It’s normal for one to reflect on the year they had every December. This leads many to craft a ‘New Year’s Resolution List’ highlighting things they want to change or incorporate in their lives. Oftentimes these lists include many huge lifestyle, career and personal changes, seeming as if they are trying to reinvent their entire self within a short period of time. Life sometimes gets in the way of people trying to execute these changes, leaving them feeling disappointed the following December when they realize not much has changed within their lives.

Wanting to become a better version of yourself is completely normal and understandable. Life is short and we have nothing to lose. Except life is short so we shouldn't be so caught up reinventing ourselves, and instead find a different approach to achieving these goals. One thing I always have to remind myself is that you will be given so many opportunities that may make it difficult to reinvent yourself as well as change your lifestyle. Moreover, I also tell myself that I have so many people in my life who like me for the way I am right now. And that if I really do want to make changes in the new year that it needs to be for myself and not the way people perceive me.

As much as I love staying true to myself and keeping up with my antics, I do take some time to reflect on things that I can do in the upcoming year and make documentation of it. My favorite way to do this is to make a vision board. These can consist of anything, ranging from lifestyle changes such as working out, and a better diet to traveling and career goals. Personally I make the vision board on a piece of poster paper and hang it in my bedroom, so that way I can look at it everyday and remind myself of what I want to do. Making a physical board requires you to put more thought into what you want to achieve, and whether it is something that is doable. Verses when you do it on your phone you can just write down whatever comes into mind, then leading you to the possible guilt feeling that you did not achieve said resolutions.

Typically when I make my own vision boards I take the approach of mostly including things I want to experience instead of things I want to change about myself. For example, this year I want to travel to Utah, as well as host a dinner party so I have many pictures pertaining to those events. Moreover I really want to buy a film camera so I included pictures of that too!

I tend to stay away from including lifestyle changes as there are so many other factors that can delay or prevent change. Of course that can also apply to experiences as well, but when it comes to planningexperiences there is sometimes less pressure around it.

Life is so short and made to be done differently by everyone. There is no right or wrong approach to going into a new year, but it is important to remind yourself to not get so caught up in changing everything. Why stress about changing who you are if you do not know what is to come? Say yes to more things, take more risks and stay true to yourself!

Cheers to 2025!