slight way we totally understand. Even though budgeting can seem so strict and rigid it can also be very freeing.

If we’re honest budgeting is a lot like dieting. It sounds like a really good idea and you attempt it, but it rarely sticks. Why? Because it doesn’t take into account you and your unique situation. So maybe instead of thinking of it as taking away your freedom, think of budgeting as creating your freedom. We’re not asking you account for every penny, although you certainly can, but instead just be aware of what you want to do and where you want to go.

Maybe it is a vacation, spa time or a ski pass. Whatever you hope to do, do it responsibly by being aware of your spending. Yes, maybe even creating a budget.

#6 Invest in something fun

Because we can’t talk about budgeting without following it by doing something fun. If we’re serious about living life, then we must get serious about having fun. Joy, fun, excitement, adventurous this is creating memories, moments a life you’ll never forget.

So while you’re at the budgeting thing, why not plan for something fun. Maybe a vacation, a pass to a resort, a new gadget you’ve always wanted or just an investment of time for you and your family.

Not everything you invest in has to be expensive but this year we hope you choose adventure.

#7 Create a morning routine

Statistically what we do first thing in the morning paves the way for the rest of the day. From our eating habits, to our work efficiency, even our spending habits can all be tracked back to our morning routine. Working on creating a healthy, uplifting and even relaxing morning routine can be just the ticket to your most amazing year alone.

All it takes is figuring out what relaxes yet excites you to help you get your flow going first thing in the morning. I can assure you, hitting snooze on your alarm clock six times only to get the kids to school late and have you rushing around to get to work on time is not the most relaxing way to start the day.

The simple way to create a relaxed, calm and even enjoyable routine in the morning is to set your alarm, get in the habit of waking up and spend time reading, journaling, meditating, exercising and even have time to get ready and sit down to eat breakfast.

It’s a magical thing, this one simple step.

#8 Create a list of relationships you want to build

Okay so maybe you don’t clean up your relationships quite the way you would social media relationships. It’s a little harder to hit unfollow when it is an actual person. But be aware of those friendships that uplift and spur you on and those negative ones that make you feel like a sinking ship.

Create the list of people, of relationships that you want to go deeper this year and build time around those. Make an effort, choose to be vulnerable and most importantly have some fun. It doesn’t have to be a lot, in fact less may be best. But in any case, make sure they are real because relationships are huge for your health and your life.

Let’s be honest, life is better lived together.

#9 Create more memories

We a culture obsessed with counting, with numbers. So we thought it would be fun to twist the tables on this one. For so many of us our memories have been made, counting points, calories, finances, work hours and scores. Things that we chase thinking if we reach our goal will allow us to create memories and find more joy.

We chase satisfaction, happiness and joy.

But happiness is not something that is running for you. In fact, you may be running from it. Happiness is just trying to catch up. It’s time to slow down, maybe even stop, take a breathe and find happiness in the moment.

This year choose to count memories more than anything else. You’ll never regret this decision.

Say no more so when moments come to make memories you can fully say yes.

#10 Read more

We’re not talking about more social media posts but actual pages in a book. Yes, it’s time to put the computer away, shut off the phone and open up the pages to a beautiful book.

Allow yourself time to read, to grow, to stretch, to laugh, to cry through the pages of beautifully written words that could shape your life and help transform you more than anything else.

There is power in those pages filled with little words. Don’t discount them and instead make more time to read. Here are some of our favorites.

#11 Focus on self care

If you’ve found the pattern, the tips have all been leading to this. Self-care, self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-love. This is the year to embrace yourself, to know yourself and to love on yourself. It happens one day, one moment at a time by simply giving yourself a chance.

A moment, a breath, a break.

The guaranteed way to have the most amazing year yet is to put a focus on self-care. Slow down, relax, say no, unfollow, rest. It’s all going to be alright. Because the more you say no, the more you slow down, the more you unfollow, to more space you will get.

And in space, comes creativity, in rest comes peace and in time comes change.

This is the simply way for you to make 2017 amazing.

Cheers to making 2017 one you’ll never want to forget!

If you need a good place to start making more time for yourself. To simplifying, budgeting and recording all of those sacred memories, check out the Nourished Planner. The one tool that could help you put these tips into practice and fully live the most amazing year. Grab your planner here.

Thank you for following Nourished Planner, and see more on Instagram and Facebook. Sign up for our FREE Weekly Meal Plans and Shopping Lists emailed to your inbox here, and sign up for the Nourished Life Challenge here.